Categories: orthodox-life
Date: 02 December 2004 04:05:28
The theme of the retreat was "Saints in the City" [I imagine there is an unwritten law that states all retreats must have a name that counteracts something in popular culture]. As I've written previously, the topic of us living lives of saints in the city was one I needed to hear, but didn't know I needed to hear it until I heard it -- if you follow me.
I do not know about others, but whenever I hear the word "Saint" I instantly think of early Church Saints who went off into the desert and lived a life 'away; from the world. Over the weekend I heard a Saying of the Desert Father St Antony that set me straight:
It was revealed to St Antony in his desert that there was one in the city who was his equal. He was a doctor by profession, and whatever he had beyond his needs he gave to the poor and every day he sang the sanctus with the angels.We are indeed called to be "Saints in the City". It is obvious, and I should know it, but I often forget it. "If only I lived in the desert or in the mountains or in a small village, I could live a godly life", I think. Possibly. But I am called to be a saint and live a godly life in the (reasonably) large city of Sydney. And by God's grace I can. Being a saint; "[partaking] of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4); living a godly life -- through our salvation in and through Christ, we are called to this, and by God's grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us we can.
We will fail. I fail daily. I fail hourly...and I fail each minute. But day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, I can progress along the Way. Salvation is a life-long process. And I will continue to "run in such a way that [I] may win [the prize]" (1 Cor 9:24) with God's help: through the help of the Church, and the benefits and instruction it provides.
May God help me. May I too, like the doctor, lift up my voice with the angels and continually sing "Holy, Holy, Holy".