Categories: orthodox-life
Date: 02 September 2004 00:25:38
Generally by today (Thursday), to my eternal disappointment, I have forgotten most of the sermon given on Sunday. How shameful! I may be able to remember a few "grabs", but that is about it. Not this week though.
One of last week's Gospel readings (we've had two Epistle and two Gospel readings on many occasions; a difference from Anglicanism) was the account of St John the Baptist's beheading. Our priest's key point was that John was not afraid to speak up when he saw wrong tolerated -- what about us?
Our priest, whose name is also John, said he wasn't. He said he could sit back and congratulate us each week on being "good Christians": but he wasn't going to. He chastised us for our tardiness in getting to church; he chastised us for not making the effort to come and hear visiting theologians speak; he chastised us for being too secure in our lives and for not making a stand when we need to; and chastised us some more. It was obvious this was a painful thing for him to say (and for us to hear!), but he did not flinch.
While eating lunch afterward, a friend commented to me that St Paul's letters may have felt similar to those hearing them. They perhaps thought they were doing well, but St Paul wanted them to know the truth so that they'd grow in the love and knowledge of Christ.
I am thankful for the pastor we have. He truly does have a heart to see us all made more Christ-like and all he does, each and every week, is strive to help us live and walk a Christian path as best we can. And we continually get shoved to go that bit farther. May God continue to bless him, and grant him many years!