11 January 2006

THE BASIS OF OUR LIVES: JESUS CHRIST

“The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.

Most assuredly, I say to you,unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and it dies, it remains aloe; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in the World will keep it for Eternal life.

If anyone serves Me,let him follow Me; and where I am,there My Servant will be also. If anyone serves Me,him My Father will honour.

Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father,save Me From this hour.

Father,glorify Your name.'” John 12:23-27

This passage from St. John, the Evangelist, speaks of the great hour through the death and Resurrection of Jesus, leading to the Salvation of the human race. The grain of wheat dying in order to bear fruit signifies that Christ will die in order to give life. This is the principle of self-sacrifice which applies to all those who follow the way of Christ.

This commitment to Christ that we as Orthodox Christians make through the Sacrament of Baptism,followed by the Holy Chrismation is only a beginning. The Sacraments of Repentance and the Holy Eucharist are essential to sustaining this commitment to Christ made at Baptism. As sinners all, we become lost in the ways of the World,Materialism,godlessness and Mammon.Therefore,the only way back to Christ is through Repentance whereby we renounce our sins and recommit ourselves to CChrist Jesus who forgives us and calls us immediately to receive His Holy Body and His Holy Blood. At Baptism we become the Image of Christ. At Chrismation we receive the Holy Spirit. The Image of Christ remains within us all our lives, yet our sins diminish the Image. We can only maintain the Image of Christ through His Holy Body and His Holy Blood,The Holy Eucharist.

Christ so loved all of us, that He permitted Himself to be crucified. The Holy Crucifixion demonstrates the depths of Jesus’ love toward us. We must as Orthodox Christians recognize our own crucifixion is our suffering in this earthly life which is so important in our becoming One in Christ. Through this earthly suffering, sorrowing,persecution,

sinning we remain in darkness, but when we lift up our eyes to the Image of Christ upon the Holy Cross we are given hope. All who are born on this earth must one day face death. But for all who believe in Christ Jesus, that dark shadow is overcome by a light which reveals the way to eternal life. We cannot walk in that dark shadow alone, for we are many. And in the many is the Image of Christ. Our Salvation depends upon being one with the other. No human can exist, no less enter the Light of Christ without another.With the Image of Christ within us, we must know the Image of Christ is in all people.

In John, Chapter 14,Jesus speaks to Thomas and the others,saying,

“Iam the way; the truth; and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”

The basis of life is Jesus Christ, Son of God,one with the Father, The Creator; and the Holy Spirit. As a part of the Divine Creation, we are all creations. God created all things and all peoples, therefore, we must recognize that we all are a part of one another and a part of all Creation, regardless of how small, or great we are. As the Image of Christ,we are a part of His Wholeness. Christ is in you and in me and in all ofus. We must struggle to fight the good fight to reflect that Image of Christ within us.

The last Elder, Nektary of Optina Monastery in pre-Revolutionary Russia, was asked by one of his many Spiritual Children what was the most essential aspect of being a true follower of Christ, Elder Nektary answered that one should be always obedient. We,who have some knowledge of Orthodox Theology make the mistake of thinking only in the context of the Elder and his Spiritual Children, but the good Elder was speaking of obedience to Jesus Christ,Himself.

Christ commanded that we ‘love our neighbour, as ourselves; to love, yes,even our enemies.’ In Matthew 25:37-40, The Master makes it very clear:

“And the King will answer and say to them,’Assuredly,I say to you,Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of My brethren, you did to me.””.

The very basis of our lives is Jesus Christ, who is in you and in me. Otherwise, there is no basis, nor any life. As Peter wrote: the beautiful flower of grass dries, withers and passes unto dust,”but the word of the Lord endures forever.” Every thought, every emotion, every prayer, and every action must be considered within the framework of Jesus Christ. If not they all render nothing. It is only in the Christ-context do we exist and have the possibility of the Resurrection with Christ and Eternal Life in His All Holy Presence. We must look to God’s grace and the Holy Spirit to find the Way, the Truth and the Life.

St. John Chrysostom, the golden-mouthed, proclaimed “Christ is everywhere covered by the Holy Spirit” and that “He is entirely anointed by the Spirit. Jesus is spiritual, for the Spirit Himself has fashion Him (in the flesh) thus God the Word and whole energy of the Spirit dwell within Him.”

St. Gregory of Nazianzen writes; “He is ‘Christ’ becauseof his divinity. For this is the anointing of his humanity; it does not, as is the case with all other anointed ones,(i.e.prophets and kings of the Old Testament) sanctify by its action (energeia), but by the full presence (parousia) of the Anointing One (the Spirit). The result is that He who (as the anointed Christ) anoints (humanity) is called ‘man,’ and makes that which is anointed ‘god.””

“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.They shall be like a tree planted by water sending out its roots by the stream.It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green;In the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.”Jeremiah 17:7-8.

St. Paul writes in his Epistle to Hebrews 10:39:

“But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who Believe to the saving of the soul.”

We live in a modern world with many challenges and many sorrows. The Earth is plagued by the HIV and AIDS Pandemic; war, genocide, apostasy, atheism, famine,poverty and the idolatry of money. There are so many ills in this world we may be tempted to think that God has forgotten us in all this suffering. But we must recall the words of the Psalms, especially,Psalm 37:23-24:

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,And He lights in his way. Though he fall,he shall Not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him With His hand.”

These words help us to understand that we do have hope and God challenges us to face these enemies with confidence of Victory. In Revelation it is revealed: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.

“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may Have right to the tree of life, and may enter trough the gates into The city.”

And:

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things In the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David,The Bright Morning Star.” Revelation 22:16.

We have become a people who take all things as self-evident. We have thought that with

all the “progress” of mankind, we hold the powers of a god. When we think of HIV and

AIDS we think of punishment and judgement for evils done, yet who is without sin? We

must look penetratingly at the Crucified Christ hung upon His Cross with all His

Suffering. We must search our hearts, minds and souls and answer these questions

without any self-ish motivation. Who betrayed Jesus Christ? No,Judas was only an instrument of our own devils. Who scourged Christ with whips? Who mocked Him?Who spat upon Him? Who forced Him to carry that heavy Cross on the Via Delarosa?Who nailed His hands and Feet to the Cross? Who planted the Cross upon which He was to die? Who crowned Him with woven thorns? Who derided Him for not saving Himself? The answer to all of these questions is? Me! Woe be unto me! Lord, Jesus Christ,Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.

Why do we weep? What we did was bad enough, but as believers, unworthy as we are,we weep even more. Why? Jesus chose to die in such a manner out of love for each and everyone of us, livingand dead. His death and Resurrection gave us the possibility of Life beyond Death,and the Light of Presence of God in the Eternal Kingdom of Heaven.What is the basis of life? Jesus Christ and no other.

At the beginning of my address, I mentioned a grain of wheat which must die in the soil,to be reborn and to bear a bountiful harvest bearing mnuch fruit, in this case many grains..From this one grain, comes in time, through nurturing and cultivating. There is need of sun and need of rain. When the harvest is ready, it must be cut, but that is not an end to the life given by the grain of wheat. A part of the harvest must be saved to be dropped,again, in the earth to be germinated in perpetuity. The harvest must be prepared before it is eaten. The milled grain must be mixed with water and salt to prepare for the baking of bread,yet the essential leaven must be used to rise to make one whole loaf. That leaven is our belief in Jesus Christ.

In such a manner, Orthodoxy has grown in Kenya and throughout the continent of Africa.The single seed sown has now grown to become many seeds. The labour of Mission in the Vineyards/wheatfields has been done by few at great effort. The sacrifice of the self has been utilized by Christ as the leaven. Today, you see a mature Orthodox Faith in Africa.Again, we refer to Psalm 3&:25-26:

“I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous Forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful and Lends; and his descendants are blessed.”

But if we read on a bit, we see the just reward:

“Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore.

For the Lord loves justice; and does not forsake His Saints;

They are preserved forever.

Let us end by committing ourselves anew to Jesus Christ who is the basis of life. For He is the Way, the Truth, the Life. Remember that in the Lord’s Prayer, we pray for the Will of God be done by us. May we, like the thief on the Cross, call ou,“Remember me,in Your Kingdom,O Lord.

Syndesmos has grown, too, and its work has been vital in stirring the faith among the Youth of the Orthodox World. The unity of the faith has been blessed by the efforts of Syndesmos in prayer; in theological study and sharing; the fellowship of young people,coming together from many different cultures whose interaction emphasizes a living faith in Jesus Christ. The impact of a global youth, sets the tone for the future of the Orthodox Faith. Syndesmos has helped young people to recognize their essential role as laity and as clergy in The One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. It has helped in protecting and preserving and proclaiming the purity of the Orthodox Faith. It is wonderful feeling to know that many hands have been joined to praise and glorify God…that young Orthodox go hand-in-hand together in the Grace of God…that their joined hands are witness to Christ Jesus. The Resurrection of Christ is the joy of all who go beyond what the eyes can see. The Resurrection is an enrichment of our beings in which Christ gives hope. Christ wants us to be joyful in Him.

What message can we give the Youth of the World that will be an inspiration for their times and their lives as Orthodox Christians? I would encourage them to learn the 23rd Psalm by heart and for them to dwell upon its meaning. This Psalm reflects much of the beauty of our commmon faith in its rhythm and in its wording it is sweet music. The 23rd Psalm is very personal, yet written for all. It gives a warm and touching feeling in which God is very near and very loving. It is an expression of trust of God in man and man in God. In its recitation brings peace of mind, tranquility of heart, yet it remains a sincere prayer. The 23rd Psalm is an ikon which expresses and affirmation of God’s Salvation.One can envision David, the repentant sinner, yet equally all of us. As an ikon it is,also,a prophecy and its fulfillment. The Psalm is very much an experience in which we find our salvation, peace, comfort and communion with God forever. It, also, emphasizes the unchanging status of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and its immutability.We are freed from slavery of the self, a total submission, in awe and beauty,to Christ.

Let the youth of the Orthodox WorldI know they inherit a rich legacy from the Holy Church, from the Holy Fathers, and above all from Christ Himself through His

Sacraments which He gives personally for our salvation and edification.

“My cup runs over, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”