Sermons & Homilies
Could it be that we have all that we need to attain salvation? That we need no further comfort in food, drink, or housing? That we do not need more sleep, better health, or fewer worries? Perhaps, but what if my health has improved a bit, I’ve been able to make more money, I am sleeping better, eating healthier, am more attentive, praying with compunction, then am I more peaceful, am I more thankful, do I complain less, do I pray more or say the Jesus prayer more and use my time and energy to overcome laziness, despondency and sin within me? What is more, if in any way God has eased our suffering or quelled our intrusive thoughts or subdued our passions, have we become more of the Christian that we would like to be, committed ourselves more to ascetic disciplines and attendance at the Divine Services, or are we glad our life has become a bit easier but have not decided to live more fully for Him? Such are the questions that are addressed in our Gospel reading today.
Today is the Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas, whereon we commemorate St. Gregory as the defender of the Christian’s experience of God. St. Gregory became involved in a confrontation wherein his opponent claimed that Christians (specifically, hesychast monks) did not experience God directly. St. Gregory defended the opposite position and affirmed that this is how the Orthodox Church’s theology came to be - by direct revelation from God to holy men and women in the Church, whom the grace of God had transformed.
We must take an example from St. Symeon who waited so long in faith. This was an active waiting. It was a daily trial. He had plenty of time to doubt the prophecy. He had plenty of time to give up. He had plenty of time to forget what he was still living for. He had plenty of time to bury himself in mindless worldly consolations, distractions, and preoccupations. However, he kept faith. This was not easy. This was not automatic. There is so much hidden within one line of the Scripture which simply states that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ.
What is the state of our heart? In today’s Gospel our Savior presents the parable of the Sower in order to get us to ponder this question. What is the state of our heart? Are we able to bear spiritual fruit? This is the most important question of our life, and we need to be constantly reminded to keep it front and center.
