Sermons & Homilies
Today we commemorate the wondrous Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of our Lord Jesus Christ, John, son of the righteous High Priest Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth. Who is this prophet, who is called “more than a prophet” by the Christ Himself? Who is this man, who is called “the greatest of those born of women” by the God-Man Himself? Who is this saint, who is a saint of saints, whose memory the Church honors several times a year?
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For all Orthodox Christians, and in a special way for us monastics, the goal of our life here on this earth is of course salvation. That is also the goal of all Protestants, Catholics and other serious traditional Christians. But our Orthodox understanding of what salvation means is radically different from other Christians.
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Those who do not see their sins will not possess repentance, and those who do not acquire repentance will never draw near to contrition of heart. Those bereft of contrition will never become humble, and those who are not crushed and made tender by the grace of radiant and quiet humility will never see Who Christ—the most meek and humble of heart—really is. Those who do not see God will never know Him, and those who do not know God will never be able to be exalted by insuppressible love for Him.
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In the icon of the Ladder of Divine Ascent, we only see the image of Christ at the very top, upon the last step (of love); but, this does not mean that Christ is not with us at every step. It is true that the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” is only seen in its full, unmediated vision, at the height of the ladder’s summit: divine love and union with God—that is, only after we have struggled long and hard, co-operating with God, and His grace has freed us from sin and passion; and He has made to grow within us the fullness of His love, making us to see Him within us in the fullness of His glory.
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Real humility consists in accepting the crosses that God allows in our lives, whether these crosses be physical illness, mental illness, being misunderstood, falsely accused or whatever cross is laid upon us. How easy it is to “invent” ascetical practices for ourselves and then feel so justified. But how difficult it is to accept what God has allowed to humble us.
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