DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS

St. Luke 18:2-8          (1/5)           For Saturday of the 31st Week after Pentecost (Sat of P&P)

 

Our Adversaries: St. Luke 18:2-8, especially vs. 3: “Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’”  St. Cyril of Alexandria, in commenting on the Lord Jesus’ parable of the unjust judge, challenges all Christians to “examine who it is that offends against them.”  It is an intriguing question for the Faithful in Christ to explore in this advanced age.  The Patriarch identifies a number of adversaries who troubled the “holy ministers, teachers....and servants” of the Lord during the fifth century: heretics, those who “smite and scorn us, even...inflict violence upon us,” those who “make merchandise of the word of uprightness and prevail on many to abandon a sound faith, involving them in inventions of devilish error,”and those who fiercely resist “those who would live well: who cast into the pitfalls of wickedness whoever slumbers; who plant in us the seeds of every sin.”

It does not take much “reading between the lines” to see that we have the same adversaries today as existed in fifth century Alexandria.  Our present ones function under different banners and with names unknown in St. Cyril’s generation, but they are just as active to draw the unwary from the Gospel of life and truth.  Instead of the heretics of St. Cyril’s day, we may point to a horde of sectarians, self-appointed theologians and experts in matters of faith.  Many of these, with impressive degrees and credentials, hold forth in so-called seminaries and universities.  There are those today who openly vow to smite and inflict violence upon us and are diligently seeking ways to do so.  The media are filled with a rising tide of those who hawk religion to the unwary.  And who can even begin to account for the numerous purveyors of moral corruption that are seeking to convince the innocent that evil is good and good evil?  Pray for us Holy Father Cyril that Christ will find abiding faith among His People in our generation!

Notice our Lord’s warning at the conclusion of the parable: “Hear what the unjust judge said.  And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?” (vss. 6,7).  Christ calls our attention to the fact that, in time, the persistence of the importunate widow broke through the judge’s self-interest, so that he granted her a settlement against her adversary.  Are we to identify God with the judge?  Not at all!  Take hold of the point the Lord is trying to reveal: that if a wicked, self-serving, callous human judge can respond to persistent pleas - for his own motives - then be assured that our compassionate, caring, loving God will most definitely “avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him” (vs. 7).  That is the exact point where story joins genuine, unremitting prayer.

Hence, the issue for you and me as Christians is maintaining persistent prayer - shall we be found standing before God unwavering in prayer for justice before our adversaries (1 Thess. 5:17)?  And what keeps one steady at prayer?  Principally, it is faith.  So the final question is: “when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”  (vs. 8).  Father Matthew the Poor observes: “Faith and will are intimately related, distinct but indivisible.”  Thus, in asking the paralytic, “Do you want to be made well? (Jn. 5:6),”  Christ stresses the primacy of will or desire in faith.  “It is only when we will something that we can be counted worthy of God’s response.”  And, take the Lord’s warning into consideration - God sometimes “bears long” with us - seems to delay.  Yet, as St. John of the Ladder assures us: “Do not say, after spending a long time at prayer, that nothing has been gained; for you have already gained something.  What higher good is there than to cling to the Lord and persevere in unceasing union with Him?”

Accept the prayer of us sinners and make us worthy to find grace in Thy sight, that our prayers may be acceptable unto Thee, and the good Spirit of Thy grace may dwell upon us.

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