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

St. Luke 20:1-8    (1/9)      For Wednesday of the 33rd Week after Pentecost (Wed 28th Week)

 

Rights vs. Repentance: St. Luke 20:1-8, especially vss. 5, 6: “And they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” He will say, “Why then did you not believe him?”  But if we say, “From men,” all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.’”  The Evangelist Mark records two imperatives that the Lord Jesus’ places before all mankind: “Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk. 1:15).  Christ’s authoritative call to repent and believe in His message aroused the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders: “by what authority are You doing these things?  Or who is he who gave You this authority?” (Lk. 20:2).  These national leaders were confident that they were the “authorities,” being members of the ruling Council of the People of Israel and God’s designated officials (Nu. 11:16-17 LXX).  Here was a Galilean peasant speaking for God in the Lord’s sacred Temple on His own authority (Lk. 19:47).

Notice that the Lord did not attempt to convince these leaders of His Divine nature and anointing as Messiah, a ground for authority beyond all adequacy in any sense.  Rather, He returned to His basic message of repentance and obedience to the Gospel by posing a question to His interrogators: “The baptism of John - was it from heaven or from men?” (Lk. 20:4).

St. John called all men to repent and to confirm their repentance by a cleansing Baptism.  Thus it is in one’s heart that the Lord Jesus’ question must be settled: was John’s authority from God, or was it from himself or some other human authority?  Behind the question lies one’s openness to repentance.  Do you see?  The Lord Jesus sought to open the hearts of His interrogators (and all of us) to repentance as preached by St. John and Himself.  God’s appointed leaders in the Temple, most of all, should have acknowledged St. John as a Prophet and heeded his call to repent; but, sadly, they were closed even to this elementary step toward salvation.  Because they would not repent, neither could they hear the Gospel nor believe in Christ and His message.

The Temple authorities created a false polarization of rights versus repentance.  Woe to anyone so preoccupied with rights and self esteem that he is not open to God’s call to “repent and believe in the Gospel.”  The call to repent is the call to life, when issued by Life Himself.  There is no conflict over the right to call others to repent, so long as the appeal comes from the God Who spoke through John and was Incarnate in Jesus.  The reasoning of the authorities exposed their uncertainty concerning John (vs. 5), and likely their unwillingness to believe that John spoke for the God Who is God.  If they could not acknowledge John’s call as valid, how then could they answer the Lord Jesus?  However, each of us must answer the Lord’s question.

St. Peter of Damaskos exhorts you and me to answer the call of St. John and the Lord: “It is always possible to make a new start by means of repentance.  ‘You fell,’ it is written, ‘now arise’ (see Prov. 24:16).  And if you fall again, then rise again, without despairing at all of your salvation, no matter what happens.”  While you breathe air in this life you have the choice to renew your Baptism into Christ through repentance, and the need to repent is urgent for everyone, for without repentance no one can be saved.  Do not delay, as St. Peter exhorts.  Why?

“Repentance is the first healing medicine.  The heart has to repent and come to its natural condition.  If a life of sin has led it to an unnatural state, a life of repentance will bring it back to its right state, will give it life,” as we are taught by Metropolitan Hierotheos.  Orthodoxy is well described as a life of repentance.  Hence, St. John of San Francisco says, “to ascend spiritually, it is necessary first of all to free oneself from the weight of sin.  It is taken from us through repentance, provided that we banish from ourselves all enmity.”

Pardon and forgive our transgressions, O Merciful Savior, and grant that we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance.

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