DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Friday, January 12, 2007
The Martyr Tatiana and Those With Her
4th Vigil of Theophany: Joshua 3:7-8, 15-17 Epistle: James 2:1-13 Gospel: St.
Mark 8:1-10
Types of Baptism ~ Entering the Land: Joshua 3:7-8,
15-17 LXX, especially vs. 17: “And
the priests that bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry land in
the midst of Jordan; and all the children of Israel went through on dry
land....” What a contrast between the crossing of the Jordan and the
earlier escape through the Red Sea!
Forty years apart, the two events were markedly different for the ancient
People of Israel. At Jordan,
Joshua led the people instead of Moses.
Israel was not fleeing but advancing to receive a land promised as an
inheritance for them. They came to
the shores of Jordan with neither fear nor threat driving them. They came with expectation, a free
people, not fugitive slaves, stepping into a dry watercourse. This was not a mob, but an army with
its divisions, leaders, chain of command - a seasoned force.
Let us look upon our Baptism through the lens
of this triumphant crossing of the Jordan. Let us learn from our ancient forefathers in the Spirit to
press forward toward the goal that God has achieved, to advance toward the
‘land,’ the Kingdom He has set before us.
Reflect on the example of ancient Israel as a reminder that we depend
wholly on the power of our Joshua - the One Who saves - for He is with
us to restrain the floods of this life.
Finally, let our consideration of this crossing of the ancient People of
God keep us ever mindful of the need to maintain our place within the ranks of
the Saints, so that we and all the Faithful may pass over dry shod.
“All the children of Israel went through on
dry land” (vs. 17). Take note of
how this happened: God directed Joshua to have the Priests march forward. They lifted the Ark of the Covenant,
stepped into the rushing waters of Jordan - up well over its banks (vs. 15) -
and they never hesitated to obey.
How readily the flesh wants to hold back when there is objective
evidence of a threatening flood of events! Man’s logic screams at us not to go forward against the
insurmountable, to settle for second best and forgo our claim on the “heavenly
calling” (Heb. 3:1). How tragic to
let the “persuasive words of human wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:4) defeat us! We were Baptized into Him Who rose from
the dead and are united to Him Who stilled the raging of the winds and
waves. Let us not define defeat,
loss, or shame as this world does.
Let us step into difficulties when we know that God is commanding us -
for God is with us!
It may not be evident in the English of this
account that the son of Nun, Joshua - his given name - is the name that was
given to our Lord Jesus Christ by angelic command (Mt. 1:21; Lk. 1:31). Joshua transliterates from Hebrew into
English as YeHoshua, the unspoken Divine Name + saves. In Greek, the name was transliterated
as Iesous from an Aramaic contraction.
In turn, the Greek form transliterated into English as Jesus. The son of
Nun and the son of the Theotokos have the same name in Hebrew! The meaning of the name is “God saves”
or, in short, “Savior.”
How is it that in Holy Scripture and Holy
Tradition God can urge us, as Baptized members of Christ, to step without
hesitation into improbable circumstances in this life? It is simply because He knows that we
cannot be defeated in Him except by our sin, fear, or despair. As God said to Joshua, “This day do I
begin to exalt thee before all the children of Israel” (Jos. 3:7). The world may call us “losers, stupid,
narrow-minded,” but in Baptism God promised to exalt us in Jesus our Savior before
the Angels, the Church on earth and in heaven, and the world. Baptism was our initiation; let us
advance that God may save us through Yeshua our Savior.
Finally, let us ever remember that “all the
children of Israel” went forward.
Our yielding to worldly wisdom will break ranks and weaken the resolve
of others. “The Church is revealed
to all as a brilliantly lit heaven, leading the Faithful in the way of
light. Standing therein, we cry:
Make firm the foundation of this Thy
household, O Lord!”
Return to the January Calendar