DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9
(2/9-22) Second
Vesperal Reading for a Hieromartyr: Harlampos
Saints: Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 SAAS, especially vss. 8, 9: “...the Lord shall reign over them
unto the ages. Those who trust in
Him will understand truth, and the faithful shall continue with Him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon His elect.” The faithful are deemed saints or holy ones sixty times in the New Testament. But the exemplary witness of some led to
their being called Saints with a capital “S” - a
recognition that God’s “...grace and mercy are
upon...” them (vs. 9).
Solomon called such authentic witnesses the righteous (vs. 1), but their bond to Christ, even in the ages
before His birth, is clearly visible.
Solomon gives us seven marks of such Saints: constancy, peace, hope, faith, resoluteness in truth, love, graciousness, and
mercy. These are virtues worthy of
us as we seek to grow in Christ.
Constancy conveys firm and unswerving adherence to a person or
community to which one is united.
The Saints of course are bonded to Christ, His Gospel, and His Church
with unwavering devotion even during times of torture in some instances (vs.
1). When asked if he were Christ,
because of miracles that occurred during his sufferings, Bishop Haralampos, ever constant, simply said, “I am your
servant and Christ’s slave. I
do everything in His name.”
Peace
with Christ-haters, acquiescence to excessive demands, or the social observance
of degrading amenities has not been the mark of Saints (vs.
2). For true peace lies in a noetic union with Christ and wells up from deep down inside
the center of one’s being. It
is a peace arising from oneness of heart with Him Who
said, “My peace I give to you” (Jn. 14:27).
Hope
found in Christ’s people is a spiritual gift, an awareness “...full
of immortality” (vs. 4). This
rich promise refined by Christ’s Resurrection becomes confidence in the
face of every sort of loss that assails in this life, including physical death;
for, after all, death comes to all born of Adam. But note: hope knows that “...in
Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22).
Faith
is not as much belief about doctrine or dogmatic teaching as it is trusting in
Christ. When making decisions, the
faithful sort alternatives before the Lord Jesus and take His
guidance. All decisions
have conclusions that might be painful or pleasant. Should the Lord point toward accepting
what is painful, faith trusts, takes the risk, and opts for godly right.
Resoluteness in truth helps end quibbling over words and details. It enables us to stay close to God
through all we say and do, to please Him, and to verify what we say and do from
the truth radiating out of the Nicene Creed and the prayers of the Church. Remember, faith leads to Christ, the
ground of all genuine truth (Wsol. 3:9); everything
else is just probability.
Love
comes ever more easily, naturally, and openly as we keep our heart and mind
fixed on Christ our God (vs. 9). It
need not be forced, gushy, nor contrived.
Consider this cardinal Christian virtue, and you will heed the advice of
Saint Makarios of
Graciousness manifests itself in the speech and manner of prayerful
Christians, for God kindly bestows grace upon His elect (vs. 9), not holding
back from us what we need. Could we
ever believe that He is miserly after considering the rich favor He manifests
toward us in Christ?
Mercy
is thoroughly woven into the fabric of love and graciousness, so as to be
hardly distinguishable from them at times.
Like God’s gifts of grace and love, mercy enriches, heals, and
gives life. Saint Ilias the Presbyter asserts that mercy actually brings
about the purification of the soul when coupled with truth, so it is never
indulgent but always considerate.
O Christ
our God, through ascesis and prayer help us acquire
virtues worthy of Thee.
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