DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Isaiah
1:1-20 (2/15-2/28) The Reading at Sixth
Hour on Pure Monday of the Great Fast
Indictment and
Self-Examination: Isaiah 1:1-20 SAAS,
especially vss. 14, 16: “Your new moons and feasts My
soul hates. You have become a
dissatisfaction to Me; I will not forgive your
sins....Wash
yourselves, make you clean. Put
away the evils from your souls before My eyes. Cease from your evils.” Here
is a sobering challenge at the beginning of Great Lent! Will our Lenten observances - our
fasting, incense, and prayers - possibly offend God? The words of the Lord our God are tough; they unsettle the soul. Let us look to ourselves!
First, the message is not hopeless, yet
never brush it aside and say, “This message was given centuries
ago to ancient Israel;
and these words do not apply to us.
We are Orthodox Christians.”
Wrong! Beloved, the vision
of Isaiah is an indictment against all godlessness in any people (vs. 3) -those
who flout God’s laws (vs. 2), the morally unsound (vs. 6), and apostates
who have abandoned their spiritual and cultural foundation - adopting alien
ideas and practices (vs. 7).
Isaiah’s portrait is strikingly accurate of much in post-modern
life.
During an interview, two Christians, American and French,
were discussing the spiritual condition of their respective countries. The American said, “In the
sixties, when Saint John [Maximovitch]
was in the U. S.,
young Americans were all interested in spiritual life...but now they are
concentrating much harder on career goals and business....” “In France,”
said the other, “...they are like little animals... in a jungle, only
money, a position, and a boyfriend or girlfriend.”
However, the Lord continues His appeal: “Come now,
and let us reason together” (vs. 18). God certainly expects us to “Learn
to do good” (vs. 17). He is open to us “If [we] are
willing and obedient” (vs. 19).
The Lord’s indictment calls for honest self-examination and
genuine effort at self-correction.
Written eight centuries before the birth of Christ, God’s judgment
remains completely true today, two thousand years
after the Lord Jesus walked on earth in the flesh. God is calling us now to the struggle
against rampant individualism and indulgence.
Happily, there is evidence that the Orthodox Church, unlike
other Churches in America,
is serious about resisting the permissiveness of the age, as Holy Tradition
expects of us. But, let us not
delude ourselves. The forces
favoring self-indulgence described in the interview above are strong. Many Orthodox Faithful have been taken
in by the smooth words of those who promote certain immoral practices. Some even support a loosened morality,
feel no responsibility for any degradation, nor care about arresting
decadence. Some push for greater
acceptance of the current godless values - even within their parishes,
work-places, and families.
If we choose His way, we may take the solemn journey of
Great Lent beginning today. Indeed,
we can now examine our commitment to follow the road to Pascha. Each one can see within his thoughts,
words, and deeds where rebellion or resistance are operateing (vs. 2).
Is Christ my Master (vs. 3), or do I flee from Him (vs. 4)? Who of us has not made fatal compromises
and selfish adjustments? Who is not
pained and sad (vs. 5)?
May our tears wash away our iniquities, help us confess and
stop them (vs. 16). Heed Saint John Chrysostom:
“...nothing so weighs upon the soul, and presses her down, as
consciousness of sin; nothing so much gives it wings, and raises it on high as
the attainment of righteousness and virtue.” Saint Nikolai of Zica
encourages action: “The Lord approves and commends all our labor. He desires that we wash our souls in
tears, wring them out with repentance, press them with compunction of
conscience and clothe them with good works.”
O Lord, Who art
slow to anger, look mercifully upon us before the hour of Thy wrath on the
Dreadful Day. (Saint Nikolai of Zica)
Return to the
February Calendar