DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
St. John 8:51-59 (5/27) CHRIST IS RISEN! Gospel for Monday of the Samaritan Woman
Vainglory:
In the original, as the Lord responds to the
charge of vainglory, he uses a speech-form unique to Him: “Amen,
Amen” (vs. 51), a preface often found in St. John's Gospel, but usually
translated into English as “truly, truly; very truly; I tell you the
truth,” etc. Christ God's
solemn, double amens mean to arrest attention,
caution us in our struggle to defeat vainglory, and wake us up to the reality
that dissimulating or coloring the truth is ever deadly.
Disciples are to forsake efforts to
“look good.” Thus St.
John Climacus says, “Vainglory...though full of
pride...feigns humility. It checks
manner and voice, and keeps an eye on the hands of visitors in order to receive
something.” No! Let our intent be truthful, for only the
pure heart rightly shapes behavior and can live openly in the light of
God’s truth. Let us consider
who we are and what we are in the eyes of God, rather than in the eyes of men.
Following the amens,
the Lord declares a second essential truth for defeating vainglory:
“keeping His word” (vs. 51)-obedience. To obey the Lord has two dimensions:
first to believe in Him, and , following from such
commitment, to do what He commands.
For true disciples, obedience arises from a deep, inner trust in the
Lord. Life in Christ begins and
flowers only when we commit ourselves to Him: “I believe in Him as King and God.” This surrender of self to Christ must be
with all the heart and soul and mind (Mt. 22:37), for only thereby do we become
united to Christ our God. However,
as we are truly joined to Him, He gives us grace to obey Him. Strive to be at one with the Lord Jesus
in every respect, following the pattern of His union with His Father, in which
He knows His Father and keeps “His word” (vs. 55)
Further, the Lord teaches us to shun honors
and only to seek honor from God:
“If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father Who honors Me” (vs. 54).
Only the honor that comes from God is worth attaining, because it
defeats vainglory. Honor from men
sets us up to be the prey of vainglory.
Listen to St. John Climacus again,
“there is a glory that comes from the Lord, for He says: Those who
glorify Me, I will glorify (1Kngs. 2:30).
And there is a glory that hunts us down through diabolic intrigue, for
it is said: Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you” (Lk. 6:26).
Whenever we do anything, however trifling, if we do it to be observed of
men, vainglory conquers us and instantly separates us from the Lord.
The Lord concludes with an allusion to
Abraham. The Patriarch
“rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was
glad” (vs. 56). Abraham saw
the promises in Christ long beforehand and he confessed that he was a stranger
and pilgrim on earth (Heb. 11:13). Ardent seeking after well being from on
high defeats vainglory and receives the genuine glory of God. And St. John Climacus
says of the glory from above: “he who has tasted that will despise all
earthly glory.”
Preserve me from every word or deed that
corrupts the soul and save me, O Savior.