DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
2 Corinthians
9:12-10:7
(9/2)
Epistle for Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week after Pentecost
What Pleases God: 2 Corinthians 9:12-10:7, especially
vs. 12: “...the administration
of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints but also is abounding
through many thanksgivings to God.”
God the Word is Incarnate. God in the flesh is astounding,
ineffable, and glorious beyond imagining!
The Day after the Nativity we sing exultantly: “...the boundless
Essence is wrapped in swaddling clothes in
But what among all our thoughts, feelings, actions, deeds,
and, accomplishments pleases God most of all and truly expresses gratitude for
the Lord Jesus’ Incarnation?
Reaching the starving and homeless in His Name? Building and filling a
beautiful temple with men and women who worship Him? Gently carrying an injured man to safety
or nursing him back to life in the Lord’s Name? He Who assumed
our flesh, twice said the following: “'...I say to you that likewise
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents...'” (Lk. 15:7).
Saint Paul was immensely pleased when the Corinthian
Christians ministered to the relief of the tangible, physical needs of their
fellow Christians desperate in famine at Jerusalem (Acts 11:28-30). Surely their actions gave great joy to
God, for our heavenly Father is ever pleased to see His children fed when
stricken with famine, sheltered when homeless, and healed when sick.
Do not minimize such acts and their importance in the eyes
of God. Nevertheless, the greatest
joy that God had in His Corinthians was their longing to fulfill their
“...confession to the Gospel of Christ...” (2 Cor. 9:13). God seeks inward change in His
People. Consider again our plea to
the Incarnate, that “He save our
souls.” The feeding of the
hungry and healing of the sick, when we are deeply transformed within, follows
naturally because our souls are healed.
Simple: when our bondage to sin is broken by the grace of repentance, we
act in newness of life.
The Apostle understood that the inner condition of His
people was God’s highest priority, whether in
The Jerusalem Christians, like the Apostle, saw tangible
“proof” of inner change in the Corinthians’ generous acts,
and they glorified God (vs. 13).
Why? Because they saw what
God achieves in hearts and minds.
The Apostle rejoices because the brethren in Judea were praying for
their brothers and sisters in
When the Apostle pointed to the renewal of men’s
souls as the highest Christian value, he then addressed those who mistakenly
saw his Christ-like “...meekness and gentleness...” as a character
fault (vss.10:1-7). Some believed
he ought to be “...bold with confidence...” rather than
“...lowly among [them]...” (vss. 1,2). “Do you look at things according
to the outward appearance?” he asks (vs. 7). “For though we
walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh” (vs. 3). Spiritual warfare has different rules
than common war, yet requires no less strength. Men of the Spirit can destroy
“...arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the
knowledge of God...” (vs. 5). Beloved, above all, let the quality of
your heart be pleasing to God.
Cleanse our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may worthily
magnify Thy Name, O Lord.
Return to the September Calendar