DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS

1 Corinthians 4:17-5:5    (9/19)    Epistle for Saturday of the Fifteenth Week after Pentecost

 

Self-Excommunication: 1 Corinthians 4:17-5:5, especially vs. 20: “For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.”  Saint John of Kronstadt invites us to marvel “...at the greatness and life-giving properties of the Holy Sacrament...A young girl who was almost dying, after the Communion of the Holy Sacrament began to recover on the same day from her illness; began to eat, drink, and speak; whilst before this she was almost in a state of unconsciousness, violently tossed about, and could neither eat nor drink anything.”  Considering God’s power revealed in the Holy Gifts, he exclaimed: “Glory to Thy life-giving and terrible Mysteries, O Lord.”

Who keeps any child of God away from the Holy Cup?  Might one’s own pride, lust, and willfulness do so?  Do let us “...weep between the porch and the altar” (Joel 2:17) when any for whom Christ died turn aside from the marvelous gift of God’s love.  If we should sin against our Lord and God, we must not delay.  Rather, we must hasten to cleanse ourselves before Him, having examined all our thoughts, words, and deeds; and purpose not to repeat what may have broken faith with Him.  Pour out all in confession - the sins committed, the thoughts harbored, and seek His forgiveness.

While we know the way to return to our Father when we have wallowed in the pig pens of this world, a firm determination not to cut ourselves off from the Life-Giver is equally important.  In today’s Epistle reading, Saint Paul advances important habits that we the faithful in Christ need to cultivate in order to prevent the sort of self-indulgence that leads to excommunication: heeding the voice of the Holy Spirit, shunning arrogant self-will, and avoiding excuse-making.

The Apostle urged the Corinthian disciples to welcome Saint Timothy, his “...beloved and faithful son in the Lord...,” whom he sent to remind them of his “...ways in Christ...,” a mode of living that he taught “...everywhere and in every church”(vs. 17).  In the same way, we ought to welcome the reminder of “...the beloved and faithful...” Holy Spirit of God.  Saint Timothy models His coming in order to recall us to the Life in Christ taught universally throughout the Church.  Unlike the Corinthians, we have a two-thousand year Tradition of exemplary teaching passed on to us from the Holy Fathers, who themselves struggled through purification and illumination to attain deification and speak to us like Saint Paul - with the voice of the Lord Himself.

When the Spirit of the Lord speaks, be confident that He directs away from being “...puffed up...,” just as Saint Paul warned the Corinthians (vs. 18).  Never be so full of self as to vainly think like those who do not imagine that God “...will come to [them] shortly...” (vs. 19) and come not merely in words of caution or rebuke, but “in power” (vs. 20), correcting and sharply punishing for daring to scorn Him and His will.  Oh, yes, He comes even to His own with a rod (vs. 21 and Heb. 12:6).  Life does not work simply as the secularists suggest - 'What goes around, comes around.'  God is an active participant in the course of this world, so never ‘discount’ or ‘ignore’ His immediate awareness of our thinking and actions.

Rather, in the sense suggested by the Apostle to the members of the Church at Corinth, mourn that any of us “...might be taken away from...” a share in the Holy Cup (vs. 2).  Recoil from any inner whisper of excuse or 'understanding' self- indulgence.  The fashion of this world regards those who sin as 'victims' of overwhelming social conditions or of unfortunate circumstances, instead of seeing them as persons accountable for their actions.  In the manner of Saint Paul and “...with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ,” live in awe of the Holy Mysteries and strive actively to be worthy of their “...greatness and life-giving properties.”

O Word Whom we magnify, let us who enjoy the banquet of Thine immortal table,...in the upper chamber, receive with uplifted minds Thine exalted words and ways.

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