DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007 Tone
3 Fish,
Wine, & Oil
Conception of the Theotokos by St. Anna
2nd Vespers Monastics,
Martyrs, & Hierarchs: Wisdom.
4:7-15 Epistle:
Gal. 4:22-31
Gospel: Lk. 13:10-17
Pleasing God: Wisdom 4:7-15 LXX, especially vs. 12: “For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure
things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the
simple mind.” Do not be
misled by the term, naughtiness, as something limited to the correction
of children. Rather, heed the wise
Solomon warning against trust in the human heart, soul, and will; for, all
around us in this life, naughtiness obscures truth, justice, and honesty. Look at its root, naught,
meaning, nothingness, that which is devoid of truth, justice, and honesty. In this nihilistic age, to act from
godly reason, we, being bombarded with cliches,
opinions, and the current wisdom of the street, are forced to grope for
truth. We are crushed by an
avalanche of words empty of truth, sweeping us away from truth, alluring and
bewitching us. Worst of all, within
our own bodies concupiscence stealthily lurks to
undermine us whenever we try to reason out the truth on our own. We defeat our own simple minds. Within and without, are we doomed?
Do not despair: what God teaches in this
passage is a better way to find and live out the truth, how to live honestly,
and retain a pure and simple mind.
It is possible to attain to old age having an “unspotted
life” (vs. 9). It truly is
possible for you to reach “honorable age” by living a
“righteous” life (vss. 8,7). It is that
simple; yet there is the temptation to hopelessness. Why? Because you know already that you have
soiled and fouled your life. Worst
of all, probably you are unsure even of what soils and disfigures your
life. Given the naught-producing
conditions of this present existence, how can you be certain about what stains
the soul?
Listen to Solomon. The key is to focus your thoughts and
acts always to “please God” (vs. 10). Since He loves you, He will quickly
reveal truth, justice, and honesty even while you are “living among
sinners” (vs. 10), so that “wickedness” (vs. 11) will not
“alter [your] understanding, or deceit beguile [your] soul”(vs. 11).
There is hope in that possibility.
Think of it! Should you see
and know the truth clearly, embrace it and practice it, then
you will fend off all the assaults of “bewitching...naughtiness”
and your own “wandering concupiscence” (vs. 12).
But, there’s a rub! You ask, How
can I please God in thought, word, and deed, given my frailty? The Lord gave Solomon great wisdom in
this matter, so listen to him. He
notes that the righteous man was “made perfect in a short time”
(vs. 13). The word made perfect
in the original is teleiotheis. It means to be completed. Being completed as human beings is a
work of restoration, a process of putting thoughts, inclinations, desires, and
actions back into their intended place and functioning. And Who does
this? God, of course, for He can
make perfect “in a short time” (vs. 13). Yes, He can complete you quite rapidly if
you will work with Him.
In the last verse (14), Solomon provides the
essential component in the perfecting or completing process - “grace and
mercy” from God (vs. 14). The
wise Prophet of God assures us that the Lord “hath respect unto His
chosen” (vs. 14). How can you
become the chosen of God?
O Master, Who couldst not endure to behold
mankind oppressed by the Devil, but didst come and save us: we proclaim Thy
mercy. We conceal not Thy
grace. Save us and help us!
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