DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 Nativity Fast Venerable
Daniel, Stylite of
Kellia: Susanna 31-64
Epistle: Hebrews 4:1-13
Gospel:
Before Man & God: Susanna 31-64 LXX, especially vs.
60: “With that all the
assembly cried out with a loud voice, and praised God, who saveth
them that trust in Him.”
In the proceedings of all courts of law, the decision-making of solemn
assemblies, and the trials through which anyone may pass, men are present and
God is present. Yes, outcomes are
important. Who is not appalled at
the travesties that pass for some judicial processes? How many ill-conceived laws have entered
the statutes in societies across the world? Do not our hearts ache for those who
suffer well-meant therapies and still die?
In all cases men have acted as they believed and chose, but God also was
present and active. Blessed are
those who endure the actions of men, knowing that God is present. Following her sentence
to die, “Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, O everlasting
God, that knowest the secrets, and knowest all things before they be” (vs.42).
Again,
consider this account: “Father Nicholas came out of the altar with the
Chalice pronouncing: ‘With fear of God and faith and love draw
nigh!’ He took it back into
the altar and went out to read the prayer of dismissal. At that moment, four cheka
men, without removing their hats, walked into the church and headed toward the
altar. Fr. Nicholas blocked their
way and said, ‘You may step in only over my corpse. You may not stand here.’
‘We need to talk to you,’ they
said.
‘When I finish!’ decisively
answered Fr. Nicholas, ‘then you can talk with me. I cannot talk with you now. Move away
from here.’
They waited. In the meantime the church emptied
little by little. The parishioners
abandoned him, and only five people stood through to the end. Fr. Nicholas consumed the Holy Gifts,
removed his vestments and came out.
‘Your church is closed,’ the chekists announced....Fr. Nicholas was probably executed
immediately after his arrest.”
In Susanna’s case, there was a miracle,
a divine reversal, caused by prophetic action. In the case of the Priest Nicholas
Derzhavin, there was a glorious crown of martyrdom. Do not fail to see that God was present
at both trials. Embrace His
presence in these cases and during the struggles of all men. The people condemned Susanna
“legally” (vs. 41), according to the testimony of two witnesses
(Deut. 17:6). They were wrong. Then, the Prophet Daniel challenged the
verdict and resumed the proceedings, and the same assembly “arose against
the two elders....and according to the law of Moses they did unto them in such
sort as they maliciously intended to do to their neighbour:
and they put them to death” (Sus 61,62). Well-meaning people make mistakes. Evil-minded men succeed in their
plots. And God always is present.
The two elders never mentioned God (vss. 1-40). Concerning
Susanna it is recorded from the start that she was “one that feared the
Lord” (vs. 2). In the face of
her sentence to death, her relationship with God remained foremost - she prayed
(vss. 42,43). At her acquittal, all praised God. In the midst of the proceedings touching
on their lives only the two on trial - Susanna and Father Nicholas - remained
firmly rooted in the knowledge of God until “the Lord raised up the holy
spirit of a young youth whose name was Daniel” in Susanna’s case
(vs. 45).
Let the account of these brave servants of God
plant in your heart the knowledge that “God is everywhere present and fillest all things.” Nothing happens apart from His will,
even when men successfully oppose Him.
Remember that all actions of men occur before God’s eyes.
Almighty God unto Whom
all hearts are open, all desires known, and from Whom no secrets are hid,
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit.
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