DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Colossians 3:4-11
(12/13)
Epistle for the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers of Christ
Future, Present, Past: Colossians 3:4-11, especially
vss. 5-7: “Therefore put to
death your members which are on the earth.... Because of these things the wrath of God
is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once
walked....” Read the Epistle for today and note the grammatical tenses
- the references to time - in each verse or phrase; for the entire working of
salvation, stretching from the past to the present and into the future, is
summarized in these brief lines. As
the Apostle exhorts us concerning the manner of our present life, he looks
ahead to the future judgment in swift, impressionistic strokes; and so, he
returns to the present where we daily evaluate, decide, act, and live, to
encourage us to live always for Christ.
As this passage begins, the Apostle holds up our present
condition: “...Christ Who is our life...” (vs.
4). However, as he speaks of
the life in Christ, he also places the present within the future. What future? The time yet to come, when the
Life-Giver will appear: “...then you also will appear with Him in
glory” (vs. 4). Participating
in the Mystery of Christ at present as a member of His Body, astonishingly, we
are on a path toward the future glory that shall be.
Those who know and firmly hold on to Christ in the depth of
their being will share in His magnificence when He is manifested in glory. Wondrously, those who live, motivated by
their belief in Him, are to be glorified together with Him (Rom. 8:17). We would be utterly at a loss to receive
these words if we did not have the revelation of the glory of God in the flesh,
the record of “Wonder” Himself, Who was incomprehensibly born among
us in human form that our senses may comprehend. He enables us to project from our
limited present to a glorious future.
In the reading, the Apostle invites us to consider what is
demanded of the Faithful in the present by a certain future to come:
“Therefore put to death your members which are upon the earth...” (vs. 5). He
lists what must be mortified: “...fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil
desire and covetousness, which is idolatry” (vs. 5). Consider the extent to which these sins
operate in us now.
Saint John Chrysostom explains the present need to mortify
ourselves by having us imagine one who “...has clean scoured a statue
that was filthy, or rather who has recast it, and displayed it bright afresh,
[as if he] should say that the rust was eaten off and destroyed, and yet should
again recommend diligence in clearing away the rust. He doth not contradict himself, for it
is not that rust which he scoured off that he recommends should be cleared
away, but that which grew afterwards.” New and former sins alike
can begin anew to corrode our hearts and souls. Now, therefore, we need to continuously
purify and cleanse the traces of sin that threaten to grow within us so that we
may be found worthy of the glorious, future appearing of our Savior.
Having encouraged us by means of a God-promised, ineffable
future, the Apostle also reminds us of another of God’s promises: of
future retribution upon those who disobey Him. The sons of disobedience will
face wrath when the Lord returns (vs. 6).
Further,
Returning to
Grant a Christian ending to our life and a good defense
before Thy dread Judgment seat.
Return to the December Calendar