DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
2 Timothy 2:20-26 (12/14) Epistle for Monday of the
Twenty-Eight Week after Pentecost
Servants of Honor I ~ Do Good
Works: 2 Timothy 2:20-26, especially vs. 21: “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself...he will be a
vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good
work.” We are approaching the Nativity of Christ Himself. Remember that this Letter to Timothy
from Saint Paul
is instruction from the Lord’s own Apostle directed to an entry-level
servant - another worker like you and me.
The Apostolic writer and all believers are servants of the Master - our
only God and Savior. So, read with
healthy attention, appropriate to a servant. And be open to instruction from one of
the Master’s finest trainers, to become a servant of honor. For surely you and I labor “...in
a great house...” (vs. 20) with the prospect that we may each become a
blessed vessel for honor (see vs. 21).
Saint Paul teaches us to cleanse ourselves (vs. 21), for until we
determine truly to be purified we will not be useful to the Master for good
works. Cleansing is the primary
effort that precedes being “...prepared for every good work” (vs.
21). It is the basic regimen of all
entry-level servants. And note that
cleansing efforts have both negative and positive aspects, both of which must
be carried out simultaneously: fleeing from “...youthful lusts...” and
pursuing “...righteousness, faith, love, peace...out of a pure
heart” (vs. 22).
First, then, be sure to understand rightly what it means to
flee from “...youthful lusts...” (vs. 22). The Holy Fathers of Orthodoxy learned
from Saint Paul
and from spiritual struggle to understand lust, or epithymia,
as strong desire arising from the soul.
Gregory of Sinai points out that “The soul by virtue of its
creation as a deiform...entity possesses an intrinsic power of desire and an
intrinsic incessive power, and these lead it to
manifest both courage and divine love.” However, he points out,
“...the soul has acquired the qualities of the passions or, rather, of
the demons; and the powers of the body and the soul have...produced a
single animal driven impulsively by anger and desire.” So we are able to find in ourselves:
uncleanness, licentiousness, love of material things, and desire for glory,
gold, wealth, and the pleasures of the flesh. Do we know the upwellings
of lust for such things in ourselves?
Indeed, who is free from every trace of unlawful
desires? which
brings us to fleeing from lusts after every kind of thing - more than are even
mentioned by Saint Gregory. So,
fleeing is where we begin cleansing ourselves. Thus let us pray and fast, and the Holy
Spirit will identify our most troublesome sins, and strengthen us to flee
(see vs. 22) - a most appropriate term, for it suggests earnestly running from
the first sight or hint of sinful desires as they awaken within.
The Apostle includes two other activities along with
fleeing that make up cleansing (vs. 21): avoiding “...foolish and
ignorant disputes...” (vs. 23) so as not to quarrel
(vs. 24). And, we must seek
from God the gift of repentance (vs. 25). Saint
Paul places greatest emphasis on this latter -
attained by all-important striving to change the heart. By repentance alone will we
“...know the truth, and...come to [our] senses
and escape the snare of the devil...” (vss. 25,26).
Do you see how the Apostle couples cleansing from sin with
pursuing virtues in life (vs. 22)?
The two activities must be carried on together, which is why he
interweaves them as he teaches.
Hence, Saint Thalassios says, “Strive to
love every man equally, and you will simultaneously
expel all the passions.”
Pursuing virtues, as the Apostle suggests, is an active, purposeful
acquisition of righteousness, faith, love, and peace. These are good works to be done. Saint
Paul mentions other positive activities that must be
included in the overall pursuit of righteousness: one must be gentle to all,
understanding, and patient (vs. 24), correcting in humility (vs. 25). These good works are proven aids in
attaining honor as servants.
O Christ, keep us ever as warriors
invincible, and make us victors even unto the end.
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