DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Wednesday,
December 20, 2006 Nativity Fast Hieromartyr Ignatios the
God-Bearer
Kellia:
Exodus 24:8-14
Epistle: 2 Timothy
4:9-22
Gospel: St. Mark 10:11-16
Servants of Honor
III ~ Distinguish Themselves: 2 Timothy
4:9-22, especially vs. 16: “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook
me. May it not be charged against
them.” Truly, there are named and unnamed Christians who fail
at tests of their faith; but the names of many, such as Timothy, Luke, Mark,
Priscilla, Aquila, and Onesiphorus, are well known to readers of the New
Testament. These servants of the
Lord stand out from a list of lesser-known disciples whose names also are found
in the New Testament, for the distinguished ones proved themselves by
diligence, usefulness in ministry, obedience, loyalty and prayer for all the
brethren. Certainly our Master
ever commends any such servant: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”
(Mt. 25:21,23).
The Apostle Paul likewise urges these virtues
upon all, even as he pressed Timothy to be diligent
in coming to him quickly (2 Tim. 4:9).
Diligence is widely respected in all cultures. Among his Proverbs, the
wise Solomon affirmed that “it is fit that one...diligent in his business
should attend on kings” (Prov. 22:29 LXX), and who better serves the King of
kings than His diligent servant?
Even the pre-Christian, Greek historian, Xenophon, recognized that “ the
gods do not give what is really good and beautiful without effort and
diligence,” and Samuel Johnson spoke similar advice to his English readers:
“Few things are impossible to diligence and skill.” Along with the grace of God, our own diligence in Christ
helps us “preserve our baptism garment and the earnest of the Spirit pure and
undefiled unto the dread Day of Christ our God.”
For all our diligence, the efforts of each of
us must also must be focused and carried out to be “useful for ministry” (2 Tim. 4:11). St. Mark’s usefulness for ministry caused St. Paul to single
him out because he had served him so effectively, so usefully in the Apostolic
tasks of ministry. To be of use to
the Church’s ministry, even at an entry level in which we all share, requires
love for the beauty of God’s house and a willingness to strive for fruitfulness
and righteousness. Even more it is
the prayer of the Church that our Priests be marked by innocency, a worthiness
to minister the word of [God’s] truth, and a desire to renew God’s people
through all the days of life. Let
each of us strive to assure that the entire ministry of our parish or community
is useful in the hands of God for carrying out His mission in the world.
The obedient
servant is distinguished in God’s eyes as the one who stands by the Apostolic
Faith when Truth is brought to trial (vs.16). Remember that while all of the Disciples fled in the dark
of night from the Garden of Gethsemane,
yet St. Peter followed along after Jesus and the arresting party (Mt.
26:58). Furthermore, we know that
it was St. John the Beloved Disciple who stood at the Cross even unto the
Master’s death (Jn: 19:26.27).
What happens in a parish when there are a string of disasters involving
the clergy or lay leaders of the congregation? It is then that one discerns who are the obedient servants
that do not desert, flee, or wander off.
One of the finest marks of great servants of
God, a characteristic which distinguishes them above the many, is a capacity to
beseech God not to charge the faults
of other brethren “against them”(2
Tim. 4:16), a quality St. Paul himself demonstrates in this Epistle. Rather, whether others in the Church
are diligent or diffident, obedient or rebellious, fruitful or unproductive,
loyal or apostate, the true servant of God prays for them all. To all he says, “To [the Lord Jesus] be
glory forever and ever. Amen (vs. 18), and “The Lord Jesus Christ be with your
spirit. Grace be with you. Amen” (vs. 22). Remember, “prayer is energy of an
especial order. It is the fusing
of two actions - ours, the creature's, and that of the uncreated Divine. As such, it is both in the body and
outside the body; even outside this world of space and time.”
O Holy
Apostles, intercede with the merciful God to grant our souls forgiveness of sins.
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