Orthodox Sermons & Articles

This miracle teaches us to be patient in our illnesses and when we have any kind of trouble. The two had to follow Jesus all the way to His house and this trip was not an easy task for them as they were blind. However, during this walk, their faith became even stronger and their perseverance became more persistent. Exactly the same is happening to us, dear brothers and sisters, when God "prolongs," so-to-say, our sufferings. In this, we should always see the wise Providence, the goal of which is to make us more "suitable" for the coming healing or change. God always acts for the best for our souls and, therefore, for our salvation.

 

However, looking at the second miracle from today’s Gospel reading we will not find the same healing pattern as we saw in the first one. Here Jesus did not ask the dumb man for his faith but simply cast out the source of the disability in the man, the devil. What is the difference between these two incidents? We can find the answer in the Church’s teaching about our free will. The Church teaches us that each individual has a very special gift from God, which is free will. We were created in God’s image, which included having free will in similarity to our Creator’s characteristics. The first miracle in the Gospel we read today emphasizes the necessity to freely give ourselves into God’s hands. God will never assault us in any way. He waits for us as the Father who waits for his son to freely come to Him and He wants us to freely open our hearts to Him. Only then, can He make a change in our heart and heal us of whatever infirmity we have. The will of the two blind men was not restricted by someone else. Therefore, Jesus asked them if they had faith in Him, so that they would willingly open their hearts to Him.

 

In the second case, free will of the dumb man was controlled by the devil. Being possessed by the unclean spirit, a person cannot always do what he or she wants to do because their will is being controlled by it. This is why merciful Jesus simply liberates the soul of the dumb man without any questions. The two men freely gave their will to God, and here God liberates the will of the man so that he could freely turn it to his Savior. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, the Love of God is always expressed to us in the most unique way and in reference to each individual problem or suffering.

 

The gospel passage today ends with the words, "And Jesus was going about all the towns and villages … curing every kind of disease and infirmity in people" (Matt. 9:35). This sentence witnesses that Jesus was serving people, as He came "to serve and not to be served" (Matt. 20:28). This theme was strongly supported in the Epistle reading today as well. St. Paul the Apostle in his letter to the Romans explains to all the Christians how we should help others to gain maturity in faith. According to St. Paul, it can be done by "bearing the infirmities of the weak, instead of catering to ourselves" (Rom. 15:1). He explains the way to fulfill his recommendations, "Let every one of you please his neighbor by doing good for his edification" and points out to Christ who "did not seek His own pleasure".

 

Last Sunday we were talking about how society becomes more a society of independent individuals than of united brothers. Today’s Epistle and Gospel reading convince us once again that we have to be UNITED around Christ showing love and respect to each other, and doing only good for our neighbor’s edification. St. Paul explains why it is so important to be united in spirit, "so that being one in spirit you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 15:6). This oneness can be achieved only if there is mutual love and willingness to help each other.

 

Do we do this, dear brothers and sisters? Do we love and support each other or drag each other to courts over simple misunderstandings? Do we forgive each other or do we judge each other? The answer to these questions depends on our attitude to God because we cannot say that we love God and at the same time see our neighbor. Love cannot be one-sided or selfish. St. Paul says, "Wherefore receive one another as Christ has received you, in a manner that gives honor to God" (Rom. 15:7). How did Christ receive us, humans? We were full of sin and every immorality, we were roaming in the forest of our selfishness, but Jesus, the Holy One, accepted us as we were because He knew that His sacrificial love would definitely change us. Therefore, let us receive each other with love and forgiveness. Let us exercise patience and we will receive consolation from "the God of patience and comfort" (Rom. 15:5). Let us go back to unity and flee from individual pride. We ought to pray for each other and please each other by doing good to our edification, therefore, let us open our hearts and brace each other in God’s name, so that with one mouth and one heart we may glorify and praise the name of the Holy Trinity. Let us help each other to survive our earthly life with Christian dignity to the glory of God.

 

Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ and His Apostles in one accord preached love to each other. If it were not so important, we would not hear about it almost every Sunday reading the Gospel or the Epistle. Therefore, let us try to forgive each other and live together exercising true Christian love to each other. In time, this will fortify our faith and lift up our spirit. May the God of true love shine upon us His Divine Grace. Amen.