Orthodox Sermons & Articles

The Apostles of Christ could not free the boy from demoniac influence. Therefore, his father came to Jesus in tears, hoping for the best. As a wise Teacher, the Lord uses this situation to help all of the people present there to understand their own errors. He uses very strong words to tell them that they had no faith in God whatsoever. Focusing their attention on their lack of faith, Jesus opens people’s spiritual eyes on another subject – the necessity of praying and fasting.

 

Therefore, the second subject of the Gospel focuses on this theme. We need to continually pray and fast, because combined with firm faith they are the strongest weapons against demons. In His answer to the Disciples’ question about their inability to help the epileptic boy, Jesus told them that they could not cast the demon out because of their unbelief (Matt. 17:20). "However," Jesus said at the end, "this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting" (Matt. 17:21). We can therefore conclude that if we do not exercise these two necessary habits, we can come under the influence of unclean spirits. Therefore, when we hear that someone has doubts about the necessity of fasting and prayers, we have to refer him or her to this Gospel passage.

 

The third important subject of today’s gospel reading is the Disciples’ confusion about some spiritual matters in the early stages of their Apostleship. We have to remember that at that time the Disciples were in the process of spiritual growth as well. Only after the Resurrection of Christ were their minds fully opened to the understanding of the Scriptures. The Disciples of Christ were mostly ordinary fishermen with only rudimentary education. They learned their lessons from their successes as well as their mistakes.

 

At this time, Jesus shows the rest of the world what the grace of God can accomplish. Those who were not well educated, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, became the ones who enlightened the entire world with the Good News of salvation. Today’s Gospel shows us the process of their education, which is important for our own personal education, and therefore for our spiritual growth.

 

The Epistle reading today is addressed not only to the Corinthians but to the rest of the Christian world as well. The Church of Corinth was not persecuted. Christians could express their beliefs openly, and were able to freely gather and pray. However, this freedom did not serve them well, as some of them started to pride themselves on having a so-called "higher" status. St. Paul the Apostle uses irony and sarcasm as a medicine to heal this spiritual wound caused by Corinthians’ sinful pride.

 

The relative comfort of the Corinthian Christians is contrasted with the persecuted, poverty-stricken and uncertain life of the Apostles. Using this unusual method of education, Paul expressed the obvious fact that the Corinthians received Christianity from those whom they initially considered to be fools, weak and dishonored. Indeed, the Apostles had been persecuted, dishonored and homeless; however, they brought Christianity to the Corinthians. This fact was very soon forgotten in Corinth and they were acting as if they started Christianity. "Why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" St. Paul asked them in his letter (1 Cor. 4:7). Permit me to rephrase the following ironic questions of St. Paul, in order for us to more completely understand the situation in Corinth at that time.

 

"You call us [the Apostles] fools; but how can you consider yourselves as wise if you received this teaching from the fools? You call us weak; but how did you become strong if you received the teaching from the weak? You call us dishonored; but why do you call yourselves distinguished if you accepted our preaching" (1 Cor. 4:10). Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, the problem that occurred in Corinthian Church was a problem of pride and selfishness. There were many preachers in Corinth who acted as if they started Christianity rather than the Apostles who first received it from Christ. As their spiritual father who brought to them the light of Gospel (1 Cor. 4:15), Paul strikes them with spiritual rod of humility.

 

At the end of the today’s epistle passage, we heard St. Paul’s words: "Therefore I urge you, imitate me" (1 Cor. 4:16). This recommendation is appropriate for us as well. Christians around the world often forget who brought them Christianity. "For though you might have ten thousands instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel" (1Cor. 4:15) writes St. Paul. We received our faith through the Apostles; however, people do not think that they have to read their writings and teachings anymore. Many of us consider ourselves wise just as the Corinthians did. Their mistake was rejection of the Apostles and proclaiming themselves as wise and strong instructors.

 

Our Orthodox Church follows the apostolic tradition which rejects self-proclaimed instructors. Therefore, we have the strongest base to build our salvation on. All we need is to recognize our inability to get to the Heavenly Kingdom without the teachings from the Apostles or from the legitimate inheritors of their teachings, the Bishops of our church. As we heard from the Gospel reading, the Apostles learned from Jesus all the things that they have been teaching to us. This work for salvation, dear brothers and sisters, has to start inside us as soon as possible so that we have time to bring forward fruit. Therefore, let us come to church and learn about the apostolic tradition. Let us invite others to listen to the Orthodox teachings and help them to return to the basis of Christianity. Let us not to pride ourselves on our teaching but humble ourselves to the instruction of the Apostles. May we inherit heavenly Kingdom through the prayers of the Apostles of Christ and Holy Fathers of the Church. Amen.