Orthodox Sermons & Articles

Today is the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, whose faith had been tested and who had witnessed their dedication to their faith in the coming Messiah. All of the Forefathers lived in Old Testament times and therefore lived in expectation of the Messiah’s coming. Today’s celebration of their faith and deeds brings some security to our Orthodox Faith, as we are the inheritors of their true faith in the Lord.

Although their faith was in the Messiah Who was yet to come, and we believe in the Messiah Who came and saved humanity from the bondage of sin, both they and us believe in the same Messiah, the Savior of the world. Their hope had been fulfilled in the same manger in Bethlehem, where we found the beginning of our salvation. Their reasonable expectations had been materialized in Jesus Christ a long time after their deaths, while we believe in those same expectations which have already been fulfilled. Long before our births, the manger in Bethlehem became the place in which the faith of the Forefathers became our faith and their dreams became our reality. Therefore, since Adam and Eve, the faith in the One God Who would deliver His people according to His promise, has always been true and trustworthy. This is why the Orthodox Church has established for us this special recognition of our Forefathers who were glorified by their outstanding faith in the Promise of God – the Messiah.

Today’s celebration of the Forefathers also brings to us a new perception of God’s way. God always sends us something for our salvation. This special care we call God’s Providence. Both the Old and New Testaments are full of examples of His deep care for His beloved creatures. Although we humans were not faithful to God from the very beginning, He has been faithful to us since our first breath. He cared for the people of the Old Testament just as much as He cares for us who live under New Testament. God has been calling all people to salvation since our first fall in the Garden of Eden. He still calls us today to come and share with Him His Heavenly Kingdom.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus Christ, who is God’s Promise incarnate, once again invites us all to come to the feast in Heaven. As the Son of God, He knows that we people in our majority will reject His precious invitation, in favor of truly undeserving things. In today’s parable, Jesus uses three major themes from human life to show us how we build excuses not to come to His feast. It happens because we value temporal things much more then eternal things. We know that this is true because we are tied up with our temporal things much more then with the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ. For some of us, going to Church or saying a simple prayer at home is harder than plowing a field. Everything works as an excuse for us: "I have bought a piece of ground [a house, a farm], and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused. … I have bought five yoke of oxen [a boat, a tractor, machinery] and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused. … I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come" (Luke 14:18-20).

God, as we see from the parable, does not consider any of these excuses as credible because what God offers is of much greater value and importance. Eternal life with our Savior is so superior that it cannot be compared with any or all of our earthly activities put together. If we reject God’s invitation, we lose our bondage with Him. This happens not because God no longer wants us but because we have decided that we do not want God.

Jesus was telling this parable to the Jews in the hope that they would understand their unfortunate position if they rejected the last call of the Son of God. God also called them to share His Kingdom with Him before Christ’s coming through the prophets. However, many of the Jews have failed to recognize both the prophets’ foretelling and His kindness, and therefore, have paid the price of the three from the parable who were rejected completely. This parable indicates also that the Gentiles will come in instead of those who were called and will fill up the Kingdom of God giving Him praises and honor.

Dear brothers and sisters, we are living proof of this parable! Although we are not Jews, we are called to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us not repeat the mistakes of old Israel! Let us stay firmly in faith and follow the commandments we have from our Savior Jesus Christ. We need to do so in order to become worthy to enter such a high place. The way each of us leads our lives indicates how we value this high calling. Let us reevaluate our priorities so that we do not reject our Savior’s invitation.

St. Paul the Apostle teaches us today, as to how we should lead our lives in order to remain worthy of The Heavenly Kingdom. In his letter to the Colossians, he says that if we want to appear with Christ in glory, we need to "put to death our members which are on earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Col. 3:4-5).

Today’s epistle reading from St. Paul’s letter is, basically, the same parable the Jesus told to the Jews in today’s Gospel. Paul also warns us that if we do not leave out all the above-mentioned defects of the old man, that wrath might come upon us as upon the sons of disobedience. Jesus was saying the same thing when He mentioned God’s anger to those who rejected the invitation.

In our Baptism, we become new persons. Therefore, St. Paul the Apostle also advises us to "put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another" (Col. 3: 8-9). Just as Jesus taught that other people besides Jews would be brought in to the Heavenly Kingdom, St. Paul teaches, "There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all" (Col. 3:11). In Jesus, we all are Christians! For Christ, there is no favorite nationality. All nations are treated with the same love and attitude! Therefore, we also have to demonstrate love, which is the bond of perfection (Col. 3:14) and follow Christ into His Kingdom by fulfilling his commandments and proclaiming salvation to the world. Let us not forget to watch for the things are important for us, because on each might depend our salvation. May the Lord God give us the wisdom to make the right choice between important and unimportant things. May the example of the Forefathers encourage us to remain faithful to our God until the end. Amen.