Category: Teaching

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The True Bridegroom

The following is the homily from Isaac and Rebecca Michayluk’s wedding.

The only thing I remember from the sermon at my wedding was when the priest said that we were a cross-cultural couple (my wife and I are from different countries). He told us we would develop our own traditions, for example, how we celebrate Christmas or how we would say grace. We were going to form our own family with our own values and vision. That is actually what it means to be “one flesh:” one flesh is one family unit

That priest pointed out that our key value was being Christians. We had decided to get married young and in the church because that was consistent with our faith. He said observed that this set us apart from our peers at that time like it does today for you.

Rebecca and Isaac, you are also a cross-cultural marriage. You have two equally beautiful and dignified cultures to celebrate and be proud of. Two of them. And a third one as well, which will be your own special hybrid. You have also invited God to come to your wedding. You have put him first  You have asked for his blessing here in the Church.

It is common to give lots of advice in the wedding homily, but you will get plenty of that at the reception later. Apparently, you already got a bunch of marriage advice at the bridal shower, too. Some say, “Don’t go to bed angry.” I heard that one person said do go to bed angry because you don’t think straight when you’re tired.” I like that.

I’m not going to give you advice about when to go to bed or how much chocolate you should give her on Valentine’s Day because everyone has either done that or will do it later tonight. Plus, we spent several hours doing marriage prep. I think I know better than anyone how much work you have already put into this marriage and how mindful and dedicated you are. Keep doing that! And anyway, whether you make sure not to go to bed angry or make sure that you are angry when you go to bed, God must perform miracles every day for any marriage to survive. The miracle God performs is that he comes to abide with us. God comes to abide in us as well.

In the wedding service’s prayers we just read,  we asked God to fill your house with wheat, wine and oil. I don’t know if you thought about it, but that’s what we say at Great Vespers before great feasts when we have Artoklasia and bless the artos bread.  We ask God to bless this wheat, wine and oil, multiply it and give it also to the poor. In the marriage service, we remember that marriage has a purpose: to equip you for every good work. Marriage is given to you so that you can bless others. We observed we are given marriage and procreation so that we can educate children in faith and the fear of God. God abides in us and with us so that as spouses we can do every good work, bless others and educate children. That is what a wedding is about.

Considering that, I want to remind everyone about the greatest wedding that ever was, which all other weddings should imitate. Which one is that? The following is a hymn is from Holy Week, when we are remembering death and resurrection of Christ, as he married his bride, the Church. We sing:

Behold, the Bridegroom cometh at midnight, and blessed is the servant whom he shall find awake. But he whom he shall find neglectful is verily unworthy. Behold, therefore, oh my soul. Beware lest thou fallest into deep slumber and the door of the kingdom be closed against thee. But be thou wakeful, crying out, “Holy, holy, holy art thou, O God.”

We also sing:

I behold thy bridal chamber richly adorned, O my saviour. But I have no wedding garment to worthily enter. Make radiant the garment of my soul, O giver of life, and save me.

Here is the church’s marriage advice:

Don’t fall into deep slumber. That means don’t be careless, take each other for granted or neglect your calling to serve your community.

Be wakeful. Actively look for opportunities and duties. Embrace and collect commitments to your community and family. God dwells with you in your duty and commitments. His yoke is easy. But he gives you a yoke. Lean into it.

Get a radiant garment. I don’t want the reason you go to your prayer corner to be that “we should do this.” I want you to pray because you cannot be the spouse, parent, or community member others need you to be unless you have the heart of prayer: wakefulness, peacefulness, humility, and God-centredness. That is a wedding garment.

I remember the priest at our wedding talking about a multi-cultural marriage and how we should continue to put God first, making him the main feature of the mini-culture we would create from two. I hope you remember that, but even more, I hope you think of your wedding every time we have bridegroom matins in Holy Week. I hope you will pray that Jesus will make your marriage like the bridal chamber where God is saving the world through the self-sacrifice and holiness of Jesus Christ, our true Bridegroom.

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Love to the End

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 1:6-2:6; 4:7-5:5)

When we say, “Love is perfected,” we mean that love has reached its goal. There is one word for “perfected,” and it is the same word Jesus said when he died: “it is finished.” That takes three words in English, but one word in Greek: tetelestai means it is “finished”. Tetelomenē is the love that is perfected and has reached its goal. It is “love to the end.” That is literally what it means. “Love to the end. To the goal.” “It is finished,” says Jesus as he dies for us to take away our sins and give us eternal life. This is the “perfected” love John is talking about.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear. Imperfect love, however, does not drive out fear. The torment of a guilty conscience, or a love that holds back, makes us angry and resentful, killing our peace. If you are agitated and angry, it is because you are afraid, and if you have fear, it is because you do not have that perfectly obedient and perfectly trusting love that comes from God. If we love God and love each other, we have boldness at the judgment; fearlessness. Perfect love abandons everything and throws itself into the arms of God.

So basically, if you want to say you love others, you must keep the commandments of God. Your love for others is flawed and misguided if you are not obedient to God’s commandments. It is a false love. It is not how Jesus loves.

In this passage, St. John says that if you do not obey Jesus’commandments, you have no communion with him. You are not his partner. You are not part of his Church if you do not follow his commandments. Those words are like a sharp dagger. Do not think that just because St. John always talks about love, he never talks about the fearsome justice of God. This is very serious. St. John the Theologian is an Apostle and a spiritual father. He is not a teddy bear. He is the Apostle who lay on Jesus’ chest at the supper, the one who refers to himself as “the disciple Jesus loved.” But he preaches about the fearsome God, not a tame God.

It doesn’t matter how much you think you love others, how much compassion you think you feel for others; if you are not obedient to the people God has put in authority over you, you do not love in the fullest sense. St. John says if you do not obey God, your love is not “perfected.” And God calls you to obey those in authority over you.

This perfected love is love that “has reached its goal.’ Obeying God is the fullest expression of love. Obeying God and those he has given authority over you was the point all along. God loves his people, and he creates order and harmony for his people. Your one-on-one experience is part of the plan of God for his people. First and foremost, his commandment is that you observe the loving, life-giving order. Serve others in an ordered, chaste, humble manner. Love your neighbour by getting along with all your neighbours. That is God’s love for you, and that is how you show God’s love to the world. That is the true heart of love. You are not one with Christ, who died and “finished” and perfected our salvation, if you do not obey him. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. There’s that word again. He perfects our faith. Without obedience, there is no perfect love nor perfect faith.

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore, you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For this reason, you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour.

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:1-10)

All Christians must also submit to the church’s authorities, children must obey parents, wives must submit to their husbands, and servants must obey their masters. I take this not as a law that justifies slavery, but rather, employees should obey their employers and do an honest day’s work. Young people must respect elders. We must all fear God.

We modern Western Christians, even when we become Orthodox, love our sentimentality, individualism and our customized experience of Christianity. When we tell ourselves that we are loving and empathetic, many of us do love others and do have empathy. Yet, sometimes we show love and empathy because we want to be accepted by the people we have say we love. Sometimes, we get angry on behalf of others, and our actual motivation is to be accepted by them or to be seen as compassionate. Often, our righteous anger is merely a way of pretending to be compassionate and loving. It is often born out of our fear of being judged by the world. But that is not actually love. It is not God’s love.

If we do not have a love that goes all the way to obedience, love that goes “to the end” and pushes through to humility, it is not the perfected love. If we do not have that love, we become (secretly) afraid of the last judgment. We think, “Well, at least I have helped the poor and needy and lonely. At least, I advocated for the people that the world tells me are victims. Perhaps it will make up for my lack of obedience and my ambivalence towards the difficult words of Christ.” Keep serving, but serve Jesus’ way.

Showing charitable empathy and compassion is a wonderful thing. The man who came to Jesus and said he obeyed all the ten commandments was told, “You lack one thing. Go sell everything you have and give the money to the poor.” He was only lacking one thing. Only one thing. We should infer that he had all the other necessarythings. Compassion for the poor was not the only thing necessary; it was the one thing that he lacked.

But for you, it might be the other way around. You can give everything to the poor, but if you have contempt for the commandments of God, you do not have communion with Christ. There is no communion with Christ or with your fellow man unless you have the kind of love that expresses itself in righteousness and obedience. Jesus assumed all of humanity. If you do not love him the way he said, you do not love humanity. He said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” That is the full and truest kind of love. And it is not sensational, it doesn’t get anyone’s attention, and you cannot self-congratulate quite as much because it doesn’t feel euphoric. You can “remain” in that perfect love, however, by continuing to obey God when your flesh is kicking and screaming. You must remain, stay faithful. If you remain in him, you have consistency and steadfastness in obedience. Then you “love to the end” and without exception.

One of the clearest signs of a false love is when you cannot get along at home, at work or in the other places where you feel most at home and therefore take the most liberties. Sometimes that place where we feel most at home is even in our church community. In private, or in a space where you are familiar with people and feel safe, your fear often manifests as anger and judgment. We are not polite at home in the same way we are with strangers. We do not self-censor with people who are familiar the same way we do with strangers. We do not always care how we make our spouse feel, or our children.

If we are compassionate towards one person or one group of people but angry and hateful towards those who are closest to us, that is because we do not have the fullness of love, perfected love. Real love casts out fear, but false love hides our fear. And when we are afraid, we get angry, hate and lash out. In those familiar safe places, the truth about our ability to love comes out whether we like it or not. What do you actually love?

Does the word “obedience” sound like a prison to you? If so, you have not learned to love. What does God say that you should be doing in your home? In your marriage? Towards your parents or siblings? What is God calling you to say or do in relation to your children? For example, paying attention to them, or perhaps confronting them if needed, being present, putting down the devices, and daring to call them out from behind theirs. What form of self-control or obedience is God calling you to in the home, at work or in your community? This is the place where God wants to make you perfect in love.

Start to “love one another as God loved us” at home, or where you feel most athome. Perhaps this is the lunch room at work, or wherever you have the opportunity to let your hair down. Perhaps you are in the habit of speaking some unpolished truths about your co-workers or your boss. Start to “love one another as God loved us” there. Then you will no longer fear the judgment day. You will no longer be angry and hateful.

You will no longer want to censor God and his Church if you have the fully obedient love of Christ. You will no longer have a secret faith that is almost the same as the Church you belong to. You will no longer be defensive or controlling if you obey the people God has called you to obey. When you are submissive to the people God has called you to be submissive to, fear goes away, and then anger goes away.

The people outside your inner circle will still be there. They will still need your love. The poor, the needy, the lonely, the outsiders will still be there, and you can still serve them. But now it will be less a matter of dulling your own guilty conscience with a self-congratulatory love. Now it will be a love that points towards Christ because you will not only have empathy, you will also have holiness! And that is Jesus’ love; real love. It is the fullness of love.

The whole truth of love is that it is not only meek and compassionate, but also holy. Jesus’ love is empathy, shedding tears for the ones who suffer, and holiness at the same time. When Jesus reached the tomb of his friend, Lazarus, he wept. He explained to Lazarus’ sister that he, Jesus, is the resurrection and the life. Jesus is both the resurrection and the life. If he were just the resurrection, he could raise Lazarus. But he is also the life, meaning he is the life we lead, the lifestyle. Jesus is the way we walk and the way we live. He helps us and reforms us. That is his perfect love. Compassion is holiness, and calling the world to holiness is how we shine the light of the gospel in the darkness of sin and death.

Is your love for the vulnerable both a compassionate love anda love of holiness and obedience? Go home, and go to work, go to where you are most at home and look at your ability to love people compassionately there, in that place. Do you have peace? Do you act in a way that brings peace to the people closest to you? Do you have enough courage to obey? That is real courage. Go there and look at yourself honestly, repent and you will have the answer as to whether you have perfect love.

Now when Jesus came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”

Jesus answered, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”

Theuy reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.”

So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.”

Jesus said, “Then I will not tell you by what authority I do these things. But tell me what you think: a man had two sons, and he went to the first son and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ The son answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then the man went to the second son and said the same thing. And the second son answered, ‘Yes, sir. I will go.’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?”

They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.” (Matthew 21:23-32)

Most of the time when we read this, we read the version that does not have the parable about the two sons. But this version helps us see what Jesus was saying more clearly. Let’s consider the context of this conversation that Jesus is having. Jesus is in Jerusalem, teaching big crowds of people. He had just come into Jerusalem a day or two before, at the head of a great crowd who were shouting, “Hosannah, son of David. Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.” He was making a scene. Jesus was criticizing the Jewish authorities who were standing nearby, listening to him. He was defying them more or less to their face. And they asked him, “What authority do you have to do this? Who do you think you are?”

What they are actually saying is, “Are you claiming to be some kind of messiah freedom fighter who is going to start a popular uprising?” They are daring him to admit to being a revolutionary in front of the crowd, because then they can have him arrested. On the other hand, if Jesus chickens out and does not proclaim himself king, so they think, then they have discredited him in front of the crowd. They believed they had cornered Jesus.

Instead, Jesus cornered them. He put them on the spot and said, “What do you think of John the Baptist? Was he a prophet from God or not?”

This confrontation between Jesus and the authorities in Jerusalem took place after John the Baptist had died at the hands of the friends of these religious leaders. The whole crowd there thought of John the Baptist as a martyr. And Jesus was calling the crowds attention to these people’s association with the murders of John the Baptist. He was also pointing out to the authorities, “I can see how scared you are! You don’t have the guts to say what you really think. You were relieved when they killed John the Baptist, but you are too scared to say it.” If they denounced John the Baptist, the crowds would turn on them and blame them for his death.

These same religious leaders had been angry with Jesus because he associated with sinners like tax collectors and harlots – the very people John the Baptist had preached to before Jesus’ ministry. But Jesus says, “John the Baptist convinced tax collectors and harlots to repent of their sins. But you didn’t repent of your sins.”

Now this is the most important point, and it is surprising. The religious leaders were not very religious, actually. They were disobedient. Jesus said as much. Jesus told his followers that the religious leaders pretended to be pious, but they disobeyed God by cheating and lying. They swore dishonest vows in the name of God! They did not keep the laws, even though they judged others. The only difference was that the leaders devised clever ways of making it look like they were obedient.

They were disobedient, and yet they hated sinners. They were disobedient, and therefore, they had no love for God. They said they obeyed the Father, but they actually hated the Father. That’s why they also hated the children of the Father. They even hated the Only-begotten Son of the Father. Disobedience breeds hatred.

Jesus did not condemn the Pharisees for their strict adherence to the law. He condemned them for their pretense. They did not lack love because they were too righteous. They lacked love because they only pretended to fear God, but actually, they were just as much sinners as the others. They hated Jesus because they hated sincerity.

So Jesus tells them this story that we don’t hear very much in Church: the parable of the two sons.

“A man had two sons, and he went to the first son and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ The son answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then the man went to the second son and said the same thing. And the second son answered, ‘Yes, sir. I will go.’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.”

The one who was obedient (better late than never) had true love for his father. At least he came to his senses and loved his father by obeying him. That is true love.

Listen to Jesus’ words carefully. Jesus never said that what the Pharisees demanded that people do was wrong. He said that they were indifferent to the people for whom the commandments were too heavy. They did not love the people they were supposed to lead and care for. But he did not condemn the law. On the contrary, Jesus told his followers to be more righteous than the Pharisees. He condemned the pretense.

What did the father do in the parable? He did not beat the disobedient son for disobeying. He was patient and went to the second son, giving the first one time to rethink.

The Pharisees were disobedient, and therefore, they were afraid. Because of their fear, they were unable to love the repentant sinners. The fearful and disobedient Pharisees had no fatherly patience with sinners who wanted to change. The Pharisees did not have the light of God. They were children of darkness and were cast out into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Go home and be polite and respectful. Submit when you should submit. Obey when you should obey. Serve when you should serve. Lead with dignity and honour when you should lead. Teach and set an example. Take responsibility.

Spread the life-giving love of God at work. Show gestures of reverence in the holy space of the Church in front of the icons. And then let your mouth be filled with the same reverence for the Church, its leaders and members, when you are downstairs drinking coffee.

“Let our mouths be filled with Thy praise, O Lord, that we may sing of Thy Glory. For Thou hast made us worthy to partake of Thy holy, divine and life-creating mysteries. Keep us in Thy holiness, that all the day we may meditate upon Thy righteousness.”

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Marriage Advice at Cana

Advice at the Wedding in Cana

At that time there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples.  When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”  And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have I to do with you?  My hour has not yet come.”  His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”  Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.   Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.”  And they filled them up to the brim.  He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.”  So they took it.   When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”  This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:1-12)

Ben & Isabelle Regush
August 24, 2025

When I am preaching at a wedding, I try not give a bunch of cliché marriage advice. There will be plenty of that at the reception! Also, the best marriage advice ever given at a wedding was not given to the bride and groom. It was given by Mary to the servants at the wedding in Cana: “Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.” That is what Mary told the servants of the household when they ran out of wine.

Can you imagine the panic those servants were feeling when they ran out of wine? Do you think their master would have accepted responsibility for this problem when he lost face in front of all his guests? Would he reassure them that it wasn’t their fault? No. On the contrary, it probably was the servants’ fault, since they would have been in charge of procuring all of the food and wine. Someone was about to get into big trouble.

That is exactly the moment when we need to be told, “Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.” When you find yourself in a tight spot financially, Jesus says, “Pray.” He says, “My Father provides for the sparrows, I can provide for you.” When we feel angry with our spouse, when we are exasperated with our children, Jesus says, “Come unto me all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) Jesus tells us meekness and humility are how our love survives hardship and fatigue.

When we have just gotten married, everyone is celebrating, and we are dressed up we think, “Finally!” Yet we are also wondering, “How are we going to pull this off? What if we can’t manage?” There are so many things to be worried about, like the servants at the wedding in Cana. Jesus says, “I have overcome the world, fear not.” He does not mean, “Just stop feeling scared. Buck up!” He means that when we follow him, we will be victors with him. When we love to the end and without exception, we are victors over sin and fear. When we are faithful, as he is faithful and just and forgives all our unrighteousness. By listening to him and obeying him, we will endure. We will see how Jesus provides, and how the bland water of our troubles turns into the wine of gladness. We see afterwards how Jesus was always with us the whole time, and we take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.

Worship and prayer keep us centred in everything we do, especially as a couple. You are never of one mind quite as much as when you pray with shared fervour, together, to the same Lord, Jesus Christ. You are calling on his name, and your life is filled with his presence. When you are nervous and hopeful, call on the name of the Lord. When you are comfortable but have stopped daring to hope, call on the name of the Lord. When it all turns out okay, and you are happy, relieved, celebrating, feeling young and in love, call on the name of the Lord.

Your children will hear you do it. You and your children will be filled with wisdom and peace, and you will be given words to say in the midst of your trials. You will be what a husband and wife are meant to be and your home will become a church.

As husband, you will become the priest of the family, speaking words of encouragement to your wife and children. You bring her needs and her prayers to God at the altar of your icon corner.

As a wife, you train your children to look to their father, your family’s head. You will be like Mary who said, “Do whatever he tells you.” You will find joy and safety when you and your children call on the name of the Lord together with your husband. You will say what Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.” Henceforth your children will call you blessed. They will say, “Our mother taught us how to obey.”

This room is filled with people who love you. That is better than any wedding registry. They are all giving you the gift of their prayers. Take those prayers home, together with all that love. You will in your new home thinking, “Finally! Just us:” Take those prayers and love you are being given today and fill your cupboards and drawers with them. Fill your home with the scent of incense, both from your own prayers at home, and from your constant participation in the life at church. Keep praying together. Then you will be given a pure heart, and you will see God in your home.

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Begging To Be Saved

At that time, as Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Luke 18:35-43

In today’s gospel a “multitude” of people are following Jesus through the streets. Being a part of a large movement must have been intoxicating. This whole group of people all agree that Jesus is the one they have been waiting for. Each person might have been thinking, “I get to be a part of the ones who get it!” There must have been a feeling of us, us-ness permeating the group. “We happy few.” Except they were not few. They were gathering steam.

When someone interrupts that moment of joy and wants to do something else, it is really annoying and distracting. It’s like if a young couple are on a date, and really enjoying each other’s company, and then a teacher from their school comes by their table at the restaurant and wants to strike up a conversation. “Oh my gosh! Are you two dating? That’s so cute. What’s good on the menu? What are you having? Brent – make sure to pay. I don’t care what anyone says, it’s always romantic if the guy pays. So what are you doing after dinner? Any plans? My husband and I are celebrating our twentieth wedding anniversary. I remember when I was your age, and we had just met. That seems like yesterday.”

This is a nightmare scenario! The young couple both want to go back to the flow of their conversation. The vibes. Today’s crowd was experiencing something kind of similar. They were in the moment.

Along comes this blind man. That’s not all he was. He was also a beggar, which meant he probably had dirty clothes, probably smelled. He was probably one of those beggars who hassles you every time you walk by. Every time it’s like he thinks you are a bad person when you don’t give him money. It doesn’t matter if you gave him money yesterday. You have probably seen films when a rich person from a more afluent country goes to a poorer country. And all the kids on the street swarm around them asking for money. I know what it is like to be harassed by beggars. It really tears at your heart. We say to ourselves, “I really do care! I promise I do care. But I can’t give you money every day.”

That is the kind of man who wants to talk to Jesus today. This is the guy who doesn’t know or doesn’t care what the vibe is. He is not part of the movement. They assume he doesn’t even care about the movement. He just wants his healing.

Here’s the irony: the very reason there was a crowd surrounding Jesus was that he healed people such as blind beggars. That is what made Jesus famous and beloved. Jesus cared. Jesus had the solution. That is why the crowd was there to begin with. That very crowd, by the way, abandoned Jesus when he was arrested and killed.

Jesus is willing to allow the feeling of us-ness to subside for a moment. Jesus is the one who goes after the lost sheep.

Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight;

And then Jesus adds something that no one was thinking about; maybe even the blind man himself was not thinking about this. Jesus says, “your faith has made you well.”

Faith? Who said anything about faith? What did religion have to do with this? Was this pushy begger a man of great spirituality? Maybe someone in the crowd rolled their eyes and thought themselves, “Jesus, I know you want to think the best of people, but let’s move on now so the blind man go back to his lofty contemplation.”

Was Jesus primary mission to cure blind people and leppers? Can you sum up Jesus’ ministry correctly by saying he was a miracle worker? Can you sum up Jesus’ ministry by saying he preached a gospel of compassion for poor people and outcasts? Jesus was empathetic, but is that an adequate and full description of Jesus?

Absolutely not! Jesus Christ is our Lord and God and Saviour! Jesus is the one who created the heavens and the earth so that he could dwell among men. He became man so we could become divine. He who clothes himself with light as with a garment clothed himself with us. He transformed our very nature. He came to give us eternal life and participation in the energies and uncreated light of God’s holiness!

The crowd in today’s gospel is like a group of people who have come to the palace of a king and are sitting around talking and laughing in the lobby. Meanwhile the blind man is being invited into the throne room to meet with the King of Kings.

They resent him from coming into their lobby. They don’t care if they happen to hurt his feelings or offend him. What if he never goes in to the throne room? Do they themselves even realize there isa throne room? They don’t mind if he is left out. It’s better than ruining the vibe they have out in the lobby of the palace of the king.

How dare we ever reduce Jesus to being empathetic; our pal! How dare we ever reduce the true faith to a membership card we keep in the back of our wallet. How dare we ever reduce Jesus to being the one who never makes anyone feel uncomfortable. How dare we ever become so bewitched by the feeling of us-ness that we lose any sense of urgency for sinners into become saints! What are we doing?

Church is where people find the one who created them. In Church, people are freed from the pain, the sins and the passions that would destroy them for all eternity. Church is the place where someone who is stuck in the hopeless and dark night of sin, breaks out of the spiral that leads them into death and hell. This is serious! That is what Church is about. That is what the Christian community is about. It is about the lost sheep not being devoured by the noetic wolf. It’s about life or death!

It amazes me that Christians can pontificate so fervently against the degradation and rot of society around us. We say, “We don’t believe in that. We don’t accept what they would teach our children.”

That is not wrong and yet some of those same people lack a single-minded dedication to the mission of rescuing people from that degraded society!

The disciples were part of the crowd who wanted Jesus to just walk past the blind man. The disciple actually did that several times; shooing away people who they felt had no business bothering Jesus. But those men, the disciples, became the great apostles and pillars of the church. The disciples who were annoyed with our blind man eventually gave their lives for the sake of finding the lost sheep; for proclaiming that message that is the only hope people can ever have. The disciples spent decades in poverty and persecution. They left behind families and friends. They gave up everything for the joy of seeing even one person changed and transformed by uniting their life to Christ.

Nothing can ever be more important than facilitating the journey of a person from spiritual death into the arms of their heavenly Father. Nothing. If you do not know the joy of watching someone grow into the stature of Jesus Christ you have missed out on the joy for which God created the world. You have missed out on a fundamental aspect of what God created you for. Think about the joy of Pascha. The hymns that say, “Shine, shine, oh new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has shone upon thee. Dance and be glad, and rejoice o thou pure virgin at the rising of thy son.” He has trampled down death by death!

You are a Christian when nothing matters more in your life than the lost sheep being saved from the wolf. You are a Christian when that is what makes you tick. May Jesus give you a sense of crisis and desperation that motivates you and pushes you forcefully to go pull the stinky pushy blind man to Jesus as if your life depended on it because it does! May you be the one who finds the sinful woman that you find disgusting and off-putting; the sinful woman you don’t think will ever change. May you be the one who runs over to her, takes her by her hand and leads her to Jesus so that she can find that saving moment of washing his feet with her tears.

Are you that person? Become that person because then you will not just be in the group of Jesus’ followers; you will be a partner with Jesus as he saves the world.

The gospel reading end with this:

And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

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Longing to Follow Christ

At that time, a man said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

He said to another man, “Follow me.”

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone son of peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town … Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

(Luke 9:57–10:24)

What event was so great that the prophets and kings longed to see it? In Jesus’ day, Jews remembered the glorious ancient Israelite kingdom that existed between about 1050 to 600 BC. In Jesus’ time, people might have said, “If only our nation could be as prosperous as back then! If only our nation still had prophets who heard the voice of God and guided us! If only we had God’s presence in our temple and lived in unity and peace!”

Jesus disagreed. He essentially said, “Back then, they also longed for the same peace and unity you long for. That is because it was something not even they had. What they longed for is happening here and now! They longed for what you see me doing. I am what they longed for. What I am doing now is the real kingdom. The ancient prophets spoke the words of the Holy Spirit. I am the Son of God. You hear the voice of the Holy Spirit more clearly than ever when you hear me teach!”

The ancient kings and prophets were not the “good old days,” according to Jesus. But what was happening in Jesus’ day that was so glorious? Jesus said, “I am essentially homeless. I wander around from village to village, teaching, healing; at the mercy of others’ hospitality.”

People began to say they wanted to follow Jesus. They, too, wanted to be utterly dependent on God because they saw something divine and holy in Jesus that they could not explain.

Some who followed Jesus lost heart and quit, but some continued. Jesus sent seventy faithful followers out to wander around from village to village. Like Jesus, they were to teach and heal. They did what they had seen Jesus do.

Off they went. They taught and healed people with divine power. Like Jesus, they paid a price for it. Just like in the case of Jesus, some people reject the message of the seventy and run them out of town. These disciples made that sacrifice. They answered that call. They trusted God so completely that they put themselves in a position of dependence on God to provide for them in unusual ways.

Suddenly, strangers would welcome them into their homes. God would miraculously orchestrate events such that the disciples received everything they needed. The disciples would tell people, “The Kingdom of God has come near this place.” The Kingdom of God that they were referring to was their own faith in God. The Kingdom of God is their way of living for God. What people hope and long for, peace, hope and salvation, can be found when you leave everything behind to serve God’s people. That is what the kings and prophets longed for. They longed to see people living fully – by giving fully.”

When they disciples met up with Jesus again, he said, “Satan has fallen.” That is to say, the one who entices us into sin, the one who brings death and sickness and hatred, has no power over you now. Jesus’ new way of living, this new path of trusting God, is the salvation of humanity. Sin is being defeated.

Jesus says, “Nothing can hurt you. Not even snakes and scorpions can hurt you because you have my life and follow my way.”

And then!

“At that time, Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Jesus says that the full truth of God is only accessible to humans when they do what these disciples did, which is what Jesus had done first. Because earlier, when he was going to send them out, he said, “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

If people reject Jesus when he says, “You must leave everything for the service of God,” they have rejected God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. If they reject the teaching of Jesus to “love your enemies,” they have rejected God himself. If they reject Jesus when he says, “You must have greater righteousness than the most religious people (the Pharisees),” then they have rejected the God who appointed the ancient kings and spoke through the ancient prophets.

The apostles’ preaching is the voice of God. We live in the Kingdom of Heaven when we do what they teach. They teach us to become one with Jesus by leaving everything else behind.

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Seeds of Martyrdom

The Lord said this parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.” And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.” As he said these things, he cried out “He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (LUKE 8:5-15)

A seed wants to grow because of all the energy inside God plants a seed inside us that wants and strives to become holy. The seed is the word. The Word is Jesus Christ. God’s word is buried in the earth through his death. And he grows up inside us because we were buried with Christ and we rose with him. Jesus’ love and holiness grow within us, striving to produce what is holy in our thoughts and intentions. Striving to make our desires holy, to make our attitudes holy, to make our preoccupation holiness and love. The seed of the Word of God strives to make our choices, identities and our actions holy.

The seed is Jesus’ love that we see in his death on the cross. The seed is the power we see in his resurrection. The seed of Jesus the crucified and risen one pushes and strains to make our goals holy, to make our jobs places where we are holy, to make our friendships holy and lifegiving, to make our marriages holy, to make our families holy. This is the “fruit” that Jesus speaks about.

What threatens the growth of the seed? The first recipient of the seed is a Christian. But Jesus says that, “The Devil takes the word away from their hearts.” When we do not allow our longing to be sanctified, we lose our child-like faith and become distracted.

But the second group of recipients do keep the word in their hearts. They receive it with joy but do not allow the word to become their identity. Jesus is not “who they have decided to be.” He is someone who has done good things for them. They recognize that Jesus is full of love, but they have not decided to only define who they are, exclusively, by the holiness of Jesus Christ.

So they fall prey to temptation. They become of two minds. “I love Jesus,” they say, “but I have the right to do this other thing. I love Jesus but I desire what is pleasurable.”

Desire wins. We think about what we desire. We are very familiar with it in our minds, if not in our actions. We see it in our minds’ eyes. We dream of it. It feels natural. If we have not spent time imagining Jesus’ holiness to the point where it is familiar, if the holiness of Jesus has not become a home in our minds where our thoughts can settle and live, then the desires for sin that arise within us fit our identity like a hand in a glove. It just fits, so we follow that path.

The last seed in the parable dies. These are Christians who has preserved within themselves the child-like awe of knowing Jesus. They have given up their identity to Jesus. Whatever opinions and “fight” they had inside, they put it down and leave it behind to follow Jesus. They are not easily distracted by temptations because the temptations don’t fit them anymore. It’s like a glove that is too big; it falls off easily.

But life is hard. This person gets scared. It is hard to have time to go to church. It requires saying no to other things. Fear of missing out is a real fear. It is hard to make space for tithing. It is hard to prioritize community and service. It is hard to disappoint other people and explain to them, “no, I can’t do that, I have a commitment with my church.”

Who you have chosen to be Becomes a public statement. It is no longer just private. That is scary.

Jesus speaks about the wheat bringing forth “fruit.” In his language, seeds were included within the category of “fruit.” A seed-fruit has to fall off the stalk and get planted in the ground, j ust like the first seed, the seed of Jesus, the Word of God fell onto the ground. Jesus died. If our faith matures, we will die with Jesus. We will become martyrs.

When the seed of the Word of God inside us matures,  we look for any opportunity to be holy. When someone new comes into the church, we look at them and recognize this is what we have desired. This is what we have been praying for and waiting for. We have desired what Jesus desires, which is that all should be saved. All people should be included. We desire that everyone should have community and fellowship.

If we have desired this, we will have taught our children to desire this. They will recognize the opportunity immediately. When the word has matured within us, we look eagerly for the opportunity to serve, to volunteer, to participate, to give and to build.

When we have allowed Jesus to our identity, our choices take on a natural and determined holiness. We get in the habit of holiness. We become urgently concerned to discard anything that doesn’t fit; any sins of thought, word and deed We have to run to confession to get rid of them because they don’t fit with who we have decided to be.

We are not easily offended by people in the church. Because our identity is serving and building the church. We are not choked by our pride. When we are watchful, we see the moment when it comes, the moment for martyrdom.

It’s like the person who watches for the perfect sale at the clothing store. When she sees it’s half-off, she swoops in and pounces, buying three dresses for herself and a sweater for her sister, who isn’t as good at finding sales.

The martyr seeks the right opportunity to use what God has given them. For example, they can sponsor a refugee. They see a need to foster a child. The church needs to get over the hump financially, and this person gives a much bigger gift than they have ever given before.

This is a Christian who recognizes that the desire they have had for giving something deeply personal, the desire to truly sacrifice, can now be fulfilled. The right moment came along.

Such a moment is an opportunity that only God can orchestrate. The person who has allowed Jesus to completely recreate their desires, thoughts, choices, identity and habits: this person will recognize it right away.

God has given us reminders to help us recognize these possibilities. We have reminders surrounding us. Here. We have a great host of examples of people who have answered that call. That is why we have icons. The icons show us people who were just Christians. The moment for martyrdom came, and they were prepared. The moment for service to the Church came along. The moment of great personal sacrifice came, and they had equipped themselves with the word of God in their hearts. God opened a door for them. They walked through it into holiness.

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Offering the Bread of Life

“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

The Jews came to the Lord and said, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

“       Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

         “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

         Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

         At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

         “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

         Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

         Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

         On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

         Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

         From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

         “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

         Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

         Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve?”

(John 6:27–70)

In the Gospel of John, this story comes immediately after the stories of the feeding of the five thousand and Jesus walking on the water. The crowd speaking to Jesus saw the feeding of the five thousand. They did not see him walk on the water, but they were puzzled that he could be on the other side of the lake without a boat. They come to investigate. Jesus tells them, “You are only interested in me because I do practical things for you.”

Jesus knew that he was “suspected” of being the Messiah. They wondered if they should make him a king after he fed the people. His reply to them was “You’re only interested in food,” but it was actually a roundabout way of saying, “You want me to create a new nation. You want me to resolve conflicts and bring peace and the rule of law and prosperity to our people. You want me to rescue the nation. You want me to be the messiah as you have imagined him.

I, however, want to give you something else – something from God. I do want to rescue you, but not in the way you imagine it.”

So they ask, “What should our vision be then? What kind of new nation are you going to create? How does it work?”

Jesus says, “Following me and trusting me is the new law and the new way of living. You must see me as your only hope. Then, you will be part of my new nation – the people of God. Being one with me is the solution to all your problems.”

They ask Jesus for a sign. We could express their question like this: “Can you prove that you truly are the one who is going to save our nation? Is there some kind of divine proof, like when God rescues the Israelites out of Egypt?” Incidentally the feeding of the five thousand happened right around the time of the Passover, according to John. All the miracles, plagues, parting of the Red Sea etc., these were called “signs” in the Old Testament. After the Passover, the people ask Jesus for a “sign.”  

Jesus had just multiplied the loaves and fish and fed the five thousand! And they want him to convince them now by another miracle. Jesus says, “You have to make up your mind. At some point, it becomes evident that you don’t want to understand.”

The people talking to Jesus did not want to understand that the only possible explanation for Jesus’ miracles was that he truly was the Son of God. No one else could have done what he did. But if these people recognized his divinity, they would have to allow him to teach them and reshape their expectations.

When do we not want to understand? We love the stories of the lives of the saints. We don’t love the lifestyle of obedience, faithfulness, and prayer that those saints lived. Do we want to understand that the former is dependent on the latter? We pretend that faith is a matter of dogmatic statements and incense.

We pretend that we can separate theology from our mundane calling to make our spouses feel loved even when they are not acting like someone who deserves to be loved. When someone has hurt our pride and doesn’t give us the recognition we think we deserve, where is our unshakable belief in Christ’s way at that moment? We don’t want to understand that serving and forgiving others is the greatest miracle possible. We want “the divine” brought to us on a platter at a convenient time.

What the people in the gospel story needed was to go from being the people for whom miracles are done, to being the people who follow their God into the desert. At the first Passover, God invited his people to a meal in which they would eat the Passover lamb. They would paint the blood of that lamb on the doorposts of their houses, and wait for their God to deliver them.

Now, Jesus offers the same invitation, even though few of them would have the patience to accept it. In his Passover, the new Passover, the true Pascha, Jesus offers his flesh and blood. We offer our lives together with his. That is the great miracle, the sign that saves the world.

That meal is the place where the people for whom God has done wonders (previously the plagues in Egypt, at this time the healing of the blind and the casting out of demons), become the people who follow God and learn his commandments. Previously the people followed Moses into the desert on their way to the promised land. Jesus invites us to follow him on the road to the cross.

We know about this story, but we are often forgetful. What can we do to rediscover a sense of wonder at this calling? How can we see the difficult road to the cross as a miraculous sign of God’s strength? Can we be dumbfounded at the miracle that God has called us to drive the speed limit? God called me to do the dishes: Oh great wonder! How can we see this narrow path as miraculous, to the point where it pushes all ambivalence away?

The crowd that listened to Jesus expected their Messiah to recreate the ancient nation of Israel. Jesus says, “I am not going to call you into a geographical area to be a nation in the usual sense. I will perform a miraculous intervention in your life, but it will not be what you expect.

I am going to call you to be one with me. That is how you will be the invincible and blessed people of God.”

Jesus says, “How does God save his people? He sends me. I am what God is giving you. I am the bread of life. You can live and prosper if you have me.”

And he goes even further. “You must eat my body and drink my blood!”

Consider for a moment that Jesus teaches about the Eucharist to people who refuse to acknowledge the power of his miracles. God not only teaches us about the holy Mystery of the Eucharist, he also invites us to receive his holy body and blood – even though we do not always acknowledge his divinity with our actions, attitudes and words. Jesus offered his teaching and his miracles to people who were ambivalent about him at best. He allows himself to be received into the house of a sinner. In our case, he accepts being received into the house of our bodies though we are full of sin and faithlessness. This is his extreme humility and self-emptying. And the self-emptying is the proof of his Divinity. His love and patience is his awesome power! That is the sign that Jesus promises his people.

What kind of miracle happens in the Eucharist?  Someone baked the bread we use in communion. You gave tithes to buy the wine and to pay for this building. Someone built the iconostasis. The choir showed up to sing. You showed up to pray. These are all divine miracles. The power of God to make humans holy is a miracle. Jesus describes the miracles with these words (go back and read the passage slowly): Come to me. Believe. “Look to me,” which means we rely on him. Be drawn (up) by the Father. We are taught and hear the Father. We eat!

The miracle is that God is working inside of you so that you may offer the sacrifice of the Eucharist. You and I offer these things to God. God sends down His holy spirit upon us and upon the gifts spread forth. The miracle is not only in the presence of Christ in the bread and wine, the healing is not only in your receiving it. The fact that you offer it is also a miracle. When you obey your calling to offer it, that is also healing for you. The miracle is both Jesus’ sacrifice that we partake of, and also your sacrifice. That is what happens when we receive the body and blood of Christ.

This is eternal life. This is theosis. Eternal life is offering your work, time and worship. Eternal life is a clean heart that Christ has created in you. Eternal life is coming back time and time again to that which is your only hope, receiving something that you cannot receive anywhere else: oneness with God and the presence of God within you.

Eternal life is saying “Where else can we go?” Jesus gives us moments of crisis in our life where we have to choose. We need moments when it’s do or die; moments that put you up against the wall and say, “make up your mind.”

Jesus’ teaching about the Eucharist at that moment, in that place, to those people, was just such a “make up your mind” moment. Most of the people left. But the ones who stayed came to the realization – you might say they received the revelation – that they had nowhere else to go!

You are in dire need of a crisis. You need to be put in a position of being forced to choose. You need to find out that Jesus really is your only hope. Whatever challenges God sends you, and whatever makes you suddenly “find religion,” this is for your salvation. That helps you not to be of two minds.

Then you have an easier time believing that the hard work God is calling you to is the only hope you have. Giving is the only hope you have. Faithfulness is the only hope you have. These are the words of eternal life that Jesus gave his disciples. This is what no one beside Jesus can offer us.

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