DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Saint Matthew 10:37-11:1 (9/10-9/23) The
Saturday before the Elevation of the Cross
Who is Worthy? Saint Matthew 10:37-11:1, especially vs.
38: “And he who does not take
his cross and follow Me is not worthy of
Me.” The set of declarations from the Lord Jesus in Saint
Matthew’s Gospel ends by saying, “...when Jesus finished commanding
His twelve disciples...He departed” (vs. 11:1). Christ gave clear instructions to the
Twelve, but His words apply not just to the Twelve, but also to all members of
the Church through all time.
Christ’s stringent demands may not be avoided by saying,
“They were for the Twelve, for Church leaders, or for the
clergy.” No! In the passage, especially in verses
24-42, are commands from the Lord to be obeyed by you and me - if we would be
worthy disciples.
Take this thought another step: we ought to connect the
commands in this collection to the great command or Commission of the Lord
given to all Christians: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded
you” (Mt. 28:19,20). The
point is that Christ our Lord is speaking of discipling
- the shared task of all Christians - to bring others into the life-bestowing
and saving fellowship of the Church, over which the Lord Jesus Christ is the Head and Lord and Master.
However, if we intend to obey Christ as Lord worthily, we
will need to undertake this task solely out of love for Him, a love above even
the love we have for our parents or our children - should it come down to that
(Mt. 10:37). The Lord Jesus’
command implies that, when following or obeying Him, we must be willing to
stand up to death in all of its forms, however demeaning (vss. 38,39).
Participation in this common effort of the Church is the task of all:
Apostles, Prophets, righteous saints, and even humble servants who support the
work in the smallest ways, like giving “...a cup of cold water in the
name of a disciple...” (vss. 40-42).
Christ alone has the right to make a stringent demand on us
like this, to invade our private, intimate family life or to suggest that we
stand ready to put our very lives on the line if necessary. His commands are bold, the sort given
within the military, and then only in the extremes of combat or battle
training. Of course, God has the
right to demand such thing of us, He Who says, “I am the Lord your God....You
shall have no other gods before Me” (Ex. 20:2,3).
When caught in a conflict of allegiances, between earthly
ties and faithfulness to the Lord, Christ asks that our first love be for
Him. During Israel’s
wilderness sojourn, God praised the tribe of Levi; for, when pushed to choose,
they said to their parents, “I have not seen you; nor did he know his
brothers or his own children; they guarded Your
oracles and kept Your covenant” (Dt. 33:9). Life in Christ is putting ‘first
things first,’ and it may entail hard choices.
“Taking one’s cross” and following Jesus
expresses a readiness to face death if need be. But remember: death, as understood in
the Church, embraces much more than physical death, though it certainly may
include violent, ignominious, bodily death of a sort like crucifixion. One must look at the majestic sweep of
the entire Incarnation, the humbling and emptying of Himself undertaken by God
the Word on our behalf; and He did it all in love for us. So, to be worthy,
‘following’ must be done out of a similar kind of love, a love
ready to let go of anything “...for My
sake...” (Mt. 10:39). But,
also, we are to love others at great cost if need be.
The Lord does not seek heroes, but a response of love. Receiving Apostles, Prophets, and Saints
is wonderful, but so is simply giving a small cup of water to a thirsty, needy
person (vs. 42).
O Loving Lord, direct me to divine wisdom and power that I
may accomplish all that Thou dost ask according to Thy will, to the profit of
others, and to the glory of Thy Holy Name.
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