DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Saint Matthew 23:1-12
(9/17-9/30)
Saturday of the Fourteenth Week after Pentecost
To Attain Humility: Saint Matthew 23:1-12, especially
vs.12: “And whoever exalts himself
will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Christ’s
exalting of humility sounds good, thought it does go
against the grain. We have been
taught to be proud of who we are and what we accomplish. Still, the Lord teaches the humbling of
ourselves in order to be exalted; for God humbled Himself on our account to
exalt us to the highest Heaven. But
you and I know this is easier said than done. There is pride, that familiar desire for
vainglory. Saint John of Sinai
says, “Observe and you will find unholy vainglory abounding till the very
grave in clothes, oils, servants, perfumes and the like....The sun shines on
all alike, and vainglory beams on all activities.”
So, honestly, where are we with humility? Take it outside the city and crucify it!
(see Jn. 19:20).
Do you honestly hope to attain humility? Listen to Saint John of Sinai:
“When I talk I am defeated, and when I am silent I am again defeated by
[vainglory]. However I throw this
prickly-pear, a spike stands upright.” In my vainglory, I prefer self-esteem,
“to please not God but men;” I join the midnight trial to silence
Humility and His truth. Still, the
patient and humble One offers seven steps to humility,
invites us to struggle, and to find Life in Him.
1) “...whatever they tell you to observe, that
observe and do...” (vs. 3). Christ appreciated the skill and
facility of ‘the scribes and the Pharisees’ with the Law of God,
the Law He Himself had given to Moses as the foundation for Judaism and
Christianity. The effort to keep
the Law is the starting point for growth in true humility. When we try honestly, we quickly find it
is impossible to fulfill the Mosaic Law; that introduces us to humility and our
sinfulness. We cannot keep the Law,
especially up to the standard of our “...Teacher, the Christ” (vs.
8).
2) “...do not do according to their works; for
they say, and do not do” (vs. 3). The pitfall in hypocrisy is
revealed. Disciples should not
feign what we do not believe and practice.
Let Saint Paul’s thought sink in: “For the good that I will
to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice” (Rom.
7:19). Failure to be perfect helps
bring us to reverence and humility.
3) “...all their works they do to be seen by
men” (Mt. 23:5). Our task
in Christ is to avoid speech and actions driven by the need for
recognition. May we confess to God
a deep inner pollution in us that seeks approval and credit, while debasing the
budding of humility.
4) “...One is your Teacher, the Christ”
(vs. 8). Pray, seek Him, listen,
and let Him guide what you say and plan, for He will reveal the insidious
“love [of] the best places...and greetings” within you. Then you may repent, and give thanks to
Him, at that point.
5) “...you are all brethren” (vs. 8),
which certainly means that we are not alone in this effort. May we pray for others, and seek the
prayers of the Saints who support all our struggles.
6) “...One is your Father, He Who
is in heaven” (vs. 9). As
Saint Jerome says, “No one should be called teacher or father except God
the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Of course he adds, “One is rightly
called a teacher [or a father] only from his association with the true
Teacher” and Father. Let us
not hesitate to turn to our Fathers in God and let them teach us.
7) “...he who is greatest among you shall be your
servant” (vs. 11). We
falter and grope ahead. God, by His
grace, draws us toward the impossible heights of humility, to serve others
truly, however menial the task. We
need to minister, and others need our services.
Listen to Saint Ephrem the
Syrian: “Be not proud of God’s grace and do not succumb to
lawlessness. If you succeed in
doing good, do not praise yourself above men. If you sin through ignorance do not lose
heart because you are a man...and do not despair when you sin.”
Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God by
Thy grace.
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