DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Saint Luke 9:1-6
(11/5-11/18)
Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week after Pentecost
Led by the Spirit: Saint Luke 9:1-6, especially vs. 1: “...He called His twelve disciples together and gave
them power and authority....” In
these verses, Saint Luke describes the occasion when the Lord Jesus first sent
out the Twelve “...to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the
sick” (vs. 2). Even as Christ
dispatched the disciples, His principal concern was for their
spiritual formation, for He desired that they might develop into worthy,
productive Apostles, profitable servants, responsive to the leading of God the
Holy Spirit.
The development of disciples “...as servants of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor. 4:1) necessitates that
disciples be open to direction by the Holy Spirit. Nothing of eternal value will be
accomplished for the salvation of men and women if Christians are not
responsive to the Spirit in life and ministry. Plainly, the first disciples and those
gathered around them were what Christ left behind on earth following His
Ascension. To them He said, “...wait
for the Promise of the Father, which,” “...you have heard from Me...” (Acts 1:4).
This passage from Saint Luke reveals three essentials for
disciples responding to the ‘promised’ Holy Spirit: first, we are
to “take nothing for the journey...” (vs. 3) but rely on what God
provides. Second, we are to stay in
“whatever house [we] enter...” (vs. 4), accepting what the Holy
Spirit discloses. Third, we are to
shake “...off the very dust from [our] feet...” (vs.
5) when we are not welcomed as Christ’s servants. We will mature spiritually and assist
others to trust God the Holy Spirit only when we meet and share with them as
fellow apprentices.
Saint Ambrose of Milan once observed that “...since
captive breasts certainly [can] not receive [the Holy Spirit], the Lord Jesus
first led captivity captive, that our affections being set free, He might pour
forth the gift of divine grace” in us through His Spirit. By stripping us of material dependence
before we work with others, the Lord makes us rely on the Spirit’s
provision (vs. 3). If and when we
are captivated by material needs in this present life, then we will lose
freedom to receive the limitless help and provision of God the Holy Spirit.
Above all, the Lord Jesus desires to free us all for
the infilling of the Holy Spirit, by increasing our faith ‘in’
the Spirit’s presence. After
all, the Holy Spirit works with the faithful that we may receive what we
require for ministry with those we encounter in this life. God uses material things and limitations
to guide, free, and enable the Church to carry out His work. When a door is opened by the Spirit
(Acts 14:27), it signals the need to focus effort in a God-pleasing manner
exactly where and how the Divine Spirit indicates. Let us be attentive!
As the first disciples went out to minister, they received
hospitality from some people, while others rejected them (Lk.
9:4,5).
Today, the Holy Spirit is received by some who are drawn to the Church
but rejected by others. Positive
responses to the Gospel and Orthodox truth and practice reveal where the Spirit
is healing and where the Church needs to be focused. We are to
“...stay there, and from there depart” (vs. 4), and act as God
indicates. May we become sensitive
to the Spirit guiding us according to the infinite wisdom of the Lord (Acts
16:6-10)!
To reiterate: we who constitute the Church should not
expect to have success everywhere.
Our primary task is to be obedient and faithful. When we do not rely on the Spirit we
shall be crippled by disappointment.
May we allow the Spirit to show us when to shake off the dust (Lk. 9:5) and when to speak, give, and heal. Mature this way, and there will be no
crippling disappointment in us nor in those whom we
meet in the Gospel of Christ by word and deed.
O Lord, send Thy Spirit upon Thy Church that we may offer
Thee a rich harvest of souls, ready to please Thee in word and deed and to be
guided by Thy Life-giving, Holy Spirit.
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