DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Saint John 10:9-16
(11/5-11/18)
Feast Day of Saint Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn
Living Icons: Saint John 10:9-16, especially vs. 14: “I Am the good shepherd; and
I know My sheep, and Am known by My own.” Down
through history, Christ our God has blessed His flock with gracious Hierarchs
who have embodied the Lord’s own pastoral care, serving the Church as His
living icons among His people. This
unbroken presence of good shepherds in the Church is certain and tangible
evidence of the continuous grace of the Lord upon us. As Christ Jesus Himself promises,
“I will not leave you orphans: I will come to you” (Jn.
14:18). And come He does,
“...wondrous in the Saints....” What a procession!
Like the Divine Good Shepherd, Christ’s grace-filled
shepherds enable His own to enter Life through Him Who
is “...the door” (Jn. 10:9), pouring out the very life of Christ
freely and lovingly through themselves (vs. 10). They labor untiringly, spending their
lives and energy to enrich Christ’s People (vs. 11). In caring for Christ’s flock,
these good shepherds consistently make it their business to open themselves up
to the people committed to their charge, knowing, addressing, and sharing their
struggles, their hopes and their needs so that Christ’s own know them
well as loving pastors (vs. 14).
The results of such ministries fill the pages of the Church’s
records, but the essence of their work in every generation is revealed by the
many lost ones that they bring into the Lord’s fold by their gifts, their
labor, and love (vs. 16).
Browse the homilies of Saint John Chrysostom; his teaching
ministry staggers the heart and mind.
You will see that the great Archbishop’s teaching is as timely and
pertinent today as it was in the fourth century. Again and again, Saint John exhorted and
begged the People of God entrusted to him to join him in commending themselves
“...and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.” He led them through the door of the
Mysteries to Life Himself!
Speaking of the eminent Basil the Great of Caesarea,
Gregory of Nazianzus notes well what all Godly and
Holy Hierarchs have done for Christ’s People: as “Enosh called upon [the Lord’s] name (Gn. 4:26)...Basil
both called upon Him himself, and, what is far more excellent, preached Him to
others.” These Saints gave
their very lives to the Lord Whom they served.
Saint Gregory also describes how his own father, earlier
the Bishop of Nazianzus, on the very night of a
certain celebration of Pascha, poured out his life
with no thought for himself; and, while gravely ill, he “...called by
name one of the servants who was in attendance upon him, and bade him come and
bring his clothes, and support him with his hand....and...on
behalf of his people eagerly celebrates the mysteries, in such few words as his
strength allowed.”
Christ’s Holy Hierarchs in serving the Lord continue
the pattern of ministry displayed by the Holy Apostles. As Saint Paul said to
his flock in Corinth: “...We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide
open. You are not restricted
by us....” (2 Cor. 6:11,12).
In 1902, Saint Raphael of Brooklyn, while still an
Archimandrite, traveled from New York City into Mexico’s Yucatan
peninsula. Having once declined to
bless the marriage of a couple there who had baptized their children as Roman
Catholics, he consented to marry them when they telegraphed that they would
convert to Orthodoxy. He
“...wired back that he would, but that the couple would have to meet him
in Merida” which the young people joyfully did.
Such is the brilliant procession of living icons of Christ
who have served as Apostolic shepherds following their Lord. And thank God we actually have Bishops
and Priests like this today. God
ever showers grace on His flock in each generation without fail!
We give Thee most hearty thanks, O Thou Good Shepherd of
the Sheep, for all the faithful servants whom Thou hast raised up for Thy
Flock, glorifying Thee in life and in death.
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