DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Saint Luke 21:12-19
(11/25-12/8)
Great-Martyr Katherine the all-wise of Alexandria
Cultivating Patience: Saint Luke 21:12-19, especially
vs.19: “By your patience possess
your souls.” Our Lord and Master provides two
directives for enduring persecution, trials, challenges, and temptations: 1) do
“not...meditate beforehand on what you will answer” (vs. 14); and
2) “by your patience possess your souls” (vs. 19). Both admonitions concern necessary inner
activity required for facing assaults, affronts and attacks. The first says, “Waste no time
calculating your response;” and the other says, “Cultivate the virtue
of patience within you.”
These are not contradictory; our Lord is speaking of urgent,
complementary, inner processes. Be
attentive!
In effect, the Lord Jesus is saying that when challenged we
should not allow our minds to flit around like butterflies, seeking how to
answer, searching for just the right phrases, or thinking up the perfect
retort. Do so and you will never
attain “...a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able
to contradict or resist.” (vs. 15). Christ may let us stumble. So, resist scrambling in your mind. Stop your thoughts and turn to the
Lord. Say, “Lord Jesus
Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” Learn from the Apostles Paul and Silas
with their feet in the stocks in the dead of night. They “...were praying and singing
hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25) and
a grand “...occasion for testimony” (Lk.
21:13) was given them to witness to the jailer and his whole family who were
then baptized (Acts 16:33).
Christ’s advice for challenging moments: let the Lord speak
through you.
Our Lord continues by listing some very severe assaults on
faith, truth, love, and hope.
“You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and
friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all...” (Lk. 21:16,17). He is not talking about light-weight
challenges but heart-wrenching circumstances, nothing anyone desires! Challenges are going to come, whether by
innuendo or stark brutality, and to all these, the Lord has a universal
counsel: “By your patience possess your souls” (vs. 19). At all times, turn and focus on your
soul’s health, on patience, and on trust. Then your life can be an intact,
impregnable testimony.
Realize the truth in the Master’s prophecy:
“And you will be hated by all for My
name’s sake” (vs. 17.).
This second declaration is spoken to the entire Body of Christ, to the
Church - to all of us.
Individually, you and I may not bear the brunt of hatred, yet know that
even now there are those in this world who hate us, even if they do not know
our names, addresses, and phone numbers.
Also, if we should fail as a witness some time or miss a lesser
“...occasion for testimony” (vs. 13), do not despair. Follow the admonition of the
Lord’s second counsel: develop patience within you as long as you are in
this world. The first counsel is
for moments of challenge; by all means, let the second counsel operate
continuously within.
It is obvious that our Lord expects us to work at acquiring
patience. We have to learn to
control our inner life, hearts and souls.
Thus, He speaks of ‘our’ patience. Of course, we are fools if we think that
we can make patience our own without His grace. Listen to Saint Gregory of Sinai:
“With regard to patience the Lord says: ‘You will gain possession
of your souls through your patient endurance’ (Lk.
21:19). He did not say through your
fasting or through your vigils. I
refer to the patience bestowed by God, which is the queen of virtues, the
foundation of courageous actions.
Patience is peace amid strife, serenity amid distress, and a steadfast
base for those who acquire it.”
See, growth in these virtues is a cooperative work with God. We practice, accepting whatever comes in
life as from the Lord - as His perfect will for us. Then, He graciously fills us with
unwavering, durable, steady patience.
Labor continuously; grow steadily.
Lord, help me receive the cleansing fires of life from Thee
and patiently possess my soul.
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