DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Saint Luke 21:12-19
(12/6-12/19) Tuesday of
the Twenty-ninth Week after Pentecost
Overcoming Persecution: Saint Luke 21:12-19, especially
vs. 19: “By your patience possess
your souls.” As His Passion approached, the Lord Jesus warned His first
disciples - the emerging Church - that persecutions would be common for His
followers in this fallen life (vs. 12). He did not hide any of the
degrading pain that often comes with oppression: pursuit, arrest, abuse, jail,
trial, betrayal by family and friends, as well as hatred and death (vss. 16,17). For Christ
ever seeks to equip His people to triumph spiritually by providing them with
abundant grace for every martyr and confessor - for each struggling, harried
faithful disciple.
Twenty centuries of history confirm the truth that our Lord
continues in His ongoing efforts for the faithful. Whether we have experienced or are
enduring what the Lord Jesus forecasts personally, or whether we have been left
in a serene eddy along the banks of the torrent of persecution that sweeps up
many of our brethren, realize that attacks on the faithful are the norm of
discipleship. They are not the
exception. Every alert Christian
knows that the tides of intolerance and opposition to the Gospel remain at
flood stage in the world.
Therefore, seek Christ’s grace so as to possess your soul through
disciplined, patient effort no matter what comes.
How do we possess our souls by patience? Surely, first of all,
by honestly recognizing the unruly condition of our own souls. The attentive Orthodox Christian knows
the intensity of the struggle within to possess one’s soul. Saint John of Sinai warns that the soul
is like a ‘greedy kitchen dog’ running from one garbage can to the
next. Those who have made any
serious attempts at unceasing prayer know that they themselves are
“...dull of hearing,” babes who still “...need milk...”
instead of solid spiritual food, “...unskilled in the word of righteousness...”
and often still addressing only “...the elementary principles” of
the Christian Faith (Heb. 5:11-6:1).
Let us admit that we need to break the tyranny of the
passions to gain possession of our souls.
Among the Holy Fathers Saint Maximos the
Confessor spoke of the out-of-control state of our inner life and teaches that
“Love and self-control cut away both [the passions] of the soul [and]
those of the body.” Desires
that we have not submitted to Christ need to be surrendered to Him until we
reach what the Holy Fathers call “dispassion.” So, fight against weariness and defeat:
“By your patience possess your souls” (vs. 19), subduing the
passions by seeking the gift of patience from God the Holy Spirit. God’s grace comes both in
persecution and in peaceful times.
It unfailingly equips us for every season, but especially when difficult
witness is required.
Our Lord gives the submitted disciple the words and the
wisdom that our adversaries are not able to contradict nor to resist (Lk. 21:13-15).
Dispassion is a blessed state that enables the Christian to face
betrayal by family and dearest friends.
Dispassion is the impregnable redoubt from which God’s love
sallies forth to capture hatred, helps us speak honestly as honored confessors,
or crowns us with the victor’s wreath as blessed martyrs. Dispassion is that grace God gives to
the faithful whereby “...not a hair of your head shall be lost”
(vs. 18).
But this battle for dispassion is within and not in outer
circumstances. Struggle in yourself
that nothing be lost to abuse or death.
We receive these precious truths from Christ, the Passionless One, Who,
in order to bring “...many sons to glory....” as Author of
salvation, was perfected “...through sufferings....[and] through
death...destroy[ed] him who had the power of death,
that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:10,14).
Christ gives His Spirit that we may gain passionlessness
through possessing our souls. The
resources of His kingdom are ours.
Strive, but do so in Him!
“Deliver me from them that persecute me, for they are
stronger than I. Bring my soul out
of prison that I may confess Thy name.”(Ps. 141:9,10)
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