Home

Fr George's Letter

Details

Written by: Fr George

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 

“The virtues build a new person radiating love to the world.”

(Metropolitan Paul (Yazigi) of Aleppo who consecrated our temple.)

 

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  

                                                                                                      (Hebrews 4:15-16)

 

SUNDAY 19^th JULY. The Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council. St. Marina, sister of St. Basil the Great (380).St. Theodore of Edessa (?9^th). St. Roman, Prince of Ryazan (1220). St. Stephen, King of Serbia (1427), & his mother, St. Militsa (1405). 

 

“When pride retreats from a man, humility begins to dwell in him, and the more pride is diminished, so much more does humility grow. The one gives way to the other as to its opposite. Darkness departs and light appears. Pride is darkness but humility is light.”

                                                                                      (St. Tikhon of Zadonsk)    

 

“Human nature is deified for the sake of the boundless compassion of the Son of God; and its sins are purified, the defiled are sanctified. The ailing are healed. Upon those in dishonour are boundless honour and glory bestowed. Those in darkness are enlightened by the Divine Light of grace and reason.”

                                                                                      (St. John of Kronstadt)  

 

 

TODAY’S GOSPEL. Matthew 5:14-19.””You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp-stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil. For assuredly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.””  

 

We all know the difference between darkness and light. Often we are afraid of darkness because we cannot see and so may stumble and fall. Darkness is often accompanied by cold. Conversely, we welcome light so that we can see where we are going and light is usually warm. Jesus tells us that we are not to hide our light that shines forth from good works. Pride in our efforts to help others immediately stops our light from being seen. Christ is the Light of the world, and it is His example that we are called to follow.

Humility and kindness will illuminate those around us. This is the lamp high on a lamp-stand that will bathe those around us in the light of the Gospels. How many times have we ourselves been witnesses and partakers of the kindness and generosity of others? So let us not hide our light but proclaim it in secret. Light does not make a noise, light doesn’t say, “Look at me.” If our light shines brightly others will see it even if we ourselves think that we are ‘switched off’.

In the Gospel, Christ tells us that He came to fulfill the law. Even those who teach wrongdoing and practice it, even though the least in the kingdom of heaven are accorded a place there. His unfathomable love reaches out to all, His light is offered to all. We must not close our eyes to His light, that we may ourselves become bright lanterns held up so that others may see their way in life and find the journey’s end that is the kingdom of heaven. Heaven must be filled with the Divine Light that the disciples saw emanating from and surrounding Christ at the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. Let us strive always to live in the light lest the powers of darkness overwhelm us and our candle is snuffed out.

 

                                                                                        Much Love, 

 

                                                                                        Fr. George.