Sunday of the Forefathers - Ocala 12-12-04       

"Having taken off the old self with its acts and practices, and having put on the new self, we are renewed in the knowledge of the Creator, who created us according to His own Image!" Colossians 3:10

This verse, taken from today's Epistle lesson, is from the letter which St Paul wrote the Colossians in central Asia Minor, -- today's Turkey. He was proud to have converted them to the new Faith, and through this letter he emphasizes the spirit of renewal; that is, the casting off their old selves and putting on the new self with full knowledge of God, the Creator, who created us according to His own Image.

"Spiritual renewal," is a commonly heard slogan, which carries with it tremendous dynamics, that can soar a person to the heights of Heaven. We love to hear this slogan, but when it comes to applying it we just seem to have other things to do. We do not make any sincere effort to snip the strings, which keep us earthbound.

Today's Gospel lesson, regarding the man who prepared a great Banquet is testimony-to this human indifference. This person invited many guests, and when all had been prepared, he sent out his servants to personally tell the guests that everything was ready. But to his surprise the guests started to make excuses. The first said: "I have just bought a field and I must go out to inspect it! I ask you to excuse me." Another said: "I have bought 5 yoke of oxen and I must go out to the field to test them. I ask you to excuse me." Still another said: "I just got married, and I cannot attend."

When the servants reported the refusal of the guests to attend, the host of the Banquet became very angry, and directed his servants to go out into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the maimed. The servants did bring in these unfortunate souls, and said that there was still room for more. It is then, that the host said: "I tell you, that none of those, who were invited will taste of my supper."

The Lord's invitation is forever constant, and it gives every guarantee of true life and happiness; but as things stand, Christians are involved and engrossed in things, which have no lasting value. Relative to this, I'm reminded of the Lord's visit to the house of Lazarus. There, the two sisters of Lazarus, Martha and Mary were to host the Divine Guest.

The Bible states that Mary sat near the feet of Jesus, and like a sponge was soaking up every word, that was coming from the Lord's mouth. Suddenly, Martha, who was going all out to prepare a sumptuous meal for the Divine Teacher, came in to the living room and said: "Lord, do you not care that Mary has left me alone in the kitchen to prepare the meal? Please tell her to come and help me."

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are concerned and troubled about many things, but there is only one thing that is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which shall never be taken away from her."

That's the story with so many Christians. Like Martha, we are concerned and troubled about many things, and do not heed to the good part, which Mary had chosen, which could never be taken away from her.

Yesterday, I made one of my rare trips to the Volusia Mall to purchase something, that was long needed for our home. I've lived in Daytona for almost 30 years and I doubt if I've been to the Mall 30 times! I am not a shopper. It was quite an experience, to firstly try to find a parking space; then to enter Burdine's and literally see hundreds and hundreds of people lined up at the many counters. I knew where I was heading to make a single purchase. On the way, I made it a point to observe unobtrusively some of the shoppers, stopping to examine all the trinkets on the successive aisle displays.

I thought to myself. It seems that we are deluged mainly with the Marthas, while the Marys were practically extinct. Again I thought -- is this the preparation we make for welcoming the Christ-Child into our life? Surely not. But I would venture to say, that Santa has replaced Christ in the hearts of too many.

What an indictment it is for Christians to read on the car bumpers: "Let's put Christ back into Christmas." Christ came into the world to bring us back into Heaven. He became a ransom for us, having shed His innocent Blood to wipe away the sins of mankind for all time! And now, in our great century of progress He has been virtually displaced by Santa Claus!

I think that many of us here will remember the simplicity, but nonetheless the spiritual grandeur of the Christmas Holiday two-three generations ago. The spotlight was on the most high religious Event. The Birth of Christ, -- our Lord and Saviour. The focus was on our preparation, both physical and spiritual, to attend Church Services and to receive Holy Communion. Then, feeling especially blessed we sat at the Family Christmas table, followed by the exchanging of simple gifts, and singing the Christmas carols, enjoying the Day truly in God's mode. It was really an uplifting experience, with love as the centerpiece, as it really should be.

People had limited material means then, but incomparably they felt the positive effects of spiritual wealth. Today, with our credit cards, it seems that while we may have unlimited means, in essence, we are impoverished!

Consequently, we do not enjoy the rich spiritual harvest as we had experienced two and three generations ago. It was Christ's Birth which was the focal point then, and Santa Claus was incidental, -- mainly for fantasy of the little kids.

That is why it is so necessary for people to make an honest effort to renew themselves. To make the material subordinate to the spiritual. Material things, which of course are necessary, may have a lustre when first acquired, but the lustre quickly or gradually wears off. Whereas the spiritual is of lasting and eternal value, and the greatest thing is, that it's free. It costs nothing.

Years ago I clipped part of an article of a memorable address that General Douglas MacArthur made before Congress. Among other things he said: "Military alliances, balances of power, Leagues of Nations, all in turn have failed. If we will not devise some greater and more equitable system, our Armageddon will be at our door. It must be of the Spirit, if we are to save the flesh!" So spoke the General expressing his basic belief.

We've heard it more than once: "What is this world coming to?" But rarely, if ever, have we heard anyone ask: "What am I coming to?" And while we may not be able to remedy the world, we surely can do something on our own, to ascend and stay on a spiritual plane.

It is incredible that intelligent humans, and especially Christians can divorce themselves from heredity and environment, as though there is no relationship. What we need in order to help bring a revival of civic righteousness to our land, is a nucleus of spiritual people, who will first try to get themselves right with God, and with each other.

Thus, as St. Paul stated to the Colossians: "We must take off the old self with its acts and practices and put on the new self. By doing this we are renewed in the knowledge of the Creator, who created us in His own Image!"

Unfortunately, as Christians we see darkness when there should be light. It is no secret that the diminishing light and creeping shadows of moral darkness, colors seem to lose their distinctiveness. Black and white have mingled to produce a muddled gray. Clear concepts are difficult to define and harder to live.

But, for the Christian there is an unwaning standard --- Jesus Christ! The decision of right and wrong, -- the good and bad ultimately rests with the example and teachings of Christ. This is what it means to be a Christian; that is to follow Christ.

The Lord expressly said: "I am the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:6).. And in (John 8:12) again the Lord says: "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me shall never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life!" Amen.

+ Fr. George Papadeas