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8th Sunday in Luke 2007 (2nd Epistle to Corinthians) 1. " For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ" 2 Corinthians 4:6 In today's Gospel Lesson, we heard of the Parable of the Good Samaritan, which was the theme of sermons in past years. But today, I chose once again to speak on the Epistle reading of today from the 2nd Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. In verses 6 to 15 of the 4th Chapter, the Apostle of Nations emphasizes his enthusiasm in preaching the new Religion to the Nations. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." Whether it be skill, intelligence, devotion, or genius, --- these of their own, were never sufficient to build a society, a Church, a movement, a work of art, or a Nation. Behind everything, that has left a lasting mark on the human scene, has been by the impetus of enthusiasm. The word "enthusiasm" is Greek, and means "in God." or simply, "the Divine within us." It was the enthusiasm of the first Christians, who martyred, and whose blood rooted the Church. But, no one has ever exceeded the enthusiasm of St. Paul. Even in the days, when he viciously persecuted the first Christians he manifested a type of enthusiasm, which unfortunately bordered on fanaticism. Enthusiasm must not be compared to fanaticism, although loosely they seem to border one another. When Saul, renamed Paul after his Baptism, was on his way to Damascus, to seek out Christians for condemnation and putting them to death, the Risen Jesus called him directly, asking him to follow Him. Paul did pledge himself to complete devotion and subjection to Christ Jesus. From the day of his calling, he found nothing but obstacles and persecutions, all of which he was able to overcome, because his heart and soul were given to Jesus. That's why he so often would declare: "I live, --- yet not I, but it is Christ, that lives within me."(Gaiatians 2:20) What an uplifting and saving manifesto! One that should be the credo of all Christians. St. Paul was not a poor illiterate fisherman, like some of the Apostles chosen by Christ. Paul was a Pharisee, who enjoyed the best in living, as a member of the elite of his time, and having achieved the best in the higher schools of learning. This gave him a built in prestige and power over the less fortunate. But, from all this, he is humbled, in every way, completely subjecting himself to Christ, and willing to sustain any and all persecutions and humiliations, because he lived for Christ. A few verses in this same Epistle, beyond those we heard today, St. Paul describes his hardships as follows: "As servants of God, we commend ourselves in every way; --- in great endurance; --- in troubles, hardships and distresses; --- in beatings, imprisonments and understanding, patience and kindness; --- in the Holy Spirit, and in sincere love; --- in truthful speech, and in the power of God; --- with weapons of righteousness in the right hand, and in the left; --- through glory and dishonor; --- bad report and good report; --genuine, yet regarded as impostors; --- known, yet regarded as unknown; --- dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; --- sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; --- poor, yet making many rich, having nothing, and yet possessing everything." 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 What I just quoted, is only a part of the many trials and tribulations he suffered for the Lord's Gospel. A question might be posed, as to how he ever accomplished all that he did? Making 4 missionary trips from Jerusalem to Rome, over continuous mountain ranges by foot is unbelievable. Yet true. The answer to the question is simple. He was always overwhelmed, by his enthusiasm, to spread the Lord's Gospel, and nothing but death, was ever going to stop him. As a result, the Church was firmly rooted in his time, in spite of the horrible persecutions of the first three centuries. Enthusiasm is the foundation of every great and living movement of the human soul. It is when the ordinary personality is invaded by a power from beyond, and when the drab limits of our humanity are overcome. The enthusiasm of the New Testament is simple, unmistakable and surely benevolent. It means, the entrance in our lives of the Spirit of the living God, and no less, the liberating presence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is the "God in us" The Lord Jesus, Who comes to shape us in His own image, and to transform us into the true sons and daughters of God. There can be no enthusiasm in our life, nor in the Church, unless somehow we have known the invasion of'the living Christ. Easter for the early Christians, was not only the conviction, that Jesus had risen from the dead. It meant, that the Lord's living Spirit had possessed them with enthusiasm. They were not men and women of exceptional mystical gifts, but people like you and me. What happened to them was simply a gift from God. It is something that can happen to anyone. For St. Paul to be possessed by Christ, was such a dynamic act of God's Grace, and that is why he said: " For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6) I think that we're all aware to some degree, that this possession of our souls by the living Christ, is the open secret of the Gospel, and that without His transforming presence, the name "Christian" has very little meaning. That is the reason the Lord came;--- to transform us, so that "we may have life, and have it more abundantly," as Jesus said in John 10:10. Also, another admonition of St. Paul: "I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me. (Galatians 2:20) Enthusiasm is, and should be a key word in our life, whether it be in our Family, in our work, in any organization and especially in the Church. We here in our Ocala Mission are one united Family, overflowing in the Lord's love. We are proud of what already has been done, and look forward to a year of accomplishments, which will commence with our building plans, provided each of us will do his or her share. We have reached this point, with about one half of our Membership list participating. We have brought down the initial cost of our 9 plus acres from $425,000 to $178,000 in about two years. Had the other half participated, today we could perhaps already have had our building. We must consider seriously, that we have been guests of our fellow Roman Catholics in using their facilities for almost 4 years. While we are still welcomed, I dread to think of us wearing out the welcome mat. We must seek to infuse our enthusiasm to those, who may seem to lack it. Our Mission has been operating on the Stewardship plan, in which each Member promises a certain amount, according to his or her ability to contribute to the operating of our Mission. Aside from the Stewardship plan, in order to make our land purchase we facilitated the Membership to pledge on a 5 year plan. It was the only way we could have collected as much as we did. To ask many of our Members for $5000 toward the Building Fund would have been impossible, but when we broke it down in 5 years, it is $1000 per year, which many more could afford. $1000 per year, is only $19.23 per week, or $2.75 per day. If one can't sign up for $5000, it can be $4000 or $3000 which is only $1.65 per day. This is in anyone's range. If we are Members of the One Body of Christ, which we are, we all do must do our proportional share. Let it not escape us. Enthusiasm is a must for all Christians, because it being a Greek word, means "in God" or "God within us." And the truth remains, that without enthusiasm, nothing worthwhile can be accomplished. Amen. + Fr George Papadeas
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