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Cheese-Fare Sunday, March 13, 20005 "The night is far spent; the day is approaching; let us then cast off the works of darkness, and let us clothe ourselves with the armor of light!" Romans 13:12 Today's excerpt from his Epistle to the Romans, St. Paul gives us a forceful admonition. He states that we are about to embark on the long Lenten journey, which commences tomorrow with "Kathari Deftera" or "Clean Monday." St. Paul speaks of casting off the works of darkness, and clothing ourselves with the armor of light. I don't think that we have to explain what these works of darkness are. They can easily be grouped under one heading, titled "SIN". Humankind's sins, -the little ones, and the grave ones do constitute the works of darkness, which surely can destroy us in this life, and most certainly preclude us from becoming co-heirs with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven, as St. Paul certifies. He speaks of casting off the works of darkness, and then putting on the armor of light! What does he mean by putting on the armor of light? The armor of light is nothing shorter than our Christian deeds; that is a life, founded on God's love to our fellow human beings. When we are clothed with the armor of light, there can be no doubt, that we shall be able to withstand any trial, and any tribulation, because it is the Lord, Who will sustain us. But, if a person persists in sinful living, we can rightfully say, that he or she exists in a very dark labyrinth, with its endless maze of corridors, from which it is extremely difficult to find the exit, so as to be able to see the light of day once again. "Cast off the works of darkness" proclaims the Church; especially now, that we are given another opportunity to uplift ourselves spiritually. This is the gift, which Lent affords to all people. My beloved. There is nothing more beneficial, than a self examination and appraisal, and then making the proper decision. I think that we can all ask ourselves the following questions: "While we did hear the very same Epistle message last year at this time, did we make an honest effort to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light? Also, have we divested ourselves from the pettiness, the egotism, the vain ambition, and so many other similar evils, which usually proliferate, and consume us, destroying our moral fiber, and casting us into the realm of human misery." All of us do hear the Biblical Teachings, and I am sure that none of us will disagree, that these words are true and edifying. But, the reality is, that these beautiful and edifying words, remain just that! Beautiful and edifying words, without them having any influence in our life. Why is this? I think that the answer lies in the fact, that we have permitted ourselves to become spiritual weaklings. We simply do not make an honest effort to gird ourselves, and to make the firm decision, ""to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light!" So many people live, as if their life on this planet will never end. They never give a thought, that tomorrow they may be called from this world. Also, many people are disbelievers, or even unbelievers. So many are sheer materialists, totally neglecting their eternal spiritual counterpart, their soul! Others, while not being unbelievers, are religiously indifferent, who say, they do believe in God, but permit all other things in this life to take precedence. Still others, become so enveloped in their work, that they totally neglect the spiritual. To the list of disbelievers, and unbelievers, we can also classify those, who consider themselves self sufficient. They need no one, --- not even God. These are the high and mighty, living in superfluous luxury, and who never fail to wield their power through their wealth or position. In this general category we can easily include some of the intellectually elite, who have built their own temples of wisdom, in which they worship. Still others, whether you call them jet-setters or the like, consider that life is worth living, only when we can have one good time succeeding another, in an endless chain. But, how stable, and how lasting are these human endeavors? If someone is wealthy and powerful, he surely is based on other individuals or conditions, whether this is acknowledged or not. But, a single stone removed from the foundation of this materialism, can bring down the whole super-structure. To be sure we have all must have read, or witnessed such situations. The intellectuals, who gloat strictly in their human wisdom, must surely feel their inadequacy, when they are on the portals of death and cannot explain or reconcile the mystery of death. This comes from the fact, that in life they may have considered Christianity below their intellectual level, but which could have prepared them to a great degree, for their last agonizing moments of life. Those, who exist only for the endless good times, most assuredly become victims of that, to which they have succumbed. Base instincts, and living within the realm of materialistic philosophy: "Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you may die!" This sheer materialistic living could be classified as beastly, since it is a life devoid of any true and uplifting ideals. Again, it wouldn't be difficult to cite examples of these people, who so often come to a dead end, and whose lives oftentimes ends in horror. But, the reality is, that the mass media projects these people, so as to transform them into heroes, and indeed role models, for our impressionable young ones. We mentioned the religiously indifferent. While these people are not unbelievers, the question is, how strong can their belief and dedication be? The Lord was so emphatic when He stated: "The person, who is not with Me, is against Me!" He didn't provide for a middle condition. For the solution then of the general human conditions mentioned, there can only be one answer. A spiritual revolution within ourselves is most necessary, for the complete conversion of the soul. From time immemorial, we have read about, and witnessed revolutions! These revolutions always strive for some change. But the question always is: "A change from what to what?" Regarding humans, it is within the realm of a person's intelligence, and emotional make-up to desire a change, when things don't seem right in one's life. But, the question will remain: "A change from what to what?" We hear our Political Candidates at election time expounding ideals, which we have heard repeated over the decades; they promise changes, if they were to be elected. But, do these many changes promised come about? Surely not; because, if they did, we would not have the immense problems we face today! So it is, that we come once again to the verse as quoted today from St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. He exhorts us to change, knowing that we do have the power to change; that is, if we truly resolve to change! St. Paul surely changed, and most radically, when from arch-persecutor of Christians, he became the Lord's Archmissionary, after having vehemently and relentlessly persecuting the first Christians. Through his divinely inspired Epistles, St. Paul exhorts us to: "Cast off the works of darkness, and clothe yourselves with the armor of light!" The decision to make the change can be taken at anytime; and should be made, if we are to ever feel the Grace of God showering and cleansing our soul! Especially now, when we are entering the mystical and soulstirring period of Lent, we are summoned once again to free ourselves from the burden of sin, which keeps us anchored steadfastly to the ground. We can only be free if we cast off the works of darkness, and then put on the armor of light; the light which which will protect us from stumbling in the darkness. St. Paul in 2nd Corinthians Chapter 6 Verse 2 specifies the time for conversion when he says: 'Behold, now is the accepted time; now is the time for salvation!" It is then, strictly up to everyone, to make an honest effort to make this the most spiritually fulfilling Lent of our entire life. Let us remember, that fasting from foods is not an end, as so many believe to be of prime importance. Fasting is simply a means to an end. It is a matter of self discipline, and to become masters over our own self. I know people, who fast strictly from food, and in fact, some boast of their achievement, while at the same time, they do not give it a second thought to gossip, to cheat in one way or another, to lie, to misrepresent and so forth. But, -- oh yes, - we must not forget that they strictly fast from foods. It would be better for them not to fast, but rather to abstain from sinful acts, which they somehow tend to justify to themselves. The Lord said it quite plainly: "it is not what enters the mouth that defiles you, but that, which comes out of the mouth!" How true the well known adage: "The tongue does not have any bones, but it surely has the capability of breaking bones!" Beloved Friends: God seeks to make us Masters over ourselves, and to become so disciplined in our actions, that we may not risk falling into the pitfalls of sin. Let us then take the firm decision to make a clean beginning, starting tomorrow with Clean Monday. Let us take the spiritual journey, which will lead us to the all-Glorious Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour! Let us give real substance to our faith, by applying the theme of the profound Lenten hymns, one of which I quote in closing, because it summarizes the spirit of true fasting: "Let us begin the season of fasting with rejoicing; giving ourselves to spiritual strife; purifying our soul and body by fasting from passions, as we fast from foods, faring on the virtues of the Spirit, which, if we continue to long for, we then shall become worthy to behold the most solemn Passion of Christ, and the Holy Pascha, and rejoice with spiritual joy. Amen. + Fr. George Papadeas
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