Sts. Peter and Paul Day            OCALA June 26,2005

This coming Wednesday, Orthodoxy worldwide will celebrate the memory of the two chief Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. It is significant to note, that St. Peter was one of the original 12 called by the Lord to propagate His teachings to all the world, and for all time; while St. Paul was not one of the twelve Apostles. Actually he was an arch-persecutor of the first Christians; but through God's miraculous touch, he became the greatest missionary of Christianity for all time, having spread the Gospel from Jerusalem, all the way to Rome, on his 4 Missionary journeys. We mention at this point, that according to tradition, both these Apostles martyred at the hands of Nero in Rome in the year 67 A.D.

St. Paul's wrote 14 of the 27 Books of the New Testament. His writings were called Epistles, or letters, and these 14 Epistles truly constitute a Divine legacy. In these Epistles St. Paul outlines the path to salvation for those, who would choose to walk on this path. Ever since his conversion, St. Paul had become the epitome of every virtue, and sought to inculcate these virtues in all persons, who would seek spiritual fulfillment and salvation.

This morning I chose as my theme, a verse from the 2nd chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, in which he makes the following statement: "For every well-doer, there will be GLORY, HONOR and PEACE!

But when we hear these three virtues, do we really give them their profound meaning as St. Paul did?

Let's make an attempt to see these virtues through the eyes of St. Paul. As we know, the first written law of God was given to Moses through the 10 Commandments. This was the moral code given by God, as a moral guide for the Hebrews in the desert after their being free from the clutches of Pharaoh . But no less, this is the fundamental moral code for all people.

However, even before the written law, there was the law which God had inscribed in the hearts of all men. It is the unwritten law, known as the "natural law," which we recognize as our conscience.            St. Gregory the Theologian in the 4th Century spoke regarding this unwritten law as follows: 'The moral law of God is implanted in all of us from the beginning, --- and it is the first law we come to know, and which leads us to God through visible means."

There is no doubt that St. Gregory based this statement on St. Paul's words, stated in the 2nd chapter of Romans: "When the Gentiles, who do not possess the Mosaic Law, carry out its precepts by the light of nature, then, although they have no law, they are their own law, for they display the effect of the law inscribed in their hearts."

Thus, the Hebrews had the written law, and the Gentiles the unwritten law. But, they both had a common denominator, ---that is, their conscience,--- the voice of God within them, and it is on this basis that they will be judged.

Isn't it true, that whether it is the written or unwritten law, our conscience is the guide leading us to observe God's Commandments? We are all familiar with the popular saying: "Let your conscience be your guide!" The result of sinful acts comes from the fact, that so many people compromise themselves when it comes to their conscience. And what is worse, by persisting in sin, an individual slowly hardens his or her conscience, so that the sinning individual cannot see the accusing finger pointed at him or her.

I would imagine that hardened murderers, must have felt the pangs of conscience, when they committed their first murder.

Then, as they continued, they not only kept murdering, but simultaneously they were murdering their conscience, so that to take a human life became as incidental as lighting a cigarette or haying a drink!

The sensitive Christian seeks to pursue the nurturing of his or her conscience, and consciously seeks to refine it, so that it is absolutely in tune and harmony with God.

For those then, who are doers of the will of God, the Lord promises as St. Paul emphasizes, GLORY, HONOR and PEACE. Firstly, the Lord promises Glory. Surely not the type of glory, which so many humans constantly seek; but virtuous Glory, which continues into eternity, as opposed to human glory, which in a moment, can turn into disgrace, because of some adverse reaction. God's gift of Glory is emphasized in the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 44, verse 13, as follows: "Their glory will endure for all time,, and their fame will never be blotted out!"

After glory, God promises Honor. Isn't it somewhat odd, that in life we notice that so many people, who are worthy only of contempt, are honored, simply because of their position, or their wealth? And while it may well be, that people, who are controlled by the powerful or the wealthy, may outwardly bow down to them, but surely inwardly, they are repulsed.

But, the virtuous honor is indeed an adornment of the soul, and the Christian, who is honored by others, always presents himself or herself as they truly are, and surely not like those who seek honor, which they do not deserve.Honor for the true Christian has its continuity in Eternity, as opposed to those, who seek worldly honors, which are anything but stable and lasting!

The third merit which God promises is Peace. However, there are two types of peace. The external and the internal. The external peace is indeed frail and oftentimes superficial. The internal peace is truly genuine, because it is based on Jesus, our Lord, so that His peace becomes a bulwark against sin. Inward peace is an armor, which does not permit the Christian to capitulate to the material, nor to arrogance or self-sufficiency.

Thirdly St. Paul exhorts us to live in peace among ourselves. To be sure, when we truly love God and our neighbor as ourselves in accordance with God's Commandments, then, our internal peace automatically manifests itself externally.

True and abiding peace, --- the fruit of life eternal, is really a gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. He verified this through the Gospel of St. John chapter 14, verse 27 when He said: "Peace is my parting gift to you; I give you My peace, such as the world cannot give."

It is not by accident, that the first petition, or prayer of our Divine Liturgy states: "In peace, let us pray to the Lord." Without this peace in our heart, how can we truly pray the many petitions that follow, asking for the salvation of our souls, for the peace in the world etc. Without peace we cannot possess the spiritual tranquility, which is needed to execute God's Commandments.

Our Lord taught and did everything with the ultimate purpose of helping us to become God-like. When He arose in glory from the Tomb, and appeared to His fear-stricken Apostles in the Upper Room, the first words He uttered as He stretched out His hands to greet them, were "Peace be unto you."

There is no doubt, that all people recognize the merits of peace; but, how many people conscientiously work at achieving peace, whether it be at home, in our work, in our meetings, and yes, even in our Churches, in our government and in the world?

So many humans are surely remote from the teachings of the Lord. As a result, the price being paid for the ignorance of God's law is extremely costly, for so many Christians, who are Christians in name only. If people were truly the Christians they profess to be, would we ever have the type of troubles, which people experience individually or collectively? Peace must come at some point to individuals, to nations and to the world. Without it, there will always be strife and misery. Peace can come, and surely will come, if each and every person seeks to make it his or her way of life. Amen.

+ Fr. George Papadeas