Our Venerable Father David of Thessalonica (c. 530); Passing into Eternal Life (1941) of Blessed Mykola (Nicholas) Konrad, Pastor of Stradch, Founder of Obnova, Professor of the Lviv Theological Academy, and Martyr; Passing into Eternal Life (1941) of Blessed Volodymyr Pryjma, Cantor of Stradch and Martyr; Passing into Eternal Life (1941) of Blessed Andrii Ishchak, Pastor of Sykhiv, Professor of the Lviv Theological Academy, and Martyr
Apostles’ Fast. Abstinence from meat and foods that contain meat.
Read
Romans 8:2-13; Matthew 10:16-22
When teaching us about the spiritual life our Lord uses multiple images, which sometimes seem to be opposed to each other. Today’s Gospel is one such example: sheep, serpents and doves. To worldly eyes, the image of being a sheep among wolves seems hopeless for hungry wolves will rip apart a poor sheep. The Lord wants us to see with spiritual eyes of the Kingdom: “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the land” (Matt 5:5). The Lord emphasizes that even if we suffer as sheep among wolves, through meekness we shall be victorious for meekness ultimately conquers.
Serpents which are an image of temptation, sin, evil and the devil are not creatures usually considered for contemplation, but the Lord says, ‘be as wise as serpents…” This is spoken to us so that we do not take the image of sheep too far for sheep are unintelligent and at times foolish creatures. Serpents are very attuned to changes in their surroundings. If attacked will sacrifice its body to protect its head. So we too should be attuned to our surroundings and if needed we should not be afraid to give all that we have away and even not be afraid to suffer bodily affliction, but never allow our connection with Christ and our faith in him to be diminished or lost. And just as the serpent squeezes through narrow pathways and sheds its skin, so too we must walk the narrow path and shed the old fallen man to be constantly renewed in repentance. The image of the serpent is insufficient for it is usually a poisonous creature, so the Lord reminds that we must be gentle, sincere, guileless and harmless as doves. We must be also as the dove, which is an image of purity, reconciliation and the presence and gift of the Holy Spirit. We are called to be meek, wise—so as to avoid the trickery of this world—gentle and always walking guided by the presence of the Holy Spirit.