Holy Martyr James of Persia (422); Our Venerable Father Palladius
Nativity Fast. Abstinence from meat and foods that contain meat.
Read
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Luke 12:48-59
Our Lord reminds us today that consequences exist for sinful behaviour. Ignorance is not an excuse because our Lord is not removed from our life even if we are removed from Him. Each person has a conscience, which is a gift that must be treasured and nurtured. Above that, the Lord is personally interested in each of us and thus continually strives to bring us into a greater illumination and spiritual growth while using many avenues to touch our hearts. Most often we work hard at ignoring and shutting our ears to the Lord’s prompting, so for this reason ignorance is not an excuse.
On the other hand, those ‘to whom much has been given, much will be required.’ We can understand that this is directed to Christian faithful and Christian leaders. We are responsible for the grace and knowledge that we have received as a gift. The Lord expects that we care, grow and nurture that which has been invested in us through the Holy Spirit, who has planted in us His gifts and energy. We are to cultivate knowledge and grace, so that it may continually bloom the Divine Fire in us and around us. As much as is expected from Christians, so much more from leadership. Much has been committed to Christian leadership and so much more will be expected. St. John Chrysostom, says the following: “With a view then to escaping from this punishment and being useful both to others and to ourselves, let us drive out all iniquity from our soul and choose virtue. For so shall we attain to the blessings which are to come, whereto may it be granted us all to attain by the grace and love toward man…” (Homily 6 on Romans).