Our Venerable and God-bearing Father Euthemius the Great (473)
Hebrews 13: 17-21; Luke 6: 17-23
Polyeleos Feast
Read Luke 6: 17-23
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
Today we commemorate our Venerable and God-bearing Father Euthemius the Great. He was an influential monastic who established many monasteries, converted many Arabs to the faith, defended the Apostolic faith from heresy on many occasions, and had many spiritual gifts such as healing and clairvoyance.
Saint Euthymius exhorted the monastics who came to him to guard their thoughts. He said, “whoever desires to lead the monastic life should not follow his own will. He should be obedient and humble, and be mindful of the hour of death. He should fear the judgment and eternal fire, and seek the heavenly Kingdom.” This instruction is not only worthwhile for monastics, but for all Christians. We can easily substitute ‘Christian’ for ‘monastic’. All Christians are called to die to their own will and follow the will of the Lord. How often do we say in the Lord’s prayer, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” The only way to make manifest the Lord’s will on earth is to first start with bending my own will to His. This then becomes my personal contribution to the building up of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
One of the consequences of the fall of humanity, which occurred when our ancestral parents Adam and Eve sinned, is a damaged will. We have become more focused on ourselves and our own desires. We have become weak and easily deviate from that which is good and virtuous. This is why we need God’s grace through the Sacraments and a daily practice of submitting our will to the will of the Lord and the service of others. Whether we live in a monastery or in a family the Lord provides plenty of opportunity to practice submission of will toward the other: whether its following the fasting rules, attending the services of the church, diligently keeping our prayer rule, or finding the God given opportunity to put someone ahead of myself.
St. Theophan the Recluse points out that the Lord provides opportunity in the following five ways to heal and strengthen our will: “1) Submission to the whole church rule. 2) Submission to civil order, or to family duty, for they are conduits of God’s will. 3) Obedience to God’s will as manifested in your fate. 4) Obeying your conscience in the doing of good deeds. 5) Subjecting yourself to the spirit that is zealous to fulfill its vows.” (The Three Powers of the Soul and Their Curative Exercises).