Leave-Taking of Pascha. The Third Finding of the Precious Head of the Holy, Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; Passing into Eternal Life (1951) of Blessed Mykola (Nicholas) Tsehelsky, Priest and Martyr
Acts 18:22-28; 2 Corinthians 4:6-15; John 12:36-47; Matthew 11:2-15
Polyeleos Feast
Read Acts 18:22-28
Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!
Today, brothers and sisters, in our epistle reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we have a very brief description of an encounter between Apollos and Priscilla and Aquila. Despite its brevity, this encounter has much to teach us about how to correct others when they are in error and how to accept correction when our errors are corrected.
Priscilla and Aquila witness fervent preaching from Apollos but, recognizing certain errors in Apollos’ preaching, take him aside and offer fraternal correction, seeking to lead him deeper into the mystery of Christ. Apollos, with no diminished fervency, accepts this correction with great humility as he desires to more fully understand the mystery of Christ.
There is a great temptation to correct others in public when they are in error or to rebuke correction from others when being corrected. Both of these responses are prideful, and, rather than helping us grow in faith and love, they lead to our fall further and further away from God.
Pride seeks personal attention. Humility points to God.