The Holy Martyrs Terentius and Neonila; Our Venerable Father Stephen the Sabaite, Composer of Canons (9th c.); the Holy Martyr Parasceve of Iconium
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat
Colossians 2:1-7; Luke 9:12-17
Read Colossians 2:1-7
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
St. Paul desired to encourage the Colossians and warn them against deception since a form of the heresy of gnosticism was taking hold amongst them. A feature of gnosticism is the belief that there was a special kind of knowledge required for salvation which the Gnostics held. In today’s reading, Paul tells the Colossians that he wants them, the Laodiceans, and “as many as have not seen [his] face in the flesh” to “be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:1-3). Paul assures us that all wisdom and knowledge are found in God; the Gnostics do not possess any special salvific knowledge.
As the Colossians “have received Christ Jesus the Lord,” Paul tells them to “walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as [they] have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 2:6-7). Our faith and commitment to living in Christ far exceeds any kind of “special knowledge” that the crafty and deceptive Gnostics could offer, for our faith comes directly from Christ through His apostles.
Paul and the apostles had to fight heresies that were spreading among Christian communities. Their duty was to preserve orthodox teachings handed down to them from Christ. Throughout all ages (including our own), Christians have been exposed to various heretical teachings. By being filled with Holy Spirit and trusting in the teachings handed down to us with apostolic authority, we can preserve our faith unstained.