Fore-feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ; Commemoration of the Consecration of the Holy Resurrection Patriarchal Sobor; Holy Martyr Eusignius (360-63)
Dormition Fast. A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
Hebrews 3:1-14; Matthew 17:24-18:4.
Read Matthew 17:24-18:4
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
People have strange ideas about the Kingdom of Heaven, and Christ’s disciples were no exception. The very fact that they asked a question with regards to “who will be the greatest in Heaven?” meant that they were reflecting on the life to come in terms of this earthly life that admires the realization of one’s personal ambitions and accepts the exaltation of self as the highest goals to be achieved. By thinking in these terms the disciples demonstrated that in fact they were not moving in the direction of the Kingdom of Heaven, but rather away from it. That is why Jesus said “Unless you change,” you “will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
How are we supposed to change ourselves and what characteristics are we supposed to have in order to achieve salvation? Jesus says that we should become “like children.” By saying so, he does not mean that we need to give up our maturity for the sake of childish recklessness and irresponsibility. On the contrary, he encourages us to rediscover our lost ability to wonder, our readiness to forgive and to forget, our eagerness to learn new things, and above all our willingness to trust and rely on Someone greater than us.
When a child is on the trip with his or her parents, there is no need to worry about the money, tickets, insurance, accomodation, food, etc., since loving parents will provide all what is necessary in due time. Children cannot make enough money to pay for the mortgage or even their own clothes, yet this lack of control does not bother or humiliate them. It is okey for children to be humble and to be dependent on those who unconditionally love them.
Just imagine how our life would look like if we allow ourselves to be led by our loving Father, to be fed by the body and blood of the Son, and to be clothed by the grace of the Holy Spirit. It is so important to remind ourselves that we are beloved children of God for whom the Kingdom of Heaven is not something that needs to be earned, but something that is given as the greatest gift we could ever imagine.