Post-feast of the Transfiguration. Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Lawrence (249-51).
Dormition Fast.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29. Matthew 20:29-34.
Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Throughout the history of the Church, one of the greatest testimonies to the presence of God and His activity in the world is the weakness of the saints. St. Paul himself is a primary example of this. Before his encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus, St. Paul was the greatest persecutor of Christians. Yes, The Lord takes this zealot against the faith and turns him into the most active missionary for the faith.
The priest, Blessed Emilian Kowch, is another amazing example of the Lord’s strength in weakness. Arrested by the Gestapo and sent to a concentration camp, Fr. Emilian ministered to many prisoners and walked with them in their final days. Although his family was in the process of securing his release, he asked them to discontinue their attempts in order that he stay in the camp and minister to his fellow prisoners. This level of courage and self-sacrifice from a prisoner among prisoners points to a God who is bigger than us and our natural gifts.
The examples of these incredible saints point to our need for humility. At the core of our faith, we find the two “facts” of the Christian life: 1. There is a God and 2. We are not Him. When we keep this in mind, we can truly recognize the activity of God who works in the world despite our own weaknesses, sinfulness and imperfections.