Commemoration of the First Six Ecumenical Councils. Octoechos Tone 8. Our Venerable Father Simeon, the Fool for Christ (c. 580), and His Ascetical Companion John (527-65). Prophet Ezekiel.
Hebrews 13:7-16. John 17:1-13.
Change seems to be the only constant. It is connected to both our hopes and fears. It can feel like a good thing when the things that are changing are the things that we wish would change, not so good when it’s the things that we wish would stay the same. But even in the changes we don’t want, because “we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose,” (Romans 8:28), we know that there is somehow something there for us to discover for our good.
How reassuring that Jesus Christ does not change. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,” is the central point. Before and after that are the positive and negative examples of spiritual teaching. Those who we are told to pay attention to speak “the word of God.” Their faith will have an observable outcome that it pays to imitate. Those who we are warned to be led away by bring “diverse and strange teachings,” which will not have the same benefit in their lives, let alone ours.
Placing the eternally unchangeable Christ in between these two examples makes Him the litmus test for both. Those who speak the word of God don’t always live a life to imitate. Those who speak diverse and strange teachings may have some truth that could be the basis for relationship and spiritual dialogue. To discern each, we need to remain in communion with Jesus ourselves, regardless of whether he, his word, or his sacramental presence are valued by others.
If we “acknowledge his name,” “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise,” and “do good and share what (we) have,” others will be able to “consider the outcome of (our) life, and imitate (our) faith.”