The Holy Priest-Martyr Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata (379-80)
Romans 14:9-18; Matthew 12:14-16,22-30
Apostles’ Fast.
Read Matthew 12:14-16,22-30
Although Jesus performed great miracles, His opponents were blind to the power of God. It was clear that “the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, how to destroy Him” (Mt. 12:14). They would rather suggest that Jesus casted out demons by Beelzebul than entertain the idea that He was working by the Spirit of God. Are we often blind to God’s involvement in our life and in the lives of those around us? Would we rather credit the blessings we receive in life to chance than to the grace of God for which we should be grateful?
To explain why it was ridiculous to think He casted out demons by demonic power, Jesus explained that “every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand” (Mt. 12:26). Notice that Jesus speaks about how divisiveness harms “every” kingdom, city, or house. By virtue of our baptism, we are all adopted sons and daughters of God and therefore brothers and sisters of one another. We are one family in the Church, and it is important to preserve unity.
Our society and our world are very fractured. So many people cleave to political labels, sexual labels, religious labels, and all other kinds of labels to create identities for themselves with which they can proudly differentiate themselves from other people, including other brothers and sisters in Christ. Diversity is beautiful, but diversity should serve our unity rather than be used as a tool to jeopardize it. As those of us on the Julian calendar celebrated Pentecost this past Sunday, let us remember to pray for unity in the Holy Spirit. It may be helpful to once again prayerfully reflect on the doxasticheron of the aposticha for the Great Vespers of Pentecost:
In days of old, pride brought confusion of tongues to the builders of the Tower of Babel, but now the diversity of tongues enlightened the minds and gave knowledge for the glory of God. Then, God punished the impious for their sin; now, Christ enlightened fishermen through His Spirit. Then, the confusion of tongues was for the sake of punishment; now, there was a variety so that voices could be joined in harmony for the salvation of our souls.