Our Venerable Father and Confessor Michael, Bishop of Synada (826). Venerable Euphrosyne of Polotsk, Hegumena of the Monastery of the Holy Saviour (1173).
Romans 1:28-2:9. Matthew 5:27-32.
Read Romans 1:28-2:9
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory for ever!
we hear about those “who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” those who “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Rom. 1:18, 21). They “exchanged the truth of God for the lie” (Rom. 1:25) and “did not like to retain God in their knowledge” (Rom. 1:28). After their hearts were darkened, they experienced a corruption of their minds which led them into all kinds of unrighteousness and sinful deeds which St. Paul lists at length. They still had the audacity to judge others who were committing the same sins that they were. If we judge other for committing the same sins we commit, how could we possibly expect that God won’t also judge us for committing them? Paul writes: “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart, you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Rom. 2:5).
This week we continue to celebrate the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Feast of Pentecost. Let us recall the reading from the prophecy of Ezekiel which we heard at Great Vespers for the feast: “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God” (Ez. 36:24-28).
May we pray for the Gift of the Holy Spirit so that we may not “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” and develop a darkening of our minds and hardness of our hearts. Whenever we pray Psalm 50 (51), we say: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (verses 10-11). Today, let this be our prayer. Let us ask for the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and cleanse us of all that defiles us.