The Holy Martyrs and Notaries Marcian and Martyrius (351)
Colossians 3:17-4:1; Luke 9:44-50.
Read Luke 9:44-50
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
According to St. John Cassian, “the spirit of pride” is “an evil beast that is most savage and more dreadful” and “the cause and fountain head of evils” (Institutes, Book XII, Chapter 1, 8). He mentions how even the great angel Lucifer “was cast out of heaven for no other sin but this, and pierced with the dart of pride, was hurled down from his grand and exalted position as an angel into hell” (Chapter 4). “Pride” is so dangerous that it can even hurl down God’s highest angel! This same sin to “pride” was also present in the Garden of Eden when the serpent tempted Eve to eat the fruit so that she “will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5).
By becoming incarnate, being born in a cave, being raised as “the carpenter’s son” (Mt. 13:55), accepting trial, imprisonment, torture, and a shameful death on the cross, God showed to us the glory that comes through humility.
In today’s reading, the disciples argued among themselves as to which of them would be the greatest in Jesus’ kingdom. “Perceiving the thought of their heart, [Jesus] took a little child and set him by Him, and said to them, ‘Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great” (Lk. 9:47-48). Jesus is teaching them that greatness comes through humility. Everyone welcomes praise, admiration, and high esteem from their fellow man, but true greatness comes from being able to faithfully follow God while rejecting all these attractive, vain, worldly glories. Let us learn to recognize those who are humble and strive to imitate them, recognizing that “greatness” doesn’t come through pride or prestige but in simplicity and humility.
Bible References