Christ the Head (Matthew 14: 1-22) - Br. Predeep Chacko by St. Luke Orthodox Mission Church

In my last sermon I spoke about how Abraham had strong unwavering faith, making reference to the epistle to the Galatians chapter 4. Indeed, Abraham’s faith was strong and unwavering, but we should be mindful, not to think of faith as some sort of “supernatural” ethos that a Christian possesses to overcome challenges and trials in life. It is rather a “conviction” and “deep-rooted-belief” that God is with us—Emmanuel—and that He will not forsake us or leave us by the wayside. Moreover, faith is action. Conviction or deep-rooted-belief are made null and void if it is not proceeded by a change in behavior.

Today we remember a terrible event within the Gospels; two days after Christmas, the Church remembers the Slaughter of the Holy Innocents. This gruesome Bible passage is only found in St. Matthew’s Gospel. It is said that this event was so terrible that St. Luke, the Evangelist who offers the best historical account, just could not stomach this event and therefore skipped it altogether. One of the things that St. Matthew sets out to do is to show how the prophecies from the Old Testament were fulfilled, and therefore he shows how Jeremiah’s prophecy came to fulfill through this event.

Abraham was given a promise by God in three areas: (Gen 12) 1) the promise of the land 2) the promise that his descendants would be a nation 3) the promise that through his descendants (this nation) all the families of the earth would be blessed. Learning about Abraham and his story in Sunday School, in our reading of the Bible, and through homilies, these promises seemed like too much for God to accomplish, at least it does for us. However, Abraham knew that it was God who established a covenant with Him and that God is not a liar like men but that His words are true, always. This is why the Apostle Paul says today in the Pauline epistle, “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Romans 4: 20-22) As already stated, for us looking into this great drama between Abraham and God, we would think it is impossible for these promises to come true because we look in our own lives and consider God has limitations in what He can do. This was not the way Abraham thought. He believed that God would bring to fruition the promises that He had declared. Abraham had a strong faith and did not waver but believed. Do we have such unwavering faith in God? Or do we always doubt God?

In the Book of Genesis 3:16 God puts a burden upon women that they would henceforth give birth in pain and suffering: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children.” This punishment that is directed toward women was a consequence of Eve’s sin. So, for generations after Eve woman had to undergo a great deal of pain when giving birth. It should be duly noted that man also had to suffer by toiling the earth for food and sustenance. Therefore, both Adam and Eve had to suffer. It was not a one-sided punishment—both man and woman were both punished.

Abraham was given a promise by God in three areas: (Gen 12) 1) the promise of the land 2) the promise that his descendants would be a nation 3) the promise that through his descendants (this nation) all the families of the earth would be blessed. Learning about Abraham and his story in Sunday School, in our reading of the Bible, and through homilies, these promises seemed like too much for God to accomplish, at least it does for us. However, Abraham knew that it was God who established a covenant with Him and that God is not a liar like men but that His words are true, always. This is why the Apostle Paul says today in the Pauline epistle, “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Romans 4: 20-22) As already stated, for us looking into this great drama between Abraham and God, we would think it is impossible for these promises to come true because we look in our own lives and consider God has limitations in what He can do. This was not the way Abraham thought. He believed that God would bring to fruition the promises that He had declared. Abraham had a strong faith and did not waver but believed. Do we have such unwavering faith in God? Or do we always doubt God?

Love and obedience are two Christian virtues which we are called to obtain. When it comes to doing the Will of God, we do so through our love for Him and obedience to His Commandments. When Christ said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven…” it is because children have, utilizing their innocence, these two virtues. A good child loves and obeys their parents and acts accordingly. When it comes to our relationship with God, we have become His children. For it states in 1 John “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!... Beloved, now we are children of God…” You know if a child has been raised with love and has a love for his or her parents if he or she acts according to the will of the parent without being asked. In other words, the child does not need to be asked to do his or her chores around the house; he or she does so out of love. This same love is what we are all called to have for our Father who is in Heaven.

We have returned to a familiar situation this Sunday.

Because of the resurgence of the pandemic, we must

celebrate the Divine Liturgy in this limited capacity. We

have, in a sense, been kicked out of Eden, though not

because of anyone’s sin. This, however, gives us a great

opportunity to reflect on a theme that is found amongst

the Fathers. The theme of how St. Mary has become the

“New Eve.”

Either if it was at our wedding or a wedding that we attended, we are quite familiar with the words of the Apostle Paul: “husbands love your wives as yourself.” (Eph 5:28) St. Paul’s idea of how a husband should love his wife as himself were not his thoughts alone, but one that he took from his Lord. Christ taught that we should, “love our neighbor as ourselves.” (Mark 12:31) Here, St. Paul takes the teachings of his Lord and applies them to marriage.

At the time of our Baptism, Holy Chrism is used to anoint us. As children, it is spread over the entire body, as an adult, it was used to mark the sign of the Cross over us. Either way, it is as St. Philoxenos writes, “Neither the wetness of water in which we are baptized, nor the oiliness of the oil with which we are anointed, remain with us after our death, but the Holy Spirit, who is mingled in our souls and bodies through the oil and water, does remain with us, both in this life and after our death.” We have been sealed eternally; we have been marked with an eternal mark that is the seal and mark of the Holy Spirit.