Fourth Sunday of Matthew

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Last week we heard from our Savior that one cannot serve God and mammon. Furthermore, He told us not to be anxious about providing for ourselves. It is important to point out that the words “Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.” (Matt 6:25) that are found in the King James are not a completely accurate translation. The Greek says “Be not anxious for your life,” about how you are going to provide for yourself. The word “anxious” has a negative connotation of fear and uncertainty, thus our Savior is telling us to not have fear and uncertainty; if we seek first the Kingdom of God, all things will be added unto us.

Yet we should be anxious about the things of God. In the context of the spiritual life this word has a different connotation and there is such a thing as a healthy fear of God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. There is a formula for cultivating the spiritual life expounded by the Holy Fathers: faith, fear, repentance, and love. We begin spiritual progress by coming to knowledge and belief in God. This leads to a healthy fear that is rooted in the awe of God. He is infinite and we are small. We then must examine ourselves, and fear becoming self-deceived or complacent in sin. We should fear the possibility that we can choose to foolishly abandon the will of God for our own will. There is no uncertainty in God. If we are true to Him, He will be true to us. From the Scriptures and lives of saints we learn that if we repent of our sins, God will receive us back again. From this knowledge and experience, the love of God can blossom in our hearts.

It is possible to “be anxious” about seeking first the Heavenly Kingdom and at the same time to use our rational faculties to accomplish our necessary daily tasks. It is worth mentioning that even the Holy Apostle Paul, who spent most of his time in labors of preaching, from time to time took up the work of a tent-maker to provide for himself. Thus, the gospel last week was an admonition for us to be aware and vigilant concerning our priorities. Spiritual things should come first, yet we are not being told to completely ignore the necessary tasks of life.

One of the Holy Fathers compared progress in the spiritual life to the image of a wheel. If a wheel is lifted off the ground, it cannot make progress and roll forward. Likewise, if one is too abstract and dreamy, one can make no progress in the practical virtues. A wheel lying on its side also cannot make progress. Likewise, if one is overly attached to earthly things, one cannot make spiritual progress. But if a wheel touches the earth at one point and reaches up at all other points, it can roll freely. So also, if in our life we make contact with the earth, yet our orientation is towards heavenly things, then we can progress in the active outward virtues and in the virtues of the inner man. Seek first the Kingdom and be anxious about the Kingdom and all things will be added unto you.

In today’s Gospel passage we encounter a Roman centurion, a man who had command of one hundred men and many of responsibilities; yet he strove to have the right priorities. If we examine Saint Luke’s account of today’s passage along with the Gospel of Saint Matthew, we see that initially some of the Jews approached our Savior and told the Lord that the man, “... loves our nation, and it is he that built us our synagogue.” (Luke 7:5)

Thus we learn that he was a righteous man who cared about spiritual things. Furthermore, he was seeking mercy and healing, not for a family member, but for a slave, and this during an era when slaves were brutally exploited and looked on with indifference when they suffered. This Roman centurion was a godly, merciful man, who was entreating and seeking healing from whom? Not from a doctor, but from a man of God and a Prophet. Now we see that this Roman centurion was anxious about the things of the Kingdom of Heaven, and that this solicitude for the things of God gave birth to a marvelous faith, as it says in today’s Gospel:

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. (Matt 8:5-6)

And the Lord Jesus, the Knower of hearts offered to come unto his house, saying, “I will come and heal him.” (Matt 8:7)

And the centurion spoke those now famous words that make a deep impression on all of our hearts, “Lord, I am not worthy that Thou should come under my roof: but say a word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it." (Matt 8:8-9)

If we scan the records of the Gospel we see that often men marveled at our Savior and that on one occasion our Savior marveled at the unbelief of some; but this Roman centurion was the only one who had such an abundance of faith, that our Savior marveled at him saying, “Amen I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not even in Israel.” (Matt 8:10)

Our Savior praised this man and granted his servant healing and added, “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall recline with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of the Heavens. But the sons of the Kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.” (Matt 8:11-12)

Just as this Roman centurion was praised, many foreigners will be joined unto the People of God and enjoy their company because of their faith, yet there will also be many who will be born into families that granted them the status of children of the Kingdom, yet, because of their lack of faith, they will be cast out.

We all need to examine our own consciences in regard to this. Do we simply go through the motions in our spiritual life or do we try and cultivate our faith? Do we have our priorities correct? Are we anxious about the right things? Do we entreat God to help us solve our problems? Do we rely on God? If we do not have our prayers answered, do we accept God’s will on the matter?

This Gospel passage should be for us a cause of compunction and self-examination. Are there times when we fail in any of the above? If this is the case, remember that our Savior always calls us to repent. If we return to Him, He will always receive us.

Our Savior described the very real threats of ultimate separation from God where there is the weeping of sorrow and regret, and the gnashing of teeth, which is anger at everyone and everything born of blaming everyone else. If we examine ourselves and blame ourselves we can avoid these things and find healing from the only true Physician of souls. Our Savior does all in order motivate us to return, to help us avoid being deceived by the error of attachment to the things of the world and lack of faith.

We are blessed to have at the monastery [of Saint Gregory of Sinai] this chapel dedicated to the memory of Saint Silouan, the ascetic of Mount Athos. Of late I have received a lot of consolation from the writings of Saint Silouan and I wish to share with you a passage by him from the book “The Undistorted Image,” regarding the cultivating of faith through striving to align our will with God’s will:

“Nothing troubles the man who is given over to the will of God, be it illness, poverty or persecution. He knows that the Lord in His mercy is solicitous for us. The Holy Spirit, whom the soul knows, is witness thereof. But the proud and self-willed do not want to surrender to God’s will because they like their own way, and that is harmful to the soul.

Abba Pimen said, ‘Our own will is like a wall of brass between us and God, preventing us from coming near to Him or contemplating His mercy.’

We must always pray the Lord for peace of soul that we may the more easily fulfill the Lord’s commandments; for the Lord loves those who strive to do His will, and thus they attain profound peace in God.

He who does the Lord’s will is content with all things, though he be poor or sick and suffering, because the grace of God gladdens the heart. But the man who is discontented with his lot and murmurs against his fate, or against those who caused him offence, should realize that his spirit is in a state of pride, which has taken from him his sense of gratitude towards God.

But if it be so with you, do not lose heart but try to trust firmly in the Lord and ask Him for a humble spirit; and when the lowly spirit of God comes to you, you will then love Him and be at rest in spite of all tribulations.

The soul that has acquired humility is always mindful of God, and thinks to herself: ‘God has created me. He suffered for me. He forgives me my sins and comforts me. He feeds me and cares for me. Why then should I take thought for myself, and what is there to fear, even if death threatens me?

The Lord enlightens every soul that has surrendered to the will of God, for He said, ‘Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.’

A soul that is troubled about anything should inquire of the Lord and the Lord will give understanding; but this is primarily in times of calamity and bewilderment. As a general rule we should be advised by our spiritual father, for this is a humbler way.

[p. 158-159, “The Undistorted Image” by Archimandrite Sophrony,
The Faith Press, London 1958]

Let us consider these things. Soon we will be experiencing some very profound changes in our way of life as a nation. It is very likely that we will have to endure tribulations. I don’t need to go into detail concerning the how and the why, but we are on the verge of many things changing for us and we all need to learn to rely on God.

In today’s gospel our Savior granted the centurion’s request, yet there will be times when it will not be God’s will that our prayers be answered. We all need to learn to have faith in God, no matter what our position is. We need to seek first the Kingdom of God, cultivate the works of faith, and know that God will provide for us what we need.

Through the prayers of the faithful centurion and Saint Silouan, may God grant that you all find inner peace and consolation and participation in the Kingdom of the heavens in this life through accepting His will. Amen.