Did anyone ever tell you that those who miss the homily and are teaching our children are reaping a much greater harvest than those listening to the words echoed here during the same time frame each Sunday? After all, Rd. Paisios makes the homilies available online. So far, it does seems to be one of the least favorite tasks of this church family, or at least when we need help teaching, volunteers are scarcer than a shinny buffalo nickel. Do we really have our priorities in order? Saint Chrysostom instructs us: “He that has a gift of word and teaching to profit thereby, and uses it not, will lose the gift also. But he that gives earnest diligence, will gain to himself the gift in more abundance, even as the other loses what he had received.” [Hom 78, P.G. 58:754 (col. 714).]
We must remember to quit looking in our mirror and instead look at the future, the only thing you will require is to be a willing servant and the saints will surround you and help you! Or as Lord reminds us today, don’t bury your talent! “And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.”[Mt. 25:25-26]
We all fall into a bit of a comfort level, even with our salvation. Has anyone here ever constructed a steel building with cedar colored siding, a blue roof and a gold cupola, in the middle of COVID outbreak? We have now, haven’t we? We had no idea how this new church building was going to happen, but we trusted God and leaped forward, hurdle after hurdle, inspector after inspector! You see, we need not be scared of failure. If we are quivering afraid of stepping over the starboard rail and onto the water as our Great Sheppard watches, it is then that we discover our lack of faith. It is the very things in life that we feel the most uncomfortable doing that will grow the most plentiful harvest. It is never been about us and our inability to say no to those thoughts of failure, helplessness and laziness; it is always about Him; because He can! Are there any volunteers? You don’t need to be a rocket-scientist or bible scholar, you just need to; “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)
We are also supposed to tithe our talents; we certainly don’t want to steal what belongs to God. This is not just our financial support to the church, it is also our time which includes prayer, helping in the kitchen and around the property, cleaning, teaching, chanting and being an active, compassionate, and serving part of this family. After all, I don’t think we have any royalty amongst us, and we don’t have a maid or butler at home, do we? We need to make time and be willing, for there is nothing that a faithful servant can’t accomplish. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 22)
Look around us and on that which is crawling on the floor and you will see our bountiful harvest! Our current ministry is clear, and He is sending more little ones for our salvation!! “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven, for the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” (Mt 18:10-11)
Blessed Theophylact writes: “He commands them not to disdain those thought to be of little importance, that is, those poor in spirit who are great in God’s eyes. They are greatly loved by God. He says, that they have angels watching over them so that they may not be harmed by the demons.” (The explanation by Blessed Theophylact, According to St. Mathew, pg155)
Glory to God for this great opportunity, that we all will make a big difference in these little lives and in our community for the future. We are FAMILY!! Are there any VOLUNTEERS?
