One of the most powerful Sacraments the church offers is that of confession and absolution. But if we don’t do the prep work reciting our daily prayers, reading Scripture, attending services, trying to love our neighbor, even the jerks, and looking deep within at our struggles, at our pride, at our many failures, we haven’t adequately prepared. Have we been Christ-like to everyone?
We heard in the Gospel this morning: “Everyone therefore who shall confess in Me before men, I also will confess in him before My Father Who is in the heavens. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father Who is in the heavens.” [Mt. 10:32-33] Our confession is that of a surrender of our will to make room for His service to the world, a denial of self. Sometimes we put a lot of obstacles in the way, or idols that we must serve, or the bank or someone will take them away! And at times we rely on our understanding and deny the successful Orthodox traditions that continue to bring forth fruit even in this mess of today’s news. What are the things blocking your path to salvation?
Last week as I entered the altar mid-week, our iconographer decided to add an icon of Abraham offering his only son of Sarah, Isaac as a sacrifice to God.(Gen: 22) Oh my, how moving. What faith Abraham had as he followed God’s instructions, and as the story unfolds, God provides a ram for the ritual instead. Abraham names this place Jehovah-jireh, meaning “God will provide or God has appeared.” If we only had the love and trust in God that Abraham had!!
I was taught at a very early age that if I really wanted something, I had to work hard for it. Do we still teach that discipline today? There is not much more satisfying than accomplishing a task and earning that just reward. So it is with the next life, when Christ returns to judge the quick and the dead are you ready? (2 Timothy 4:1-5) It may be today, tomorrow or not anytime soon, who knows, but we need to prepare now, not later! What do you really want? “Follow thou Me.” [Mt. 9:9]
Saint Macarius the Great describes that particular judgment this way: “When a human soul goes out of the body, some great mystery happens. For if it is guilty of sins, then there come hordes of demons, evil angels and dark forces, take that soul and drag it to their side. No one should be surprised at that, because if a man surrendered and fell prey to them while still alive in this world, will not they have even greater control over him and enslave him when he departs from this world? As for the other, the better part of people, something different happens to them. There are Angels around the holy servants of God in this life; the holy spirits surround them and protect them; and when their souls are separated from the body, the choir of Angels welcomes them into their fellowship, into a bright life, and thus leads them to the Lord.” (Saint Macarius the Great)
And then I reflect on my salvific walk and stumbles and I have to call myself to question, how much do I really want to reflect Christ’s love on others? Every sin is an addiction and we need help!! We chose darkness over light! Seems at times I am asleep at the wheel or clicked the auto-pilot button on and grabbed a little nap! Where is my sacrificial offering? Abraham was offering his second son, his heir as God had promised. (Gen 15:4-5) What do I offer? If time is so just precious, why do I waste it with every breath I exhale? Saint Nilus of Sinai said: “You should always be waiting for death but not be afraid of it; both are indeed the real characteristics of a person who pursues wisdom.”
Let me close with a familiar prayer: “Grant me, O Lord, to love Thee now as once I loved sin, and also to work for Thee without idleness, as I worked before for deceptive satan. But supremely shall I work for Thee, my Lord and God, Jesus Christ, all the days of my life, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.” (Morning Prayers –Jordanville Prayer book)
Fr. Gabriel Weller 6-15-2025
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