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Third Sunday after Pentecost
The present Gospel speaks about the eye being the lamp of the body. The Lord Jesus Christ said: "If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.if your eye is bad, you whole body will be full of darkness." (Mt.6:22-23)
We look at the world around us through our eyes and our experiences. The depth of our faith influences what we see and how we interpret what we see. Our past experiences and history affects our view of
the world.
The Lord Jesus Christ said: "I say unto you unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."(Mt.18:2)
My youngest grandsons are two and a half years old. They like to kiss icons and crosses. When they go into the church, they kiss all the icons and crosses they see. When they are here on the church grounds, they go from grave marker to grave marker in the cemetery, kissing each cross.
These young boys in their innocence know there is something special about icons and crosses. Recently, they went to the front of my car and kissed the manufacturer's distinct emblem which to them was a cross. The emblem on the car was a cross like all the other crosses they have kissed.
I have been driving for almost fifty years and have had many cars with the same manufacturer's emblem. I have seen countless other cars with this same emblem.
I never associated the car manufacturer's emblem with the Cross of Christ. These two young boys, because of the purity of their eyes, were able to see on the car, a cross worth venerating.
The actions of these two young boys is an important lesson. We can see God at work in the community, in our homes, in our schools, in our workplaces, if we have the same childlike purity of heart.
St.Nikolai(Velimirovic) in his Prayers by the Lake used nature to contemplate and describe the presence of God all around him. In the present Gospel, the Lord Jesus Christ uses the birds of the air and the lilies of the field to illustrate the presence of God(Mt.6:26-30)
In this complex world of electronics and mega-complexes, abundance stress and too much violence, keeping the eyes on the Kingdom of God is absolutely necessary if we are to enter God' heavenly Kingdom.
Few people enter the narrow gate to the Kingdom(Mt.7:13-14). Peril is everywhere. Diversions exist in abundance. When God dominates the heart and mind and we intently focus on God, our efforts will be toward the Kingdom.
Vigilance is necessary at each moment. Commitment to Christ is necessary at each moment. Jesus provides assurance in the present Gospel, that if we seek first the Kingdom of God, our needs will be met.(Mt.6:33)
Placing our complete and total confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ is the soundest of actions. The Lord Jesus Christ does not disappoint those putting their trust in Him.
The actions of God through the centuries are recorded in Holy Scripture. The steady, sure presence of God is recorded. Readers of Holy Scripture draw strength and security from the written record of God.
A new vision of the God's creation expands for firm believers. The nourishment God provides daily for the body and for the soul is evidence of God's love and enduring presence.
Centuries ago the Psalmist said: "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting thou art God."(Ps.89/90:2)
Beholding God's creation and God's love, believers appreciate the freshness and opportunity to seek and serve God each day. Each day is a source of joy for those who believe and seek God. Each day is a gift from God to be used for the glory of God.
God gives us creative powers and gifts to use for His glory. We are stewards of these gifts and have a responsibility to use them well and in ways pleasing to God.
Lovers of God will use talents and gifts from God for the glory of God. The Church is the beneficiary of talented and richly blessed believers.
Individuals hiding their light under a bushel(Mt.5:15) or failing to invest their gifts from God(Mt.25:14-29) deprive themselves of God' s multiplying power.
Use every day for the glory of God. Use every moment of time for the salvation of the soul. Choose Christ always and follow Him.
St, George Serbian Orthodox Church, Carmichaels, Pennsylvania. June 23/July
6, 2008. Third Sunday after Pentecost. Holy Martyr Agrippina.
Father Rodney Torbic
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