Gloria tibi Trinitas!

Homily on the 7th Sunday after the Lord's Glorious Pascha.

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them.

They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. Jn 17:1-13

It was only last week that the world woke up to the most horrendous news imaginable that took place in America; the slaughter of 19 innocent children, along with two teachers who sacrificed their lives trying to save these little souls!

As a father of two young girls, I cannot begin to imagine the profound pain, heartache, anguish, grief and total loss these parents are feeling. It is not natural for a parent to have to burry a child especially a minor whose life has barley just begun.

This is the direct result of humanity cutting God out of their lives. Where God is rejected by man and thus is no longer wanted, evil will reside; taking over the agenda of God and His salvific plans for humanity!

The outcome is what we witness over and over again throughout the course of history. War after war, total and utter hatred towards neighbouring countries, madmen going on shooting rampages (as seen in the USA over and again), people and children dying of thirst and starvation all the while the rest of the world sits and watches.

Then we have clergy who have the audacity to show off their power and wealth by attending grand political or religious ceremonies; escorted in private jets, limousines, or carried on the backs of the faithful. Further, indulging in the finest wines and caviar as they wear ridiculously expensive clerical attire! How is this justified if they are meant to be the very representatives of - He who is (Jesus) the one who instructs us to give freely as we have all received freely? Mt 10:5-8

Moreover, in the Slavonic tradition the priest wears a rectangular bag which sits on the right knee. This bag is meant to represent the spiritual shield that the priest takes in to battle.

However, in the early Church this bag served a greater purpose. After the conclusion of the Dive Liturgy, the priest would fill this bag with the left-over blessed bread (Prosphora) and would go around the town or village feeding the poor and homeless; further spending time with these individuals, ensuring that they knew that God and His Church would never abandon them!

Thursday the Church gathered to commemorate the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, where He takes His place upon His glorious throne, together with the beginningless Father and the All-Holy-Spirit to whom is due all Glory for ever and ever Amen!

What a wonderful feast we celebrate because now all is accomplished! Christ was born for us. Christ taught us. Christ died for us. Christ conquered death for us. Christ rose from the dead for us and now Christ ascends into the heavens so we may ascend with Him.

Thus, the only solace anyone can have regarding the death of a young child is that – yes! Although we are all born with original sin, what “sin” can a young child commit that deserves eternal damnation? Whether the child is born into the Orthodox faith or another faith other than Christian, they are all a child of God the Pantocrator; (Creator) thus giving an instant free pass into paradise for a better lack of expression.

Furthermore, I have noticed that now people are pointing the finger and trying to find someone to blame. The police department has come under scrutiny for taking too long to subdue the killer. However, we can point the finger as much as we want but the fact of the matter is that the constitution regarding gun laws in the USA has spiralled out of control and action should have been taken many years ago.

Now all are looking for a quick fix which does not exist. It will take many years for the American people to accept and surrender their gun privileges. Until then people will still have and use them because it’s embedded into their culture. It's like placing a bowl of food in front of a hungry dog, it won’t allow anyone to take it away, rather it will fight to the death for the food.

Thus, let us not despair for even if it should look like evil prospers, God comes on an unexpected hour to subdue evil; hurling it back into the nethermost regions and like always Christ conquers! But if that evil servant says in his heart, "My master is delaying his coming," and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Mt 24:48-51

The beginning to the solution is simple! God must be welcomed back into the hearts, lives and families of humanity via the love the we (Christians) show onto others by our words and deeds.

Unfortunately, as I stated before there are many clerics who are more like clowns that ruin the good works of the martyrs and saints of the past. Such clergy need to be removed from power in order to reclaim credibility and restore the Church to its intended duty - “The Spiritual Hospital” as St John Chrysostom rightfully taught; rather than a billion dollar business empire which it currently represents!

Therefore, let us pray to the Lord that He sends us good loving fathers of the faith to guide His church. Furthermore, let us pray for the families of the little children, that are left with an enormous hole in their hearts that will never be filled. May our loving God assist them in finding a way to live the rest of their lives with their loss.

Finally, for the children who will remember this tragic day for the rest of their lives and for the emergency workers that deal with horrific incident all the time. May God bless them and assist them in dealing with such trauma.

Through the prayers of the Holy Theotokos, Saint Joseph Her spouse and the Fathers of the First ecumenical council, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us Amen.