“Have you not read the scriptures: ‘the stone that builders rejected has become the cornerstone’.”

Homily on the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Matthew 21:33-42.

One of the greatest joys a school teacher can have is to watch their students as they work towards their goals. One thing that being both a priest and a school teacher has taught me is that I should always expect the unexpected! At first, it may seem like a student will not succeed but then out of the blue – they exceed ones highest expectations. In many ways this is what today’s Gospel is about – Christ came to show the Jewish people the way back to the Father. However, to many of them, he was not good enough as He was not a warlord sent to rescue Jerusalem from the hands of the Romans. Indeed, this parable makes clear that the All-Holy Trinity sent many messengers (the prophets) to prepare the way for the coming of Christ - all of them were treated harshly and ignored because the people thought they knew better! Indeed, this has also be echoed in the history of the Orthodox Church – there have been many holy saints who rejected heresy, and as a result, they were rejected by the so-called church of their day. This is what happened to a St Mark of Ephesus – he rejected the false union with the Western Church forged at the anti-council of Florence. He was cast out and derided by the Bishops who had entered into this corrupt union – however, he stood firm and kept his faith. All was not lost for in standing up for the truth he brought many back to Orthodoxy, and in so doing he became one of our greatest saints.

One thing people tend to do is to think that they have all the answers – we can all be guilty of that! Indeed, many in the Church can tend towards a more pharisaical understanding of the All-Holy Trinity's revelation of love. Meaning that like the Pharisees they tend to see the All-Holy Trinity’s command to love as a set of rules that must be followed or else one will feel the wrath of God. However, Christ gave the Church a pastoral mission – in that the Church’s mandate is to bring all to Christ. Christ in the Gospels showed us that His kingdom is a kingdom of love. We as the Church are called to show Christ’s love to the world. Life can be very complicated and challenging at times, but like Christ, we are called to beacons of light to the world. Yes, the truths of the faith will not and cannot change, but Christ came not to bring in a new law with millions of rules – instead, He came to teach us the greatest commandment – that of love. Whilst the Church has always made disciplinary practices that are to be followed by the faithful - it must be noted that these rules are there only so as to bring us closer to Christ. If a rule ceases to be of use and acts instead as a weight that tears the faithful from Christ, then it must be discarded. Indeed, this is what the Church has done many times throughout her history! For instance, at one point in time Bishops were allowed to be married; however, this was changed as there were concerns that some unscrupulous bishops were leaving Church property to their children.

Nonetheless, we as a Church are called to examine ‘disciplinary rules’ such as this and evaluate if they are still appropriate and beneficial in helping men come to Christ. For it is true that there are many married priests and deacons who would make excellent bishops and as such whether a bishop is married or not is not a part of doctrine – it is a changeable discipline within the church! Furthermore, we are not like the Pharisees in that a bishop has the freedom to interpret these disciplinary rules (canons) with the aid of the All-Holy Spirit via the use of economy (economia). What this means is that a bishop can interpret the canons of the Church either in a strict manner or more loosely as may be pastorally appropriate (economia). For example, the rule on marriage after ordination for deacons is that it is forbidden for a deacon to marry after his ordination- however, in some very rare cases due to pastoral concerns bishops have allowed deacons to marry after ordination. Indeed, this is why Christ gave the keys of the kingdom to the Apostles meaning that their successors the bishops have this power of ‘pastoral economy’ (Matthew 16:19). Bishops are much like fathers in that they are called to discipline and guide their children and where necessary exercise this authority of pastoral‘economy’ given them at their consecration by the All-Holy Spirit.

Finally, this week we the Church will celebrate the great feast of the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos. This feast is a great feast for after Christ; the Holy Theotokos is the first of us to be resurrected as promised by Christ. This feast is also a great feast because in the All-Holy Theotokos we have a protector and advocate before the throne of the All-Holy Trinity. Let us not forget the many times that the Holy Theotokos has helped the faithful throughout history. If one prays to her in faith asking her intercession, she will most surely help bring about that which is requested – as long as it is beneficial for the person asking. Furthermore, let us try and be like her in that she lived to do the All-Holy Trinity’s will and in so doing serves as the model of the perfect Christian.

‘In Giving birth you did preserve your virginity, and in falling asleep you have not forsaken the world, o Theotokos. You have been translated to life, as you are the Mother of the Living One (Christ). By your supplications you deliver us from death.’