Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost Fathers of 7th Ecumenical Council

No special Ambon Prayer

Holy Martyr Longinus the Centurion

Title

The Secrets of the Kingdom

Outline

What are or is the Secret of the Kingdom?

For many it is the secret way to power, spiritual power, but still power

For others it is the secret way to prosperity, prosperity with spirituality, but the millennial kingdom none the less

For others it is the way to pleasure, the joy of enjoying the creation, not the creation as God’s creation, but the creation as my possession

And none of these really have an explanation for death and suffering, which loom big around us.

Jesus knows the real secret

The kingdom is like a sower, the proclaimer, but the proclaimer, the sower, is also the seed. And one thing that Jesus says about seeds is that each grain must die in order to produce fruit. In other words, each “seed” must follow his example.

But some falls on the path, is ignored or despised, for the devil is a lover of power - and over division - and never sprouts. It just dies away.

Some falls on rocky ground and indeed follows the example of the Master and sprouts, but when it sees persecution coming for it, when it sees resistance, it withers.

Some falls among the weeds, among those not sharing Jesus’ values but “the cares and riches and pleasures of life” and it never comes to fruition, for it compromises on allegiance to Jesus.

But some falls into fruitful soil and grows into a bumper crop. The kingdom comes in its new life and there is seed to sow in the lives of others.

Now this is encouragement to those who sow, but also a warning to those who are the sown, in whose hearts the seed falls.

Paul, in answering challenges to his ministry, knew where his allegiance was

He had determined to know nothing but Christ and him crucified.

So he talks about, not his glorious miracles, but his most shameful experience. His 3 years of evangelism in the districts around Damascus had made him a hated man and King Aretas’ governor knew it. The old Paul would have faced his adversaries in the gate and would have broken through or died honorably. Paul hears the call to die to his social status and honor, get lowered in a basket out a window, and sneak away. He had given up the old Paul to be like Jesus, and so he bore fruit.

Now Paul did have visions and revelations, although he was charged with lacking such, for he does not talk about them. Here in this passage a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated” Whatever this was - I think it was opponents who dogged his steps because of what a “thorn in the side” means in an OT reference - it was painful, shameful, not a sign of power. Paul’s prayers were not answered with relief. Paul heard, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul’s response is, “Then let me die, let me be weak, so that only Christ’s power and honor can be seen.” He was a seed ready at all times to fall into the soil and die so that the resurrection power of God could bring new life.

This is what we see in the saints and should imitate

The Holy Martyr Longinus the Centurion (and many others) confessed and died and receives eternal memory. Persecution did not wither him.

Anthony of the Desert (and many others) despised wealth and died to it in the desert so their lives and teaching still bear fruit today. Possessions and the cares of life did not choke him.

They all knew the secret of the kingdom, that of dying and rising, and now we call on them to pray for us.

We have to ask ourselves whether we have heard the call of Jesus and seen the example of Paul and are willing to follow Jesus in death of one sort or another, letting his life and power being seen in us.

If we know these things, blessed are we if we do them.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (10-15-2023: Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council)

EPISTLE2 Corinthians 11:31–12:931 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. 32  At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.12 I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—4  and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6 Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7  And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it should leave me; 9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 10-15-2023: Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

GOSPEL

(21st Sunday)

Luke 8:5–15

5 “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. 8  And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

9  And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. 11  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (10-16-2023: Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council)

ON THE SAME DATE | OCTOECHOS NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 10-15-2023: Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

Matins Gospel John 20:11–18

Epistle 2 Corinthians 11:31–12:9

Gospel Luke 8:5–15 (21st Sunday)