Sunday of the Fathers at the First Nicean Council

Title

Truth and Goodness not just Sincerity

Outline

Our world has lost truth, especially about spiritual matters

Sincerity is seen as enough to validate one’s “truth”

That it is meaningful to one is the standard

None of that would satisfy the Fathers of the First Nicean Council

They and our texts would argue that any doctrine must be compatible with the truth handed on by the apostles, must therefore lead to unity with the Church and with God through Christ, and must come from a teacher with a character consonant with Jesus.

Look at Acts and see how Paul passes this test

Despite his urgent plans, Paul gathers the presbyters of Ephesus and calls them to act as guardians, not of “their flock” but of “the Church of the Lord” that, not their own abilities, but the Holy Spirit set them over. The “wolves” will “draw away the disciples after them” and not point them to Christ.

While Paul in Galatians makes clear that his teaching was carefully checked with Jerusalem to make sure it was the one faith-teaching, despite Paul’s divine revelations, here he draws attention to his character: he had worked night and day, he had not even desired financial support but had labored in his trade to support himself and his colleagues (who lived simply), summing it up in the statement, “by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” And of course Jesus did give and give, not seeking profit or position himself.

The Nicean Fathers would have nodded in approval - those we hear of were monks or monk-like bishops with a character like Paul’s and a passionate desire to seek the true apostolic teaching.

Jesus is the prime example of this attitude

He did not need to check out the truth, of course, for he was the truth, the way, the truth, and the life.

But his life was not about him, but the Father: “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you” And, “this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

But his concern is for his disciples, for others: “I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world.”

It is for these, not for himself, that he prays: “I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.”

His concern in the Ascension is not with his glory but with the good of those who will no longer have his physical presence: “now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” Notice that their oneness with God and with each other is the goal of this “keeping” prayer. And it was for their good: “they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”

Here too we are at home with Nicea, for the Fathers were not concerned with just their own congregations but with the unity in faith and practice in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

So, brothers and sisters, let this same mind be in you

Seek the truth in both faith and practice, seek that which is in unity with the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. That takes study, examination, and prayerful meditation.

Seek also to live the lifestyle of Jesus, Paul and the Fathers that was a lifestyle of seeking the good of others (love) and of self-sacrifice and care, one that embodied Jesus and passed his life on to others. This takes, yes, study, but more importantly honest self-examination, confession, pursuit of virtue, and a desire for unity with God.

Then we will not just honor the Fathers of the First Nicean Counsel - we will be one with them in spirit and one with Jesus as well.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 5-28-2023: Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council or Seventh Sunday of Pascha

EPISTLE

Acts 20:16–18, 28–36

16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the Church. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them:

“You yourselves know how I lived among you all the time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,

28 Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you guardians, to feed the Church of the Lord which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

36 And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 5-28-2023: Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council or Seventh Sunday of Pascha

GOSPEL

John 17:1–13

17  When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; 5  and now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made.

6 “I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; they were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; 8 for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9  I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours; 10 all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11  And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12  While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (5-21-2023: Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council or Seventh Sunday of Pascha)

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2023 | PENTECOSTARION

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 5-28-2023: Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council or Seventh Sunday of Pascha

FATHERS OF THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OR SEVENTH SUNDAY OF PASCHA

Bright Vestments

Matins Gospel John 21:1–14

Epistle Acts 20:16–18, 28–36

Gospel John 17:1–13