Twentiedth Sunday after Pentecost

Memory of the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

No Special Ambon Prayer

Our Venerable Father Euthymius the Younger; The Venerable Martyr Lucian, Priest of the Great Church of Antioch

Title

Woe is me if I preach not the gospel

Outline

The culture around us views faith as personal

Whatever faith one has is OK so long as one keeps quiet about it

Whatever faith one has is OK so long as one goes along with the cultural “religious” values as well

To promote one’s faith is weird at best and offensive at worst

In other words, faith is totally subjective and therefore should be kept to the realm of likings in art: I like abstract art by . . . or heavy metal music

That is certainly not scripture’s concept

Jesus sees “sowing” the Word as central to this age

It is a “secret of the kingdom of God” that God or Jesus is broadcasting his word about the kingdom, not in a loud way, not in an in-your-face way, but in a steady way and inclusive way. As Paul says, he received the gospel by “a revelation of Jesus Christ” for otherwise a person cannot grasp it, although most do not need as dramatic revelation as Saul did.

The reception of the good news impels us to share it

Saul, so hostile to the Christian message before, now instead of rounding up Christians goes into the town and villages around Damascus and spends three years evangelizing. He was effective enough that those hostile to Jesus in Damascus persuaded the governor to grab him or allow them to kill him at the gate. Saul escapes and goes to Jerusalem. But what was his interest there? To check out his understanding of the gospel with Peter and to a lesser degree with James. And why? So he could share it more and better.

In one sense, that is what the seventh ecumenical council was about - to make sure that the faith was being communicated truly and accurately by appropriate means - and they determined that icons were appropriate means

The response to the gospel is the responsibility of the recipients

We sometimes try to force or pressure people to believe, doing so by a variety of means. That is forgetting that it has to be a revelation of God that pierces their understanding.

Some do not immediately grasp the gospel and the devil removes it from their memory. Sad indeed, but allowed by God. Some respond positively and are baptized but then persecution arises and they either turn away from the faith openly or force it underground where it withers. That is why we encourage and support others especially in times of persecution. Still others get distracted by the affairs of life: making money, pleasure, politics, etc. This is a slower process, but eventually they have little or no time for being with fellow-believers and their faith has no results in lifestyle let alone people drawn to Jesus. They are just like the next person down the block or in the next apartment.

Yes, but some do cultivate the faith in their lives along with others doing the same. It takes time (patience) but there is fruit: lives of virtue, lives of holiness, lives that draw others to the faith, for as their fruit matures it is the seed that falls into others’ lives. It may not be dramatic, but it is God’s way of spreading the kingdom, just as having and raising children is slow twisty process that is God’s way of spreading the human race (for his purpose of managing the earth).

Brothers and Sisters this is for us

God has spread his seed into our hearts, God has revealed to us his good news. Our responsibility is to cultivate it in our lives so that we develop lives of Christian charity and virtue and are able to share our motivation with others who are attracted by such lives. Some of us will be called to share more directly, even to go to other places to share, but always in charity and virtue, so that people receive the true seed, are attracted to the true faith.

That is our responsibility: faithfulness to the good news in our lives and sharing as God gives us opportunity and calls us. We do not have responsibility for the results of our sharing the faith; however, out of love we should be people of incessant prayer for others, since it is God who ultimately gives the inward revelation and the harvest.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) 10-22-2023: Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

EPISTLE

Galatians 1:11–19

11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; 14 and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.

Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) 10-29-2023: Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

GOSPEL

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.

Readings for the Fathers (if desired)

Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) 10-22-2023: Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

EPISTLE

Hebrews 13:7–16

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is well that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited their adherents. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go forth to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city which is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) 10-22-2023: Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

GOSPEL

John 17:1–3

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee, 2 since thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

Notes

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

SUN, OCT 15, 2023 (OCT 9, 2023) | FIXED FEASTS

FATHERS OF THE SEVENTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

Byzantine Lectionary (Julian) 10-22-2023: Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

Slavic

On the same date: Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Epistle Hebrews 13:7–16

Gospel John 17:1–3

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

TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

On the same date: Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

Matins Gospel John 20:19–31

Epistle Galatians 1:11–19

Gospel Luke 7:11–16