Saints Cyril, Monk and Methodius, Bishop Yrs 1 and 2 2026

Title

Contrasts in trust and care

Outline

It is interesting to note contrasts between faith and lack of faith

Jeroboam, although appointed by God, is focused on himself and his future, not on the good of the people. He never forbids going to the pilgrimage festivals (Feast of Booths and Day of Atonement), but makes a more accessible feast a month later (so people would not have time for both) using images from the tradition (golden calves) and installing as priests men from their tribes. In the process he deals with a realistic but imaginary fear (for God had appointed him) by leading the people away from God resulting in his own, his family’s, and ultimately the people’s destruction.

Constantine and Michael, brothers known to us by their religious name Cyril and Methodius, were sent by the Patriarch of Constantinople to Moravia, to give a solid foundation to the church, which they did by training other teachers, translating the scriptures (at least the gospels themselves) into slavonic, and devising a script for it. All of this was self sacrificial and for the good of the people, as was their going to Rome and get the support of the pope when conflict arose with missionaries from the Franks and Germans. This submission to authority and seeking the good of others and the unity of the church is why they are called, “equals to the apostles.”

Jesus shows another example of care for others

While his disciples had forgotten the feeding of the 5000 and seem concerned about themselves, Jesus is focused on others, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,” and asks the disciples to sacrifice what they had (7 loaves) and feeds the crowd of 4,000, which met a need of the crowd, taught the disciples self-sacrifice, and provided a second witness to his ability to meet needs, increasing their faith.

It is interesting to compare Jesus with Cyril and Methodius who provide spiritual food to the people in their own dialect using an alphabet fitted to their dialect, that good consisting of both the gospels and liturgical books (a Slavonic liturgy).

So we ask ourselves

Whom do we want to emulate? Jeroboam and the disciples who were concerned about themselves and their good (to Jeroboam’s destruction and until the disciples’ full conversion), or Jesus and Cyril and Methodius who who sought the good of the people and met their needs in an accessible way, leaving a witness for generations.

Jeroboam who split Israel and led to its fall, or Cyril and Methodius who thought sent by the Orthodox went to Rome and got the Pope’s support resulting in church unity?

Let us meditate of these examples and do likewise.