Sunday of the Fathers of the First Nicean Council

Our Holy and Venerable Martyr and Virgin Theodosia, Our Holy Father, Paul VI, Pope of Rome

Ambon Prayer 41

Title

Loving to the end

Outline

There are many excellent preachers and pastors, but the holy ones love like Jesus

We see the opposite in those who make themselves wealthy or take from “the sheep” and demand honor

We see the true holy pastor in Paul, who, facing imprisonment and possible death in Jerusalem, nevertheless took time to call together and warn the Ephesian presbyters of the difficulties ahead, giving his example as their example. Paul had loved: he did not take, but rather cared for his own needs, working day and night, so that he might give an example. He gave himself for “the sheep.”

Jesus describes this in his final prayer with his disciples

Jesus would glorify the Father by giving his life for those he had been given so that they might have “eternal life,” the quality of life of God’s sphere of being. The Father in turn would make the cross into an object of glory and reveal the honor of the Son in his resurrection and ascension.

“This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Eternal life is a deep knowing of God and Jesus manifested in living like them. It is not intellectual knowledge, although it presupposes that knowing about, the fences on our faith so that we not deceive ourselves. That is what Creeds are for. It is knowing them, the knowing we get in proper attention to prayer and to the liturgy.

Jesus is love, for God is love, so facing his own death he prays for protection for those whom he will physically leave, for he realizes that the surrounding culture is hostile to their love-commitment to Jesus. But believers are his, and he identifies with them: “I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.” Living in this unity gives us joy.

Brothers and Sisters, this is love

Paul is facing his death and yet he is concerned for the Ephesian Christians.

Jesus is facing his darkest hour, that of the cross, his battle with dark powers, and yet he is praying for us, that we may know him and the Father, that we may be one with him and the Father, that the Father will protect us from the siren songs of “the world,” the surrounding culture that does not accept this oneness with the Father and the Son as the highest good.

We are in the world and we use the world, but we use it so that we may love the world as Jesus did and love and be one with the Father and the Son as Jesus taught us. This is our highest good and this is the truly good example that we can give to our families, our colleagues, and the world around us so that they too may have the joy of eternal life.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 6-5-2022: 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) 6-5-2022: 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) (5-29-2022: Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council or Seventh Sunday of Pascha)

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2022 | PENTECOSTARION

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 6-5-2022: 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