"Wake Up O Sleepers" to Newness In Christ!
Adapted from a Homily By +Fr. Isaac Henke
- In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP!
St. Paul tells us all
"... It is high time to awake out of sleep ... the night is far spent, the day is at hand" (Romans 13:11-12).
Or in short: Wake Up O Sleeper!
St. Paul is urging us to wake up to the spiritual realities which direct our destinies. It is very true that we can -- and often do -- sleep through some very important and vital aspects of our Christian lives.
Therefore, it is very important to ask, " ARE WE AWAKE ENOUGH TO BEGIN ?"
TO BEGIN WHAT?
There is another message which goes with this call to sobriety -- this call to be awakened to the spiritual realities of life. It is a message which comes from beyond space and time; across the past, through the future, and into the present moment of eternity. Indeed, it is a message meant to secure our living in the Eternal Now! The message is from God Himself, and its significance is so great, but at the same time, it is so very subtle, that we can easily miss it. You have heard it many times already.
Jesus Christ, the God-man, says to us: " Behold, I make all things new ." Let me repeat that: " Behold, I [Jesus the Son of God] make all things new ." Do you hear that?
God does not say, " I am going to make all things new tomorrow." Nor does He limit its application by saying, " Behold, I made all things new at one point and then stopped ." The sense of God's message to us is this:
Behold --Listen up, this is very important -- I have, and will continue to make all things new in your life. It is a process which I have begun for you, and will continue to do with you -- if you live the Christian life of faith and action -- and this newness will be an ongoing process of life springing up in you for all eternity!"
Are we awake enough to become new people? Do we want a spiritual make-over? Do we want a new chance to live a life that is filled with wonder and joy -- peace and love? Christ offers us such a wonderful gift. BUT, to accept and live this gift we must begin by letting Him remake us, with ourselves continuously cooperating in the process!
Our re-making in the image and likeness of Christ necessarily becomes evident by the way we think, the way we act -- by the very manner and scope of our life.
Let us ask ourselves this Question: Are we new creatures in Christ?
For instance, are we more Christ-like (loving, accepting, uplifting, forgiving, god-centered, dead to our own self-centeredness) today than we were yesterday; than last year; how about more than even 10 years ago? If not, then why not?
Too often we fail to live a God-ordained fulfilled life of love, peace and joy; we fail to be more like Christ, simply because we neglect to understand what Christ has done, and continues to do for us. Our eyes are upon others in a manner that is not healthy; or likewise, upon ourselves in a way that is not healthy. WHY? Because, we have not yet fully awakened to the newness of human life which Christ brings to us. Moreover, we fail to live " in-Christ" because we fail to understand what it is that Christ wants from us -- indeed, what He needs from us -- in order to help us become whole, healed and united to Him!
WHAT DOES CHRIST WANT FROM US!
Let me use a story, which I heard years ago, to illustrate what God seeks from us. There was a businessman who had an old warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for many, many months and needed several repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash all over the place. All sorts of vermin had taken up refuge in the building, and left unwanted signs of their presence everywhere.
As the business man showed the property to a prospective buyer he was apologetic and took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, clean out the garbage, etcetera.
However, after several minutes of this sort of apologetic salesmanship, the prospective buyer said, " Forget about the repairs. If I buy this place, I'm going to build something completely different. I don't want this old building; I want the site upon which the building sits ."
DOES THIS HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD WANTS FROM US?
Compared with the renovative, re-creative and newness of life God has in mind for us, our efforts to improve our own lives -- in the modern secular sense -- are as trivial and unnecessary as replacing a broken window in a building which is slated for the wrecking ball.
God does not want the life we have built for ourselves in the world, using the things of the world. Rather, He wants our hearts and souls; our hopes and intentions; our thoughts, words and deeds: because with these He can begin within us the process of heavenly transformation.
You see, when we become totally identified with the Gospel newness which our Saviour brings -- when we become God's building, His field, His Vineyard -- our old life is over -- it is dead and gone! In baptism we die to our old life, and are resurrected to new life in Christ. Then God really makes all things new. But only if we cooperate with Him!
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* He does not want our old way of thinking;
* He does not want our old way of living;
* He does not want our old patterns of self-centeredness. "Therefore," St. Paul tells us,
"if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Cor 5:17)
Okay! So you say to me, " Father, I have been baptized, chrismated, and eat Eucharist (almost) weekly, and so on. Why, then, don't I live in this newness ?"
The Church fathers tell us that we most often miss the boat in the spiritual life because of pride! Pride is like a wall which deflects away from us God's blessing. Pride is like a dark sponge which absorbs the light of Christ's goodness and newness, and makes it ineffective in our lives! Pride is a thief which steals from us all that God has given us; and for some insane reason we are grateful and cling to pride as if it were our best friend.
WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE A LIFE OF HUMILITY!
If we could only see how silly is our pride makes us look in the eyes of God -- perhaps we would stop.
Muhammad Ali recalls a moment of such silly pride which occurred when he was in his prime, at the height of his fame. He was on a jet plane which was ready to take off. The flight attendant reminded him to fasten his seat belt. Ali quickly answered her, full of pride and witty sarcasm, "Superman don't need no seat belt ." The stewardess politely but firmly answered, "Yes! But Superman don't need no airplane, either ." Recognizing that he had been put in his place, Ali fastened his belt without saying another word.
The great act of re-creative faith -- the great act of spiritual change and the beginning of renewal -- is when man humbles himself, and realizes that he is not God to himself or anyone else! One of fathers of the Church, Blessed Augustine, tells us that " It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels ."
Let us take a moment to look inwards -- let us look into our heart of hearts -- what do we see? Let us be honest!
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* It is all about us?
* What we think?
* How we feel?
* How things touch upon our lives?
* Who we are close to?
* Who is close to us?
* Do we weigh everything by what is "in it" for us or our family & friends?
* It is all about "I, I, I", "me, me, me," & "mine, mine, mine"? If so, then pride rules in us, and we are suffering from "I" disease.
Other evidence of pride includes judging and gossiping about others. Just as often pride becomes evident when we hold ourselves in higher esteem than our brothers and sisters. Do we look down on others because of the way they look; the way they behave; the way we perceive them; their station in life? We have no business doing so! Jesus said, " Whatever -- whatever you do to the least of these my brother, you do to me!" Do not be mistaken, Christ means what He says!
We must understand that Christianity is not one ideology over against other ideologies. It is not another philosophy of life among all other philosophies. Rather, Orthodox Christianity is Life – which is inspired [in-spirited] and made new, moment by moment, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit . The true victories in our life are not victories over others. No! The true and lasting victory which God brings to us is victory over ourselves!
We must understand that the life of Christ circulates and manifests itself in us through humility, self-examination, and continued watchfulness; Not through pride, self conceit, earthly successes nor secular triumphs.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta once was asked, "How do you measure the success of your work?" She looked puzzled for a moment and then replied, " I don't remember that the Lord ever spoke of success. He spoke only of faithfulness in love. This is the only success that really counts ."
HUMILITY IS THE FIRST CONDITION OF LOVE!
Forgetting oneself, and becoming humble, is not a refinement of love. It is said to be the first condition of love. It is part and parcel of our spiritual, and, indeed, out total human regeneration. St. John tells us that, "God is love!" We are called as Christians to become like God -- to live, to move and exist moment by moment in the love of God demonstrated to us in Christ Jesus. This is the goal of our Orthodox Christian life -- plain and simple.
To live the Life of Christ sounds like a peaceful, relaxing, easy objective – and in many respects it can be. But hold on; stop, look and listen! Within the garment of our frail humanity Christ demonstrated the way of love and obedience by the things He willingly endured and suffered for our salvation.
Yes, we are reminded that to live in Christ is to live in the very midst of the trials, pains, temptations and storms of life. Yes, even within this tumultuous and sinful worldly sphere, the love of God can transform us, recreate us and keep us in peace . We can, with the help of God, overcome our fallenness; we can rise above our habits and compulsions of self destruction. Truly, we can become earthly angels through Christ's humility and love.
This process of transformation from the old into the new is not easy, quick nor natural for us in our fallen state. Indeed, the Holy Scriptures tell us that it is impossible in the flesh , slow in coming, but always supernatural in scope. Only Christ can accomplish it within us. For Christ, and He alone, has won this victory. It is His victory -- which He wants to make into our very own (IC, XC, NI, KA).
Behold, Christ has come to transform us into New People. God calls to us saying , “Wake up O Sleepers!” Let us, together, heed this call to be awakened to the blessed newness of life in Christ!
O only all-good God, help us to be newly made into Thy sons and daughters; to become victorious earthly angels; and to conquer our pride through Thy humility and love. For to Thee belong all glory, honor and worship: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.