neuroBIBLISTICS

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Reverend Fathers, dear brothers and sisters, the second Sunday of the Great Lent is dedicated to St. Gregory Palamas, a bishop, and theologian from the 14^th century. The readings we hear today should encourage us not to neglect the salvation for which we are created. 

Today’s epistle reading gives us a warning against neglecting salvation. Speaking of the creational beauty and potential, Holy apostle Paul quotes Ps 102. He notices how the heavens and the earth are transient and how their Creator is eternal:

”like a robe you will roll them up,

like a garment they will be changed.

But you are the same,

and your years will have no end”

(Ps 102:25-27).

Also, the apostle raises a question: “to which of the angels has he ever said, 

“Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?” (Ps 110:1; Hebrews 1:13)

We are created to sit at the right hand of the God the Father, which means to be his sons and daughters, and enjoy his eternal kingdom, the Life everlasting. Thus, “we must pay much closer attention to what we heard” (Hebrews 2:1), and commune with God in his Holy Church. This is the way of being sensitive to our Salvation. This is the way of being sensitive to our eternal capacity.

Today’s Gospel reading according to Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark teaches us that Our Lord Jesus Christ knows our hearts. He showed that by numerous examples, and in this very event too.  

Jesus was in Capernaum. When the news of his presence spread around, people start coming to him. Nothing was in the way to the group of people who were carrying a paralytic. 

They even remove the roof of the house in order to bring the sick to the Healer, up to His feet.

“And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2,5). Strong faith is working faith, doing faith. Faith transforms words into acts. Faith is working faith when it is in accordance with the heart. The paralytic was quiet, but he hear was speaking.

The second Gospel reading according to Holy Apostle and Evangelist John teaches us that Our Lord is a door. God speaks: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” We must come to these doors. Sometimes, we must show strong faith and remove all the obstacles in the way. Even come through the roof. Divine Liturgy is the means of entering the Lord, through the Holy Communion of the real and Holy Body and the real and Holy Blood of Christ. In the last year, we learned what it means to come through the roof in order to receive the healing. Churches were closed, people were masked, and some still are. However, coming here, to St. Sava monastery is finding its way.

These Epistle and Gospel readings introduce us to the teaching of St. Gregory Palamas and other monks from Mt. Athos. We must not neglect Salvation, but we must concentrate on finding the way to Christ, our eternal life. Monks from Mt. Athos and St. Gregory taught us about the practice of Isihija – the practice of being quiet. Ascetic practices of prayer, fasting, and helping others is essential for this practice. This is the practice of letting your heart be heard. 

The heart of St. Mardarije, and earlier, the heart of St. Sava, are the loud hearts and they speak volumes, even though they are quiet monks. Concentration on the eternal life in Christ is what makes their bodies quiet, their works concrete and biblical, and their hearts loud, and approachable for Christ to enter and sanctify them. 

Let us not neglect salvation. 

Let our hearts speak volumes.

Let us work on our eternal qualities and give thanks to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!