SUNDAY OF ALL SAINTS – Metropolitan of Strumica Naum
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” Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven”(Matthew 10: 32-33).
Egocentrism, i.e. self-love is not able to rely on the faith and trust in the God-Man Christ, and therefore unconsciously forces man to seek security only in the material things, as well as to identify himself with the earthly collective schemes of merely human organization (example: parties, nations, states, sects); which on the other hand is the basis and source of the evil that people inflict on one another. And whoever returns to evil with evil – with a deed, renounces the God-Man Christ.
“ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me”(Matthew 10:37).
This verse refers to those who are attempting to love their loved ones without and outside of Christ. The human love by itself is a relationship of interest and is therefore selective; and at the end, it comes down to self-love. Divine love transfigures human love and it becomes resemblance of God – without interest and non-selective. It is recognized by the love even for our enemies.
” And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:38).
The one who does not receive everything that happens to him – especially the bad things, as a gift from God, the one who does not thank for what happened to him, the one who condemns others for what happened to him, the one who shows outwardly what has happened to him and to whom, the bad thing that has happened does not become a source of prayer is the one who does not take up his cross and follow Christ.
Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19: 27-28).
The apostles will not condemn anyone. Everyone will condemn themselves by the deeds they do. They will not judge anyone. They will be just an example of faith, hope and love that those who have condemned themselves have missed.
” And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29).
This is written for those who wonder how true monks have everything, as well as everything they would wish for; and I cannot explain this, because it is inexplicable to them.
” But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Matthew 19:30).
The one who will sit in the “last place”, that is, the one who will truly die for the world – is, the one, who through the prayer of the mind in the heart (Jesus prayer), will be resurrected and will enter the Kingdom of Heaven which is in his heart.
When I ask what the “last place” is, many will answer that it is obedience, or humility, or taking blame for everything, or love, or keeping the mind in the Hades with hope – all of this is correct. But how in general does the “last place” appear in everyday life? It manifests itself through the non judgment and non condemnation of others. This is the main feature of the “last place”. Furthermore, by not believing and checking all the important feelings, and not believing and checking all the important conclusions of the intellect (nous) – with the spiritual father.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Metropolitan of Strumica Naum
26/ 06 / 2021
