Sunday of Saint Mary of Egypt – Metropolitan of Strumica Nahum
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Refer: Mark 10, 32-45
“Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles. And they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And on the third day He will rise again.”(Mark 10: 32-34).
Christ reminds us all that our Kingdom is not of this world and that suffering awaits us in this life. With this truth we should be clear and not deceive ourselves with some “earthly kingdom”. Of course, suffering accepted with humility and gratitude to God will bring us the consolation of the Holy Spirit and the foretaste of the Kingdom of Heaven, right here and now.
“Then James and John the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, ‘Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask’. And He said to them, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ They said to Him, ‘Grant us that we may sit next to You, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you ask'” (Mark 10: 35-38).
Truly, some people do not know what they are asking for, overlooking the actual fact, that if their request were to be granted, they should sit ahead of the Mother of God and the Baptist of God.
And what do we see today on the temple’s iconostas – the icon of the Kingdom of Heaven: who sits at the right and at the left of Christ? Neither is there an apostle – even if the Apostle was Peter or Paul, nor is there a holy hierarch, that is, there is no representative of the visible priesthood; no one else sits, but the first and perfect bearers of the inner, New Testament, eschatological (eternal) and royal priesthood – the Most-Holy Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary, and, Saint John the Baptist.
Only through the existing bearers of this priesthood in the Church, and through them in the world, now and in its entire history, does the only unceasing Liturgy act (work) – that is, the Father’s Providence of our salvation, through the Son in the Holy Spirit the Lord.
“To sit on My right or on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father” (Matthew 20:23).
Which is to say, it does not depend on God either, but on those who will fulfil, freely and lovingly, the criterion set by God for unity and communion with Him; it depends on those who will love Him wholeheartedly, with all their heart, with all their mind, and with all their strength; those with incessant prayer of the mind in the heart.
The Lord gives us the opportunity to build a perfect personal relationship with Him; but this relationship depends on who wants to open up more to God and who wants to give himself/herself more to God. In other words, it depends only on us what kind of relationship we want to build: whether we build Father-son relationship, hired worker or slave relationship. There is no predestination and the earthly corrupt rules do not apply here – as to who will be in front of whom.
We must not despair in this struggle. Even the greatest sinner has the opportunity to repent, to correct and sanctify his life; and receive a place of importance before the Lord. This is shown to us by the life and love struggle of Saint Mary of Egypt, whose memory we commemorate this Sunday.
“And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.” It is clear to all of us that both seeking and displeasing are part of the same fight – for worldly glory.
The God-Man Jesus Christ shows us the true and only way to the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven: “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles, lord it over them and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to be greater among you, shall be your servant; and whoever among you desires to be first, shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10: 41–45). And here there is nothing to be interpreted.
Most-Holy Theotokos, through the prayers of Saint Mary of Egypt, save us!
Metropolitan of Strumica, Nahum
(17.04.2021 16:00)
