Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Congratulations with the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord!

Today’s Gospel reading about the healing of the lunatic, about faith, fasting and prayer, about the passions and Resurrection of Jesus Christ wonderfully dovetails with this lenten period. Remember that the Dormition Fast is a reflection or image of Great Lent. In these days it behooves us to not simply prepare for the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, but also to remember the days of Great Lent and live accordingly. Today’s Gospel should help all of us in this task.

Let’s take note today of the awkward and uncomfortable situation in which the friends of Christ, the holy apostles, found themselves. They were slandered in front of a large gathering of people by the unfortunate father of the lunatic, who said that they could not cure his son. In such a manner their worthiness and authority as wonder workers, healers and preachers was belittled. Although many ancient and authoritative explainers of Holy Scripture consider the following words of Christ about the faithless and perverse generation to be addressed to the father and the gathered Jews and not the apostles, other explainers include the apostles in this faithless generation. One way or another, we can consider the apostles aggrieved.

Despite this offense, the apostles remain calm, do not defend themselves, do not become indignant; they don’t even say anything. Later, when the people had left and they were left alone with Christ, they ask why it is that they couldn’t cure the demoniac. Again, it is worth noting that they asked calmly, without any hint of being offended. We can be sure of their calmness in this case because other moments in the New Testament in no way hide the offense and displeasure that certain scenarios caused the apostles (for example, when after the Resurrection Peter was displeased with John because John was walking with Christ. There are also other examples of this). Christ, seeing their meekness, explains that their lack of faith stopped them from healing the sick boy and adds that these types of demons are driven out through fasting and prayer.

Sometimes it seems that we live in an age when it is customary for each nation, each race, each religion and even each individual person to be offended with something and to demand apologies from those that offended them. One stray word or insensitive joke can cause offense and insult. At the same time, people can react in a rough and uncouth manner towards those that offended them or someone else. This is very apparent on the internet. Although most of us don’t participate in such unchristian activities, we are nonetheless surrounded by this when we read the news and interact with others on social media. Let’s strive to follow in the footsteps of the apostles and refrain from complaining and taking offense easily, but instead to search out truth and comfort in Christ.

Many of you are aware that last week in Belarus an election was held and the longtime president was declared the winner. As a consequence, many citizens went out into the streets to protest where they were met by the police. People have been beaten, others arrested and several were even killed. It is unclear what will happen next. Understandably, many of you are worried about this situation. Someone has relatives and acquaintances there. All of us are worried about our Orthodox brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s fervently pray that the Lord grant peace to the much-suffering Belorussian land.

priest Alexis