Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Congratulations with the feastday of the Resurrection of the Lord, as well as the feastday of St. Nicholas!

In today’s Epistle reading we heard that we are children of light, i. e. we are enlightened by the Holy Spirit, the mysteries of the Church, and therefore are obliged to behave in an exemplary fashion and bring forth good spiritual fruit. St. Paul names these fruits: goodness, righteousness, and truth. It may be hard to understand concretely what these spiritual traits are, therefore he adds that we should do that which is acceptable to the Lord, to have no fellowship with sin, and to reprove it. Light-bearing Christians, those who live without sin, enlighten the whole world, shed light on sin which hides in dark places, and, as a consequence, enliven the conscience of sinners.

The Apostle, understanding that we are not yet perfect in our faith and perhaps have not yet become in truth those enlightened children of our Heavenly Father, adds that we must awake from sleep, arise from the dead, and be enlightened by Christ, that is, to repent of our sins and change our life for the better. To do this, one must live circumspectly and wisely, not wasting any time, because time is a sly thing, passing quickly with no way to return it if wasted! The holy apostle Paul continues that since it is so important to value our time, we cannot become drunk with wine, that is excessively indulge in any worldly pleasures, because they lead to sin. Instead, he suggests being filled with the Holy Spirit and turning in prayer to God.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, today’s reading is full of different and interesting topics, but today let’s take note of the Apostle’s instruction to reprove sin. Christ says the following words in the Gospel: “Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye” (Lk 6:42). Remembering these words, a question arises: how can we at the same time fulfill the commandment of Christ not to judge, but at the same time reprove sin, which is naturally committed by people? The fact is that the Apostle is saying that the children of light, perfect and sinless Christians, are obliged to not only abstain from sin, but to also reprove it, while Christ is talking about sinful, yet unperfect people.

We have to understand that to reprove and correct sin can bring great benefit. If this is done correctly, the sinner can be brought to understand his or her mistakes, be corrected, and placed on the true path, but if it is done roughly, without care, these attempts, without a doubt, will make the situation that much worse. St. Theophan says that a reproof is like a knife. Those who don’t know how to use it can ruin much.

Finally, let’s take note that one can reprove in various ways. One could say something, but one could also show a good example. Sometimes we really want to make a remark, to correct someone, but is it not better to show how to correctly live by example? In such a way, we force ourselves to tread carefully and not sin, we do not judge or annoy our neighbour with our suggestions, all the while reproving sin.

Less than three weeks remain until the Nativity of Christ. Therefore let’s remember that time is running out. During these final weeks of Advent let’s “be not drunk with wine,” that is, let us not give into the pleasures of the world excessively. Instead, let’s concentrate on prayer. Let’s walk circumspectly so as not to fall into sin. Let’s participate in the Mysteries of Confession and Communion and reprove sin through a good Christian example, so that on the feastday we maybe enlightened by the light of knowledge and become children of the light.

priest Alexis