Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Congratulations with the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord, the afterfeast of the Ascension, as well as the day of the memory of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council!

Today during the Divine Liturgy we heard a Gospel reading that is not the simplest to understand. Let’s try now to explain at least something about this excerpt so that, God willing, things become somewhat more understandable. Today’s Gospel lesson is the final part of the farewell discourse of Christ to His disciples. Remember that after the Mystical Supper the Saviour began to actively prepare His friends, the Holy Apostles, for His Passions. He told them that He was going to the Father, that He would return to them, that He will send the Comforter, that they can’t go with Him. Through various images and words, He continually repeated the thought that He is equal in all to the Father. He taught the apostles to love one another, to have peace amongst themselves as He and the Father have amongst Themselves. Christ finished this lengthy discourse with a prayer to God the Father, in which He repeats the same themes on which He conversed with the apostles, but now in the form of a prayer. In such a way, the Lord shows us that it is good to converse and to teach, but that at the same time, it is imperative to pray. Without prayer, it is doubtful that anything will turn out well even for the most talented preachers, pastors, teachers, or parents. This discourse is read in its entirety on the evening of Great Thursday (the first out of the twelve passion Gospel readings), while today we heard the concluding part, that is, the prayer of Christ to God the Father on behalf of the disciples.

Let’s take note of how wonderfully Christ’s prayer meshes with today’s commemorations of the Ascension and the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, for many of those themes and ideas that are remembered on this day are touched upon in the Gospel reading. In it, Christ says: “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me.” Although Christ had in mind His death, these words also apply well to His Ascension. He rose up to heaven to God the Father and left his disciples, not only the twelve apostles, but also all of us, here in this world. That fact that Jesus Christ is physically far from us should not make us sorrowful, because God the Father is watching over us, at the request of His Son.

The Lord Jesus Christ said the following words: “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Is this not affirmation from the mouth of the Lord Himself that He has always been, that He is equal to God the Father, that He is identical in nature, or, as the Church expresses this idea, consubstantial with the Father? Remember that the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council taught precisely about the consubstantiality of the Father and the Son.

Today, when we celebrate the memory of the Fathers of the Nicean Council, we are reminded that there is a Church in which the true orthodox faith has been preserved, in which the Spirit and Grace of God are present, but that at the same time there are also false teachings, heretical ‘churches’ in which there is no communion with God. The following words from today’s Gospel, “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine,” confirm this truth. Without a doubt, there is truth, there is genuine orthodox belief, and the Saviour is naturally with them that are of that faith and not with heretics, false teachers, and sinners.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, do you see that although in the beginning it may seem that that Gospel reading that was read today is not the simplest or most understandable, if we remember the context in which Christ spoke these words, and if afterwards we apply them to today’s commemorations, at least something becomes more understandable. Today let’s not forget the importance of prayer, let’s not sorrow if it seems that the Lord is far from us, because God the Father is watching over us. Let’s remember that only the Orthodox Church has preserved the fullness of true belief, and let us stand firmly in the Church so as to never lose communion with God the Father, His consubstantial Son, and the Holy Spirit.

priest Alexis