sunday readings and sermon for sunday 20th october 2013

7/27/2019 Sunday Readings and Sermon for Sunday 20th October 2013.

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, .The perfect person does not only try to avoid evil, nor does he do good for fear of punishment, still less inorder to qualify for the hope of a promised reward. The perfect person does good through love. His actionsare not motivated by desire for personal benefit he is not interested in fame, or a good reputation, or a

human or divine reward. (St. Clement of Alexandria)

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RREESSUURRRREECCTTIIOONN AAPPOOLLYYTTIIKKIIOONNPlagal of the 4th Mode

ou the Compassionate came downfrom above, you accepted burialfor three days, that you mightfree us from the passions. Our life andresurrection, Lord, glory to you!

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2nd Moderotection of Christians that cannotbe put to shame, unfailingmediation with the Maker, do notdespise the voices of us sinners as wepray; but, in your love, be quick to helpus who cry to you with faith: Hasten tointercede, make speed to entreat, OMother of God, for you ever protectthose who honour you.

AA AA. 16-18, 1,

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EEPPIISSTTLLEE RREEAADDIINNGG2 Cor. 6:16-18, 7:1rethren, you are the temple of

the living God; as God said, I willlive in them and move among them,and I will be their God, and they shallbe my people. Therefore come out fromthem, and be separate from them, saysthe Lord, and touch nothing unclean;then I will welcome you, and I will be afather to you, and you shall be my sonsand daughters, says the LordAlmighty. Since we have thesepromises, beloved, let us cleanseourselves from every defilement ofbody and spirit, and make holinessperfect in the fear of God.

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ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATEARCHDIOCESE OFTHYATEIRA & GREAT BRITAIN

BBUULLLLEETTIINN OOFF SSPPIIRRIITTUUAALL EEDDIIFFIICCAATTIIOONN6TH SUNDAY OF LUKE

20th

October 2013Plagal of the 4th Mode. No. 1306

20 2013. . . . 1306

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AA. 26-39, ,, ,

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GGOOSSPPEELL RREEAADDIINNGGLuke 8:26-39t that time, as Jesus came into thecountry of the Gadarenes, a manfrom the city met him who for many yearshad been possessed by demons, had wornno clothes and did not live in a house but in

the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell downbefore him and cried out, What have youto do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most HighGod? I beg you, do not torment me forJesus had commanded the unclean spirit tocome out of the man. For many times it hadseized him; and kept under guard he wasbound with chains and shackles, but hewould break the bonds and be driven bythe demon into the wilderness. Jesus thenasked him, What is your name? He said,Legion; for many demons had enteredhim. They begged him not to order them togo backinto the abyss. Now a large herd ofswine was feeding there on the mountain;and they begged Jesus to let them enterthese. So he gave them permission. Thenthe demons came out of the man andentered the swine, and the herd rusheddown the steep bank into the lake and wasdrowned. When the swineherds saw whathad happened, they ran off and told it inthe city and in the countryside. Thenpeople came out to see what had happened,and when they came to Jesus, they foundthe man from whom the demons had gonesitting at Jesus feet, clothed and in his rightmind. And they were afraid. Those who hadseen it told them how the one who hadbeen possessed by demons had been saved.Then all the people of the surroundingcountry of the Gadarenes asked Jesus toleave them; for they were seized with greatfear. So he got into the boat and returned.The man from whom the demons had gonebegged that he might be with him; butJesus sent him away, saying, Return toyour house, and declare how much God hasdone for you. So he went away,proclaiming throughout the city how muchJesus had done for him.

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SSEERRMMOONN OONN TTHHEE GGOOSSPPEELL RREEAADDIINNGG

odays story of the Gadarene swine is recorded in all three of the Synoptic Gospelsand when this occurs it is often illuminating, having heard or read one version, toturn to the parallels in the other Gospels. This may often seem to give rise tocontradictions, but this should not be a cause for concern for us. Apparentcontradictions, when they occur, do not affect the spiritual message which theEvangelists wish to convey. Indeed, they should be expected. When eye-witnesses givean account of an accident which they have seen, there are always differences in detail.If they all said exactly the same, they would be suspected of collusion with the resultthat doubt rather than confirmation would be accorded to their evidence. In thisinstance we might ask if the event described took place in the country of the Gadarenesor that of the Gergesenes, but it simply does not matter as it has no bearing on theprincipal events of which we are told. In fact, Gadara and Gergesa were two Gentiletowns on the far side of the Sea of Galilee which were not far from each other. We knowthat this was Gentile country because the people kept swine, and these animals wereunclean for the Jews. In a similar manner we may ask if there was only one madman orwere there two as St Matthew tells us. Again this does not matter, and the difference inthe number should most certainly not make us doubt the fundamental truth of theaccounts, still less their spiritual value.The encounter between Christ and the madman who says his name is legionis of special note. He is cursed by being possessed by many devils. We too can becomelike him. If we fall under the spell of one sin, we find it inevitable that there are manyothers which come to join it. Unlike the local citizens and even the Disciples, the devilshave the ability to perceive Christs divinity and cannot avoid proclaiming it. Christ,however, understands also the value of humanity and proclaims this when he says:Come out of the man. By allowing ourselves to become possessed by sin [by devils] wedeal a death-blow to our God-given humanity. The man [or men] overcome by devilshad become, as it were, dead to life, and the healing by Christ was thus a kind ofresurrection. So it must be with us. Reconciliation to God through repentance andconfession is a form of resurrection. Unlike ourselves, though, devils are unable torepent; only the direct intervention of Christ could restore Legions humanity, and it isonly through Christ that we can have our own devils cast out. The madman is describedas being naked, and when we allow ourselves to be possessed by sin, we are also naked,as it were stripped of our baptismal robes until they are restored to us by Godsforgiveness.We might wonder how it was that the local people who had been frightened bythe madman did not rush to thank Christ for his miracle of healing; rather, their onlyconcern was the loss of their swine. They totally failed to appreciate the blessing whichthe presence of Christ had brought. Christ had broght a great opportunity, but they didnot recognize it. Thus, we should note that Christ does not speak with them; themiracle should have been enough. This silence on His part gives the whole incident aneternal character. Indeed, all that we read of Him in the Gospels has this eternalcharacter. It is for this reason that we should never worry about apparent discrepanciesbetween the various accounts, but always seek to have revealed to us the eternalmessage which lies in the inspired words of Holy Scripture.

Archdiocese of Thyateira & Great Britain, 5 Craven Hill, London W2 3ENTel.: 020 7723 4787. Fax: 020 7224 9301. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: www.thyateira.org.uk

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sunday readings and sermon for sunday 20th october 2013

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