13th SUNDAY OF St LUKE Concerning the Divine Law

By
His Eminence
Metropolitan Panteleimon of Antinoes

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God, after the assurance which He gave to His Disciples, that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who will accept it with the simplicity of a child’s heart, answers to the question, which all men ask: “What shall I do in order to inherit eternal life”?

Man by nature has naturally the tendency to turn towards eternity. His thought and soul desires constantly to fulfill his spiritual needs. Wealth and worldly glories, regardless how abundantly they may be granted, are unable to quench man’s spiritual thirst. They are unable to assure that which he desires and wants eternal life.

The question arises once again: “What shall I do in order to inherit eternal life”? What shall I do to inherit God’s Kingdom? This question every man, regardless of his nationality, color of skin and language sets before himself. What should I do? How should I proceed? To which direction should I direct my footsteps of life, in order to achieve this outmost and great gift?

The answer to this vivid question is given from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who taught us saying: “You know the Commandments; do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother” (Luke 18:20).

Know My Commandments. Know the Law, which I have given you. Keep the Commandments of God, which were given to you for your moral and spiritual perfection and sanctification.

The Divine Law is found written in man’s conscience and heart. It is the “light”, which illuminates in the darkness. It is the ship’s “steering-wheel”, which guides the ship of our life through the storming sea, into God’s port of salvation and love. It is the “watchful eye”, which oversees us, day and night. It is the “force”, which urges us to do good deeds, or prevents us from doing evil; and no one can do anything without this force’s intervention or and harassment.

But, this implanted instinct, which guides us towards the Divine Will, is not alone and independent. God’s unwritten Law is based upon the understanding of God’s Holiness. For this reason God Himself, on the one hand, gave to His servant Moses on Mont Sinai the Ten Commandments, signifying the eternal authority and summarizing the teachings of morality; and on the other hand, through His Son and Word, the new Law of the New Testament, the Law of Love, is revealed.

Conscience, Ten Commandments and Evangelical Law consist the three stages of the revelation of God’s Divine Will. Consequently, the man who will want to be saved and inherit eternal life must do good deeds and keep the Divine Commandments.

It must be noticed, that from the Ten Commandments, our Lord mentions only five of them. In other words, “do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother”. He does not mention the rest of them. Not because they are not important, but because, if one trespasses them, as acts which are related to God and our neighbor, by right they exclude him from eternal life.

God Himself, Who on Mont Sinai gave the Ten Commandments, the same God and now repeats the plan of Christian morality, which one is obliged to follow as an individual, as a family and as a society.

But, let us say few words about Christ’s answer.

“Do not commit adultery”. Man’s body is according to the teachings of Holy Scriptures, “God’s temple”. Thus, we should not present our members as instruments of uncleanness, lawlessness and sins of the flesh; but, as sanctified members. The purity of the body is the fruit of the soul’s chastisement. Through this virtue, the body of mortality is transformed into the temple of the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, the enslavement of the body to carnal pleasures, makes man like a tomb, which is full of “bones and all kind of uncleanness” (Matt. 23:27).
The three next Commandments, “do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness”, refer to the wider family, society. The keeping of these laws consist the virtue of Justice, without which civilization itself would be lost.

“Do not kill” your neighbor, neither directly, nor indirectly; neither by force, nor by suppressing him to a slow death. “Do not steal” and do not embezzle the wealth and belongings of your neighbor. “Do not bear false witness” against your fellowman. Bear witness always to the truth, for he who bears false witness is like his father, Satan, who is the father of all lies.
Finally, the Divine Law is dealing with matters concerning the direct family. “Honor your father and mother”, in order that you will be blessed and many years will be added to your life. Honor your husband as the head of your family, for he holds the place of Christ. Honor your wife, as Christ honors His Church. Children, honor your parents, for they struggled to bring you in life, nurtured you and offered you good standards of life in today’s society. Honor their sacrifices, which they suffered for your sake. Imitate the Lord, Who was obedient to His Father’s Will; obedient till death, a death on the Cross.

The learning of the Divine Law was established by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We are obliged to always bear in mind the Divine Commandments. We are obliged to always to meditate on them, “day and night” (Psalm 1:2).

But, it is not enough to know God’s Commandments. It is very important that we should practice them in our daily life. Blessed is the man who hears the word of God and keeps it. Because, the Lord shall excluded from His Kingdom all those who just rely only on His Name (Matt. 7:21). For this reason, our Lord named as His relatives all those who keep His Divine Teachings and Law (Matt. 12:48).
With faith, love, devotion and sincere intention, let us struggle to keep God’s Commandments in our daily life. They will be for us our shield against sin. They will open for us the way towards salvation. They will be the wealth of our life, which treasures heavenly riches in God’s Heavenly Kingdom. Amen.

Orthodox Newsletter of St Theodore, Lanham
NOVEMBER, 24th, 2013 Issue 97

By His Eminence Metropolitan PANTELEIMON of Antinoes

 http://impantokratoros.gr/D4771845.en.aspx