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In this video recording, Archbishop Christophoros from Jordan tells us that “we should not run after miracles, but to seek repentance and a life of holiness, which is more complete and perfect. We are called to crucify our passions on the Cross with Christ so that our old man dies and the new man rises. That is the resurrection for us believers!” This is a sermon recorded in March 20th, 2022, the Second Sunday of Great and Holy Lent, Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas, by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese – Amman – Jordan.
English translation by Waad Rabahie
Video source (watch the full video here): Greek Orthodox Archdiocese – Amman – Jordan (https://youtu.be/l54y1HPDzRU)
Met. Christophoros:
No barriers prevent you from meeting Christ.
Do not ever make excuses: “Because so and so… I went away… Or because so and so I will go away…” There is no reason and no excuse for you to walk away from God. You have to overcome all barriers. Because those barriers are humanly and worldly. Do not let the things of the world mix with the things of the spirit, nor the earthly mix with the heavenly, nor the human mix with the divine. Hold on to what is divine, heavenly, and spiritual, whatever the earthly and humanly was.
That is why we saw Jesus in today’s gospel did not heal the paralytic. But He said to him what is more important than healing, which many times we do not pay attention to it. It is the life of repentance. Today’s gospel calls us to repent.
That is why while they were waiting for Jesus to heal him, He did not heal him. He said to him: “your sins are forgiven you”. [Matt. 9:2] With these words, Jesus calls each one of us to repent.
You should seek to have a spiritual father and seek to practice the mystery of confession.
Christianity is not a religion. It is wrong to say, “Christianity is a religion.” Christianity is not a religion! Orthodox Christianity is Life! It is the Truth revealed to us from the heavens above. Religion is another concept. Many people in the today’s gospel stumbled. As many people stumble today and say: “Should I go to the priest to forgive my sins? No. I will go directly to God.” Where did these thoughts come from? We never knew such thinking in the East. It was leaked to us through concepts, to confuse our relationship with the Church and with the spiritual fathers who are for our salvation.
And so we hear them saying: “I go directly to God.” Notice the pride! Here comes the role of our obedience to the Church’s commandments and the role of spiritual fathers.
That is why Jesus – in this gospel – after He showed them the importance of repentance and forgiveness as a cause even for the healing of the body,
He said to the man: “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” [Matt. 9:6] This is the miracle that we wait many times, however, the greater miracle is repentance. That is why He said: “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?” So today’s gospel tells us that we should not run after miracles, but to seek repentance and a life of holiness, which is more complete and perfect. We are called to crucify our passions on the Cross with Christ so that our old man dies and the new man rises.
That is the resurrection for us believers!
