Metropolitan of Strumica Nahum: It appears they have made a pact
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“A certain man prepared a great supper and had invited many; and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready!’ But they all with one accord (like they have made a pact, an agreement) began to make excuses … ” (Luke 14, 16-24).
In today’s Gospel reading we see, in essence, frightened people who, because of their attachment to this world, renounce the God-Man Christ and His “great supper” – that is, communion with the Body and Blood of Christ.
And what do we see in the lives of all holy martyrs, the venerable fathers (monks) and the fools for the sake of Christ? We see an unstoppable testimony of courageous and extreme renunciation of this world – for Christ’s sake.
We have pointed out the aforementioned extreme opposing examples, in order to avoid mediocrity:
“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot; oh, that you were cold or hot! So then, because you are lukewarm, neither hot or cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”.” (Rev. 3: 15-16).
This sentence in particular caught my attention:
“But they all, like they have made a pact begun to make excuses.” Imagine, “like they have made a pact” !?
Certainly, this does not mean a concrete and meaningful agreement, but oblivious, nevertheless uniform (corresponding) human behaviour. And it is certainly not so much about the behaviour itself, as it is about the same spirit that governs that behaviour – the fallen spirit. Because, what other spirit would renounce Christ?
And what other spirit could, even today, unite so many different (ethnic groups, parties) and unrelated people in the same behaviour – in opposition to the Spirit of Christ, other than the spirit of the antichrist?
Thus, in our case, people – foreigners with each other, with different sinful habits and indoctrinated by different collective oblivious sin patterns, we see that they act harmoniously as if under command, when it comes to undermining the unity of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – OA, as well as when it comes to an attempt to prohibit the only “great supper” from the God-Man Christ, prepared through MOC-OA.
Most-Holy Theotokos, save us!
Metropolitan of Strumica Nahum
(27.12.2020)
Photo by: Fr. Gavril Galev
