Contemplation – Metropolitan of Strumica Nahum
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Some people find themselves confused these days by the seemingly different statements and different practices of the clergy during the days of celebrating the Nativity of Christ.
And naturally, the confused person almost always wants to justify himself, almost regularly the blame for his confusion and his lack of knowledge needs to shift to another, in this case the clergy.
I am not saying that we as a priesthood are ideal – far from it, but the confusion of the confused person speaks more for him than for others, than for the clergy.
That is why the confused person, instead of concerning himself with others, it would be better for him to deal with himself and with the cause of his confusion which is of course lack of knowledge, i.e. lack of spiritual experience.
Those who are confused are usually those who are satisfied with their current spiritual condition. The Orthodox spiritual life does not recognize such self-sufficiency.
I do not mean to say that knowledge, that is, spiritual experience, is something that can be acquired at once, even if a person finds the direct path – I am talking about finding his own spiritual father, who will further, accurately lead him spiritually.
Building a personal relationship is a long process. But it is better to find the direct path than to waste time on some side roads.
In one of my previous homilies, in addition to pointing out the direct path – because, there are souls who are yearning to know it, I advised my Presbyters how to deal with people who have decided to follow the side roads – it is not a negation of the side road, it is a pastoral approach:
“It is good if we bring the atheist at least to the Christmas Eve bonfire – which does not require much effort. We should explain to the one who is already coming to the bonfire that it is good to at least, not break the fast, and to look at the gathering around the bonfire as the gathering of the shepherds to whom the coming of Christ was announced.
He should explain to those who gather around the fire that the true worship of God is completed by going to church and partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
It should also be explained to them that if we place greasy food (non-Lenten fare) on the family table as Christmas Eve dinner we therefore remain without Holy Communion on the Nativity of Christ, etc., etc.
So, in short: we need to guide people spiritually, so they can grow spiritually, and not just having the same people every year gathering twigs in the woods, lighting bonfires and jumping around being drunk and remain a laughing stock, both for the unbelievers and for the demons – temporary and eternal, and to the great sorrow of our Mother, our Most-Holy Sovereign Lady and Ever-Virgin Mary.”
On the one hand, for those who are ready, I pointed out the direct path, and for those who have already caught the side road, I pointed out to them the fastest way to lock into the direct path.
To those who despite everything, still oppose, I would ask them:
“Which one of you who makes negative comments has a spiritual father with whom he consults?”
“Which of you has confessed and received Holy Communion?”
Or, “Which one of you knows the Symbol of Faith or Our Father by heart,
not to ask which of you keeps a fast or a prayer rule?”
None of you.
Those who have a spiritual father and regularly go to church and receive Holy Communion know and do exactly what I have said.
And what is being organised by some priests in some churches, and outside of them, should be seen as an attempt to attract the spiritually uneducated to the Church.
The priest may not always do it consciously, but God Who acts or permits through him, certainly – yes.
The clergy is not at odds, only God organizes things and allows them according to everyone’s spiritual education, so that everyone can be found somewhere and everyone can be saved somehow.
Metropolitan of Strumica Nahum
09 / 01 / 2022
