A quick update before we get into this short post. After succumbing to a migraine that lasted a few days, my brother and I came down sick. It was not fun. I am, however, feeling better - even if the thermometer says that I'm still running a low-grade fever.
My being sick unfortunately means that I don't update my blog as much as I would like to. I am feeling better, so back to the updates.
Today's Lectio Divina is inspired by the Reflection and the Homily of today's reading of the Prologue from Ohrid. I will paste those below for your reading pleasure. And despite being inspired by two sections of the Prologue, today's post is rather short if you don't include the Prologue readings.
REFLECTION
Why do men leave one place and settle in another place? Primarily because they hope that they will be more fortunate in the other place. And in truth, from the worldly point of view of life and contentment, places can be different; better or worse. He, who does not hope in a better life after death, seeks a better sensual pasture in this life. But if we listen to the hearts of those men, who were able and capable to live in the so-called best places on the globe of the earth, we will detect dissatisfaction, sorrow and despair. They did not find that which they were seeking. They ate to over satisfaction in every place, and finally, still hungry, they gaze death in the eyes. But look at the Christian saints! They sought places with the least earthly pastures; places that were "arid, impassible and devoid of water" isolated places and terrible places that attracted the least attention and for which no one competes. They considered every place on earth equally worthless, but they chose those places solely because they wanted to draw nearer in the spirit and mind to their eternal homeland. And, if one were to listen to their hearts, they would sense joy and contentment.
HOMILY
About the reversed values in the Kingdom of God
"But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first" (St. Matthew 19:30).
"For behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last" (St. Luke 13:30).
How All-wise is He Who spoke these words! He did not say that all the first will be last and all the last will be first, "but many." There is not one error in the Gospel and nowhere in the Gospel is there any exaggeration.
Why did the Lord put a limit and did not say "all" but rather "many." Experience teaches us that some of those who were first in honor on earth remained first in honor with God. There were emperors who, from their thrones, pleased God and, there were men who were without authority until their death, angered God. There were wealthy men, who by their charity and faith, were saved, and there were the indigent who, because of their evil and unbelief, received condemnation. There were learned men who kept the faith and did good deeds and there were unlearned men who rejected both faith and good deeds. And so, there were some who were first here on earth who remained first there in heaven also and there were some who were last here [on earth] and remained last there [in heaven] also.
But alas, "many" first here became last there. And, O the joy, O the justice of God; how "many" who were last here have become "first" there!
The Lord did not emphasize neither praised one class, or one occupation over all others, but He recruited and even today He recruits an army of light from all classes, from all occupations and professions. For Him the criteria of man is not a crown nor a beggar's pouch, but rather faith - faith and good deeds.
O All-wise Lord, remember us also in Your Kingdom.
To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
Men move from place to place - hoping that we will be more fortunate in the new place. If we do not hope in a better life after death we seek better sensual pleasures in this life. But are we really happy, are we content with the new and better? Does having wealth and treasures stored up on this earth make us happy and content, or are we constantly searching for more? Are we happy with our positions and titles, do they make us better than anyone, or is it always a struggle to stay at the top?
Does having a fancy car and a big house, with an illustrious job title, make us better than those without? Are we truly happy with all of our stuff and better off than those without?
Consider, then, the homeless man who has nothing but still seems full of joy. If you give him some spare change he will bless you, and he will thank you.
Consider also the monastics, who have just the bare minimum to survive. They too seem full of joy.
Both types have learned well the truth that having great wealth and important-sounding titles does not bring the happiness that we thought it would.
This is not to say that without great wealth and titles cannot ever be happy - we know of emperors who were pleasing to God, we know of wealthy people who did charitable acts.
These types have realized that ultimately their wealth and titles mean nothing - for we are all homeless in this life - but they use their blessings to bless others.
So too should we keep sight of our ultimate home and give of ourselves to bless those around us.
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