On Chastisement and Perseverance

We are about halfway through Clean Week, the first week of Lent. I'm not really missing many of the foods I typically eat, but again, it is only the first week. Honestly, the food aspect of Lent has always been the hardest part for me - one can only endure lentil soup and rice and beans for so long. But there is always a sense of accomplishment after Lent is over - a sense that I endured, yet again, the Great Fast.

Today's Lectio Divina comes from the Epistle Reading and the Prologue from Ohrid.

Epistle

1Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, 

My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. (Hebrews 12:1-10, KJV)

Prologue

About enduring to the end

"But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved" (St. Matthew 24:13).

O Lord most wonderful, You have endured all, all to the end. That is why You became not only blessed but the source of blessings for all men who desire good forthemselves throughout the ages of ages.

The apostles endured all to the end and entered into blessed eternity. The saints willingly endured the difficulties and sufferings to the end and were glorified, both in heaven and on earth.

The martyrs willingly endured all pains to the end and became the adopted co-inheritors of the Kingdom of Christ.

Every founder of a new organization recruits followers for himself with the promise of good fruits and many pleasures but deliberately remains silent about the hardships and labors which lead to those fruits and pleasures. Our Lord Jesus is the only one Who spoke the whole truth to His followers, both the bitter and the sweet side of the truth. He did not promise fruits without service, nor glory without suffering, nor ultimate rest without the thorny path, nor victory without struggle, nor pleasure without bitterness, nor the kingdom without tears and self-denial.

Although our Lord counted the many difficulties which would befall His followers, in the end He does not abandon them without comfort. He gives meaning to their sufferings and does not leave them in darkness. He says, "The one who perseveres to the end will be saved." What is that blessing which awaits those who endure to the end that He Jesus fully revealed and that has been witnessed even until today and is being witnessed by many saints, who, have either appeared in glory to the faithful from the other world or who, while yet in the flesh, were uplifted in the spirit to a vision of that glory and blessedness which await the faithful, the chosen and persevering?

O Lord, You are our strength. Help us to endure to the end with faith that You are beside us.

To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.(Prologue - Homily, March 9th)

 

Christ endured much pain and torture. Christ endured great temptation in the desert. He endured being whipped and crucified. During all of this He prayed for His tormentors, and did not hurl insults or hurtful words. He remained steadfast until the end.

The Apostles also endured much suffering. St. Peter was crucified upside down, St. James was thrown from the heights of the temple and then had his head crushed by a rock, St. Paul was beheaded, St. Stephen was stoned to death.

The men and women who came after the Apostles also endured torture and death. The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste - who we celebrate today - were stuck in a freezing lake while their tormentors took hot baths in their view. After surviving the frozen lake and receiving crowns/wreaths they were thrown in a fire and had their remains dumped in the lake.

None of these cursed their tormentors, instead they prayed. And many times their examples brought more people to the faith.

If these men and women can endure terrible torments, surely we can endure when God chastises us.

God is our Father, we are His children. And just as any loving parent would correct their children when the children are doing wrong, so too does God correct us when we do wrong.

Love does not mean allowing your children to do as they please because it pains you to hear their cries when you correct them. Love does not mean just accepting who your child is - for they are children and do not know who they are. If we leave our children to themselves, it can lead to their destruction. If we don't parent our children, someone else will step into that role.

God loves us. We are His children. Because God loves us, He will correct us. Because God loves us, He will teach us right from wrong. Because God loves us, He will help us grow into who we are supposed to be. Because God love us, He will parent us.

We must persevere the chastisement we receive from God so we can endure the trials and tribulations from others.

Please pray for me, a sinner.