Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

Sacred Lessons
15October 2023
20th Sunday After Pentecost – 4th Sunday of St Luke
The Sower and the Seed

By the Grace of God

Compiled, Adapted, Edited & Printed
By Marguerite Paizis
Archondissa & Teacher by Divine Grace
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa
Archdiocese of Good Hope
Holy Orthodox Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God
Port Elizabeth, Republic of South Africa

[email protected]
or download directly from
Marguerite Paizis on Scribd – www.scribd.com/writers4574

Resurrection Gospel 8: John 20 : 11 - 18

Titos 3 : 8 – 15
Re-edited & Published - 25 September 2023 Luke 8 : 5 - 15

28. 4TH SUNDAY OF ST LUKE – THE SOWER & THE SEED – 15 OCTOBER 2023
 Resurrection Gospel 8: John 20 : 11 – 18 St Symeon the New Theologian: “… There are many Paths and Ways
that lead us into the Kingdom of Heaven. Or, rather, there seem to
Our Risen Lord Jesus Speaks To St Mary Magdalene be, but, in fact, there is only One Path, which is divided into many,
depending on the Strength and Disposition of each of us. By ‘Paths,’
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, Μαρία εἱστήκει At that time, Mary stood weeping we mean Spiritual Virtues…”
πρὸς τὸ Μνημεῖον κλαίουσα outside the Tomb.
Elder Philotheos Zervakos: “… If you find the right Confessor, go with
ἔξω.
Fear of God, with Great Humility and Confess your sins without
Ὡς οὖν ἔκλαιεν παρέκυψεν εἰς τὸ As she wept she stooped down and fear, without shame. Confess them as if you were Confessing them
μνημεῖον͵καὶ θεωρεῖ δύο looked into the Tomb, and saw before the Lord our God, since He is everywhere Present. He sees us
Ἀγγέλους ἐν λευκοῖς two Angels in white sitting - one and hears us, and also sees our Repentance, provided it is
sincere…”
καθεζομένους - ἕνα πρὸς τῇ at the head and the other at the
κεφαλῇ καὶ ἕνα πρὸς τοῖς ποσίν feet - where the Body of Jesus St Silouan the Athonite: “… Those who are listless in Prayer look at
- ὅπου ἔκειτο τὸ Σῶμα τοῦ had lain. everything with curiosity – whatever they see on Earth or in the
Ἰησοῦ. heavens. But they do not know Who our Lord is. They do not try to
And they asked her: “Woman, why learn and, when they hear Teachings about God, they say: ‘But how
Καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῇ ἐκεῖνοι· “Γύναι͵ is it possible to know God? And how do you know Him?’ Let me tell
art Thou weeping?”
τί κλαίεις?” you: God the Holy Spirit Testifies [to the Divine Truth]. He knows
Λέγει αὐτοῖς· “Ὅτι ἦραν τὸν She replied: “Because they have and He Enlightens and Teaches us…”

Κύριόν μου͵ καὶ οὐκ οἶδα ποῦ taken away my Lord, and I do Elder Ephraim Vatopaidinos: “… Holy people know how to Love truly,
ἔθηκαν Αὐτόν.” not know where they have laid to pray from the heart. They see everyone as their Brothers and
Him.” Sisters, and they think they are all far better than themselves. They
Ταῦτα εἰποῦσα ἐστράφη εἰς τὰ When she said this, she turned are not able to hurt any of God’s creatures, and they feel empathy,
even for the tiny bugs. How much more for other people who are
ὀπίσω͵ καὶ θεωρεῖ τὸν Ἰησοῦν around and saw Jesus standing created in the Image of God. They cannot use any excuse or
ἑστῶτα͵καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει ὅτι Ἰησοῦς there, and did not know that it religious difference to use force to impose their views.
ἐστιν. was Jesus. St Nektarios of Pentapolis: “… Do not think that, because your
Λέγει αὐτῇ Ἰησοῦς͵ “Γύναι͵ τί Jesus said to her: “Woman, why art intentions are Holy, you have the right to complain when your
κλαίεις? Τίνα ζητεῖς?” Thou weeping? Whom art Prayers are not heard! God provides whatever you want in ways
that you do not know. So look into it carefully and call upon
Thou seeking?”
God…”
Ἐκείνη δοκοῦσα ὅτι ὁ Κηπουρός Supposing Him to be the Gardener,
St Ignatios Brianchaninov: “… Should it happen that you say or do
ἐστιν λέγει Αὐτῷ͵ “Κύριε͵ εἰ Σὺ she said to Him: “Sir, if Thou
something that goes against God’s Commandments, correct your
ἐβάστασας Αὐτόν͵ εἰπέ μοι ποῦ hast carried Him away, tell me error at once with sincere Repentance! Through Repentance you
ἔθηκας Αὐτόν. Κἀγὼ Αὐτὸν where Thou hast laid Him. I shall shall always return to the Path of God if you have strayed from it
ἀρῶ.” take Him away.” by disregarding His Divine Will. Do not stay off the Path of God for
long!
Λέγει αὐτῇ Ἰησοῦς· “Μαρία!”. Jesus said to her: “Mary!”
Elder Moses of Mount Athos: “… the Orthodox Church is the Church
Στραφεῖσα ἐκείνη λέγει αὐτῷ Turning around, she said to Him in of the Cross and the Resurrection. It is not a secular organisation.
Ἑβραϊστί͵ “Ραββουνὶ!” (ὃ Hebrew: “Rabboni!” (which is to Orthodoxy is not an ethical or social system., even though some
λέγεται “Διδάσκαλε!”). say: “Teacher!”). people think that the only Good that the Church does is its social
welfare activities. Orthodoxy is a Grace-giving Ethos, an integrated
Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁἸησοῦς͵ “Μή Μου Jesus said to her: “Do not cling to
approach, a Message of Salvation, a Society of persons, an absence
ἅπτου͵ οὔπω γὰρ ἀναβέβηκα Me, for I have not yet Ascended of the fear of Death, the Joy and Grace of all True Disciples of
πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα· Πορεύου δὲ to My Father. Go to My Christ…”
πρὸς τοὺς Ἀδελφούς Μου καὶ Brethren and tell them: ‘I am

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 St John Chrysostom: “… can Christians ever be sad? They can, but εἰπὲ αὐτοῖς͵ ‘Ἀναβαίνω πρὸς Ascending to My Father and
only for two reasons – when they themselves or their neighbour τὸν Πατέρα Μου καὶ Πατέρα your Father, and to My God
come into conflict with God and His Divine Will. So we should not
worry and be sad about those who are vilified, but those who
ὑμῶν καὶ Θεόν Μου καὶ Θεὸν and your God.’”
vilify. ὑμῶν.’”
Ἔρχεται Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ Mary Magdalene went and told the
Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh: “… If we start to Love ἀπαγγέλλουσα τοῖς Μαθηταῖς Disciples that she had seen the
better those whom we love naturally and spontaneously, our heart ὅτι ἑώρακα τὸν Κύριον͵ καὶ Lord, and that He had spoken
shall become Purer, Cleaner and larger. We shall start to Love
others – perhaps one person at a time – with greater Purity, less
ταῦτα εἶπεν αὐτῇ. these things to her.
egotism and with a more Patient heart…”
 This is the first of four post-Resurrection Appearances or Epiphanies of our Lord
Jesus Christ as recorded by St John the Divine Evangelist and Beloved Apostle.
St Porphyrios Kavsokalyvitis: “… Self-love is egotism. We should not
Our Lord Jesus also Appeared to ten of the Apostles that same evening. Eight days
say: ‘I want to be all right. I want to go to Paradise.’ But we should later He Appeared to the Eleven Apostles, including St Thomas and then to seven
feel this Love for everyone. Do you understand? That is Humility! of the Apostles as they were fishing in the Sea of Galilee.
So if we live United with others, we shall be Blessed. We shall be This Encounter between our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ and “Mary” is
Living in Paradise. Everyone near to us, every neighbour is “… reminiscent of the Song of Solomon 3: 1 – 4, which teaches us that through His
flesh of our flesh…” How can I be indifferent towards them? How Resurrection, Christ Jesus takes His New Covenant Holy Church as His Eternal
can I wound them? How can I hate them?” Bride. Thus He is the Divine Bridegroom and His Holy Church is His Bride.

Elder Ephraim Vatopaidinos: “… When we speak about Repentance, we  “Mary stood outside the Sepulchre weeping. As she wept she stooped
do not mean regretting our sins. (That is a psychological event down and looked into the Tomb…”
which may well remain on this level and never become and Event • Although this account mentions only the name “…Mary…” which
involving God the Holy Spirit.) Not do we mean the Holy Mystery of could have referred to three of the Eight Holy Myrrhbearers,
Repentance-Confession, at which we reveal our sins and thoughts to including the All Holy, Ever Blessed Mother of our Lord, and
our Confessor. For the most part we mean that State in which the because our Lady Theotokos preferred to remain in the
whole human being – nous, intellect, soul and body – is Inspired background, it is accepted that St John referred to St Mary of
and turns towards God. In other words, it is our ontological Union Magdala, as did the other Evangelists.
with God, through the immaterial Fire of Repentance…”
• St Mary Magdalene was the first of the Faithful Disciples, (together
with our Ever Blessed Lady Theotokos) to see the Risen Christ.
St Theophan the Recluse: “… Passions arise in all of us from time to
time. Their appearance confirms our uncleanness, but does not • She was a close and constant companion of our Lady, being
make us guilty. We are guilty only if we give in willingly to any extremely Pious and Faithful, and thus later became known as
“the Apostle to the Apostles.”
grievous passion. In other words: if we do not consider it an enemy
and do not fight determinedly against it. This attitude indicates our • The Holy Myrrhbearers already knew that Christ’s Tomb was empty
willingness to be reconciled to the grievous passion and, therefore, and that He had Resurrected. But St Mary Magdalene (and
to be at odds with our Lord God.” possibly Theotokos) returned to the Empty Tomb because she
could not fully grasp what they had been told by the Angel of
Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol: “… People of God who have God.
been convinced in their heart that God exists, fear nothing and no • She bent down and peered inside the Empty Tomb because she still
one. This Peace of God has enormous social repercussions. When could not accept the fact that our Lord no longer Reposed there.
we no longer feel envious, suspicious or fearful, what reason is She had to assure herself of His Resurrection.
there for us not to be Loving and United in our family and in our • The Holy Myrrhbearers wept because they thought they would never
daily life? But when there is not this Godly Peace, then we all envy again see our Beloved Lord Jesus Christ.
and fear each other. We act with Spiritual suspicion and lose our
Peace. The wickedness within us pressurises us because we have • “… and saw two Angels in white sitting - one at the head and the
not got God’s Divine Grace to emerge from the pall of evil of this other at the feet - where the Body of Jesus had lain…”
world…”

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 • According to St John’s Gospel account, there were two Angels of God, absence of the Divine Presence, Light, Love and Great Mercy of
seated on either side of the burial slab upon which our Divine our Lord God.
Saviour had been laid to rest. • Our Loving Lord God grants us everything necessary for our
• Their radiant white garments lit up the inside of the Tomb to clearly Eternal Life, in addition to Teaching us His Divine Truth
show the absence of our Resurrected Christ. Himself. We simply need to apply these to ourselves in order
to become Spiritually Perfected in His Divine Likeness.
 “…they asked her: “Woman, why art thou weeping?” She said … “…
they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have • Our own choices and selfish thoughts, words and deeds shall
laid Him.” decide our Eternal Existence because it is not God Who shall
Condemn us, but we ourselves whose sinful decisions and
• The Angels did not address St Mary of Magdala by name but rather
desires are SELF-CONDEMNING unless we quickly Repent and
by the common address “Woman.”
return to Spiritual Life in Christ.
• They questioned her sorrowful weeping, despite the Glorious
• While we still exist in this short, temporary lifespan, we must
Resurrection of our Lord as He had promised and foretold.
continuously Repent our sins and Strive ceaselessly to acquire
• St Mary confessed that she suspected His enemies had removed and DIVINE LOVE, thereby nurturing close, intimate Relationships
hidden His Precious Body elsewhere, and she was determined to with God and with each other, for this is the basis of our
find Him. Eternal Life or Eternal Death.
 The Song of Songs/Solomon 3: 1-4- “…I sought Him Whom my soul
Loves. I sought Him, but did not find Him. I called Him, but He did
not hear me. I shall rise now and go about the city. In the
The Divinely Inspired Wisdom of our Holy Fathers
marketplaces and in the streets I shalt seek Him whom my soul Loves.
Elder Ephraim Vatopaidinos: “…Repentance is a Priceless Gift from
I sought Him but did not find Him. The Watchmen who do their
God to us after the Fall. What is achieved through Repentance is
rounds in the city found me and I said to them: “Hast thou seen Him
not only the Cleansing of the heart, but Sanctification and
Whom my soul Loves?” Scarcely had I departed from them, when I
Glorification…”
found Him Whom my soul Loves. I held Him and would not let Him
go…”
 “… the Watchmen…” signify the Holy Prophets of God, the St John of the Ladder: “… We shall not ever be Condemned for not
Apostles of Christ and the Evangelists who proclaim the performing Miracles, but we shall certainly have to answer for the
Divine Word of God and bear witness to the Incarnate, Eternal fact that we did not weep continuously over our sins!”
Word and Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.
 The Holy Church of Christ highly honours and cherishes their Elder Christodoulos, Abbot, Monastery of Koutloumousi: “… The
Sacred Writings – the Holy Scriptures, which is our Sacred important thing is to get close to and to concentrate of the problem
Written Tradition, while the Verbal Teachings and of another person. Offer them something from whatever you have
Commandments of Christ, that are carefully preserved and – money, a gift, a smile or something from the abundance of your
passed down intact to future generations, by His Holy heart. Your neighbour does not always need something material.
Apostles and their successors, is our Sacred Verbal/Spoken Sometimes they simply need a kind word, genuine inters and good
Tradition. natured attention…”
 Both Sacred Traditions are inseparable and essential parts of
our priceless, Eternal Spiritual Heritage whereby we Perfect St Isaac the Syrian: “…When Divine Grace opens the eyes of our
our immortal soul in order to become worthy Citizens and Co- soul, then tears flow like water from a spring, and this is the
Heirs of God’s Heavenly Kingdom of Love. clearest evidence of a Visitation from God…”
 “…the marketplaces and the streets…” symbolise the fallen world
[and Spiritual Death], which consists of all the wrong places Elder Cleopas Ilie: “… Those who regularly Repent and Confess their
[and wrong means] in which to seek the Lord our God, for our sins, even if they fall into the same – maybe mortal – transgression,
Triune, Almighty God and Life in Christ can only be found in lose no time in Confessing their sins. They again receive Remission
His One, Holy, Catholic/Universal and Apostolic Church. and the Divine Grace of God, and so their conscience is relieved of
 As Faithful Disciples of Christ, we “…put on Christ…” during the the great burden of sin…”
Holy Mystery of Baptism and then “…Live in Christ…” while
striving to be Saved – striving to acquire Divine Love and
Spiritual Perfection/Theosis/Deification.
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 5. Their heart and soul is Spiritually Fertile.  This means we spend the rest of our lifespan Striving to regain
6. They are willing and able to receive Divine Truth, nurture and our Divine Likeness and Eternal Life, which we have lost due to
sustain it, our inclination to sin.
7. They bear Good Spiritual Fruit for the Glory, Honour and  “…When she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing
Worship of God. there, and did not know that it was Jesus …”
8. They are Faithful Disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ who apply
all His Commandments and Teachings to their thoughts, • Once again, our Resurrected Lord was not immediately recognised by
words and deeds. His Faithful Disciples, possibly due to His Resurrected Form.
9. They fulfil the Will of our Heavenly Father by Faithfully Living • It might also have been due to the fact that women did not usually
in Christ speak nor look directly at unfamiliar men, especially when there
10. They continually Repent-Confess their sins was no protective male relative present.
11. They sustain all their Spiritual Labours with Steadfast Love,  “…To her Jesus said: “Woman, why art thou weeping? Whom art
Tolerance, Patience, Humility and Obedience, thereby thou seeking?”
acquiring all the other Holy Virtues.
12. Their Acquisition of Holy Virtues and Love grants them Divine • Similar to St Cleopas and St Luke, our Lord wants St Mary to explain
Grace and the Joyful Indwelling of the All Holy, Life-giving her sorrow and incredulity, even though He knows exactly our
Spirit Who enables them to reach even greater Spiritual unexpressed thoughts.
Heights. • The term “Woman,” which our Lord Jesus used, was a Sacred Title in
13. They become God’s Earthly Angels/Messengers who are shining Holy Scripture that conveyed a deep respect and distinction, for
Beacons leading, guiding and teaching others about the Joy Christ treated not only His Beloved Mother, but all women with
of Living in Christ. the greatest respect and honour.
14. Their good example encourages others to also strive for • In those days females were regarded in general as either equal to or
Spiritual Perfection. less significant than livestock. They were often bought and sold
• This type of Fertile Faith and Good Works Transforms sinners into for the benefit of families through marriage contracts and thus
Saints. were expected not only to cultivate food, fulfil all household
 “...When He had said these things, He cried out: “He who has ears requirements but also to bear as many children as possible –
to hear, let him hear.” preferably male children – in order to increase and sustain the
generations.
• This Exhortation of our Divine Saviour is a heartfelt Entreaty to
every human being – to all mankind, not only a select few! • According to the New Covenant of Christ, women are to be
respected, honoured and treated as equals to men, although they
• At the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ, God our Heavenly fulfil different roles in the family and Church.
Father not only confirmed that our Lord Jesus is His Beloved,
Eternal Son and Word, but also Commanded His Apostles – and
 “…Supposing Him to be the Gardener, she said to Him: “Sir, if thou
hast carried Him away, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I
all of us – to listen attentively to Him and obey all His
shall take Him away.”
Teachings and Commandments.
• The Tomb of Christ was situated in a beautiful, cultivated garden,
• Our Lord Jesus wants us to hear and implement His Divine Truth,
which belonged to St Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy, influential
for we thereby receive Divine Grace that Transforms us and
member of the Sanhedrin who was a secret Disciple of our Lord.
Regenerates us with His Divine Likeness.
It had recently been carved out of rock, as a burial place for St
• God the Holy Spirit and Giver of Life, Love, Truth and All Good Joseph and/or his family, which he immediately donated to
Things enables us to comprehend and apply His Divine Truth Christ. Even the huge, heavy stone to seal the entrance, showed
to our thoughts, words and deeds. the significance of the site and tomb.
• We need to do everything possible to acquire Eternal Life as • St Mary did not know if the Precious Body of Christ has been
Worthy Citizens and Co-Heirs with Christ to our Heavenly removed and interred elsewhere, which sometimes happened
Father’s Eternal Kingdom of Love. when a tomb was not prepared beforehand, and an unexpected
• If we choose to reject, ignore or neglect Christ our Saviour and His death occurred.
Divine Truth, we choose Eternal Death by Condemning • St Mary of Magdala was a mature, independently wealthy and
ourselves to “...Outer Darkness...” - a terrible, irrevocable influential woman who had the means of doing as she said.
Eternal Spiritual Death - Eternally Exiled to the hideous
Abyss/Hell that terrifies even Satan and his demons – a total
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 “…To her Jesus said:: “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew: • Our Lord’s Eternal Salvation is a Spiritual Process:
“Rabboni!” (which is to say: “Teacher”). 1. we are Saved and Renewed at our Holy Baptism.
• Our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ addressed St Mary by her name, 2. we are being Saved through Life in Christ of continual
and instantly she recognised Him, addressing him respectfully as Repentance and Spiritual Struggles
“Rabboni” or “Teacher.” 3. we hope for Eternal Salvation at the end of this very short,
preparatory lifespan.
• “Rabboni” is an affectionate term in Hebrew, meaning “My Dear
Teacher.”  “…The Seed that falls among thorns are those who, when they have
heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures
• When we are profoundly Blessed to Encounter our Divine Lord and of life, and bring no Fruit to maturity….”
Saviour, He addresses us by our Baptismal Name, for every one
of us is completely known to Him – all our thoughts, words and • This refers to those who hear the Divine Truth only for a fleeting
deeds! moment, but forget it immediately afterwards because they are
more concerned with worldly “… cares, riches and pleasures…”
• When we ceaselessly strive for a Close, Intimate Relationship with that have no Spiritual Benefit to any of us.
our Lord, even His Voice alone, makes us profoundly Joyful and
filled with overwhelming Love and the deepest Yearning to • They waste their precious, allotted lifespan on temporary
remain with Him forever. entertainments and interests that have no good and lasting
benefit, nor Spiritual Profit to anyone at all.
• During the long periods between Holy Prophets of God, the “Rabbi”
or “Teacher” of the Faith was highly respected by the Old • They shall suffer an Eternity of everlasting regret and remorse
Covenant Faithful, for these Holy Fathers continued to prepare that will never be relieved, unless they come to their senses
and guide the Chosen People of God towards their ultimate Goal. and make good use of every last remaining time before their
Repose.
• Those who were unable to participate in communal Prayers and
Worship at the Great Temple in Jerusalem gathered together, • They might have started off well but then failed to continue their
especially on Sabbath Days, in Synagogues, where the Sacred daily Struggles.
Prayers and Scriptures were taught, studied and read. • Fleeting worldly affairs, social status, hobbies and occupations, as
• Together with the New Covenant Israel, the Faithful People of God well as financial wealth and possessions are more important to
shall all be Saved according to the Will of God the Father, through them than Spiritual Welfare and Eternal Life.
the Teachings and Commandments of Christ, by the Grace and • They think they can delay their Eternal Salvation while taking time
Power and Energy of God the Holy Spirit. to enjoy the fleshy, unbeneficial pleasures of this short
• St John the Baptist was the last and greatest Holy Prophet of God for lifespan.
he was the Forerunner of Christ who taught the People to Repent • Their Faith in God is neither well rooted nor firmly established in
their sins in order to make good Spiritual Progress according to His Divine Truth, nor are their priorities in the right order.
the Old Covenant that Christ fulfilled and then according to the • Their weak Faith is very easily overwhelmed, neglected or ignored
New Covenant of Love that He has taught and commanded us to because they are being choked to death by self-indulgence and
fulfil. all the other worldly distractions and deceptions.
• St John the Baptised announced the Coming of the Great Messiah to • All their endeavours are Spiritually Fruitless because they are
those held captive in Hades. So when Christ smashed open the useless and unbeneficial – wasted time and effort that consists
Gates of Hades, the Righteous were ready to be set free and led to of empty gestures that have no good, lasting results.
the reopened Paradise to Repose in Peace until the General
 “…Those in the Good Earth, are those who, hearing the Word, hold
Resurrection on the Eighth Day, when the Final Judgement shall
occur. it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth Fruit with
Patience.”
 “…To her Jesus said: “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet Ascended
to My Father; but go to My Brethren and tell them: ‘I Am • Our Lord is referring to those who have “…an honest and good
Ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your heart…..” and soul.
God.’” 1. They listen carefully and are able to comprehend it correctly.
2. They hear the Divine Truth and are Guided by Its Divine Light.
• Our Lord did not rebuke St Mary Magdalene for a lack of Faith as
3. They immediately begin their Salvific Journey towards Eternity.
He did with His other Apostles and Disciples. He always treated
4. They practise His Divine Truth by applying It to their thoughts,
women with kindness, gentleness, honour and respect, which was
words and deeds.
vastly different to the attitude of men then and even now.
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 • “…do not cling to Me…” did not mean that our Lord Jesus Christ
 ”… Those along the Path are those who have heard, then the devil prohibited St Mary Magdalene or His Beloved Mother to touch His
comes and snatches the Word from their heart, that they may Resurrected Flesh, for He even invited St Thomas to touch Him
not Believe and be Saved …” and inspect His crucifixion Wounds. [although St Thomas did not
• We were created to receive all God’s Love, Goodness and Truth. actually do so, but Confessed his Faith in Christ instead.]
• But since the Fall, our ancient enemy, the evil one, does everything • During the Holy Mystery of Communion/Eucharist, we actually
possible to deceive us and prevent our Salvation by using our Partake of His Glorified, Life-giving Body and Blood, which
own weaknesses and sinful inclinations against us. Cleanses us and grants us Eternal Life in His Heavenly Kingdom
of Love.
• We become deaf and blind to the Divine Truth because of the
noisy, blazing, worldly distractions and temptations that • In this instance, our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ instructed St Mary
captivate us and enthral us. Magdalene to understand and accept that His Life is not merely
continuing in the same State as before.
• Weare constantly “brain washed” into accepting blatant
wickedness, depravity and immorality that opposes all the • He shall not remain with us as He did in the past in His Incarnate,
Loving Goodness and Grace of our Lord God. human Nature and Form, physically and visibly Living in our
midst while He taught us about Divine Love.
 “… The Seed that falls on the rock are those who, when they hear,
receive the Word with Joy, and have no root, they believe for a • He was about to Ascend to His Heavenly Father, where in His
while and in time of temptation fall away…” Glorified State as the Eternal Word and Son of God and as the
Incarnate Son of Man, He is Enthroned at the right hand side of
• Unless the Divine Truth becomes firmly rooted in our heart, it has
God our Heavenly Father.
no Good and Beneficial Affect on our Spiritual Welfare.
• Being the Glorified Second Person of the Holy Trinity – of the One
• Divine, Perfect and Trustworthy Truth and Faith will remain
Godhead – our Lord Jesus Christ is Enthroned in the Most
elusive and unacceptable to us.
Honourable Position, being seated at the right hand side of our
• We will flounder in a state of Spiritual Death and Darkness, Heavenly Father.
stumbling about in ignorance and fear, believing and trusting
• By stating “…My Father and your Father … My God and your
in every type of nonsense that leads us further away from God
God…” our Lord affirms and assures us that we share the same
and each other.
Almighty God and Heavenly Father through our Sacred
• Although others believe that mankind can be permanently Saved Allegiance to Christ our Divine Saviour and Lord God.
at the moment they profess their Faith in Christ – a concept
• During the Holy Mysteries of Baptism and Chrismation, we become
that is unacceptable to the Orthodox Church of Christ – our
the Adopted Children of God and Co-Heirs with Christ of His
Divine Saviour clearly cautions us that it is indeed possible to
Heavenly Kingdom of Love.
“...believe for a while...” and then “...fall away....”
• However, as our sinful state is merely in remission and we are still
• If by merely proclaiming Faith in Christ we received instant
inclined to commit sins, our Salvation is an ongoing Sacred
Eternal Salvation our Lord Jesus Christ would not have
Endeavour until we take our final breath.
1. offered Himself as our Ultimate Blood Sacrifice, thereby
fulfilling/completing the Old Covenant. • Throughout our lifespan we are Blessed with Spiritual Life when we
2. granted us His New Covenant. Live in Christ and Repent our habitual sins, but we also
3. instructed and prepared His Holy Apostles and their continuously fall into Spiritual Death when we surrender to
successors to continue His Salvific Mission temptations or grievous passions.
• Encouraged and Strengthened His Apostles, Disciples, Saints and • The Divine Purpose for our own unique lifespan is to regain our lost
Holy Martyrs who suffered and endured persecution, tortures Divine Likeness - to become “Christ-like” in thought, word and
and death throughout the centuries. deed!
1. spent three years of His Public Ministry Teaching us everything • This is only possible when we ceaselessly Struggle against all
necessary for Eternal Life temptations and reject sin, while Striving to acquire Divine Love
2. returned in His Resurrected State to show us and to confirm by seeking and attaining the essential Holy Virtues through Life in
His Divine Truth - Christ.
3. given us His final Commandments that Benefit, Nurture and
• Life in Christ means that we humbly and willingly obey all the
Sustain our immortal soul – and those of all mankind.
Teachings and Commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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22. 4TH SUNDAY OF ST LUKE – THE SOWER & THE SEED – 15 OCTOBER 2023
 • This can only be accomplished when we are Humble and Obedient doing so would have been not only to ... no advantage for them,
to all the Teachings and Practises of His Holy Church, consisting but an even greater Condemnation...”
of both Written and Verbal Sacred Tradition. • As Orthodox Christians – Struggling Disciples of Christ - we must
 “Mary Magdalene … told the Disciples that she had seen the Lord, and continue to learn all the different facets of our beautiful Faith
that He had spoken these things to her...” and put them into practise.
• Being a more mature and confident woman, St Mary of Magdala was • By neglecting to do so, we shall fall away from God’s Truth and
not afraid nor wary of proclaiming the Resurrection, the become ensnared in the evil one’s deadly traps.
Appearance and the Message of our Lord to His Disciples. • If all we had to do was to declare our belief in our Lord Jesus
• The other Holy Myrrhbearers knew their Experience at the Empty Christ in order to receive Eternal Life, there would be no need
Tomb and the Proclamation of the Glorious Resurrection would for the Holy Church with all its Divine Mysteries and Divinely
be received with scepticism and outright scorn so they had either Inspired, True Teachings – as well as everything else that
kept silent or had only told their closest relatives. makes up our Life in Christ while on Earth.
• St Simon Peter and St John the Beloved Disciple of Christ were the • We would then all simply Repose for there would be no further
only two Apostles who immediately believed the Holy Purpose for our unique lifespan, which God grants each of us,
Myrrhbearers and rushed to the Empty Tomb to personally knowing how much time we need to achieve our best Spiritual
witness the Truth of their words. Condition.
 “…The Parable is this…”
• Our Lord Jesus Enlightens those who are able to receive His Divine
Truth with eager, joyful and Faithful heart.
The Epistle of St Paul to St Titos 3: 8 – 15 • He reveals and explains the Spiritual Aspects of this preparatory
period before Eternity, as well as those concerning the
Afterlife.
Τέκνον Τίτε, …Πιστὸς ὁ Λόγος, My son, Titos, … these Words of  “…The Seed is the Word of God…”
καὶ περὶ τούτων βούλομαί Σε Faith also constantly confirm so • Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son and Word of God our
διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, ἵνα that those who have Believed in Heavenly Father, Who grants us Knowledge to comprehend
φροντίζωσιν Καλῶν Ἔργων God may be careful to maintain some of His Divine Mysteries and Truth for the sake of our
Eternal Salvation that begins here and now.
προΐστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες Good Works.
Θεῷ. • His Divine Truth enables us to acquire Divine Love – Agape – that
These are Good and Profitable to is essential to Eternal Life in His Heavenly Kingdom of Love.
Ταῦτά ἐστιν Καλὰ καὶ ὠφέλιμα mankind. • The Divine Truth is sown in our heart, where it must take root, be
τοῖς ἀνθρώποις. Avoid foolish controversies, Spiritual Nurtured and Sustained by our Struggles and Strivings
Μωρὰς δὲ ζητήσεις καὶ genealogies, dissensions, and so that we can bring it to successful fruition.
γενεαλογίας καὶ ἔριν καὶ μάχας quarrels over the Law, for they • The Seed that Christ our Lord sows is the Eternal Divine Truth.
Νομικὰς περιΐστασο, εἰσὶν γὰρ 1. Divine Truth is the ONLY Perfect and Absolute Truth. Even the
are unprofitable and futile.
smallest alteration makes it imperfect.
ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι. A heretical man, after the first 2. Divine Truth consists of the Divine Commandments and
Αἱρετικὸν ἄνθρωπον μετὰ μίαν καὶ and second admonition, reject, Teachings.
δευτέραν νουθεσίαν παραιτοῦ, 3. Divine Truth is given to us either indirectly, through God’s Holy
knowing that such a person is
εἰδὼς ὅτι ἐξέστραπται ὁ Prophets and Holy Apostles or directly by our Lord Jesus
perverted and sinful – Self- Christ.
τοιοῦτος καὶ ἁμαρτάνει, ὢν Condemned.
• Being the Perfect, Absolute and Divine Truth, our Lord Jesus
Αὐτοκατάκριτος.
When I send Artemas or Tychikos Christ commanded that “...not one tittle nor iota...” can be
Ὅταν πέμψω Ἀρτεμᾶν πρὸς Σὲ ἢ to you, be diligent to come to me changed.
Τυχικόν, σπούδασον ἐλθεῖν Tittles and iotas are the small accent marks that give a specific
at Nicopolis, for I have decided
meaning to words in Hebrew and in Greek. If these are
πρός με εἰς Νικόπολιν, ἐκεῖ γὰρ to spend the Winter there. altered, the entire meaning of a word is changed.

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8. 4TH SUNDAY OF ST LUKE – THE SOWER & THE SEED – 15 OCTOBER 2023
 • They commit themselves to the Lord our God by applying κέκρικα παραχειμάσαι. Zenas the Lawyer and Apollos
everything He has taught and commanded us to their thoughts,
words and deeds so that they become Spiritually Perfected. Ζηνᾶν τὸν Νομικὸν καὶ Ἀπολλῶν speedily send on their way,
• By consistently Repenting our sins and Striving for Spiritual σπουδαίως πρόπεμψον, ἵνα lacking nothing.
Perfection, we regain our Divine Likeness in imitation of our μηδὲν αὐτοῖς λείπῃ. Let our people also learn to
Lord Jesus Christ, thereby becoming His worthy Co-Heirs to Μανθανέτωσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ ἡμέτεροι maintain Good Works, for
our Heavenly Father’s Eternal Kingdom of Love.
Καλῶν Ἔργων προΐστασθαι εἰς necessary uses, so as not to be
• The essential Acquisition of Divine Love is only possibly when we τὰς ἀναγκαίας χρείας, ἵνα μὴ unfruitful.
actually LIVE in Christ – fulfil the Will of our Heavenly Father in
all circumstances! ὦσιν ἄκαρποι. Greetings to you from all who are
”… When His Disciples asked Him “What is the meaning of this Ἀσπάζονταί Σε οἱ μετ 'ἐμοῦ with me.
Parable?” He said: “To you it has been given to know the secrets πάντες. Greet those who Love us in the
of the Kingdom of God. But for others they are in Parables, so
that seeing, they may not see, and hearing, they may not
Ἄσπασαι τοὺς φιλοῦντας ἡμᾶς ἐν Faith.
Πίστει.
understand..” Grace be with you all.
• Our Lord Jesus is very clear that His Faithful Disciples are Ἡ Χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν. Amen
Empowered and Enabled by God the Holy Spirit Who grants us
Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding so that we can fully Ἀμήν.
comprehend certain Divine Mysteries – as much as we can cope
St Paul wrote this Epistle to St Titos circa 63-65. The circumstances and content of
with. this Epistle are similar to those of his first Epistle to St Timothy, for the two were
1. Divine Knowledge is granted to us as we Spiritually Mature, probable written about the same time.
depending on the Purity of heart and depth of Love we St Paul’s Missionary Work, accompanied by St Titos, on the island of Crete, is not
acquire. included in St Luke’s Book of the Acts of the Apostles, and thus is likely to have
2. Divine Knowledge and Wisdom is wasted and useless to those occurred after the release of St Paul from his first imprisonment in Rome.
who remain unrepentant, egotistic, arrogant and lacking in The major theme of this Epistle, similar to that addressed to St Timothy, concerns the
Faith. correct and Faithful Overseeing of the Holy Church of Christ according to the True
Faith and Divine Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• The Pure of Heart are indeed Blessed for they are able to behold As the Holy Church of the New Covenant of Divine Love grew, it naturally developed
God and His Divine Truth because they are not Spiritually Theology and Structure, while also encountering heresies and non-Christian
Blind, and will put such Knowledge and Understanding to good behaviour among its Members as had already been prophesied. Hence the advice and
use, with Love in Christ. caution St Paul gave to St Titos who was confronted by such adverse issues and
 Isaiah 6:9 “... you shall hear indeed, but not understand, you problems.
St Titos was a Gentile who had been converted by St Paul to Christ. After St Paul had
shall see, but not perceive...” been released from imprisonment in Rome, circa 63, St Titos had accompanied him to
• We sin by choice – not by nature (as God created us to be) Crete, and before St Paul continued his Missionary Journey, he had ordained St
Titos as the Apostolic Overseer [Bishop] of Crete.
• We willingly refuse not to hear, nor to see – we choose to become After the departure of St Paul from Crete, St Titos, whose Sacred Task it was to
Spiritually Deaf and Blind through stubborn rebellion and consolidate and organise the ever-increasing Holy Church on Crete, had to contend
disobedience to God’s Will. with various Theological problems that were similar to those confronted by St
• The Holy Mysteries of Christ’s Holy Church are not obscure Timothy in Asia Minor such as elements of Judaism that restricted, confused and
concepts, but the Presence of the Kingdom of God, which frustrated the Gentile Disciples of Christ, as well as early Gnosticism.
The native culture of Crete was far more vicious than those of Asia Minor.
cannot be defined
Furthermore, while St Timothy managed to restore order in the established churches
• An unwillingness to understand Christ’s profoundly Wise Parables and Christian Communities of Asia Minor, St Titos was Struggling and Striving to
or His Divine Truth is due to a rejection of His Eternal Kingdom establish order in the churches and Christian Communities of Crete, consisting of
newly Baptised pagan/Gentile Disciples.
• According to St John Chrysostom concerning the Spiritual
Blindness of those who rejected Christ and His Divine Truth:
“...If the blindness were natural, it would have been proper for  “My son, Titos, … this is a Faithful saying, and on these things I
God to open their eyes; but because it was a voluntary and self- want Thee to constantly confirm so that those who have
chosen blindness, He does not overthrow their free will. For by Believed in God may be careful to maintain Good Works. These
are Good and Profitable to mankind…”
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20. 4TH SUNDAY OF ST LUKE – THE SOWER & THE SEED – 15 OCTOBER 2023
 • St Paul addressed his Epistle to “…My Son, Titos…” because St • This can also apply to those who are too involved with their
Titos was one of his beloved Spiritual Children whom he had worldly lifestyle to accept any degree of Divine Truth.
converted and Baptised, and with whom he had a good, close  “…And some fell on the rock, and, as it grew, it withered away,
and trustworthy relationship, having shared similar Struggles for it had no moisture..”
and Strivings during their Missionary Journeys, while
establishing, organising and overseeing the growing Church of • These signify those who begin with an over-abundance of
Christ throughout a vast region of the Roman Empire. enthusiasm or for all the wrong reasons and intentions.
• The direct Greek translation of “… this is a Faithful saying…” is • They want to achieve great Spiritual Heights instantly, but fail to
“… these Words of Faith also constantly affirm”…”] which establish their Faith firmly by being taught about Divine Truth
refers to the previous paragraph. so that they can correctly comprehend, participate and be
encouraged to fulfil their Spiritual Journey with Love and Joy.
 Titos 3: 4 – 7 ‘…when the Kindness and Love of God our • They soon “… wither away…” because they
Saviour towards mankind Appeared – not by Works of 1. have failed to receive proper, Orthodox Christian Spiritual
Righteousness… but according to His Mercy, He Saved us, Teaching, Guidance and Encouragement.
through the Washing of Regeneration and Renewing of the 2. are not willing to make any effort to fully participate in Life in
Holy Spirit, Whom He poured out on us abundantly through Christ, which requires continuous Repentance and
Jesus Christ our Saviour, that having been Justified by His Spiritual Struggles against all temptations and grievous
Grace we should become Heirs according to the Hope of sins.
Eternal Life.” 3. want to achieve Salvation by their own efforts, without Living
“The Washing of Regeneration, Baptism and Renewing of the in Christ and without communal worship in His Holy
Holy Spirit,” Chrismation, form a Unity in our Salvation, Church.
which is a continuous Spiritual Process towards Eternal 4. have their own ‘interpretation’ of Divine Truth and are too
Salvation, which is clearly stated throughout the New Spiritually Blind or too stubborn to commit themselves to
Testament. Christ, to His Holy Church and to His Divine Teachings.
1. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us that we are “…Born from 5. want to select ‘bits and pieces’ of Divine Truth according to
Above…” through the Sanctified Baptismal “…Water and their own preferences.
[God] the [Holy] Spirit…” [John 3:5] • We, who are committed Disciples of Christ, have failed them due
2. St Simon Peter preached Salvation in Christ Jesus through to our own lack of Love and concern for their Spiritual
our being “…Baptised…” and receiving “…the Gift of the Enlightenment and Welfare.
Holy Spirit…” [Acts 2:38]  “…And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and
3. St Paul calls us to the “…Washing…” of the [Sanctified, choked it…”
Baptismal] Water and the “… Renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
• “Thorns” refers to everything that hooks us - captivates and
Although St Paul was painfully aware that we are awaiting distracts us – anything that prevents us from our essential
the Consummation of the Age to come - Eternity – he Sacred Duties to God and to each other.
also knew that we are already participating the
eschatological Community – the Christian Community of • This is when we allow all kinds of other unbeneficial distractions
the Last Days. to captivate us.
In other words, we are living in the Messianic Age, which is • While focussing on all the fleeting, worldly attractions and
the last Age before the end of time, and the beginning of concerns that choke us into Spiritual Death, we neglect and
Eternity. ignore our Spiritual Welfare that is far more Beneficial and
The Holy Mysteries of Baptism and Chrismation signify the Salvific – and Eternal.
beginning of our Life in Christ, and grant us the Rite of • We ignore or forget about our Lord God Who is our only Help,
Passage towards a progressive Spiritual Life of Renewal Protector and Provider, so our troubles and misery become all
in Christ. the more overwhelming and destructive.
Life in Christ – Striving to apply His Divine Truth and
“…And some fell into Good Soil and it grew, and yielded Fruit a
Commandments to our thoughts, words and deeds – is a
Sacred Life whereby we continuously Repent our sins hundredfold....”
that are self-condemning, for which we shall be judged • This refers to the few who joyfully and sincerely receive our Lord’s
Divine Truth

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10. 4TH SUNDAY OF ST LUKE – THE SOWER & THE SEED – 15 OCTOBER 2023
 • The Parable catches the attention of the audience by its vividness and accused by the demons immediately after the
or strangeness that engenders enough speculation about its separation of our body and soul.
meaning to stimulate active thought and contemplation. Our Guardian Angels, who are our Holy Advocates, shall try
to defend us according to our life-long Struggles and
• Parables were familiar forms of Old Covenant Teaching, which our Strivings.
Lord continued to use to get His Divine Truth across to those Our Loving and Benevolent Lord God does not Condemn us
who sought It – or to stimulate enough interest in others who at all. Our own unrepented sins shall Eternally
might then seek It. Condemn and irreparably Exiles us from God and all
 “...A Sower went out to sow His Seed...” His Love, Light and Goodness for all Eternity!
• Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Divine Sower Who came to sow the  2 Corinthians 3: 16 – 18: “… when we turn to the Lord, the
Seed of His Divine Truth. Veil is taken away. The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit
• His Divine Truth Reveals, Teaches and Enlightens us - and all of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face,
Mankind - about the Infinite Love and Divine Will of our beholding as in a mirror the Glory of the Lord, are being
Heavenly Father. Transformed into the same Image from Glory to Glory, just as
by the Spirit of the Lord…”
• This fulfils the ancient Prophecy of St Isaiah:
“… the Lord…” is a Divine Title, which according to the New
 Isaiah 55:10: “...as rain comes down,... from Heaven, and Covenant usually refers to the Son of our Heavenly
does not return until it saturates the Earth, and ... brings Father – our Lord Jesus Christ.
forth and produces, and gives Seed to the Sower and Bread God our Heavenly Father is also referred to as “…Lord…” as
for food, so shall My Word be – whatever proceeds from My is God the Holy Spirit:
Mouth. It shall not return until It accomplishes whatever I  Matthew 11:25
Willed, and I shall prosper Thy Ways and My  Matthew 22:44
Commandments. For Thou shall go forth with Gladness and  Luke 1:32
shall be taught with Joy... and the Lord shall be for a Name  Luke 4:12
and for an Everlasting Sign, and He shall not fail.”  Luke 4:18
• These words refer to the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Who  Luke 10:21
certainly accomplishes the Divine Will of our Heavenly Father –  Acts 3:22
as we must also Strive to do.  Acts 4:26
 Revelation 11:15
• Although at times the Preaching of the Holy Gospel may see to
 Revelation 21:22
bear no Fruit, the Lord our God is always working, whether or
not we see visible results. There is a difference of opinion as to which of the Three
Divine Persons of the Holy Trinity “… the Lord …” refers
 “…And as He sowed, some fell along the Path, and was trodden to in each usage here.
under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it ….” However, our Orthodox interpreters all agree that
• The Divine Truth is heard by some people who either ignore, or 1. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are
reject it – failing to grasp the great significance of what they in no way confused here as St Paul had in mind One
have heard. Person or another.
• Before the Divine Truth can take root in heart and soul, the evil 2. The Son, for example, cannot be the Holy Spirit, for
one snatches it away – taking full advantage of weak or non- “…the Spirit…” is a Divine Person, not an impersonal
existent Faith – thereby preventing them from receiving Divine Force, although elsewhere in the New Testament the
Salvation. word “…Spirit…” occasionally refers to a Realm or
Way of Existence.
• This might also apply to those who have become misled, 3. In this instance, St Paul used this Sacred Title to describe
disillusioned and repulsed by false teachings and disreputable how our Lord God Almighty Reigns in the world. It
behaviour of greedy, wicked, self-serving ‘ministers,” resulting does not describe the Eternal Relationship of the
in the total rejection of God and His Divine Truth. three Persons of the Holy Trinity, for God the Holy
• The smallest, budding Faith in God is instantly destroyed by Spirit does not Proceed from God the Son, but only
wicked exploiters who use their own inventions of ‘religion’ to from God our Heavenly Father.
ensnare people, and to enrich themselves and to gratify their St Paul Transformed the Old Covenant understanding of
nefarious desires. One God, the Lord, into our Lord Jesus Christ’s New

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 Covenant Revelation of One God in Three Persons, each understand.”
of Whom is Lord God.
Consequently, when we “… turn to the Lord…” we turn not “Ἔστι δὲ αὕτη ἡ παραβολή· “This is the Parable:
only to God our Heavenly Father, but also to God the
Incarnate Son, in the Power of God the Holy Spirit.
“Ὁ Σπόρος ἐστὶν ὁ Λόγος τοῦ “The Seed is the Word of God.
Θεοῦ·
• “…these Words of Faith…” refer to the Faith of and the Faith in “Οἱ δὲ παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν εἰσιν οἱ “Those along the Path are those
our Lord Jesus Christ, which, being Divine Truth – the Truth of ἀκούσαντες, εἶτα ἔρχεται ὁ who have heard, then the devil
God Himself – is absolutely Perfect. διάβολος καὶ αἴρει τὸν Λόγον comes and snatches the Word
• Therefore as Christ had cautioned His Apostles, “…neither an iota ἀπὸ τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν, ἵνα μὴ from their heart, that they may
nor a tittle…” can be changed or omitted because then the Πιστεύσαντες Σωθῶσιν. not Believe and be Saved.
Perfection of the Divine Truth becomes distorted and
erroneous – deceptive and untrue! “Οἱ δὲ ἐπὶ τῆς πέτρας οἳ ὅταν “Those on the rock are those who,
Unfortunately, due to incorrect translations, and ἀκούσωσι, μετὰ Χαρᾶς δέχονται when they hear the Word, receive
misinterpretations, many versions of Holy Scripture and τὸν Λόγον, καὶ οὗτοι ῥίζαν οὐκ it with Joy, and these have no
Sacred Writings have indeed distorted the Divine Truth
that has been so meticulously preserved and passed
ἔχουσιν, οἳ πρὸς καιρὸν root, for they believe for a while
down through the ages according to the original texts. πιστεύουσι καὶ ἐν καιρῷ and in times of temptation fall
• St Paul urged St Titos to “… constantly confirm …” the Divine πειρασμοῦ ἀφίστανται. away.
Truth and Teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ because unless “Τὸ δὲ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας πεσόν, “Those that fell among the thorns,
our Bishops and Priests fully comprehend and thereby Live as
good role models while teaching the Divine Truth of the New
οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἀκούσαντες, καὶ they are those who hear, and as
Covenant, the Holy Flock of Christ shall certainly not be able to ὑπὸ μεριμνῶν καὶ πλούτου καὶ they go on their way, they are
“… maintain Good Works…” for the Glory, Honour and Worship ἡδονῶν τοῦ βίου πορευόμενοι choked by the cares and riches
of God, and, as a result, also fail to acquire Eternal Salvation. συμπνίγονται καὶ οὐ and pleasures of life, and their
• We all need to know and correctly understand the Divine τελεσφοροῦσι. Fruit is not Perfected.
Teachings of Christ in order to think, speak and do everything
that our Lord Jesus has taught us to do in order to regain our
“Τὸ δὲ ἐν τῇ Καλῇ Γῇ, οὗτοί εἰσιν “Those in the Good Earth, are those
Divine Likeness to Him, as He created us to become. οἵτινες ἐν καρδίᾳ καλῇ καὶ ἀγαθῇ who, hearing the Word, hold it
• Orthodox Christianity teaches us to be ever Watchful over our
ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον κατέχουσι fast in an honest and good heart,
own flaws and errors so that every time we fall into a state of καὶ καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν and bring forth Fruit with
Spiritual Death, we can immediately Repent our sins and Ὑπομονῇ.” Patience.”
return to Spiritual Life in Christ. Thereby we “…maintain Good Ταῦτα λέγων ἐφώνει : “Ὁ ἔχων When He had said these things, He
Works…” for the Glory, Honour and Worship of God, which
brings us a few more steps closer to Spiritual Perfection. ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω.” cried out: “He who has ears to
Our Lord Jesus Christ has provided us with everything
• hear, let him hear.”
essential for our Spiritual Welfare and Perfection for indeed
“… these things are Good and Profitable …” for all of us.  “…our Lord spoke this Parable …”
 “…Avoid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over • Our Lord Jesus Christ often used Parables to convey the
the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who significance of His Divine Truth – His Teachings and
is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing Commandments.
more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted
• Parables were ancient literary devices, which the great multitudes
and sinful – self-condemned.”
did not always understand fully – certainly not the deeper
• Everyone has an opinion or idea about certain matters, so instead meanings.
of wasting time on heated debates that are Spiritually “
• The word is derived from the Greek word ‘Παραβολὴν’ [‘Paravolin’]
…unprofitable and futile…” we must focus our attention and
our efforts on everything that our Lord Jesus Christ taught us, meaning a metaphor or simile that makes a comparison drawn
for these are definitely Spiritually Profitable and Beneficial. from everyday life.

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 Enables us to fulfil our Sacred Duties to our Lord God and to • When we Struggle against temptations and grievous passions, it
one another, with Agape/Divine Love. takes concerted effort and determination to be constantly
Only by the Divine Grace of God the Holy Spirit are we able to Watchful and Repentant.
accomplish the Will of God our Heavenly Father, through
the Teachings and Truth of God the Eternal Word and Son, • Such “… controversies, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels…” are
our Lord Jesus Christ. insignificant and unnecessary to us who are Struggling and
Only by Divine Grace can we acquire the Holy Virtues whereby Striving Disciples of Christ. They can cause negative reactions
we are Spiritually Perfected in the Divine Likeness of our and disharmony, so we must always avoid them.
Divine Saviour, Jesus Christ. • The more we Strive to acquire the Holy Virtues, the less worldly
• “… Amen…” means ‘So be it,’ ‘Truly,’ ‘Verily,’ ‘Indeed,’ which matters and opinions shall concern us.
emphasises and confirms what has been stated. • By Living in Christ, we become completely focussed on
maintaining a Spiritual Life that is filled with Joy, Peace and
Love.
The Holy Gospel According to St Luke 8 : 5 - 15 • Those who are “…factious…” are divisive people who pick and
choose from the Divine Truth.
Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τὴν Παραβολὴν Our Lord spoke this Parable: • They need to accept being corrected, Enlightened and Guided
ταύτην· before they fall into heresy and blasphemy that alienates them
from God and our Brethren in Christ.
Ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρων τοῦ σπεῖραι “A Sower went out to sow His Seed.
• But if they refuse to accept correction with Humility and
τὸν Σπόρον Αὐτοῦ. Obedience to the Divine Will of our Heavenly Father and the
Καὶ ἐν τῷ σπείρειν αὐτὸν ὃ μὲν And as He sowed, some fell along Teachings of our Orthodox Faith, they shall be regarded as
being “… perverted, sinful and self-condemned…” and shall be
ἔπεσε παρὰ τὴν Ὁδόν, καὶ the Path, and was trodden under left to drift away along their own egocentric path.
κατεπατήθη, καὶ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ foot, and the birds of the air
• Excommunication is extremely serious and is applied as a ‘last
οὐρανοῦ κατέφαγεν αὐτό· devoured it. resort’ by the Bishop to the stubbornly unrepentant, in the
Καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν, And some fell on the rock, and, as it Hope that they shall soon realise the error of their ways and
καὶ φυὲν ἐξηράνθη διὰ τὸ μὴ quickly Repent and be Restored to the Faithful Flock of Christ.
grew, it withered away, for it had
ἔχειν ἰκμάδα· no moisture. • There can be no compromise with Orthodox Teachings, for Christ
Himself has provided us with His Absolute Divine Truth that
Καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν And some fell among thorns, and leads us – as long as we are Humble and Obedient – to Eternal
ἀκανθῶν, καὶ συμφυεῖσαι αἱ the thorns grew with it and Life in His Heavenly Kingdom of Love.
ἄκανθαι ἀπέπνιξαν αὐτό. choked it. Furthermore, only God knows exactly what is vital and
necessary for us to become Spiritually Perfected in the
Καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν εἰς τὴν Γῆν τὴν And some fell into Good Soil and it Likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ἀγαθήν, καὶ φυὲν ἐποίησε grew, and yielded Fruit a • Without sincere Humility and Obedience to God and to those who
καρπὸν ἑκατονταπλασίονα.” hundredfold.” Teach and Guide us in our Orthodox Faith, we shall fail to
Ἐπηρώτων δὲ Αὐτὸν οἱ Μαθηταὶ When His Disciples asked Him reach our Ultimate Goal and acquire Spiritual Perfection.
Αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· “Τίς εἴη ἡ • The Orthodox Christian Life in Christ need not be ‘difficult’ to
“What is the meaning of this
παραβολή αὕτη?” follow if we freely choose and commit ourselves to be Humble
Parable?” and Obedient to the Will of God our Heavenly Father, and Strive
Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· “Ὑμῖν δέδοται γνῶναι He said: “To you it has been given to apply the Teachings of Christ to our thoughts, words and
τὰ Μυστήρια τῆς Βασιλείας τοῦ to know the secrets of the
deeds.
Θεοῦ, τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς ἐν Kingdom of God. But for others • Sects consist of those who follow their own choices or who
παραβολαῖς, ἵνα βλέποντες μὴ they are in Parables, so that
slavishly follow the self-serving demands of their leaders, being
βλέπωσι καὶ ἀκούοντες μὴ utterly alienated and independent of our Sacred, Holy Tradition
seeing, they may not see, and instituted by God.
συνιῶσιν. hearing, they may not

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16. 4TH SUNDAY OF ST LUKE – THE SOWER & THE SEED – 15 OCTOBER 2023
 • Consequently, incomplete or erroneous beliefs, selfish and He was a well-educated Judean of Alexandria, Egypt, and Laboured
egocentric lifestyles result in immoral behaviour and Spiritual together with St Paul on his various Missionary Journeys,
Death. particularly in Corinth.
He had studied the Holy Scriptures of the Old Covenant and had
• By following our own ideas, we are self-condemned and thus shall been initially influenced by the Teachings of St John the Baptist
never be able to have a good Relationship with God and one and Forerunner to Christ.
another. [Refer to previous notes regarding self-condemnation.] St Apollos met St Paul in Ephesus, where St Aquila and St Priscilla
 “…When I send Artemas or Tychikos to you, do your best to come correctly instructed him concerning the New Covenant
to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the Winter there. Teachings of Christ. [Acts 18:24-28 & 19:1-7]
Do your best to speed Zenas the Lawyer and Apollos on their He served the Holy Flock in Corinth as mentioned by St Paul in his
way lacking nothing…” Epistle. [1 Corinthians 3:6 & 4:6]
• These are the Paternal Instructions of St Paul to his faithful St Apollos also accompanied and Faithfully assisted St Paul during
Disciples on the island of Crete, which he sent via his trusted his Missionary Journeys. [1 Corinthians 16:12]
couriers, who were either St Artemas or St Tychikos. St Apollos went to the Island of Crete with St Zenas and later
returned to Corinth when he was elected as Bishop.
• St Artemas was one of the 70 Apostles of Christ who lived in
Lystra and had often assisted St Paul during his Missionary • Since the earliest days of the Church of Christ, it has been the
Journeys. He was eventually ordained as Bishop of Lystra. Sacred Duty of every Disciple of Christ to ensure that those
who Labour in God’s earthly Vineyard are well provided and
• Lystra was a city situated in central Anatolia. [Turkey] It was assisted by every means possible, for thereby we all Benefit.
approximately a day’s journey or 20 miles/32.18kilometres
from Iconium. It was a military staging post linking Pisidian • We should provide the Holy Church of Christ with the necessities
Antioch with Iconium and Derbe. Since 6 BC Lystra was a and requirements even before we are asked to do so. As soon
Roman colony with a diverse population of Roman soldiers, as we see something we can do for the Priest or the Parish, we
Greek, Judeans and Lycaonians. must “… do our best…” to ensure that they are “… lacking
nothing…” that would impede the Spiritual Welfare of God’s
• St Tychikos was one of the Seventy Apostles of Christ who became Holy Flock and the maintenance and needs of His Holy Church.
a Disciple of St Paul whom he had accompanied on many of his
Missionary Journeys.
 “…Let our people learn to apply themselves to Good Works, so as to
help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.”
During St Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome he delivered St Paul’s
Epistles to the Ephesian and Colossian Christian Communities. • Every Faithful Disciple of Christ must “… apply themselves to
He eventually replaced St Sosthenes as Bishop of Caesarea, where Good Works… help cases of urgent need and not be
he Faithfully served until he Reposed peacefully in Christ. unfruitful…” since these are all essential requirements our
Lord God expects us to fulfil.
• Nikopolis was situation on a peninsula in Epirus, along the west
coast of Greece. {There was another Nicopolis in Macedonia.] • Faith alone accomplishes nothing Spiritually Beneficial for
It was founded after the victorious naval battle of Gaius Julius ourselves, for one another or our Eternal Salvation unless we
Caesar Octavianus/Augustus at Actium in 31 BC. The city was apply Christ’s Commandments and Teachings to our thoughts,
founded in in order to establish dominion of the Roman words and deeds!
Empire over Greece.  “…Greetings to you from all who are with me. Greet those who
• St Zenas ‘the Lawyer,’ [also known as St Zenon] was one of the 70 Love us in the Faith. Grace be with you all. Amen…”
Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, who became a Disciple and • St Paul ended his Epistle with Paternal Greetings from himself as
Companion of St Paul with whom he Faithfully Laboured well as Brotherly Greetings from “… all who are with me…”
during his various Missionary Journeys. meaning those who accompanied him on his Missionary
St Zenas was referred to as ‘Lawyer,’ because he was well educated Journey as well as the Christian Brethren of Nicopolis or
and dealt with Church matters concerning both the Old and wherever he was at that time.
New Covenants. He was eventually elected as Bishop of
• “… those who Love us in the Faith…” refers to our Spiritual
Diospolis/Lydda in Palestine,
Brethren – Spiritual Brothers and Sisters - in Christ who share
• St Apollos was one of the 70 Apostles of Christ who became a the same Struggles and Strivings as us.
Disciple and companion of St Paul.
• “… Grace be with you all…” is the Apostolic Blessing whereby the
Divine Grace of God is bestowed upon us, which Empowers and

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