SUNDAY MESSAGE (audio message)
BY HIS EMINENCE THE METROPOLITAN
KYTHIRA & ANTIKYTHIRA SERAPHIM
SUNDAY IN THE LOUKA
(26-10-2025)
WRITTEN DIVINE PROCLAMATION
Today's Apostolic reading, a passage from the B to Timothy The letter of the Apostle Paul, which constitutes his swan's breath, is heard in every memory of a great martyr, because it is connected with martyrdom and persecution. That is why it was read today, that is, on the occasion of the commemoration of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrios.
«Thou hast been a good soldier of Jesus Christ.», writes to Timothy, the divine Apostle. All Christians are soldiers of Jesus Christ, the Leader and finisher of our salvation, fighting against his enemies and for his glory. What a great office it is to be a soldier of Christ! But if ill-treatment is the mark of a soldier, the lack of ill-treatment is not the mark of a soldier. Therefore, those who wish to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ, without being condemned and rejected by him, must endure every ill-temper. So that no one should not be displeased if he misbehaves, but should be concerned if he does not misbehave (cf. John Chrysostom, PG 62, 619).
«Thou shalt not be involved in the affairs of life, if the recruiter be pleased», the Apostle continues. The main concern of every soldier is to please his general and king. So the great care of every Christian must be that he should please Christ. But in order to achieve this, he must surrender himself wholly to Christ and be freed from every bond that distracts or hinders him from adherence to him.
Saint Chrysostom, among others mentioned above, observes the following: «Heed Paul's wisdom; he recalled the sport and the soldiers, on the one hand to be ready for slaughter and killing and blood, and on the other to be patient, so as to endure everything with courage and to be always in training.» (PG 62, 620). Even if we do not need to witness with our blood, we are required to strive (persistently and systematically), to strive and to strive for virtue, for the removal of evil and the accomplishment of goodness. (1 Peter 3:11). No one doubts that the path of virtue is difficult and uphill, rough and rough, full of much sweat and toil; besides, the genus of men is unpleasant to virtue and tends towards sensuality. Everyone sees his life torn into two, the life of virtue and the life of vice. And often turning the eyes of his soul to each of them, he compares the advantages of the one with the advantages of the other. And the life of the wicked presents all the pleasures of the present life, while the life of the righteous vaguely presents the good things of the life to come. Nevertheless, virtue is not impossible, but attainable and practicable, according to the preference of each individual. (M. Vasileiou, PG 31, 572- 29, 212- 29, 224- 29, 224- 31, 385).
Dear Ones, with all possible diligence and activity, «let us add to our faith virtue, to virtue the knowledge of the divine will, to this knowledge temperance, to temperance patience, to patience piety, to piety charity, to charity love of Christ and of all» (2 Peter 1:5-8), always remembering that «the beginning of the way of goodness, doing what is right» (Prov. 16,7) and remembering «Jesus Christ raised from the dead», so that we may take strength from his sufferings. Amen.
Hierodeacon Ierotheos Creticus Creticus
