SUNDAY MESSAGE (audio message)
BY HIS EMINENCE THE METROPOLITAN
KYTHIRA & ANTIKYTHIRA SERAPHIM
SUNDAY A’ LUCAS
(28-09-2025)
WRITTEN DIVINE PROCLAMATION
Infinite, beloved, is the goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore His miracles are infinite. In spite of this, in the Holy Gospels only about forty miracles are attested during the three-year activity of the Lord on earth, without, of course, excluding the performance of others which are not mentioned. Miracles indicating the power over the elements of nature, healings of various diseases, casting out demons and resurrections of the dead are the four categories in which we can classify the ’signs«, »wonders«, »paradoxes« and »works« of Jesus Christ, as his miracles are called in the Holy Gospels.
Miracles have a direct connection with divine teaching; Besides, this is confirmed by today's Gospel passage of the miracle of the miracle of the overgrown fish. «First he teaches the word of truth [...] But since words were unprovable without works, according to the word, the proof by works (the miracle) follows.», The purpose of the miracle is identical with the teaching of the Lord, that is, it seeks: a) to reveal the messiahship and the divine attributes of Jesus Christ, ...one... «the signs (miracles) revealed the hidden Divinity of Christ in the flesh» (Meliton of Sardis, PG 5, 1221), and b) in parallel to embroider the faith of men in his person and to guide him in the knowledge of God; that is why it is noted in the Gospel that «many have believed in His name, believing in His signs as they believe in Him» (John 2, 23) and again «If you see no signs and no wonders, believe not.» (Jn 4, 48).
Certainly, the function and the constitution of the miracle with the revelation of God is as follows. the renovation and salvation of the of the human race and of the whole created reality. In other words, Christ does not work miracles to impress or, by His omnipotence, to compel man to believe in Him, but He works miracles only for the salvation of man. Hence the miracle is not only intended to lead to Faith, but often requires the element of Faith, so that Faith and miracle are interrelated elements with a two-sided relationship. This is what they pray and express the words of Christ in cases of miracles: «Thy faith, O thou thyself, thy faithfulness save thee.» (Mt 9:22), «According to your Faith be it unto you» (Mt 9:29), «O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee as thou wilt» (Mt 15, 28) etc.
Dear ones, in conclusion, let us mention that the Lord works miracles - He reveals Himself to everyone already from the creation of the world until the end. As the sun illuminates everything indiscriminately, so the Lord miraculously reveals Himself to everyone. Depending on the purity of the soul and the spiritual conditions that one creates, i.e. one's receptivity, one recognizes the revealed God in all creation. It is our own matter, therefore, whether or not we will recognize this Divine Revelation, whether we will consent to become a prey of the saving rapture of the Lord, to whom belongs the glory, honor and worship. Amen.
Hierodeacon Ierotheos Creticus Creticus
