Glory to Jesus Christ. This past Thursday, we
celebrated the feast of St. Vladimir, the Prince
of Kiev, equal to the Apostles. And under his
direction, all of Russia changed from one worldview,
paganism, to a different worldview. Orthodox
Christianity. This was a major change, a joyous
change for the Russian people, and it impacted
their lives greatly for how we view the world
impacts how we live and what we do in our daily
lives. Each of us needs to ask this question
of ourselves. What is my worldview. Is it an
orthodox worldview, or is it something different?
This Sunday, we also honor the fathers of the
first six ecumenical councils. Why? Why would
we honor them? Because these six councils, guided
by the Holy Spirit, helped the church to maintain
What is that Orthodox Christian worldview? They
did not change it at these councils. They preserved
it from certain heresies of their day, as every
time has its own heresy. For where does the Orthodox
Christian worldview originate? Well, it comes
from God. It comes from Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
the creator of all things, and it is the ultimate
source of truth. It comes from God, and it is
given to us. It is revealed to us. It reveals
to us the nature of our humanity and the purpose
of our creation. The fathers of the first six
ecumenical councils saw the heretical teachings
of their day. and exposed their falsehoods and
maintained that truth which has been given to
us from the beginning of the church and from
before that. Today, the culture around us and
the prevailing worldview of this age has grown
farther and farther away from the teachings of
the church. and of our Orthodox worldview. In
fact, in some ways, the modern American worldview
directly clashes and contradicts the teachings
of the Church and the Orthodox Christian worldview.
It is no wonder that many of us have felt this
tension of how our Christian faith is pulling
us to think and believe and act in one way, and
the world is pulling us to think and act in a
different way. This is no small matter. The choices
that we make significantly impact our own lives
and the lives of those around us, those that
we love. Faith must direct those choices. Faith
in God, faith in the church, faith in the ecumenical
councils, faith in God's love, his grace, his
mercy, his forgiveness, his call to us to salvation,
faith in God's plan for our sanctification and
his plan for us in eternity, the redemption of
our souls. Well, today's gospel reading shows
us clearly where such faith leads. The Roman
centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant, and
Jesus said he would go to him and heal him. But
the centurion answered, Lord, I am not worthy
that you should come under my roof, but only
speak a word and my servant will be healed. And
so it happened. And Jesus said of this, Assuredly,
I say to you, I have not found such great faith,
not even in Israel. May we have that same strong
faith given to us through the church. What God
has revealed to us as true through the ages,
may we have that faith in that as well. Many
of us stumble. and sometimes we fall because
of our own pride, and we think we know better
than God knows. We think we can make a better
choice based on what people in the world around
us are saying than what God has given us as commandments.
And then we are surprised when things don't work
out correctly. Perhaps they don't work out correctly
because we had the wrong worldview. Even in this
failure, though, even when we fail to walk in
God's truth and love and forgiveness, his mercy
and his grace are there. All he needs and wants
of us is to come humbly before him and repent
of the thoughts. The words and the deeds that
we have committed are of our lack of faith and
to begin walking in faith. We need to repent.
We need to return to the Lord in humility and
commit ourselves to love Christ by keeping his
commandments. Saint Tikhon of Zedonk says this,
cleanses the heart of the believer from everything
that pertains to the world, that is, from attachment
to honor, glory, wealth, and pleasure, and from
every sinful habit. Won't you choose to walk
in faith? Won't you choose to live the Orthodox
worldview? in your life to make choices based
on the truths given us from God. This is a solid
foundation established through the ages, given
to us. Or, you have another choice, the ever
-changing wave and whirlpool of worldly ways
which are ever, ever different and changing depending
on what age you live in. Trust in the Lord with
all of your heart. Lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will
direct your paths. May the Lord bless you as
you walk in faith. Glory to Jesus Christ.