WEBVTT 00:00:07.359 --> 00:00:13.160 Today we're here to celebrate the great and beloved 00:00:13.160 --> 00:00:21.839 St. Seraphim, my patron saint. And if you'll 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:25.800 permit me, just indulge me a moment to reflect 00:00:25.800 --> 00:00:30.820 on this. celebration this particular year is 00:00:30.820 --> 00:00:37.479 30 years ago I was being brought into the Orthodox 00:00:37.479 --> 00:00:41.420 Church at St. Athanasius in Santa Barbara and 00:00:41.420 --> 00:00:44.420 Father Nicholas Spire said, well, you need to 00:00:44.420 --> 00:00:50.399 pick a patron saint before you're baptized. And 00:00:50.399 --> 00:00:52.219 I said, well, I don't know how to pick a patron 00:00:52.219 --> 00:00:55.880 saint, Father. And he said, well, read this book. 00:00:56.079 --> 00:00:59.520 And he gave me the book of the life of St. Seraphim 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:04.200 of Sarov by Valentin Zander. Remember the red 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:10.400 cover? And I was studying to become a teacher, 00:01:10.540 --> 00:01:12.739 which I eventually became an elementary school 00:01:12.739 --> 00:01:20.159 teacher. And the part in the life of St. Seraphim 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:25.640 in that book describes, it's a recollection by 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:30.379 by a man who recalls the time that as a group 00:01:30.379 --> 00:01:35.500 of children, they were off in the forest sent 00:01:35.500 --> 00:01:41.239 by their parents to go find the hermit Seraphim 00:01:41.239 --> 00:01:47.260 off near his Cali. And St. Seraphim had been 00:01:47.260 --> 00:01:50.799 troubled by so many hundreds and hundreds of 00:01:50.799 --> 00:01:54.609 people all the time coming to see him. that if 00:01:54.609 --> 00:01:58.930 he heard people coming, he took to hiding. And 00:01:58.930 --> 00:02:02.989 so people figured that out. And then they figured 00:02:02.989 --> 00:02:07.469 out he couldn't resist children. He loved children 00:02:07.469 --> 00:02:11.150 so much that the adults figured out a way to 00:02:11.150 --> 00:02:15.229 get a hold of St. Seraphim. And by using bait 00:02:15.229 --> 00:02:19.550 for the hook, they sent their children on ahead. 00:02:20.650 --> 00:02:23.629 So this man tells the story of going deep into 00:02:23.629 --> 00:02:26.430 the forest with a group of children. And they 00:02:26.430 --> 00:02:30.270 were getting scared because the adults were way 00:02:30.270 --> 00:02:35.729 back. And they were getting closer to his caliva. 00:02:35.729 --> 00:02:38.050 They didn't know where he was. And then this 00:02:38.050 --> 00:02:41.150 man tells about the moment when he hears something 00:02:41.150 --> 00:02:45.310 rustling in the bushes. And then he said, what 00:02:45.310 --> 00:02:48.430 is that? And then he looks inside and he sees 00:02:48.430 --> 00:02:54.370 this beautiful, as your blue set of eyes looking 00:02:54.370 --> 00:02:57.650 at him. And he goes, and he hears this, shh, 00:02:57.650 --> 00:03:01.409 shh, come over here, like this. And then the 00:03:01.409 --> 00:03:03.990 kids realize it's St. Seraphim in the bushes, 00:03:04.050 --> 00:03:07.909 not wanting the adults to see him. And then he 00:03:07.909 --> 00:03:12.150 said, my fear melted away. And I had, my heart 00:03:12.150 --> 00:03:15.789 was electrified with joy, this man said. And 00:03:15.789 --> 00:03:19.090 we went over to the bushes and he quietly, God 00:03:19.090 --> 00:03:21.000 bless you, my joy. Christ has risen, my joy. 00:03:21.060 --> 00:03:23.639 God bless you, my joy. And he kisses and hugs 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:25.580 them and says, now remember, don't tell your 00:03:25.580 --> 00:03:27.639 parents where I am. And then he sent them back. 00:03:28.900 --> 00:03:31.300 And it was that moment that I realized that this 00:03:31.300 --> 00:03:36.620 is going to be my patron saint. Because reflecting 00:03:36.620 --> 00:03:41.719 now for 30 years on his life and this beautiful 00:03:41.719 --> 00:03:46.479 parish dedicated to him, that moment encapsulates, 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:53.770 for me, and perhaps maybe for you too, so much 00:03:53.770 --> 00:04:00.370 about innocence in this world. Because it was 00:04:00.370 --> 00:04:02.569 a group of innocent children that were off in 00:04:02.569 --> 00:04:07.229 the dark woods, scared, and it was the innocence 00:04:07.229 --> 00:04:13.930 of St. Seraphim that drew people deep into the 00:04:13.930 --> 00:04:18.540 woods where they were afraid. And it was in the 00:04:18.540 --> 00:04:22.160 depths of that fearful place, a scary place, 00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:26.839 a lonely place, that they discovered the triumph 00:04:26.839 --> 00:04:34.399 over fear. And that triumph over fear was overcome 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:41.120 through innocence. And I think in a time when 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:46.519 there's so much anxiety, so much fear, People 00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:49.220 can't stand other people because who they vote 00:04:49.220 --> 00:04:54.560 for or all these things and the sense of a war 00:04:54.560 --> 00:05:00.519 happening. We crumple with fear and we crumple 00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:05.899 with anxiety like that young boy off in the woods 00:05:05.899 --> 00:05:11.120 of Saurav. And it presents, I think, the question 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:18.459 of what's going to win? Like, can innocence actually 00:05:18.459 --> 00:05:24.120 prevail? Because it's a risk to be innocent. 00:05:25.959 --> 00:05:30.199 Because in a world that's mad and angry and fearful 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:34.699 and anxious, I mean, you almost feel like you 00:05:34.699 --> 00:05:39.480 have to put up your defenses and draw your sword 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:43.180 and enter the fray. Because if you don't, there's 00:05:43.180 --> 00:05:48.490 a lot of pointy blades everywhere. And if you 00:05:48.490 --> 00:05:53.449 are vulnerable, if you're innocent like a child, 00:05:53.689 --> 00:06:00.290 then you're going to get stabbed. So the great 00:06:00.290 --> 00:06:06.209 risk of innocence in a mad and angry and ferocious 00:06:06.209 --> 00:06:10.829 world, I think is answered by our saint today. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:16.540 we can follow Jesus Christ and have our heart 00:06:16.540 --> 00:06:24.420 be soft and supple and kind and innocent in a 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:28.980 world that's just not innocent. Everywhere around 00:06:28.980 --> 00:06:35.819 us there's so much sin and so much decrepit lives 00:06:35.819 --> 00:06:39.839 that are riddled with sin and anger and anxiety. 00:06:41.339 --> 00:06:46.110 So are we going to Take the risk and acquire 00:06:46.110 --> 00:06:49.189 that spirit of innocence and peace that St. Seraphim 00:06:49.189 --> 00:06:52.550 always used to speak about. Because it's rolling 00:06:52.550 --> 00:06:57.689 the dice. I mean, I think it's rolling the dice. 00:06:59.709 --> 00:07:01.970 Because there's a lot of beasts in the forest. 00:07:02.790 --> 00:07:07.209 There's darkness. And like, shouldn't I try and 00:07:07.209 --> 00:07:09.689 be a good person but also protect myself or stand 00:07:09.689 --> 00:07:12.930 up for what's right or whatever? If I'm innocent, 00:07:13.129 --> 00:07:15.149 I'm too vulnerable, and then I'll get steamrolled. 00:07:15.750 --> 00:07:19.370 The beast will come out. So I want to read a 00:07:19.370 --> 00:07:24.370 couple of paragraphs about that same forest. 00:07:24.410 --> 00:07:27.769 And this is a recollection of Sister Matrona. 00:07:28.990 --> 00:07:33.230 She was in great pain and perplexity and anxiety. 00:07:33.970 --> 00:07:37.589 And she goes out there into the forest, just 00:07:37.589 --> 00:07:40.949 like those kids did, to go see Elder Seraphim. 00:07:42.350 --> 00:07:44.790 And she writes this, just a few paragraphs here. 00:07:45.649 --> 00:07:48.449 I went to him after lunch and wept all the way. 00:07:48.850 --> 00:07:51.269 It was on the third day after St. Peter's feast. 00:07:51.930 --> 00:07:54.329 Father Seraphim took me by the hand and led me 00:07:54.329 --> 00:07:56.889 into his cell saying, there my joy, I've been 00:07:56.889 --> 00:07:59.709 waiting for you all day. Then he wiped my tears 00:07:59.709 --> 00:08:02.350 with his handkerchief saying, mother, your tears 00:08:02.350 --> 00:08:05.230 do not fall on the ground in vain. And then he 00:08:05.230 --> 00:08:07.410 led me to the image of the heavenly queen of 00:08:07.410 --> 00:08:09.889 tenderness and said, kiss her mother, the heavenly 00:08:09.889 --> 00:08:13.259 queen will comfort you. I kissed the icon, and 00:08:13.259 --> 00:08:16.139 my soul was filled with such joy that I felt 00:08:16.139 --> 00:08:19.100 quite revived. Father Seraphim said, Well, Mother, 00:08:19.300 --> 00:08:21.800 now go to the hostel, and tomorrow come to the 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:25.699 distant hermitage. And I did so. And as I approached 00:08:25.699 --> 00:08:29.100 the hermitage, I suddenly saw that Father Seraphim 00:08:29.100 --> 00:08:32.659 was sitting on a tree trunk near his cell, and 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:36.279 beside him stood, you know who's with him, right? 00:08:37.259 --> 00:08:41.720 Misha the bear, right? And beside him stood a 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:45.120 huge bear. I was paralyzed with fear and shouting 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:47.360 with all my might, Father, this is my death! 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:50.899 Father, this is my death! And I fell down. On 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:53.000 hearing my voice, Father Seraphim hit the bear 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:57.200 and waved his hand at him. And the bear, as though 00:08:57.200 --> 00:08:59.460 he were a rational being, went at once in the 00:08:59.460 --> 00:09:01.559 direction pointed out to him by the elder into 00:09:01.559 --> 00:09:04.419 a thicket. Seeing that I was shaking with fear, 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:06.539 and even when Father Seraphim came up to me with 00:09:06.539 --> 00:09:08.519 the words, Don't be scared, don't be afraid. 00:09:09.080 --> 00:09:11.500 I continued to shout as before, this is my death. 00:09:12.139 --> 00:09:14.779 The elder said in reply, no, mother, this is 00:09:14.779 --> 00:09:17.759 not death. Death is far from you. This is joy. 00:09:19.700 --> 00:09:22.299 And then he led me to the same tree trunk and 00:09:22.299 --> 00:09:25.159 having prayed, made me sit down. And he sat down 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:28.620 himself. And we hardly had time to sit down when 00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:30.720 that same bear came out of the thicket again 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:34.539 and lay down at St. Seraphim's feet. And finding 00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:37.610 myself close to such a terrible beast, I was 00:09:37.610 --> 00:09:39.929 at first trembling with terror, but afterwards, 00:09:39.990 --> 00:09:42.710 seeing that Father Seraphim treated him as a 00:09:42.710 --> 00:09:46.049 gentle lamb without any fear, and even fed him 00:09:46.049 --> 00:09:48.230 with his own hands with bread which he had brought 00:09:48.230 --> 00:09:51.429 in his bag, little by little my confidence revived. 00:09:51.970 --> 00:09:54.389 And then the face of the great elder seemed to 00:09:54.389 --> 00:09:57.529 me especially wonderful. It was as joyful and 00:09:57.529 --> 00:10:00.590 radiant as an angel. And at last, when I had 00:10:00.590 --> 00:10:03.289 grown quite calm and most of the bread had been 00:10:03.289 --> 00:10:06.210 eaten, the elder gave me the remaining bit. and 00:10:06.210 --> 00:10:08.750 made me feed the bear myself. But I replied, 00:10:09.250 --> 00:10:12.210 I am afraid, Father, he will bite off my hand 00:10:12.210 --> 00:10:15.730 too. But at the same time, I felt glad as I thought, 00:10:15.889 --> 00:10:18.850 but if the bear bites off my hand, I won't have 00:10:18.850 --> 00:10:23.389 to cook anymore. Father Seraphim looked at me 00:10:23.389 --> 00:10:25.809 and smiled and said, No, Mother, I believe he 00:10:25.809 --> 00:10:28.509 will not bite off your hand. And so I took the 00:10:28.509 --> 00:10:30.960 bread he gave me. And the feeding gave me such 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:33.360 pleasure that I wished I could feed the bear 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:36.159 longer, for the beast was gentle with me, even 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:39.740 with me, a sinner. And seeing me quiet, Father 00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:41.840 Seraphim said to me, Do you remember, my mother, 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:46.019 how a lion served Gerasimos in the Jordan? As 00:10:46.019 --> 00:10:48.779 for poor Seraphim, a bear serves him, and you 00:10:48.779 --> 00:10:52.700 see, even the beasts obey us. And you, mother, 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:55.399 you feel despondent, but don't feel despondent. 00:10:56.490 --> 00:10:59.690 I beg you in the name of God, Mother, never in 00:10:59.690 --> 00:11:03.230 a no account lose hope, but always imitate the 00:11:03.230 --> 00:11:09.309 humility of the saints. So, I think that's just 00:11:09.309 --> 00:11:13.690 a picture of life. The boys running into the 00:11:13.690 --> 00:11:16.429 forest, afraid, what's going to get them? There 00:11:16.429 --> 00:11:21.610 are bears there. Sister Matrona, fearful, this 00:11:21.610 --> 00:11:25.929 is my death, this is my death. And yet, The beast 00:11:25.929 --> 00:11:29.289 that could have torn them both apart was meek 00:11:29.289 --> 00:11:34.929 as a lamb because Misha the bear responded to 00:11:34.929 --> 00:11:41.450 not Father Seraphim's violence, not his overpowering 00:11:41.450 --> 00:11:46.610 of the bear, but the bear responded to his innocence, 00:11:46.870 --> 00:11:51.610 that he was able to face all the dangers of the 00:11:51.610 --> 00:11:57.129 wilderness and tame them. Because of his innocence 00:11:57.129 --> 00:12:01.450 and the peace in his heart. Not of the warfare 00:12:01.450 --> 00:12:04.470 and weaponry in his hands that he tamed the beast, 00:12:04.649 --> 00:12:10.110 but through his innocence. And I hope that maybe 00:12:10.110 --> 00:12:14.950 you'll reflect on that too as you're facing anxieties 00:12:14.950 --> 00:12:19.210 and difficulties and conflicts and a society 00:12:19.210 --> 00:12:25.049 rubbed down to the bone. And know that not only 00:12:25.049 --> 00:12:27.169 our own lives that are filled with different 00:12:27.169 --> 00:12:29.889 anxieties, but the lives of the people all around 00:12:29.889 --> 00:12:35.850 here. What do they really need most? They need 00:12:35.850 --> 00:12:41.370 to encounter, I think, innocence. To go to confession, 00:12:41.629 --> 00:12:45.110 to repent of our sins, to love Jesus Christ and 00:12:45.110 --> 00:12:47.549 his most pure mother, and honor his saints like 00:12:47.549 --> 00:12:50.690 Saint Seraphim, and to acquire a spirit of peace, 00:12:50.950 --> 00:12:55.090 at least a little bit. So that everywhere we 00:12:55.090 --> 00:12:58.830 go, we're not bringing conflict or anxiety. We 00:12:58.830 --> 00:13:01.669 don't have to have any defenses. We can be a 00:13:01.669 --> 00:13:05.289 defenseless people that have nothing to protect 00:13:05.289 --> 00:13:08.889 ourselves and nothing to hide. And the only thing 00:13:08.889 --> 00:13:13.450 that comes out of us is innocence. And that innocence 00:13:13.450 --> 00:13:17.049 will tame every beast, not just bears in the 00:13:17.049 --> 00:13:21.269 forest of Saurav, but the worst beasts in men 00:13:21.269 --> 00:13:24.950 and... in the spiritual world, because the innocence 00:13:24.950 --> 00:13:27.990 comes from Christ, who gives us the peace which 00:13:27.990 --> 00:13:30.570 passes all understanding, and the peace which 00:13:30.570 --> 00:13:33.750 our saint today tells us, if we acquire it, not 00:13:33.750 --> 00:13:36.110 only will we be saved, but thousands around us 00:13:36.110 --> 00:13:38.950 will be saved. Through the prayers of our Father 00:13:38.950 --> 00:13:40.690 among the saints, seraphim of sorrow, of the 00:13:40.690 --> 00:13:42.549 holy wonder worker, Lord Jesus Christ, our God 00:13:42.549 --> 00:13:42.870 of mercy.