The Holy Spirit. Glory to Jesus Christ. Glory
forever. When we are baptized and chrismated
into Christ's Church, it is only the beginning.
For some cradle Orthodox, it begins right after
birth, this event. For others, converts as myself,
it begins later in life. whenever that is. But
in all cases, it is just the beginning of us
being sanctified, of us being made holy, of us
becoming close to God. And for this process to
happen, it requires our participation. It requires
our desire. It requires us to make choices. To
make choices of things not to do and choices
of things to do. And so today, perhaps this is
a moment where you will decide, I am going to
not do that anymore. Or perhaps it's a day where
you will decide, I'm going to begin doing that
now. And I hope that would happen for you, however
God would work it in your heart. Wherever you
are in your Christian walk this day, may your
life no longer be static as it has been. May
you feel the growth. May a year from now there
be change that has brought you closer to God
because of your participation in walking with
Him. Today's epistle reading read so well by
Deacon Aaron says, What agreement has the temple
of God with idols? For you are the temple of
the living God. As God has said, I will dwell
in them and walk among them. I will be their
God. They shall be my people. Therefore, come
out from among them and be separate, says the
Lord. the area that you need to think about maybe
you're still living in the world somewhere perhaps
there's a part of your life that you haven't
given to god that maybe there's even an idol
still in place that you haven't torn down christ
says that we need to come to him come out from
among them and be separate Do not touch what
is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be
a father to you. You shall be my sons and daughters.
What could be greater than that opportunity?
And so now, therefore, having these promises,
let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God. God will do this. If we just
turn away from the things of the world and say
goodbye to them and not do the things that the
world does. The world is filled with uncleanness,
with idols, with ungodly teachings that lead
many away from God. These are the things not
to do. And in today's world, too often you will
see churches often especially Protestant churches,
which instead of impacting the world with the
gospel, they have their teachings changed by
worldly thinking. May we not go there. It should
not be this way. The teachings of the church
should be transforming the culture and each one
of us in our own lives. Don't listen to the world
and worldly teachings. Listen to God. and what
is in the Holy Scriptures, and what the Holy
Fathers have told us. An idol is anything that
you make more important than God's will. Perhaps
there's something in your life that you've thought
of, just as I've been talking this morning. It's
time to get rid of it, to tear it down, to cast
it away, to let God heal you. and move you forward
in the process of sanctification. Some of you
may be aware that God recently gave me quite
a gift, a journey to Mount Athos. And on that
journey, one part of my pilgrimage was on a hike
from the town of Careus to Ivoron Monastery.
A beautiful hike in and of itself. But halfway
along that journey is a cell, a dwelling of a
man, a very holy man named Elder Gabriel. And
sometimes he's so ill that pilgrims are not able
to visit him. But we were blessed, our group,
to go into his cell, to sit with him, to have
him pray for us. and have him look at each one
of us. I could not speak the language that he
spoke. There was some translation going on. But
when I went up to him, and I looked in his eyes,
and I kissed his hand, no language was needed.
He knew my struggles, and he was praying for
me. I knew. And he gave words for me to bring
to all of you. He gave it to our whole group.
It was translated into English for me. On the
things that we should do, that we need to do
to be sanctified. And so I bring the words of
this Elder Gabriel from Mount Athos to you. He
says we need to do these seven things. One. regular
confession to a spiritual father. Two, regular
attendance at church. Three, Holy Communion after
the blessing of a spiritual father. Four, fasting
on Wednesday and Friday and other days designated
by the church. Five, charity, helping one of
the poor families or doing good deeds, doing
things in kindness with compassion for those
that God brings into your path. And six, to study,
to read the Holy Scriptures. And he said, even
a little, five to ten minutes. but every day
to read the scriptures. And seven, unceasing
prayer, to remember the Jesus prayer, to bring
it with you everywhere. And when you're tempted
to say, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,
or most holy Theotokos, save us, to begin remembering
God throughout your whole day. to start to live
a life with unceasing prayer, to the best of
your ability today. And these seven things are
things that we need to do. Maybe there's one
of these that you have been failing at. Begin
to turn it around this very day. Perhaps you
mean to read the Holy Scriptures, but somehow
you don't. Make a new commitment this day that
you will read the scriptures, even if it is as
little as five to ten minutes, to do it daily.
And take on whatever the Lord has touched your
heart to do. So look at your Christian life today,
where it is, and make sure it's not in the same
place one year from now. Begin to not do the
things of the world. Remove them from your life.
And begin to do the things on Elder Gabriel's
list. And watch as the Lord works in you a work
of sanctification, of making you holy in ways
that will bless you and bless many around you.
The path of sanctification is not an easy journey.
But the blessings gained are eternal. May God
grant us all strength and wisdom to make right
choices that lead us closer to him. Glory to
Jesus Christ.