A homily preached by Fr. Demetrius Dogias at the close of Great Vespers on the Feast of the Dormition of Saint Anna, 2010

Untitled from Fr. Christopher Flesoras on Vimeo.

“God requires these three things, which were bestowed in Holy Baptism, from every man: correct belief in soul. Truth on his tongue, and moderation in his body.”  This saying of an ancient father of the desert suggests that we are not saved on our own terms, but instead judged by God based on his requirements. This is why the faithful have been encouraged to:

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“My soul thirsts for God, the living God; when can I go meet with God.”  These words of Psalm 42, attributed to the Prophet and King David Psalm, although brief, communicate a longing for God that ought to be the desire and longing of each and every Christian soul. 

Homily, Second Sunday of Matthew from Fr. Christopher Flesoras on Vimeo.

One of the differences between the eloquent philosophy of the Greeks and the faith of Christians is that the Greeks’ philosophy can be clearly expressed in words and understood through reading.  But the Christian faith cannot be fully grasped in this way.  For the learning of the Faith, the example of its teacher, Jesus, is indispensible, and both reading and practice of what is read are necessary.  The truths of Christian faith are better understood by practice. 

Untitled from Fr. Christopher Flesoras on Vimeo.

A young abbot was counseled in this way by a holy man.  Today many people wishing for an excuse not to do what God asks of them find fault with the teaching of the Holy Church and reject correct Christian belief.  Instead, they choose to believe what they wish.  This is akin to a man not wishing to believe that he will die, simply because the notion does not comfort him.  Not only will he fail to prepare for death, as one ought to do, but he will inevitably find himself in the snare of death.  Correct belief is not based on what we wish were true, but on truth itself. 

Saint Anthony, once exclaimed, “Now I no longer fear God, I love him, for love casts out fear.”  “Love” according to Bishop Nikolai of blessed memory, “…is joy, strength, peace and fortitude, and it anoints the human heart with these qualities.  The love of God, like a fragrant oil, is shed up on our hearts in no other way than by the Holy Spirit.”  If we desire to transition from the fear of God to the love of God as did the great ascetic father and this blessed bishop of the Church, we must contemplate as did Saint John of Kronstadt:  “How can we love God with all our heart, with all our soul, and all our strength, and all our thoughts?”  He concludes: