2025-01-21 THE CURE - Surrender our Lives to Christ
by Fr Ted ToppsesIf there was a cure for us from all the ills, evil, and troubles of this fallen world, it can be summed up as our surrender to Jesus Christ who is the Truth, The Life, The Way, The Path, Our Everything!
The thing is we by ourselves can not change the world from fallen to unfallen, sin is still here and so is earthly death. However, we can give our lives to Christ and He will change us and affect everyone and everything around us!
In Christ’s Heavenly Prayer to the Father, He says “ I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil one.” John 17:14-15 RSV
Giving our lives to Christ is the ultimate cure for everything, not in an earthly way but in the true heavenly way, which is the ultimate reality of today and our very real salvation.
Having an earthly perspective makes us think the solution is earthly but having the true perspective of our lives is the heavenly and rev. We are in the world but not of the world for we are Christ’s.
Christ changes everything.
St. Seraphim of Sarov is quoted as saying:
*"The true aim of our Christian life consists in the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God. Everything done out of love for Christ brings us this grace of the Holy Spirit, but the most effective means is love for our neighbor."*
This is from : *A Conversation of St. Seraphim of Sarov with Nicholas Motovilov: On the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit*, St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood Press, 1996, pp. 9–12.
By surrendering our lives to Christ and following Him and His direction, we begin an actual communion with God. The Holy Spirit acts in our lives and empowers the Godly things we do.
How we treat our neighbor who is a friend or an enemy is how we treat Christ.
St. Basil the Great says:
"A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. Let us give ourselves to Christ by loving our neighbor."
Reference: St. Basil the Great, *Homilies on the Psalms*, Homily on Psalm 33, translated by C. Paul Schroeder, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2003, p. 124.
Too many times when we do have faith we may think we are entitled to righteous indignation where we treat non-believers harshly however we are NEVER entitled to this. We must not judge people even though we flee from their sinful actions. We must love our enemies as Christ commanded and this is expressed in our words and actions. Dealing with disagreement with patience and kindness and in a prayerful way.
"You cannot be too gentle, too kind. Shun even to appear harsh in your treatment of each other. Joy, radiant joy, streams from the face of him who gives and kindles joy in the heart of him who receives." - St. Theophan the Recluse
This is from: St. Theophan the Recluse, *The Path to Salvation: A Manual of Spiritual Transformation*, Holy Trinity Monastery, 2006, pp. 155–157.
Christ when describing the final judgment explains “And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” Matthew 25:40 RSV
"Do you wish to honor the Body of Christ? Do not ignore Him when He is naked. Do not pay Him homage in the temple clad in silk, only to neglect Him outside where He is cold and ill-clad. He who said: 'This is my body' is the same who said: 'You saw me hungry, and you gave me no food.'" - St. John Chrysostom
This is from: St. John Chrysostom, *Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew*, Homily 50, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series I, Volume 10, Eerdmans Publishing, 1994, p. 314.
So how do we put this into action? One of the most crucial ways to do this is by controlling and enhancing something we do all the time, that is our thinking.
"Our life depends on the kind of thoughts we nurture. If our thoughts are peaceful, calm, meek, and kind, then that is what our life is like. If we surrender ourselves to God and let His will be done, we will always be at peace." - Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
This is from: Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, *Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica*, St. Herman Press, 2009, pp. 59–61.
You might say, “Well easier said than done” but the truth in acquiring any life skill is that we must take small steps to accomplish it. Running a marathon having never trained is foolish and will most likely result in a tragedy to our health. Learning Piano comes step by step with practice. These revelations must give a call to action, not a huge on, but a small one that is simple which will lead to more small steps. Pray talk to God be at peace for 60 seconds today and for the rest of the week, next week maybe 120 seconds. When a bad thought comes don’t empower it by focusing on it, diffuse it by letting it go its way and focusing on Christ and then reinforce a good thought and action.
Surrender to Christ is a release of self-focus and a truly dominant focus on Christ. This may seem strange to some, but how can I change if I don't focus on myself? Our real change comes through Christ and Christ will help us change step by step when we surrender to Him.
"The more we love Christ, the less we will love ourselves. When Christ enters our heart, our self-centeredness disappears, and we live for others, which is the greatest freedom."
- St. Paisios of Mount Athos
This is from: St. Paisios of Mount Athos, *Spiritual Counsels, Volume 2: Spiritual Awakening*, Holy Monastery of Evangelist John the Theologian, Souroti, 2008, p. 104.
When we surrender to Christ we are not only changed, but nothing evil or worldly can spiritually harm us. Our bodies could be harmed, our egos bruised but we in our true selves can not be and when we realized this we gain incredible peace even in the largest of storms.
When St. Ignatius of Antioch in the year 108 was to be martyred he said:
"I am God’s wheat, and I shall be ground by the teeth of beasts, so that I may become the pure bread of Christ." - St. Ignatius of Antioch
This is from: St. Ignatius of Antioch, *Epistle to the Romans*, Chapter 4, in *The Apostolic Fathers: Volume 1*, translated by Bart D. Ehrman, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 2003, p. 271.
Even death has lost its ability to harm us when we surrender to Christ!
St. Silouan the Athonite says
"The soul that has given itself over to the will of God fears nothing... Whatever happens, it says, 'It is from God.' If it is sickness, I will endure it; if it is reproach, I will accept it; if it is persecution, I will bear it."
This is from: St. Silouan the Athonite, *Wisdom from Mount Athos: The Writings of St. Silouan 1866–1938*, translated by Rosemary Edmonds, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1991, p. 41.
When we surrender we become an instrument of Christ. Christ blesses us and works through us, His light and love overflow from us.
St. Ephraim the Syrian says:
"Blessed is the one who has become a good instrument in the hands of God. Let us give ourselves over to Him as tools of His work, so that He may do His work through us."
This is from: St. Ephraim the Syrian, *A Spiritual Psalter*, translated by Isaac Lambertsen, St. John of Kronstadt Press, 1997, Hymn 38, p. 79.
So surrender to Christ my dear family member of Christ, and commit to Him today for tomorrow you will have Him by your side and in your heart. Every day you will take steps towards His wil in everything and you will be fulfilled through Christ and even the devil and death will have no power over you!
"Christ calls us to absolute surrender, to give up our will for His will. Only in surrendering our lives to Him do we find true freedom and divine life." - Elder Sophrony of Essex
Reference: Elder Sophrony of Essex, *His Life is Mine*, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1977, p. 68.
Surender my dearest one, surrender, surrender and Christ will free you from all evil and your life, and all around you will see the true and the way of salvation!
Comments
Post a Comment