Saturday of the First Week of Lent

The Gospel according to St. Matthew (5:38-48)

    “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not let even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.“

    You heard that it was told in the old ancient time. As for me, I tell you.. The word old or ancients may mean time and history. It may also be concerned with the old nature and the new creation. So Christ distinguishes us from the ancients because He gave us the novelty of life, that is, the new life.

    This was said to the ancients because they have a fallen ancient nature. If He has given us a new nature, then therefore the commandment is new. So there is a new way of life and understanding the words of Jesus. To live in the new is a requirement of the new commandment.

    The commandment is the same commandment, and The One who put the commandment is the same One. Christ did not say: God said to the ancients, BUT I say to you. God forbid, for He is The One who said to the ancients, to the messengers, to us, and to those who come after us to the ages, He is the eternal Logos, and He is the speaker and His word will remain forever. The commandment of Christ is precious, and must be submitted to. His commandment is eternal life.

    The fault in the old is the mistakes of people. The fault of the weak fallen nature, so you love your relative and hate your enemy. They physically understood it because of the weakness of nature. When Christ freed us from the death of sin and gave us a new life, He said, “Love your enemies.” The love of the beloved and the neighbor is a natural thing that suits nature, but the love of the enemy is a new thing that only those of a new nature, created in Christ, can understand .

    The new commandments are very proportional to the new man, and when he lives them, he is blessed with an amazing joy and a superior victory, as he will be able to prevail over the self, the body, the world and everything in it.

    The commandments are only heavy on the body and the ones living carnally. But ask John the beloved, for he says: “His commandments are not heavy” (1 John 5:3), also listen to the words of the Lord himself: “”For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30). What was said to the ancients, no one could carry or do. As for what the Lord Jesus said, His grace works in us. We do not live any longer in the old, but in the novelty of life.

    The spirit of the commandment is one and its essence is the same. And we only have to hear and obey which will lead us to victory and rejoicing.

    The purpose of the will is perfection. “Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Without the holy commandment, I can not reach the purpose of God for my life. So it is not as optional as some think, the commandment is the method and the plan of the Lord to inscribe for my life, for the glory of His name and as a testimony to His grace.

    Giving the other cheek and giving without account and self-denial, this is the method. This approach has become the comfort of the saints. They rested when they carried the yoke of Christ. They did not avenge themselves or become like other people who love their loved ones and hate their enemies. Rather, they became the commandment of Christ, above the level of resistance to evil, they overcame themselves before they conquered the world.

    The commandment is a divine weapon, the Lord gave it in the hands of His loved ones, by which they can conquer the evil present in the world.

    Christian perfection is a goal that I must pursue with all my strength and all my power. This is in living by the Spirit and holding steadfast to the commandments of Jesus.

Fr. Louka Sidarous

(7/22)