Homily for the Second Sunday after Pentecost. -Met. Korniliy (Titov)
Gospel Reading 9: Matthew 4:18–23
Dear brothers and sisters!
Our Divine Teacher Jesus Christ, who came down from Heaven to teach mankind the wisdom of Heaven, began His preaching in Galilee. His first sermon began with a call to repentance, which can draw us near to the Kingdom of God: “Jesus went into Galilee and from that time began to preach and to say, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
This was the great light of the saving radiance of the Gospel, which, according to the prophet, was to shine upon the people who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, to enlighten them and raise mankind to eternal life instead of the godlessness of paganism.
The first disciples invited to this new teaching and to the apostolic calling were two Galilean fishermen—Simon Peter and Andrew his brother. Then the Lord also called two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were likewise fishermen. They already knew of Jesus Christ, having heard of Him from John the Baptist, visited Him in His house in Nazareth, and spoken with Him about the Kingdom of God. In Christ, they recognized the One of whom they would later say to others: “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote,” so that “ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through His name.”
Christ, walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, saw them as they were casting their nets, and said to them: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And they “straightway left their nets and followed Him” (Matthew 4:19–20). The power of the word of our Lord Jesus Christ was such that it immediately conquered their hearts, and they followed Him without question, not yet knowing exactly for what purpose the Lord was calling them. From that moment they gave themselves wholly to the Lord, dedicating their entire lives to preaching the Kingdom of God and proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. They left all behind—their homes, their parents, their kinfolk—and, renouncing all worldly things, they followed Christ.
Christ, having chosen His helpers, lovingly and carefully taught them a God-pleasing life and all truth, so that they might then heal the sick, cast out demons, cleanse lepers, and raise the dead, turning all onto the path that leads to eternal life. The Lord enlightened and sanctified His disciples, making them heavenly instead of earthly, filled with a fervent love for God and for all people, ready to endure every labor and sorrow for the sake of eternal salvation. The word apostle means one who is sent. They were sent to proclaim the message of salvation to all the world: “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
Endowed by the Lord with the power of the Holy Ghost, the apostles became unshakable pillars of the Church, divinely appointed coworkers in salvation, spirit-bearing heralds of the Kingdom of Heaven. All Christians today have been drawn out of the depths of perdition by the saving nets of the apostles. With what words can we properly thank the holy apostles for drawing us out from eternal ruin through their preaching?
The Holy Church has consecrated these days of fasting to the memory of the holy apostles, who without hesitation followed Him who called them. The Lord does not require of us that we leave everything and, following the example of the holy apostles, withdraw from our homes and from our relatives and loved ones. Nevertheless, the obligation to follow Christ lies upon us as well, as His disciples. Our very name, Christian, calls us to this. At baptism, when we entered the Church of God, we joined ourselves by faith to Christ with the Father and the Holy Ghost, promising to serve Him alone with righteousness and truth all the days of our life.
The path to which the Lord calls us is narrow and sorrowful, but it leads to the Kingdom of God. From those who follow Him, He requires self-denial—that is, the renunciation of our natural self-love—and demands that we submit our minds and wills entirely to the Heavenly Father and live according to the law of Christ, as taught by the Holy Gospel.
What does it mean to follow Christ? It means to imitate Him in all our life and deeds, as the model and example of a holy and God-pleasing life; to fulfill His holy will in all things, to act according to His commandments. Christ showed mercy and compassion to all, forgiving those who sinned against Him, those who hated and insulted Him. Let us recall how many persecutions and afflictions, how many torments and sufferings our Lord Jesus Christ endured from those He came to save—for whom He was pleased to shed His blood and lay down His life. In His mercy, He called Judas His friend at the very moment of his treacherous kiss. He wept and sorrowed for the people who cried out, “Crucify Him!” and prayed for those who crucified Him on the Cross. What can be more comforting and reliable for our salvation than to walk in His humble footsteps? This is how all true disciples of Christ have lived: they loved their enemies, did good to those who hated them, blessed those who cursed them, prayed for those who harmed them, did not repay evil for evil, but thought good toward all.
Jesus Christ, being by nature without passion, fasted forty days in the wilderness, spending that time in fervent prayer. So we too, following Christ, must subdue our bodily desires, quench our passions and fleshly lusts through fasting and restraint, crucify the flesh with its passions and desires, and train ourselves in strict moderation in all things that serve to gratify, indulge, or satisfy sinful sensual cravings. We must strengthen our spirit and sanctify our deeds through prayer, guarding our mind, heart, and lips with the fear of God.
Following Christ also requires us to help those in need, even depriving ourselves, to feed the hungry, to comfort those who weep, those who suffer, and those burdened with sorrows; to support the fallen with our example and counsel; to visit the sick and those imprisoned. This is what the Holy Gospel of Christ teaches us, calling us to walk the sacrificial, narrow, and sorrowful path in the footsteps of our Savior Jesus Christ. Let us be followers of Christ, imitating His example of mercy, love, and compassion for our neighbor—like those who, in holiness, were called sons of the Most High, “for He is merciful, even as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36).
The Lord Jesus Christ, on every feast prescribed by the Law, would come to the Temple in Jerusalem to pray, to teach, and to bestow blessings. So let us follow Him by dedicating the holy days of the Church’s feasts to the Lord, leaving aside all our affairs, and coming to the church to give thanks to God for His mercies toward us sinners, to ask His forgiveness for our sins, and to seek His holy blessing for all our labors and undertakings. Let us not doubt that coming to church might somehow delay or harm our earthly affairs, or cause loss and lack in our households. On the contrary, it is precisely then that all our worldly affairs will fall into proper and prosperous order, that our labors will be crowned with blessed success and sanctified from above. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33)—so said the One in whose power are all of us and all our deeds.
Brothers and sisters! What can be more comforting and secure than to follow after the Lord Himself, fixing our gaze on the struggle of the Author of our faith, Jesus Christ, “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2)? To this heavenly palace He calls us as well—to lift up our hearts, and, despite our temporary sorrows, to please Him in meekness and patience, doing works of love and mercy in His name. What glory and blessedness has He prepared for those who love Him and keep His commandments! “Father,”—thus He prayed to His Father—“those whom Thou hast given Me, I will that where I am, there they also may be with Me, that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me, for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).
Such is the glory and reward of the difficult and sorrowful path of Christ. Let us walk that path, that we may attain the Kingdom of God—with God’s help, to whom be glory and dominion unto the ages. Amen.