Today’s Sermon in a Nutshell:
In today’s epistle lesson, St. Paul challenges us to adhere to God’s command that we, “Come out and be separate” from the world (2 Cor. 6:17). Yet to be in the world but not of the world takes great effort. One must possess strength, courage, and fortitude to live in this world and not succumb to it, submit to it, be influenced by it, or conform to it. For if we do co-mingle in it without caution, we stand a far greater chance of being tempted by societal norms and attitudes, becoming complacent, compliant, & conforming to what it teaches instead of what Christ taught.
St. Philaret of Moscow wrote, “Just as live fish swim against the current, and the dead float down river, true Christians must go against the current of sin, while the false and fainthearted are swept away by its swiftness.”
Therefore, if you truly want to be a rebel, a non-conformist, bring about change, or make a difference in this world, you must first be different and go against the prevailing currents of our time; influencing the world instead of allowing it to influence you.
Fr. John
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