Today’s Sermon in a Nutshell:
“Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief!” (1st Timothy 1:15)
Most of the prayers of the Church are based directly upon Holy Scripture, and this verse from today’s epistle should sound quite familiar since we repeat it every time, we dare approach the Holy Chalice. In doing do, we acknowledge the fact that Christ came into the word to save sinners, which is part of our doctrine, our Creed. Then we go on to humbly admit, just as St. Paul did, that we are chief among sinners.
The Greek word he uses is “protos,” meaning first, leading, ranking above all others. It can also be rendered as foremost; thus, we profess the fact that we are first, chief, or foremost amongst the sinful…the worst of the worst. We do this just as Christ and the Apostles taught, so that we might recognize the depth of our own sinful nature and not dare to judge those around as did the arrogant Pharisee, but rather, realizing how far from God we are, acknowledge and admit our imperfections as did the Publican in Christ’s parable.
Therefore, apprehension and acknowledgement of one’s sinfulness is not only the beginning of wisdom, but of salvation as well!
Fr. John
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου