The World Needs More UNmercenaries

Today the Orthodox Church commemorates the memory of the Saints Cosmas and Damian, the Unmercenaries. Trained in medicine, they treated people FREE OF CHARGE in the NAME OF CHRIST. In today’s political environment it has become almost second nature to hear someone speak about the need for universal health care. For sure the cost of healthcare in our nation has gotten out of control with premiums so high that many families hold down a second job JUST for health insurance, and if the insurance is used for anything but the slightest routine procedure, our premiums increase.

Within the breadth of the debate I hear about access for the poor to health care through universal health care, but what if there were another way? What if there were a Christian way? Imagine how we could grant access to the poor if more trained professionals provided their services for free out of Christian love? Imagine how many of our brothers and sisters could receive routine check-ups if UNmercenary doctors and nurses followed the path of Saints Cosmas and Damian? The UNmercenary Saints (there have been many in history) didn’t receive pay from OTHERS to treat the sick. They provided for themselves often from family fortunes.

I DON’T write this today to suggest that doctors and nurses shouldn’t be compensated for their services. Christ reminds us that a “worker is worthy of his food.” (Matthew 10.10) I only remind you of the rich Christian history of UNmercenary saints who treated the sick without compensation. The world has plenty of doctors and nurses; the world needs more UNmercenaries 

In today’s Gospel lesson, we see what happened to the rich man who chose to keep his wealth for himself rather than use it to help others. He was suffering in hell after death. It was the poor man Lazarus who was being comforted by God. “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.” (Luke 16.25)

When we hoard our blessings and keep them for ourselves, we suffer, but when we use our blessings to help others like Saints Cosmas and  Damian, the poor are comforted and we are blessed and remembered as holy. Let’s learn to use our gifts to help others. Let’s learn how to be unmercenaries.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“What is truth?” Is a question that many have asked. Christ has given us the exact definition of Truth, Himself (John 14:6). The Truth is not something that belongs to us. We cannot own truth. The only way to have some ownership of the Truth is by sharing it with others. The Truth is the Light of Christ that we cannot hide under a basket (Luke 8:16) as Saturday’s Gospel Reading tells us. If we hide an open flame under a basket, the basket will catch flame. In the same way, we cannot keep the Truth of Christ a secret from others. If we have good news, we must tell it. As the saying goes, “it will eat us up inside” or rather it will burn us up inside (Luke 24:32) unless we tell it. With Christ, we have the antidote to death, the medicine of immortality, as St. Ignatios of Antioch tells us, and a provision for eternal life as the prayers of preparation for Holy Communion state. For this we have the proof that is the Holy Relics, the incorrupt bodies of the Saints. In San Francisco we have the incorrupt body of St. John Maximovitch. In Kerkyra, or Corfu as the island is known in English, we have the incorrupt body of St. Spyridon. St. Spyridon is known as the walking Saint as they must change his shoes as he wears them out. In Kalymnos, there is St. Savvas the New, the dear friend of St. Nektarios, who’s body is incorrupt except for a small patch on his head that was exposed to water while he was buried. These Saints became this way because of the inworking of the Divine Flame, the Grace of the Holy Spirit, the same Divine Flame that came down upon the Apostles at Pentecost. If we participate in the Sacraments of the Church (especially Holy Communion), then we also become filled with this same Divine Flame that heals us, illumines us and ultimately deifies us (Anything put into a fire takes on the qualities of a fire, it is the same with God if we come close to Him. If we come close to God, we take on His likeness which we lost in the fall from Paradise). Since this is true, and we have the proof of the Saints, how can we keep Christ a secret? God is Truth. The right to come to know this Truth, who is Christ God, is an inalienable right belonging equally to all people, all human beings. All people have a right to the Truth who is Christ Jesus our true God and Savior. This is what it means when the Gospel states that we cannot hide the Light, who is the Truth of God, under a basket or vessel.

In Christ,

Fr. Simeon Pardalis,      FrSimeon@stnicholastarpon.org

Memorials

Sunday - November 1

 Mihail Rinios - 1 Year

Sevasti Tsimouris - 1 Year

 All ministries wishing to sign up and host the Coffee Hour, please contact Chris Palaidis at 727-808-3895, once the hall reopens.

St. Nicholas Kitchen will continue preparing the Monday meals from 7:30 – 11:00 am. The meals will be delivered to the new Hope Center at the Sheppard center where the meals will be given to those in need by their and our volunteers. We will still need volunteers, food and monetary donations. Meals will be served from 11:00 – 12:00 pm. For further information, please call Chris Palaidis at (727) 808-3895.  

MAKE AN OFFERING OF OIL - Following the ancient tradition of the Temple as commanded by God, Orthodox Christians bring an offering of olive oil to be continually burned in the Church lamps, serving as a reminder of the presence of the Light of God. We invite anyone to make an offering of oil to the Church along with the names of loved ones & friends who are alive in the Lord, or alive with us on Earth, so that we may pray for you, your family and friends.

  *THE DEADLINE IS MONDAY 5PM FOR ALL BULLETIN INFORMATION*

 Memorial & Artoklasia Service Planning