Good and Faithful, or Wicked and Lazy? 

The Bible is filled with parables from the Lord, which He used to teach truth to His followers. Many times these parables began with the words, “For the kingdom of heaven is like…” and continues with simple stories of life that help us to understand what we can expect when we are judged by God. Today’s Gospel story is one such parable, so from the beginning we must prepare ourselves to hear about judgment. We don’t always like hearing about judgment, but when Christ speaks, we listen.

In today’s Parable of the Talents, (Luke 25.14-30) not actually about talent as we know the word today, three individuals are judged by God based upon how they used the financial gifts that God had given them. The more they received, the more they were expected to use to glorify God. Two of the three used the money that was given to them and earned twice what they had received. God was pleased and said, “Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.” Unfortunately for the third man who hid the gift God had given to him, God condemned him saying, “You wicked and lazy servant.”

First, remember this parable is about the judgment that is to come in the kingdom of heaven, so while we may not enjoy the end of the story, we nonetheless must be willing to hear the story as being about us and the gifts that God has given us. Some of us have been given many gifts, while others have received just a few gifts.

Second, remember that according to the parable, we are not judged based upon how many gifts we receive, but how we use those gifts for the glory of God. The more we receive the more that is expected of us from God. The more we use the gifts to glorify God, the more He will entrust to us. If we refuse to use the gifts, even if out of fear of judgment, God will condemn us as wicked and lazy.

Finally, as with every Gospel story we hear, remember the Church offers us these lessons not to make us feel bad, but to encourage us toward a life of repentance that God desires for us. The Church recalls these parables not so that we can simply learn what God said once a long time ago, but to understand He is speaking to us today. So, consider the blessings that God has given to you, and ask yourself whether you have used them to glorify God. What will your defense be when God asks for an accounting? Will He say “well done good and faithful servant,” or will He call you “wicked and lazy?” It is up to you.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Saturday's Gospel Reading of the Good Shepherd, from the Gospel of St. John, may have sounded familiar. It is the same Gospel Reading for the Feast of the Three Hierarches Great Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom and also for their independent feast days. Today is the Feast of St. Photios the Great, who is also a Great Saint and Hierarch, which is to say a Bishop, also like the Three Hierarchs. Every time there is a Feast day for a Saint who is Bishop, this is the Gospel Reading that is read that day.

This Gospel Reading from the Gospel of St. John emphasizes that Christ is the Good Shepherd. The Hierarchs are called to imitate our Lord and be Good Shepherds also. Apostle Paul urged us, as a Hierarch himself, in his first letter to the Corinthians, to imitate him, just as he also imitates Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). The Hierarches together with all of the clergy are to bring the people to Christ, so that Christ may give them pasture, which is to say good spiritual food, the Sacraments that save us. But also in a similar way, in imitation of this, it is the responsibility of the parent or parents to bring their children to Church. For those who are not parents, everyone has the responsibility to bring someone else (this may result in the person becoming a godparent). Grandparents, Parents and Godparents all have a Good Shepherd like role in the spiritual life of their grandchildren, children or Godchildren. Catechism or the teaching of the Faith starts at home, the Youth Programs and Sunday School exist to assist with this, to tutor the children in their faith to fill what is missing not to replace the work and role of the Parent.

My father, who was born and raised in Larisa, Greece, enjoys to cook and he taught myself and my siblings all to cook and we all similarly enjoy cooking very much. On a few occasions I remember him repeating a certain Greek Proverb or saying while cooking early in the day for us. He would say the Prudent Parents cook for their children before they are hungry. The actual saying in Greek is, Τών φρονίμων τα παιδιά πριν πεινάσουν μαγειρέυουν. Literally: "The children of prudent parents cook before they become hungry." i.e. the prudent parents, teach their children well.

This wise Proverb can be applied to the Christian Life. The Parents, from a young age, teach their children the importance of going to church from a young age. Good Shepherds, the Three Hierarchs like St. Photios the Great whom we celebrate today or the Three Hierarchs that we just celebrated recently in January, like Christ open the Gate for their spiritual children to eat and we as parents should imitate that and bring our children to church so they can partake of all of the Good Things that Christ in His Church offers (Sacrments). If we the parents prudently do this from the beginning, then our will not have problems with our children later in life because the children will have good spiritual food, which is to say the Sacraments, in Christ Jesus our Lord God and Savior. Because even when the children as adults later in life encounter difficulties, they know where their true home, the Church is, and they know where to get the spiritual help and most importantly the spiritual food (Holy Communion) they need.

May Christ our true God, through the prayers of St. Photios the Great who we celebrate Saturday and the Three Holy Hierarchs and all of the grandparents and great grandparents who reside in God's Heavenly Kingdom, always bring us to Himself!

In Christ,

Fr. Simeon

Memorials

 Sunday - February 7

  Anita Perdikos - 40 day

Panagiotis Lecourezos - 1 year 

ST NICHOLAS CATHEDRAL REOPENS FOR PRAYER TUESDAY THRU FRIDAY FROM 11:00 AM TO 1:00 PM

 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.

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