The fourth Sunday of Great Lent

Source: Orthodox Research Institute
by Kosmas Damianides
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
Parish of St. Nektarios, Perth WA

(Mark 9:17-21)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

How much it must grieve a father or a mother to see his or her child suffering without reason. To undergo pain and confusion — for what? Where is God in our plight — we may often ask ourselves. Where is God in all this pain and confusion?

Today we arrive at the fourth week of Lent. In today’s Gospel reading we heard of a father who was on his last hope. His son was possessed by a certain spirit from childhood, which was causing his son pain and confusion. Not even Jesus’ disciples could cure the boy. He brought his son to Jesus, who upon hearing of the father’s plight became exceedingly upset at the whole crowd and expressed these strong and direct words "Oh you faithless generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you." The Child was immediately brought close to Jesus and the spirit convulsed him instantly. As we know the child was eventually healed. But at what price one may ask? The father accepted and confessed his unbelief and beseeched God with tears to make his faith complete? This is the price, the fulfilment of our faith — payed by Christ himself yet we must pray and beseech Him as well.

It is perhaps important to stress here that this miracle account nowhere refers to the spirit by any title such as demon, or devil. It is perhaps because this spirit is in reference to the spirit of this world, the enemy of Christ. It is the spirit of this generation well rooted in society, it is passed on to our children like a virus. Brethren remember these words well — it is the spirit of this generation which throws our youth about like the child with the spirit we heard earlier today. It smashes them to the ground, it throws them into the fire to be burnt, it throws them into the water to be drowned — today its drugs, alcohol, gambling, anything to distort the image and likeness of God, within them.

This spirit has a very old history going way back to primordial Man, Adam and Eve. It is firmly established and can not come out by anything — except, as our Lord instructed Moses, as our Lord instructed his disciples, as our Lord instructs us today, by beseeching God through prayer and fasting.

"Why could we not cast it out", his disciples asked their master in shame. We also must ask why can’t we cast this spirit out from our lives and our childrens lives?

Brethren, because as our Lord tells us "This kind can come out by nothing except prayer and fasting". This is the key to contrite repentance. this twofold formula which treads on the head of this serpent of old and yields our first step towards heaven — contrite repentance.

It is no coincidence then that the first and second steps of Saint John’s 30 chapter book "THE LADDER (OF DIVINE ASCENT)" are concerned with the renunciation of this life, this world we live in and detachment from all it’s pleasures. We honour Saint John of the Ladder today as a great Saint of our church who reminds us that going to heaven is not as easy as getting into an elevator and pressing a button. On the contrary, it is a long and hazardous climb which is impossible to scale fully unless we beseech God for assistance. May God grant us all fullness of faith, peace and joy on our climb to heaven — Amen.

3/29/2014

See also
Fourth Sunday of Great Lent. Saint John Climacus Fourth Sunday of Great Lent. Saint John Climacus
Fr. Seraphim Holland Fourth Sunday of Great Lent. Saint John Climacus Fourth Sunday of Great Lent. Saint John Climacus
Christianity is simple. Lent is about changing. Exegesis of the Beatitudes.
Fr. Seraphim Holland
Christianity is very simple. We complicate it because we want to complicate it. Because then we sort of have a smoke screen around us. It’s hard to be brutally honest with ourselves. Christianity is brutal honesty with ourselves and with others. St. John of the Ladder (Climacus) St. John of the Ladder (Climacus) St. John of the Ladder (Climacus) St. John of the Ladder (Climacus)
It is known from St. John's life that he ate what was allowed by the rule of fasting, but within measure. He did not go without sleep at night, although he never slept more than was needed to support his strength for ceaseless vigilance, and so as not to negatively affect his mind. "I did not fast beyond measure," he said of himself, "and I did not conduct intensified night vigil, nor did I sleep on the ground; but I humbled myself…, and the Lord speedily saved me. The Fourth Sunday of Lent: Feast of our Righteous Father John (Climacus) of Sinai, Author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent The Fourth Sunday of Lent: Feast of our Righteous Father John (Climacus) of Sinai, Author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent The Fourth Sunday of Lent: Feast of our Righteous Father John (Climacus) of Sinai, Author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent The Fourth Sunday of Lent: Feast of our Righteous Father John (Climacus) of Sinai, Author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent
Having penetrated into the mystical darkness of contemplation, this new Moses, having been initiated into the secrets of the spiritual Law, and coming back down the mountain impassible, his face transfigured by divine grace, was able to become for all the shepherd, the physician and the spiritual master. Carrying within him the Book written by God, he did not have need of other books to teach his monks the science of the sciences and the art of arts. Homily on the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent. The Significance of Fasting in the Struggle against Fallen Spirits Homily on the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent. The Significance of Fasting in the Struggle against Fallen Spirits
St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) Homily on the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent. The Significance of Fasting in the Struggle against Fallen Spirits Homily on the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent. The Significance of Fasting in the Struggle against Fallen Spirits
St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)
The Lord said to His Apostles about the evil spirits, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting (Mk. 9:29). Here is a new aspect of fasting! Fasting is acceptable to God when it is preceded by the great virtue of mercy; fasting prepares a reward in heaven when it is foreign to hypocrisy and vainglory; fasting works when it is joined with another great virtue—prayer. How does it work? It not only tames the passions in the human body, but it enters into battle with the spirits of evil, and conquers them. The Fourth Sunday in Great Lent The Fourth Sunday in Great Lent
Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) The Fourth Sunday in Great Lent The Fourth Sunday in Great Lent
Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky)
So it is also in the spiritual life. As a Christian gradually ascends, the force of spiritual and ascetical labours lifts him on high. Our Lord Jesus Christ said: "Strive to enter in through the narrow gate." That is, the Christian ought to be an ascetic. Not only the monastic, but every Christian. He must take pains for his soul and his life. On St. John Climacus, and the Miraculous Revelation of Patriarch Tikhon's Relics On St. John Climacus, and the Miraculous Revelation of Patriarch Tikhon's Relics
Archimandrite John (Krestiankin) On St. John Climacus, and the Miraculous Revelation of Patriarch Tikhon's Relics On St. John Climacus, and the Miraculous Revelation of Patriarch Tikhon's Relics
Archimandrite John (Krestiankin)
The Patriarch was the spiritual leader of the Russian people during a very difficult time. He continues to be so during our difficult time in Russia—a time of schism, separation, and falls. The Church's duty in such trials is to inspire and unite the people for the sake of saving their native land, faith, and truth, serving for unification.
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