Ukrainian Orthodoxy		Orthodoxie ukrainienne

For Yourself and For Others: Have Faith

Very Reverend Ihor Kutash kutash@unicorne.org

(Frist Sunday of the Great Fast )

Today's Epistle reading (Hebrews 11:24-40;12:1-2) keeps repeating, like a litany, the phrase "by faith". The Apostle Paul, or his representative, writing to the Hebrew Christians in Rome who were facing terrible persecution and thus were in danger of apostasy, wished to point his readers to the powerful resource God had given them to overcome every temptation, every trial, to triumph in every challenge they faced. This resource is FAITH!

And today when we have already been endeavouring to keep the Fast for a week - or feeling guilty for not having tried very hard, or perhaps even resentful of the fact that so much is demanded of a Christian - the Church draws our attention once more to this marvelous resource. By it people throughout the ages have overcome hardships and mastered the most arduous circumstances. There have been many, many victories! When we come to think of it, each of us can point to times when we have gotten through hard times. All of us have had to exercise the gift of faith at one time or another. Let us remember and take heart.

Yes, it is true that the times are hard and the power of sin appears very strong within us - and outside of us. But think of how others are struggling together with us during this time of Lent. There is a solidarity of endeavour! We are not alone. And God is watching over us. And there is a great multitude cheering for us - the Saints who have already overcome in their trials, as St. Paul recalls in today's Epistle. They are not there to stand in judgement over us - they are there to intercede for us and to spur us on!

The world is greatly improved by the efforts of those who believe in the victory of goodness, mercy, truth, justice and love. We are not struggling only for ourselves - only to make ourselves feel better, holier. We are struggling for a better future for our children and their children. We are struggling on behalf of those who have lost the will to struggle. We are struggling on behalf of those who can not yet see the need for struggle. Each good deed, each victory over negative passions enriches the world immeasurably and neutralizes much evil.

To remind us of those who have already won the victory over sin, and who cheer us on, the Church today draws our attention to Holy Icons. Iconoclasts - those who opposed Icons - had the upper hand for more than a hundred years. In their delusion they would have deprived the Church of these symbols where earth and heaven, matter and the spirit, meet in blessed union - calling us to share in that encounter. But the truth prevailed - because of the faith and sacrificial struggles of those who took up the fight.

Today we have Icons to remind us of the victorious ones. With eyes of faith we see them standing before us, encouraging us, calling us, admonishing us. Let us take heart. Soon the hard times will be past. Sometimes it is darkest just before the dawn. Good Friday approaches, the day of the victory of faith, and so does Easter - the bright manifestation of that victory. It will be ours! Have faith.

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