His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros

Homily at the Vespers of Contrition

March 26, 2023

Holy Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church

Brookville, New York

Beloved Sisters and Brothers in the Lord,

I am so very pleased to be with in Brookville at Holy Resurrection for the Vespers of Contrition – ὁ Κατανυκτικός Ἑσπερινός. This unique service prepares us to re-engage the Fast in the coming week. This special Vespers reorients us to the sobriety and gravity of Lent, and what it means for our lives.

In tonight’s Service, we hear the magnificent Prokeimenon that was chanted so beautifully:

Μὴ ἀποστρέψῃς τὸ πρόσωπόν σου ἀπὸ τοῦ παιδός σου, ὅτι θλίβομαι, ταχὺ ἐπάκουσόν μου, πρόσχες τῇ ψυχῇ μου, καὶ λύτρωσαι αὐτήν.

Turn not away Your face from Your servant, because I am afflicted; hearken unto me speedily – attend unto my soul and redeem it.

We cry out to God our Redeemer from the depths of our souls. We ask God to look upon us, and not to be repulsed by our shortcomings and failures – our sins. But are we willing to do the same for others?

What I would challenge all of us to do is this:

Are we able to not look away from our brothers and sisters – with all their failings, and their shortcomings?

Are we able to recognize and empathize with their struggles and troubles, with their afflictions?

Are we able to listen to them – to hearken unto them, and do so in a timely manner that serves their interests?

Are we able to be a redemptive presence for their souls?

My Friends:

As often as we ask for God to attend unto our needs and problems, we should also attend unto the needs and problems of one another. Our awareness of God’s presence in our individual lives is a direct consequence of our spiritual presence in the lives of others.

The Roman philosopher Cicero said, “Non nobis solum nati sumus” – which means, “We are not born only for ourselves.” These words remind us that we each have purpose in this world, a purpose that extends well beyond our own egos. In truth, we have been born for others. For others to be loved, to feel joy, to have safety and security, to feel valued and appreciated.

When we give others the same attention and consideration that we want to feel from God, we shall begin to notice something. We shall begin to perceive God’s all-encompassing love surrounding our lives. We shall begin to see that God is never turned away from our needs and even our deepest injuries. God’s most profound silence is healing beyond measure.

If this sounds like a ratio, or a formula, you would not be completely wrong. What did the Lord Jesus say about the “Sinful Woman” who anointed his feet to the Pharisee?

Ἀφέωνται αἱ ἁμαρτίαι αὐτῆς αἱ πολλαί, ὅτι ἠγάπησε πολύ.

Her many sins are forgiven because she loved much. *

There is a spiritual truth here, that love magnifies the awareness of grace. If you are concerned that God may not be present to you in your daily life, consider amplifying your love and concern for others. Reach out to those who are in need, in distress, in affliction. As you stir the reservoir of compassion within your heart for others, you will feel the upwelling of God’s mercy for you. This is what the Lord meant when he said to the Samaritan Woman:

Those who drink of the water that I give them; they will never thirst for evermore. The water that I give to them will become a fountain of water within them, springing up to eternal life.†

In this Lenten Season, when we attend more diligently to the worship and teaching of the Church, let us pay close attention to the call of our services. The remind us of how to live ad how to love – as God does. Thus, we shall arrive at the Holy Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ – Who is blessed and glorified with His Eternal Father, and the All-Holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Amen.

* Luke 7:47.

† John 4:14.