TwentySecond Sunday after Pentecost

Peter H. Davids

Byzantine Catholic Homilies • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

Galatians 6:11–18

Luke 8:41–56

Humility

Exaltation of the Cross

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The narratives of healings in Luke show Jesus reversing worldly status and making trust in him the only way to healing. Both healings flow from the cross, showing us that identification with the cross and therefore humility is what brings us to identification with Jesus, the only true status and way to healing. It is not us, but him and his cross.

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No special Ambon Prayer

Our Father Paul the Confessor, Archbishop of Constantinople

Title

Our Only Hope is the Cross

Outline

People love to identify themselves by their accomplishments

“I am the greatest” - in whatever field

And they seem to think that their status in one field should transfer to another field

Athletes or Actors comment about politics or religion as if they should be listened to because they are celebrities

This fits with an American sense of equality, but it is the equality of the celebrity, not the equality of all

And that attitude goes back in our history - e.g. generals who were elected president and who did not necessarily have the necessary skills.

But it is more extreme now.

Whatever its causes, it is certainly not humility.

Humility sees that our only hope is Christ - all is gift.

Paul sums it up when he says, “far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

We see this in the narrative about Jesus

We have two taboo people, one taboo for 12 years because of a bleeding disorder and one who was 12 years old taboo because of death.

One was a young woman (she may well have been marriageable) and one was a mature woman.

But one was the daughter of a higher class father (a synagogue official) whose name everyone knew, while the other is never named, and if she had a husband, he had probably divorced her.

The one thing they had in common is both the father and the outcast woman were committed to Jesus’ ability to help them.

But the upper class Jairus, who knew the law and had the respect of the town, did not get preference over the outcast woman. He had to wait. His situation had go from desperate to hopeless. And only then did he get help.

The outcast woman had to be desperate, yet because she was desperate she had to sneak up behind Jesus and touch his clothing - who would have let her through had she been recognized. But Jesus with his “who touched me?” and his refusal to let the disciples put his off, makes her public so that, by publicly accepting her touch and announcing “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace” he could restore her status in society.

Jairus had to hear that during the delay over the outcast woman his daughter had died. She was now taboo. There was not hope. He then had to allow Jesus to toss the mourners out because he trusted Jesus, but he also shared in the scorn. And only then did he hear “Child arise” and see life from the dead. But he was not allowed to announce it publicly - he must be silent and simply give the girl something to eat.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus calls us only to boast in his cross

The power is the power of his shaming, and we identify with that shaming.

His bleeding on the cross healed the outcast woman and restored her status.

His death on that cross released the girl from death and gave life to a family that out otherwise die out - she was an only child.

We copy Paul by not looking at our accomplishments or status, but by identifying with the cross of Jesus.

Our God, our Lord, our Master is an outcast, brutally executed criminal who through that very act broke the power of evil and rescued us.

And our acts of obedience to him will bring his shame upon us in this world and bring his identity upon us in the deeper, realer world.

And that is the mystery of humility and the reason why the greatest saints down the ages were the most humble of all people. They knew that their spiritual and this age accomplishments were not them. They were the power of the cross working itself out through them.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 11-13-2022: John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople

EPISTLE

Galatians 6:11–18

11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.

17 Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 11-6-2022: Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost

GOSPEL

(24th Sunday)

Luke 8:41–56

41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus’ feet he begged him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

As he went, the people pressed round him. 43 And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon physicians and could not be healed by any one, 44 came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

49 While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well.” 51 And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, “Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (11-06-2022: Our Father Paul the Confessor, Archbishop of Constantinople)

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 11-13-2022: John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople

Matins Gospel John 21:15–25

Epistle Galatians 6:11–18

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 11-6-2022: Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost