| Further information was revealed to the Prophet Isaiah who described this special child from the house and family of David with these words, «For to us a child is born ...And he will be called Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peacé. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end. He will reign on David " s throne ...establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. Isaiah 9:6–7. And, as we saw in the last chapter, they believed the description written by Jeremiah in 600 BC that this special «messiah» would rule with justice so correct that it would be like a divine righteousness. He prophesied, « days are coming», declares the LORD, I will raise up to David a righteous branch, a king who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. in his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD, our righteousness. » « Jeremiah 23:5–6. Now let us imagine that you the readers and myself, along with a neighbor Elias, are serious believing Jews living in first century Palestine under Roman occupation. We are fed up with these idolatrous Romans who carry images around and worship more than one God. We long for the Messiah to come, hoping and expecting that with his great and miraculous power he will deliver us from these uncircumcised pagans. But we have a problem. When a man comes along and claims to be the Messiah, how can we know whether his claim is true? How can we know that he really is the Messiah promised by God? Over the last 100 years several men have come claiming to be the «messiah». They all tried to restore the kingdom to Israel by their own force, and they all failed and were killed along with their followers. 189 Therefore, we want to be very sure that someone who claims to be the promised «messiah», really is «THE MESSIAH», before we risk our necks following him. The following story shows how our friend Elias solved this problem. Jesus» Teaching and his Miracles as a Second Witness |
| 114. I resort once again to history, and on considering the men of best repute in ancient days, who were ever preferred by grace to the office of ruler or prophet, I discover that some readily complied with the call, others deprecated the gift, and that neither those who drew back were blamed for timidity, nor those who came forward for eagerness. The former stood in awe of the greatness of the ministry, the latter trustfully obeyed Him Who called them. Aaron was eager, but Moses resisted, Isaiah readily submitted, but Jeremiah was afraid of his youth, Isaiah 6:8 and did not venture to prophesy until he had received from God a promise and power beyond his years. Jeremiah 1:6 115. By these arguments I charmed myself, and by degrees my soul relaxed and became ductile, like iron, and time came to the aid of my arguments, and the testimonies of God, to which I had entrusted my whole life, were my counsellors. Therefore I was not rebellious, neither turned away back, Isaiah 50:6 says my Lord, when, instead of being called to rule, He was led, as a sheep to the slaughter; but I fell down and humbled myself under the mighty hand of God, 1 Peter 5:6 and asked pardon for my former idleness and disobedience, if this is at all laid to my charge. I held my peace, Isaiah 42:14 but I will not hold my peace for ever: I withdrew for a little while, till I had considered myself and consoled my grief: but now I am commissioned to exalt Him in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the seat of the elders. If my former conduct deserved blame, my present action merits pardon. 116. What further need is there of words. Here am I, my pastors and fellow-pastors, here am I, you holy flock, worthy of Christ, the Chief Shepherd, 1 Peter 5:4 here am I, my father, utterly vanquished, and your subject according to the laws of Christ rather than according to those of the land: here is my obedience, reward it with your blessing. Lead me with your prayers, guide me with your words, establish me with your spirit. The blessing of the father establishes the houses of children, Sirach 3:9 and would that both I and this spiritual house may be established, the house which I have longed for, which I pray may be my rest for ever, when I have been passed on from the church here to the church yonder, the general assembly of the firstborn, who are written in heaven. Hebrews 12:23 |
| 65. What of his further invective against the shepherds, Woe shall come upon woe, and rumour upon rumour, then shall they seek a vision of the prophet, but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients, and again, in these terms, Son of man, say unto her, you are a land that is not watered, nor has rain come upon you in the day of indignation: whose princes in the midst of her are like roaring lions, ravening the prey, devouring souls in their might. And a little further on: Her priests have violated My laws and profaned My holy things, they have put no difference between the holy and profane, but all things were alike to them, and they hid their eyes from My Sabbaths, and I was profaned among them. He threatens that He will consume both the wall and them that daubed it, that is, those who sin and those who throw a cloak over them; as the evil rulers and priests have done, who caused the house of Israel to err according to their own hearts which are estranged in their lusts. Ezekiel 14:5 66. I also refrain from entering into his discussion of those who feed themselves, devour the milk, clothe themselves with the wool, kill them that are fat, but feed not the flock, strengthen not the diseased, nor bind up that which is broken, nor bring again that which is driven away, nor seek that which is lost, nor keep watch over that which is strong, but oppress them with rigour, and destroy them with their pressure; so that, because there was no shepherd, the sheep were scattered over every plain and mountain, and became meat for all the fowls and beasts, because there was no one to seek for them and bring them back. What is the consequence? As I live, says the Lord, because these things are so, and My flock became a prey, behold I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hands, and will gather them and make them My own: but the shepherds shall suffer such and such things, as bad shepherds ought. 67. However, to avoid unreasonably prolonging my discourse, by an enumeration of all the prophets, and of the words of them all, I will mention but one more, who was known before he was formed, and sanctified from the womb, Jeremiah 1:5 Jeremiah: and will pass over the rest. He longs for water over his head, and a fountain of tears for his eyes, that he may adequately weep for Israel; and no less does he bewail the depravity of its rulers. |
| It is quite probably used as a kind of symbolic figure, just like seven. With the usage of seven and seventy the ancient Semites tried to make a difference between a smaller symbolic figure and a larger one. 369 When used of periods of time it might have been used as an appropriate period of punishment. In a building inscription of the Assyrian king Esarhaddon (680667 B.C.E.), it is stated that the desolation of Babylon after its destruction by Sennacherib in 689 B.C.E. should have lasted seventy years, but the god Marduk in his mercy changed the period to eleven years. 370 Isaiah predicted that “Tyre must be forgotten seventy years, the same as the days of one king.” (Isaiah 23:15 same as the days of one king” is often interpreted to mean a normal lifespan of a king, or “the full span of human life,” in accordance with Psalm 90:10 seventy clearly is not meant to be viewed as a precise figure. Thus it is quite possible and perhaps probable that the seventy years of servitude predicted by Jeremiah were used as a round number. Such an understanding could also be supported by the fact that not all the nations surrounding Judah (some of which are obviously enumerated in Jeremiah 25:1926 to the king of Babylon at the same time, in 605 B.C.E. Some of them seem to have been brought into subjection somewhat later. The period of servitude, therefore, was not of exactly the same duration for all these nations. Yet the prophet said that all of them were to serve the king of Babylon “seventy years.” G2: The seventy years ‘for Babylon”: 609539 B.C.E. Although it is true that the servitude of a number of nations turned out to be somewhat less dian seventy years, the prophecy does not clearly imply that the seventy years “for Babylon” should be reckoned from 605 B.C.E. It must be remembered that all nations were predicted to become servants of Babylon: “all the nations must serve him and his son and his grandson.” 371 nations had become subject to Babylon even prior to the battle of Carchemish in 605 B.C.E. If the seventy years “for Babylon” are counted from the time when Babylon crushed the Assyrian empire, thus beginning to step forward as the dominant political power itself, even a more exact application of the seventy years is possible. A short review of the last years of Assyria will make this clear. |
| You have shamed the boast of purity. You have disgraced the promise of chastity; we have been made a tragedy of captives, and our story is made a play of before Jews and Greeks. You have made a split in the solitaries» spirit, driving those of exacter discipline into fear and cowardice, while they still wonder at the power of the devil, and seducing the careless into imitation of your incontinence. So far as you have been able, you have destroyed the boast of Christ, Who said, Be of good cheer I have overcome the world, John 16:33 and its Prince. You have mixed for your country a bowl of ill repute. Verily you have proved the truth of the proverb, Like a hart stricken through the liver. But what now? The tower of strength has not fallen, my brother. The remedies of correction are not mocked; the city of refuge is not shut. Do not abide in the depths of evil. Do not deliver yourself to the slayer of souls. The Lord knows how to set up them that are dashed down. Do not try to flee afar off, but hasten to me. Resume once more the labours of your youth, and by a fresh course of good deeds destroy the indulgence that creeps foully along the ground. Look to the end, that has come so near to our life. See how now the sons of Jews and Greeks are being driven to the worship of God, and do not altogether deny the Saviour of the World. Never let that most awful sentence apply to you, Depart from me, I never knew you. Luke 13:27 To a fallen virgin 1. Now is the time to quote the words of the prophet and to say, Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people. Jeremiah 9:1 Though they are wrapped in profound silence and lie stunned by their misfortune, robbed of all sense of feeling by the fatal blow, I at all events must not let such a fall go unlamented. If, to Jeremiah, it seemed that those whose bodies had been wounded in war, were worthy of innumerable lamentations, what shall be said of such a disaster of souls? My slain men, it is said, are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle. |
| 5. The famous Three in Babylon– in the furnace of fire were baptized, and came forth – they went in and bathed in the flood of flame, they were buffeted by the blazing billows.– There was sprinkled on them there – the dew that fell from heaven;– it loosed from off them there – the bonds of the earthly king.– Lo! The famous Three went in and found a fourth in the furnace. 6. That visible fire that triumphed outwardly – pointed to the fire of the Holy Ghost – which is mingled, lo! And hidden in the water.– In the flame Baptism is figured – in that blaze of the furnace. – Come, enter, be baptized, my brethren – for lo! It looses the bonds;– for in it there dwells and is hidden – the Daysman of God – Who in the furnace was the fourth. 7. Two words again our Lord spoke – which in one voice agree in unison:– He said, I have come to send fire,– and again, I have a baptism to be baptized with.– By the fire of Baptism is quenched the fire – that which the Evil One had kindled:– and the water of Baptism has overcome – those waters of contention – by which he had made trial – of Joseph who conquered and was crowned. 8. Lo! The pure fire of our Redeemer – which he kindled in mankind of His mercy!– Through His fire He quenched that fire – which had been kindled in the defiled and sinful. – This is the fire wherein the thorns – are burnt up and the tares.– But happy are your bodies – that have been baptized in the fire – which has consumed your thickets – and by it your seeds have sprung up to heaven! 9. Jeremiah in the womb He sanctified and taught.– But if the lowly bosom of wedlock – was sanctified in conceiving and bringing him forth – how much more shall Baptism sanctify – its conception and its bringing forth – of them that are pure and spiritual! – For there, within the womb – is the conception of all men – but here, out of the water – is the birth whereof the spiritual are worthy. 10. For Jeremiah though sanctified in the womb – they took up nails and cast him into the pit.– Holy was the prophet in his befoulment, – for clean was his heart though he was in the mire.– Be afraid, my brethren – for lo! Today is washed away – your secret befoulment, – and the abomination of your sins.– Turn not again to uncleanness – for there is but one cleansing of your bodies! |
| Love endures all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails ( 1Cor. 13:4–8 ), since it possesses God who is alone unfailing and unalterable. Love works in such a way in those who live in accordance with it, that it approves of you, saying through the prophet Jeremiah, I say to you, this is the way 22 of my commandments, and the law that endures for ever. All who hold her fast will live, and those who forsake her will die. Take her, my child, and walk towards the shining of her light. Do not give your glory to another, or your advantages to an alien people. Blessed are you, because you know what is pleasing to God. Learn where there is sagacity, where there is strength, 405C where there is understanding, where there is length of days, and life, where there is light for the eyes and peace, and I have come to you in the way, and appeared to you from afar. Therefore, I have loved you with an everlasting love, and in pity I have had mercy on you, and I will build you, and you shall be built, and you shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers, that you may stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the eternal paths of the Lord, and you will know where the good way is, and walk in it, and find sanctification for your soul. 23 And again through Isaiah: I am the Lord your God, who leads you in the way of righteousness, in which you should go, and you have heard my commandments. 405D Therefore, your peace has become like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea (Isa. 48:17–18). And I, rejoicing at your goodness, dare to say with God, in the words of the great Jeremiah, Blessed are you, because you have taken off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, I mean the old man, which is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and put on for ever the beauty of the glory from God, I mean the new man, created in the spirit in accordance with Christ after the image of the 408A Creator, and put on the robe of righteousness from God, and on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting, 24 that is, adorned with the stable mode of the virtues and the infallible logos of wisdom. |
| 100th birthday of Schema-Archimandrite Jeremiah of St. Panteleimon Monastery is Celebrated on Mt. Athos The All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy were celebrated on October 21 and 22 at the Church of the Intercession at the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mount Athos by Metropolitan Yevlogy of Vladimir and Suzdal, Metropolitan Sergy of Ternopol and Kremenets, Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk and Bishop Nil of Murom and Vyazniki. Over 400 pilgrims arrived from different countries to pray in church during the festivies, including schema-archimandrite Ephraim , abbot of Vatopedi Monastery; schema-archimandrite Methodis, abbot of Hilandar Monastery, and the brethren and representatives of the other monasteries on Mt. Athos. The brotherhood of St. Panteleimon monastery of 100 monks, including those living in sketes, gathered to pray for their abbot. Metropolitan Yevlogy read a welcoming address from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to schema-archimandrite Jeremiah (Alyekhin) and the brethren. After the Liturgy a moleben of thanksgiving was celebrated to the Lord for the 100th birthday of St. Panteleimon " s Monastery " s abbot. Following the repast, more greetings were read to Fr Jeremiah. Mr. Alexander Beglov, Presidential Envoy in the Central Federal District, presented schema-archimandrite Jeremiah with the Order of Alexander Nevsky on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Metropolitan Yevlogy presented Fr Jeremiah with the Order of St. Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles, 1st class, bestowed by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. Metropolitan Sergy presented Fr. Jeremiah with the Order of Sts. Antony and Theodosius of the Kiev Caves on behalf of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine. Fr. Jeremiah, who received many other awards and presents, thanked all those gathered, saying, " There is no salvation without love, while love is impossible without self-sacrifice and the cross, which is impossible without humility and patience. Patience, love and humility – these three are the path of a Christian to the Heavenly Kingdom. Never forget the first commandment of Christ. I wish you God’s help in all your good undertakings. " Подпишитесь на рассылку Православие.Ru Рассылка выходит два раза в неделю: Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
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