Հայր Անտոն Նորատունկեանի ուղերձը, Կիրակի Դեկտեմբեր 15, 2013 The power of temptation to sin and the power of faith to overcome obstacles. Fr. Antoine Noradounghians Sermon, Sunday December 15th, 2013, The power of temptation to sin and the power of faith to overcome obstacles. SUNDAYS GOSPEL: Scripture: Luke 17:1-10 1 And he said to his disciples, Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him; 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, and says, `I repent, you must forgive him. 5 The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith! 6 And the Lord said, If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, `Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you. 7 Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, `Come at once and sit down at table? 8 Will he not rather say to him, `Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, `We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty. Meditation: Whats the driving force in your life? Jesus speaks of two forces at work in our lives -- the power of temptation to sin and the power of faith to overcome obstacles. The Greek word for temptation (scandalon) is exactly the same as the English word scandal. The original meaning of scandal is a trap or a stumbling block which causes one to trip and fall. The scriptures warn us about the snare or enticement to go astray and to do what is evil. Keep me from the trap which they have laid for me, and from the snares of evildoers! (Psalm 141:9). Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling (1 John 2:10). If we teach another to sin, he in turn may teach still another, until a train of sin is set in motion with no foreseeable end. Jesus warns his disciples of the terrible responsibility that they must set no stumbling block in the way of another, that is, not give offense or bad example that might lead another to sin. The young in faith are especially vulnerable to the bad example of those who should be passing on the faith. While Jesus warns against the sin of bad example and scandal, he also demonstrates the power of faith for overcoming temptation and obstacles. What did Jesus mean when he said that our faith can move trees and mountains as well (see Matt.17:20; Mark 11:23)? The term mountain remover was used for someone who could solve great problems and difficulties. Dont we often encounter challenges and difficulties which seem beyond our power to handle? What appears impossible to human power is possible to those who believe in Gods power. Faith is a gift freely given by God to help us know God personally, to understand his truth, and to live in the power of his love. God expects more from us than we can do by ourselves. Faith in God is the key for removing obstacles and difficulties which keep us from doing his will. We are his servants, and he is ever ready to work through us and in us for his glory. For faith to be effective it must be linked with trust and obedience — an active submission to God and a willingness to do whatever he commands. Do you give your best, regardless of the cost? Arent we like the laborer in Jesus parable who expected immediate reward and compensation for his days work? How unfair for the master to compel him to give more than what was expected! Dont we love to assert our rights: I will give only what is required and no more! But who can satisfy the claims of love? Jesus used this parable of the dutiful servant to explain that we can never put God in our debt or make the claim that God owes us something. We must regard ourselves as Gods servants, just as Jesus came not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28). Service of God and of neighbor is both a voluntary or free act and a sacred duty. One can volunteer for public service or be compelled to do service for ones country. Likewise, God expects us to give him the worship and praise which is his due. And he gladly accepts the free will offering of our lives to him and his service. What makes our offering pleasing to God is the love we express in the gift of self-giving. True love is sacrificial, generous, and selfless. How can we love others selflessly and unconditionally? God himself is Love (1 John 4:16) and he fills our hearts with the boundless love that gives what is good for the sake of others. If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us (1 John 4:12). God honors the faithful servant who loves generously. He is ever ready to work through and in us for his glory. We must remember, however, that God can never be indebted to us. We have no claim on him. His love compels us to give him our best! And when we have done our best, we have simply done our duty. We can never outdo God. Does the love of God compel you to give your best? youtu.be/wq_ZmKSvY6k
Posted on: Mon, 16 Dec 2013 05:03:56 +0000
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