Sermon 10/2/21
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17)
One of my deacons asked me, “Father, I would suggest giving people coffee before we start liturgy”. “And why is that?” I asked. “To keep people awake during your sermon”. He was harsh, but not entirely wrong. I know one guy that even snored at church when sleeping. Maybe there is something magical in my voice, rather peaceful and relaxing. Let’s put it this way- I have a special power, I can put people to sleep in 10 seconds.
Imagine a parishioner goes to church for Jesus and falls asleep. Christ is preached and the door to our hearts are closed.
Jesus is talking to you today, maybe about most important things- that could change your life, but you are not listening. Jesus is talking not only here-in the church, but everywhere in your daily life. Jesus is talking to you through the Bible, through your friends, dreams, nature, with the tongue of children. If only you can hear.
“Fortune knocks at every man's door once in a life, but in a good many cases the man is in a neighboring saloon and does not hear her.” Says Mark Twain.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20.
Do you have Time for Jesus? Let Him in. Saint Paul teaches us in Romans 3:11 that no one searches for God. Rather, because of His glorious mercy and grace, God looks for us! This is clear in Jesus’s willingness to stand behind the closed door and knock. Our hearts doors can be closed even when we sit in the church. Open hearts mean experiencing the Lord inside yourself, feeling peace, courage, grace, hope and love . Becoming love, because God is Love.
Many of our community members keep Christian customs, regularly visit church_ I mean every Christmas and Easter, have Bible under their pillow, a big cross hanging on the wall, and probably they know how to make the sign of the cross. Those are all outside but what about what is in our heart. Where is Jesus in all of this? Believing in the Savior, loving Jesus means spending time with the Lord.
Have you taken time for Jesus in your life?
You stopped caring for yourself. Perhaps you are eating healthy food, exercising, doing fun activities or getting proper sleep during my sermons.
Self-Care for us begins with soul care. Connecting with Jesus, giving time to listen to him. Remember in the gospels Jesus was teaching and people were sitting around him and listening, not even thinking about physical food. What a beautiful scene. People took their crosses and followed him. “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom we shall go? You have the words of eternal life” John 6:68. People’s hearts were open, thirsty for His words and ready to drink it to the end. What about You?
-Fr. Zacharia
