Chapter 18

Sermon Preached on Orthodox Sunday

“Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.” (Luke 2:34)

OUR young metropolis of these shores in the New World is troubled. Some one has aroused the spirit of strife. The Pacific minds of thinking people are not at rest. The thoughts of philosophers are caught in a wind of putrid air and blown over the country helter-skelter. The ignorant and vulgar lovers of sensationalism are fired with the fever that heated the brain of the citizens of Ancient Rome when, in the arena, they called: “More men! More beasts! More blood!” And all this in the name of religion; yea, were it in the name only of religion; but scandal is trumped loud and wide in the name not of that mental disease called religion (as a certain person named it a few days ago in the Morning Call), but in the name of the religion of the followers of Jesus Christ. When we see the enemy come upon us, we must strengthen our armaments. We need not fear for our fort, though the walls get scraped and there be some that fall over them, as the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church. When a serpent has lain its eggs in a fowl’s nest, we must cast them out before the simple chicks are devoured. When the wolf is on hand, the shepherd protects all those sheep which he can gather under his care. While witnessing these unfortunate scenes of contention and discord in which the sacred homes of Christians are assailed, and by which brother is set up against brother, and neighbor against neighbor, we are reminded of the words of Simeon the Just: Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against. The prophetic vision of Simeon is one of the many proofs of the authenticity of the Holy Gospels. And so is the sacred tradition concerning this devout man in harmony with history. Early history tells us that one of the Ptolemies, — namely, Philadelphus — who came in possession of some of the acquirements of Alexander the Great, and who would have a firmer hold upon the different peoples, studied their different beliefs, and became impressed with the religion of the Jews. Therefore, Philadelphus invited seventy learned scribes in Israel to translate the Holy Scriptures into the official language of his new empire. Holy Tradition tells us that Simeon was one of the seventy; that he was sorely grieved while translating the Prophets, because he could not, in a natural way, understand a passage which he must literally translate, and which was written by the Spirit of God, who is the Lord of both created nature and the laws that sustain nature; furthermore, that it was revealed unto Simeon, by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And when, at the extreme end of a long earthly life, he comes into the temple and sees the child Jesus, he takes him up in his arms and utters that sublime farewell of a grateful soul for the merciful Providence of God: Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word.

Yes, the prophecy of this just and devout man has been fulfilled. For Jesus has been set up for a sign which shall be spoken against. Do we not see it ourselves, and in a most conspicuous and public manner in this city of San Francisco? Jesus on the cross, planted again high up on Calvary, that all may see him! Behold, the man! The soldiers who would not tear the cloak of our Saviour, but cast lots for it, are worthy of pity when compared with these dissenters who would rend asunder the Church; yea, the very body of Jesus Christ. Have these destroyers of Faith a mission to fulfill in this world? What is their object in destroying the hope of Christians? Do these boastful humanitarians tell of love? Do they know what is love? Can they give an example of perfect love? What kind of a hereafter do they picture? In what consists their spirituality? Are they not pantheists, with the exception of their masks? What! They deify human kindness? Do they confound the natural instinct of kindness (that we see, even in the lower animals) with love? Christians, do not be discouraged by these jests, but partake of that Divine Love, that complete, perfect love, that eternal, that burning love of Jesus, and pray for your enemies. Do not think it strange when an Antichrist comes before the great mass of daily newspaper readers and endeavors to undermine their faith in a divine religion. We ought to expect such trials. We must remember that such people are not fundamentally acquainted with the complex make-up of themselves. It may take longer time, if it is necessary, to pick up the separate stones that have been scattered than it did to break down the wall. To deny the Divinity of Jesus Christ and the Gospels, together with the time and character of their authorship, etc., does not prove that a man is learned, not only in theology, but even in profane history. It is useless, and for the majority of mankind it is dangerous, to listen to one talking on the subject of faith, when that one does not himself believe in his own personal spirit, which spirit should be subject to the will of a higher and likewise personal spirit. Faith is not controlled by the worldly. It is an implanted function of the soul, which must be developed, and when faith rightly and freely grows in its spiritual sphere, it is a powerful agent for good to the soul; hence the miracles in the Christian Church. Again, in our day, Jesus Christ is set for a sign which shall be spoken against. Are we, beloved brethren and sisters, prepared to share these calumniations and suffer with our Lord? Are we of those who will rise again in Israel? Which are those who belong to the company that is to fall? If we be not of those who are already lying in the bottom of the abyss, and who have never risen, can we flatter ourselves that we are not of those who will, or of those who may, fall? The Word of God, in this instance, does not mention those who have been lying in the depth of condemnation, but those who will fall and those who will rise when they step on the stand, face to face, before Jesus Christ? Beware of self-delusion! Beware of the deceptions of the enemy! Do not think that a man is a real scholar of the Bible because he can quote by memory ever so many passages. Did not the first one who fell from the most elevated condition into the lowest hell, did not Satan know the Word of God? Yea, before it was written into a book by human hand. Look and see how the Devil quotes from the Bible when he tempted the Lord in the wilderness, and said He shall give His angels charge: over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. The Devil withheld the words that follow immediately after these, which read: Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under foot. Now, in these days of comfort, and luxury, and civilization, an affliction is come upon you, Christians Now, in these days, when! many voluntarily and involuntarily worship the golden calf, you are tempted, Christians Now, in these days of enlightenment, when reason is fixed up above all else as a god, set apart from the moving faith of the individual soul, and devoid of the longings of a heart, you are made to feel the abnormal condition of the world you live in, and also to carry a heavier cross for the sake of your weaker brethren, Christians! Now, in this age of doubt, conflicting claims, and diverse opinions, the eyes of all sincere seekers of the truth are looking toward us who are of the Orthodox religion. Let us attend. Let us stand well, and be true to our great trust. Let us feel our great responsibility, that we may live up to the holy principles of the Orthodox Church of Christ.

Let us avail ourselves of this special privilege. Let us profit by the opportunities that this special season affords. I mean this time of fast, i.e. Lent. This is our day of salvation. This is the time for Christian work and prayer. Let us examine ourselves in confession and enrich our experience. Let us renew ourselves in repentance, sanctify ourselves in constant prayer, in order to become worthy of the closest union with our Saviour in partaking of His holy body and precious blood, and thereby live in communion with God. And then, coming into harmony with the all-just, all-wise, all-good Spirit of God, which abides in His Church, no affliction, no persecution, will remove us from the Rock of Salvation, and with a clearer comprehension we will sing with the Church of God:

The Helper and Protector has been unto my salvation; this is my God, and Him will I praise; the God of my father, and Him will I exalt; for he hath been wonderfully glorified. Amen.