Why would we want to invent a new religion?

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Let us remember on this Sunday the first 6 Ecumenical Councils of the Church, those Church leaders of the first seven centuries of Christianity who have shaped the core of our faith; faith in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, one unique nature and substance, and our faith in the

unique Jesus Christ, Incarnate Son both with a fully divine nature and with a fully human nature, a divine will and a human will. Why did the successive generations of believers up to now keep precious and unchanged common expressions of faith of these fathers though they are not directly in the Scripture? This has been a scandal for many protestants and for many others... Maybe some of you would say: the Bible is sufficient for my faith. Why canonize Fathers of the Six first ecumenical Councils?

O hardheaded ones! I am also speaking to myself...

Listen to what we just heard from the letter to the Hebrews: “Remember your hegumens’. These are

the first words in their literal translation. The word hegumen means ‘the one who leads’. Today, remember our hegumen Father Damian off in mission, remember those leaders, those true hegumens of the first seven centuries of Christianity who shaped the core of our faith, faith in the mysteries of the Holy Trinity and of the Incarnation of one among the three Divine Persons. We heard: ‘Thanks to the leaders, the hegumens, your hearts will be strengthened by grace.” Jesus, today, in his final teachings to his disciples launch a creed: “They who know You the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent have eternal life.” That is fine. But what is it ‘to know You the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent’? For example, in the story heard at the beginning of today’s proclamation of the gospel, what do we learn about Jesus seeing His power to deliver those who are tied up with the tombs and the dead. And at the end of the gospel what do we learn when Jesus, after saying: “Father, glorify me in Your own presence with the glory which I had with You before the world was made,” says: “Holy Father, keep them in Your Name, which You have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” Our hearts are too weak to fathom such great mysteries.

The common expressions of the faith of the Fathers of the first six ecumenical Councils help us to delve deep behind the words and deeds of Jesus, and all that is written in the Bible. They are expressions of faith that help us strengthen our hearts in grace. I wish you could be more acquainted with our Byzantine Liturgy. As we sing the great mysteries revealed in the Bible, we unceasingly confess God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we unceasingly confess Jesus Christ both of divine and human nature. This gives so much interior freedom. I can’t explain it.

Our Byzantine Liturgy penetrated by the confession of faith of our first fathers frees us from the mental search for our personal stance before the question of who God is, of who Jesus Christ is. Our Byzantine Liturgy penetrated by the confession of faith of our first fathers frees us to gaze simply into the icons and live a personal communion with Christ Himself, with the Mother of God who is privileged with a unique proximity to the mystery of Christ. We are freed to read throughout the Bible the multifaceted revelation of God and of the mystery of Christ. Why would we want to

invent a new religion?

Jesus Himself tells us today that he has given us the words which the Father gave Him,

and that He is glorified in us”. To be a Christian is simply to live of the overflowing grace which is given to us by Christ remembering our hegumens whose faith leads us.

Glory to Jesus Christ.