On July 22nd, on the 7th Sunday after Pentecost, priest Igor Tarasov, Rector of St. George Church served the Divine Liturgy in our temple.
After the Scripture readings Fr. Igor preached a homily on the lesson from the holy Gospel of the day. He said: “Today’s Gospel is about healings of the blind men and of a man who was demon possessed. There are many similar stories of healing in the holy Scripture. And we should notice that each time our Lord Jesus Christ performs the miracle of healing He asks: “Do you believe? Do you believe that I am able to do this?” When our Lord asks these questions he is knocking at the door of the hearts of men. He is looking for an opening to be let in, so that not only healing, but salvation may occur. This is described for us in the Book of Revelation of St. John where it says “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him” (Rev. 3, 20).”
Fr. Igor pointed out that we should also knock at the door of our Savior by praying and asking Him to help us and then by confirming that we do believe in His power.
“All too often we seek after God through miraculous signs of His action in creation and fail to see the spiritual miracles that occur around us. St. John Chrysostom speaks of this in the following manner: “Do not therefore seek signs, but the soul’s health. Seek not to see one dead man raised; nay, for you have learned that the whole world is arising. Seek not to see a blind man healed, but behold all now restored unto that better and more profitable sight; and do you too learn to look chastely, and amend your eye.”
“So my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, seek not after miracles. Seek rather after salvation for Christ is knocking at the door of your heart. Open the door of your hearts to Him that you may enter into the New Creation and receive the spiritual miracles that will change you and the world around you. Through this change you will be able to respond truly: “Yes, Lord, I believe” and to receive according to our faith.” – said Fr. Igor.
Parishioners enjoyed our common trapeza following the Divine Liturgy.