Eleventh Sunday of Luke
Luke 14:16-24
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Luke 14:16-24
By St. Theophan the Recluse
"Many
are called, but few are chosen" (Matt. 22:14). All Christians are
called; chosen are those Christians who believe and live in a Christian
manner. In the early Christian times preaching called to faith; we are
called by our birth from Christians and upbringing among Christians. And
glory be to God! We pass half the road, that is, entrance into
Christianity and the taking root of its principles in our heart from our
very childhood, without any labor. It would seem that our faith should
be all the stronger, and our life all the more correct throughout all
the time that follows. It was this way; but from a certain point in time
it has started to be different. Unchristian principles are permitted in
our schools which ruin young people, and unchristian customs have
entered into society, which corrupt them after leaving school. If
according to the word of God there always have been only a few chosen,
it is no surprise that in our time there are even fewer of them; such is
the spirit of the age — anti-Christian! What will be next? If our
manner of education and social customs are not changed, true
Christianity will weaken more and more, and at last will entirely end;
only the name of Christian will remain, but the spirit of Christianity
will not be there. The spirit of the world will fill everything. What is
one to do? Pray…