Seventh Sunday of Matthew
Matthew 9:27-35
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Matthew 9:27-35
By St. Theophan the Recluse
"According to your faith be it unto you," said the Lord to the two blind men, and immediately their eyes were opened.
The greater the faith is, the greater is the influx of Divine power. Faith is the receiver, lips, and receptacle of grace. Just as one person’s lungs are large while another person’s are small, and the large take in more air, while the small take in less, so one person has a large degree of faith, and another a small degree, and one person’s faith receives more gifts from the Lord, and another person’s fewer.
God is everywhere, encompasses everything and contains all, and loves to dwell in human souls. But He does not forcibly enter them, even though He is Almighty, but enters as if upon invitation; for He does not want to infringe upon the power which man has over himself, or infringe upon man’s right to rule his own house—a right which He has granted. Whosoever opens himself through faith, God fills, but whosoever closes himself through unbelief—God does not enter, though He is near.
Lord! Add to our faith, for faith too is Thy gift. Each of us should confess: "Poor and needy am I" (Ps. 69:6).