Неделя по Богоявлении (32-я)

(Eph.4, 7–13; Matt.4, 12–17) Yesterday, the Apostle armed the Christian who has entered the path of salvation with spiritual armor, and now he points out the leaders in this battle procession and the last bright goal of all to inspiration in difficulties. Leaders are shepherds and teachers whom the Lord has given to the Church and through whose mouth He Himself utters guidance that is beneficial to everyone, as long as someone turns to them with faith and prayerful appeal to the Lord. This truth is known to those who selflessly follow the path of the Lord and fight without self-pity against the enemies of salvation. They always find help and admonition in their shepherds, when from the outside looking in it would not have been possible to expect it. For they do not come to people, but to the Lord, who is always ready to guide and admonish through these people everyone who sincerely and with faith seeks His help. The latter’s bright goal is “to the measure of the full stature of Christ,” the age “to become a perfect man” (Eph. 4:13). That there is a perfect husband in the usual way is known to everyone, and it is impossible to find a person for whom it would not be desirable to achieve such perfection; but that there is a man perfect in the Lord, no one knows except those who have entered this age. This, however, should not cool anyone’s jealousy for achieving such an age, but on the contrary, warm it up even more; because the unknown depends on the height of that spiritual perfection, which is called manhood in life according to God. The Apostle defined it by the perception of the fullness of perfections revealed in the Lord the Savior. Everyone sees that there is reason to apply “every diligence” to our calling (2 Pet. 1:5). You might be interested in: