I just got back from our twice-a-year clergy retreats here in the Metropolis of Atlanta, and we had a special treat in a visit from a priest from Greece, Fr. Nektarios.
Father knew and learned from the newly revealed Saint Porphyrios. We heard some wonderful stories about the saint, most of which you can read about in the saint’s book “Wounded By LOVE.” By the way, I recommend this book to you highly for your Lenten reading discipline.
One comment Fr. Nektarios made was Don’t fight evil. Let it be. Know the Light, which is Christ, and “open the window.” It’s very similar to a saying of the saint: You don’t become holy by fighting evil. Let evil be. Look towards Christ and that will save you. What makes a person saintly is love. The whole idea here is to Be like Christ so much that darkness isn’t opposed as much as banished by the Light.
I’m genuinely intrigued and drawn to this mindset, especially in our day and age when being “opposed” to something seems to define everything about us. We are called to “resist.” We are told we have to protest. We are encouraged to “fight.” But I see little peace in any of this. What’s more, I see little of Christ in any of this. It seems these “protestors” are always angry; always disturbed; seeing “evil” everywhere. And, more importantly, I see so little joy in them. And very little “light.” More “heat” than “light.”
This is why I am convinced, especially as we approach Great Lent, we NEED DAILY nudges toward the Light! Maybe I should speak for myself. I NEED Daily nudges, daily encouragement, to BE light instead of merely the “heat” of opposition.
My motivation for the Daily Devotionals flows from this selfish need. It’s obvious that you have that need too because of how you’ve communicated your appreciation for this work. Thank you.
So, that’s why I really sense the need to expand this ministry so others who are tired of the constant bickering can have some Light in their lives. And that’s why I need your help. Part of the JOY of encouragement is the sharing of this joy. Will you help me expand our work together is being LIGHT so that darkness is banished?
Take a moment and become a Patron of Faith Encouraged Ministries by CLICKING THIS LINK. When you become a monthly Patron at $5, $10, $20, or more you will join your fellow Patrons in spreading an encouraging word in a world that is so very discouraged by all this “heat!”
Thanks!
P.S. NEW Daily Devotionals are coming Monday, Feb. 27th so we can go through Great Lent together.
7 Comments
Resist
Sounds to me like you’re saying that roll over and play dead when it comes that what is bad. Are you just a covert supporter of Trump?
Fr. Barnabas Powell
Nope, you missed the point of the post.
Niko
This is a little different than what is normally taught. We have been taught that there is a struggle between good and evil since the beginning of time. I understand that sometimes you do need to just “let it be” I have been in those situations where no good can come from a confrontation, but I have also been in situations where evil must be confronted head on and destroyed. Most of us are not monastics and aren’t afforded the luxury of ” let it be” ?
Fr. Barnabas Powell
“Don’t fight” is not the same as “Let it be.” Being Light and focusing on being Christ-like is a very powerful and even violent response to evil. As the Lord says “The Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force.” BHut this is not the unhealthy focusing on all the evil in the world, but the more productive focusing on being light in the world and allowing the light to banish the darkness.
It’s a perspective change that is very hard for we moderns who have been conditioned by “fighting for what is right” for so long that we’ve forgotten how futile that fighting “against” really is. It’s better to fight “for” that to fight “against.” Remember the Flood and the fact that evil still survived even with the death of everyone but Noah and his family.
Andrew Estocin
So was Archbishop Iakovos practicing a healthy form of Orthodox Christianity when he marched with Dr. King in Selma?
Fr. Barnabas Powell
Yes, he was being Light in the middle of darkness and the Light won!
Kurt
Ordering the book. St. Silouan did not say “Resist your Enemies.” He said “Love your Enemies.” The message is consistent to me. I could stand to be wounded by love.