by Fr. John Dresko

PROLOGUE FROM OCHRID • APRIL 6, St. Eutychius, Patriarch of Constantinople REFLECTION

“It is said about an ancient orator that he labored day and night to perfect himself in the art of oratory. Someone said to him: “Demosthenes does not want you to be the chief orator.” To which he immediately retorted: “Neither will I allow him to be the only one.” If you cannot be a first-class saint like St. Anthony, do not shrug your shoulders and say: “Nothing can come of me!” Increase your efforts and double your talent. In My Father’s house are many mansions, said the Lord (John 14:2). If you merit to settle in the least of these dwelling places, you will be more glorious and more fortunate than all of the rulers who have ever existed on earth. To each according to his own talent. You will not be a St. Anthony, but neither will St. Anthony, alone, occupy the Kingdom of God.” (St. Nikolai Velimirovich)

Fr. John’s Reflection:

“Listen, O coastlands, to me, and take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called me from the womb; from the matrix of my mother he has made mention of my name. And He has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He has hidden me, and made me a polished shaft; in His quiver He has hidden me.” (Isaiah 49:1-2)

Fr John’s Reflection

These beautiful words from the Prophet Isaiah today highlight two realities of life that all who follow God must remember. The first is when he states that the Lord has called him from the womb. From the body of his mother the Lord has made mention of his name. God knows each and every one of us from the very dawn of creation — even before creation! We come into physical being with our own birth, but we existed in God’s knowledge and memory from well before that moment. That’s one of the reasons the Church has always taught that conception itself is the beginning of human life. When we are but two cells that begin to multiply, we are already in God’s image and likeness. Every one of us has eternal value in that God wills that we exist! We must honor that image and likeness in the way we live out our lives, and we must defend the goodness that exists in every single one of God’s creatures. That’s one of the most poignant and valuable reasons abortion is so abhorrent. God knows me!

The second reality is that He has hidden each of us in His hand, and made each of us as polished shafts in His quiver. We are created to be God’s weapons in this world. He has bestowed upon every human being talents and gifts that are to be used to His glory. The love, kindness, gentleness, holiness and faith that we exhibit in this world, even if it seems like it is never seen or acknowledged, is the way we serve as His weapons. We conquer the world by manifesting His love to it. Let us use the time remaining to us — in life and in this holy season of Lent — to being the weapons that He created us to be! Glory to God!

Fr. John Dresko