In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. Dear beloved, let us commemorate St Symeon the Kinsman of our Lord, may the holy saint and martyr pray for us!
St Symeon the hieromartyr, was kinsman of our Lord. he was the son of Cleopas, the younger brother of Saint Joseph the Bethrothed. After witnessing miracles of our Lord and Christ, he believed and became one of the Seventy. The saint preached the Gospel to many. After the execution of the Holy Apostle James, the first bishop of Jerusalem, St Symeon was chosen to be in place as bishop. After the Roman governor discovered that St Symeon came from the line of King David, the governor arrested the 100-years old saint, tortured him, and crucified him.
Throughout Biblical and secular history, one thing is clear. The path of the saints was never easy, and often, it ended on martyrdom, just as we are admonished in Acts 14:20-27. Remember this verse well and etch it in our hearts, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
The path of the modern man is not easy either, for believing in Christ sets us apart from the unbelievers, and we are often persecuted and maligned. There are also charlatans and heretics who mock our faith in Christ, and place us in the collective basket labeled as “Christians”, only to be derided by even more people.
But God is with us. As we are comforted by Psalms 34:15-22, we know that God is just, and He desires us to follow Him on the path of righteousness, and He will listen to our cries for help, and redeem our souls. While the comfort and seduction of the world may distract us from Him, let us never forget, the priceless gift our God gives us, is not material comfort, but the redemption of our souls as we call on Him faithfully as His servants.
Look around us, the pace of life is ever faster. The changes in the world is quickening, with volatility, danger, threats, and aggression. We live in constant pressure, constant stress, and even constant threats for some of us. Yet, let us remember what the prophet said in Isaiah 26:3-7, as well as what Christ said in John 9:39-10:9, that the high and mighty will be brought to their knees or destroyed, while the weak and the poor will be raised towards Him.
For God is just and right, and He desires us to be the same, and He will serve justice. It does not take us long to realize many things are already happening, where the usurpers and pretenders are derailed, and the meek and the peacemakers are given reprieve. Most of such Divine Justice will appear, and will prevail till the end of time.
Remember, true Justice belongs to God, and no mortal can ever deceive you of this universal reality. Leave justice in the Hands of God. And remember our goal, our only goal, is to seek to reconcile with God, as Christ reminded us that He is the door in John 9:39-10:9.
Call our Lord often, in despair, in peace, in weakness, or in strength, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”.
Let us close by praying the thanksgiving prayer:
It is truly meet to call thee blest, the Theotokos, ever blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption thou gavest birth to God the Word: True Theotokos, we magnify thee.
O virgin Theotokos, rejoice; O Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fr Raphael+
Readings
Isaiah 26:3-7
Psalms 34:15-22
John 9:39-10:9
Acts 14:20-27