A homily offered on July 8, 2007
Why are saints important? Why is every wall of our church decorated with images of saints?
One reason is because the church building, our temple, is presented as an icon of God’s kingdom. When we come to church, we try to leave behind us our mundane concerns, such as cutting the grass, cooking, paying bills, cleaning, etc., and instead to focus on God’s kingdom. In the church we present the people that we might expect to see in God’s kingdom. The Altar table represents God’s throne; closest to the throne are icons of bishop’s, who in our mind are the Apostles’ successors. Christ and His Mother are present in several places because they have many things to teach us. And the saints, God’s special friends, the Church’s heroes are all around us, reminding us of St. Paul’s words in Hebrews 12:1-2, “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
The Church has God and the bodiless powers, the angels, and the living and the dead. When we are in church, we are united with all of them.
Another reason for saints is because they teach us by example. Today’s epistle began with the words, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” In other words there is no cookie-cutter approach to holiness. People are created with individual, distinctive gifts and everyone uses his or her own gifts in a unique way. Saints come from rich and poor families, from Africa and Asia and Europe and America and from all nations. Saints come from laborers and doctors, lawyers and soldiers, housewives and queens.
Yesterday was the feast of St. Kyriaki, whose icon is among the icons of our church. She was so named because she was born on Sunday, “Kyriaki” in Greek, and her parents were devout Christians who were actively engaged in missionary work in Asia Minor during the late 200’s and early 300’s AD. Her parents were jailed for their activities during one of the later persecutions, but she continued their work until she, too, was arrested at the age of 21, in the city of Nicomedia, in western Asia Minor. Because of her youth she caught the attention of the Emperor Maximilian, who believed that he could easily change the mind of someone so young. When he failed to do so either by words or by torture, he ordered her execution. Before the execution could take place, Kyriaki prayed to God for help, and she died naturally.
Today is the feast of St. Procopios, the son of a Christian father and pagan mother. His mother’s influence dominated his life, especially after his father’s death. He became an official of the Roman Empire, but while on assignment he was confronted by Christ in a manner similar to the way Christ visited St. Paul on the road to Damascus. After his conversion, his own mother, a staunch worshipper of the Roman gods, betrayed him in to the authorities because of his Christian faith. He was jailed, tortured and finally executed about 290 AD, roughly 10 years before St. Kyriaki’s death.
The book of Psalms begins with the words, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” I think that we all understand the impact of the company that we keep. To associate with “the ungodly” or the negative or the skeptic or the materialistic person will to some extent drag down even a good person. And to associate with good people or even holy people is a means to lift up our souls. What the Church does is to take advantage of the company of the saints.
People often think that attending church is a religious “obligation.” We need to consider an alternative interpretation. Attending church is spending time in good company, in the company of holy people, both those living in this world and those who form the Church Triumphant, the saints who watch us, and pray with us, and pray for us.
I suppose that on this point I am preaching to the choir. You are in church today, when you could be somewhere else. But it is behooves us to reflect from time to time on why we do things and what are the benefits. When we come to church we are walking in the counsel of the godly and there is an effect on us. The saints lift us up, if we pay attention to their example and seek their prayers.
Today’s Epistle reading is one of my favorites. “Not lagging in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” We see these words made alive in the saints. What remains is that they be alive in our lives, too.
* * * * * * *
Text: Romans 12:6-14
Brethren, having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.