His Eminence Metropolitan SABA Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America, His Grace Bishop Alexander
Pastor: Fr John Vazquez | (518) 462-0579 | fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com | stgeorgealbany.org | 1 St George's Pl Albany, NY
Office Hours: Mon/Fri 10am-5pm | Confessions: After weekly services (Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun) or by appointment
Wednesday, November 13th—8am—Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, November 13th—6pm—Paraklesis of St George
Friday, November 15th—8am—Orthros (THE BEGINNING OF THE ADVENT FAST)
Saturday, November 16th—5pm—Great Vespers with Bible Study to follow
Sunday, November 17th—Orthros and Divine Liturgy
Monday, November 18th—8:15am—Coffee with the Fathers at Alias Coffee on North Pearl St in Albany.
Sermon 11.3.24—The Good Samaritan
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit—one God—Amen!
This week the country was abuzz with the news of the election of a new president…
There were hopes on both sides. If you listened to either candidate describe what they could do for the country you could be sure to hear promises about what would be made better and slander about how the other candidate had no business whatsoever leading our country. A country that we all love and appreciate because of the kind of lives we are able to live with freedom to worship and practice our faith. A country in which people are, for the most part, cordial and respectful.
Many of you know that I teach middle school history at a couple of different local schools in the area and one of the classes I teach is Ancient History. If you compare the kind of life that we have here in America in the 21st century to what people lived through 3 or 4 thousand years ago—we have a glorious life. We eat like kings, with access to fruits and vegetables at whatever time of the year it is; we have shelter with a controlled temperature to the point that I complain if its a few degrees hotter or colder than I like; we have access to clean running water at the turn of a knob so that we can remain clean and healthy.
And if this wasn’t enough we have a system of government that appreciates and prizes a peaceful transfer of power every 4 or 8 years. This is one of the most amazing things in the world we live in today. For most of world history transfer of power meant: war, rape, pillage and purging until the incoming ruler could be firmly established with no competition….
So we have these great gifts of wealth and peace and yet when someone wins an election you would think from reading comments and listening to people talk that the situation was life and death, you would think that people are willing to take up arms and fight for their candidate…And this would just as easily apply if the other candidate had won so its not one sided by any means
We like to pride ourselves about how advanced we are as a civilization and culture.
“We are so much more advanced than those who came before us,” we say. “They were simpletons and we are above them.”
In reality though we are no different. We are still fallen human beings who—like little children—argue, complain, are ungrateful, greedy, who cast blame, play the victim and are hateful.
We are pitiful as human beings and as soon as we have the thought, “not me” we immediately become the leader of the those who are pitiful. We are misguided fools lying in a ditch on the side of the road all battered and bruised who dont realize that the thieves of the passions have not left us alone as human beings but they are just as strong as they have always been.
These thieves—the passions—lie in wait for us hidden under full stomachs, satisfied cravings and comfort, hidden under unquestioned privilege and my personal rights and freedoms.
But as soon as even just one of these things is challenged who we really are is revealed.
So in reality we are no different than our ancestors who have come before us. We are in need of a savior
And who is this savior?
Is it a president? Is it a senator? Is it laws and rules that make sure other people do what we want them to?
No, these are not our saviors. These fake saviors are imposters. They are ones who dress the part, and act the part but these imposters just pass us by and leave us in the ditch on the side of the road still wallowing in our own blood as we slowly die, unable to conquer these passions that hold us captive.
But then someone comes...its someone we don’t except. It's someone who we have dismissed before as someone who doesn’t quite fit in with how we think about things.
We tell ourselves that this One doesn’t really understand the issues. We say things like, “If He is so great, why are people in the world still hungry” (Mt 4.3), or “Why doesn’t He prove himself and do some kind of amazing sign so that I will believe.” (Mt 4.6) or “If He is my savior why doesn't He intervene and make things go my way.” (Mt 4.9)
And yet this One, this Outsider, this Stranger to me is the one who kneels down next to me and wipes the blood from my battered face, and bandages my wounds (Lk 10.34) and washes my feet (Jn 13)
This One, who I have not put my hope in carries me to the inn of the Church and tells the innkeeper to care for me—to teach me, feed me, heal me.
And this One, my Savior who has stooped down to my condition when no one else would, wants me to stay at this inn—the Holy Church until he comes again (Lk 10.35)
Will I? Will I stay in the Church where I can find medical attention for my otherwise terminal condition?
Will I stay in the Church where I can find protection from those thieves of the passions who lie just outside the door of the inn waiting for me to step out so that they can batter me and this time perhaps to death?
Will I stay in the Church where I can not only be healed but resurrected to a better life?
My Savior, let me not be enticed to leave the inn through the allurement of the satisfaction of my desires,
My Savior, let me not be enticed to leave the inn through the wonders of the achievements of this world
My Savior, let me not be enticed to leave the inn through the whisper of false promises and a promised kingdom that topples when things don't turn out as I hope
Beloved, there is a true Savior, there is One who can deliver on His promises, there is One who, when elected to the throne of our hearts can give us eternal life
But His way is not the way of the world—it is the way of the cross, the way of voluntary death which leads us to life.
This is a scandal to us but it is also the Truth.
Beloved we need a savior just as much as ever. Do not be fooled by a full stomach, by science or by power. These are the same temptations that Eve experienced, that our Lord experienced in the desert and that we experience now.
Imitate the Samaritan and fast so you can fill your soul with the Word of God
Imitate the Samaritan and do not be deceived by the wonders of science and marvels, AI and and Money
Imitate the Samaritan and flee from the allurement of power knowing that there is One who is all powerful and sovereign.
Through the intercessions of the most-holy Theotokos may Christ our God have mercy on us and save us AMEN.
