by Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi
You see what a great thing is faith? This is precisely what God asks of
humanity. And we continuously hear that beautiful hymn of the Apostle Paul. For
it is not simply an epistle, or a letter, which was written by an illumined
man. This is a God-revealed hymn: "[All the Saints] through faith subdued
kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped mouths of lions,
quenched the power of fire, escaped the mouth of the sword, were made powerful
out of infirmities, became strong in battle. Women received by a rising again
their dead, and others were tortured, not accepting the redemption, that a
better rising again they might receive, and others of mockings and scourgings
did receive trial, and yet of bonds and imprisonment; they were stoned, they
were sawn asunder, they were tried; in the killing of the sword they died; they
went about in sheepskins, in goatskins -- being destitute, afflicted,
injuriously treated..."(Heb. 11:33-37). And as you know, the splendid hymn
continues.
All these prizes, all these triumphs which renew and complete the relationship
of the human race with God, were born from faith. This is what saves us. Faith
is what extends to each of us, the choir of the faithful, and is what justifies
everything.
We now come to a deeper mystery. All these Forefathers were those who were
inclined towards revelation and hence to these people it was granted to be
given the blessing; for God pre-ordained them and called them and dwelled among
them, that He may boast of being their God. These also received the immediate
promises and spoke face to face with God. And still all of these despite the
certainty of the promises which were effectively revealed from above, won their
divine reverence, their piety, and in general their turning to God, with a
comprehensive cross, that is to say, with sadness, with grief, with
persecution, with discomfort, and nearly expired from this world without seeing
anything of all that which was promised by God, except for symbols and periods
of various experiences. Do you see the mystery? In this valley of lamentations,
the divine promises are partly seen, partly known, and partly revealed. This is
precisely where we apply the following: "Whoever is wise, let him heed
these things and consider the mercy of the Lord" (Ps. 106:43 LXX).
This is the way by which we the chosen through faith abide in and keep our
relationship with God and His promises. Again, interpreting through faith, in
the midst of immense long-suffering, patience and endurance, in the midst of
the trials of temptations, we will be perfected like all the saints.
