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ΥΓΕΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΕΥΤΥΧΙΑ.
ΣΕ ΟΛΟΥΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΔΙΑΣΠΟΡΑΣ .

Πέμπτη 4 Ιουλίου 2013

Open letter to every fellow traveller who thirsts for truth

Open letter to every fellow traveller who thirsts for truth


In this letter, I visit you beloved reader to remind you of two soul-saving stories from the Old Testament which have the purpose of becoming a compass of truths in your life travels.

One day the Military General of Syria, Neeman visited the prophet Elisaios to heal him from the illness of leprosy (4 Kings 5). Prophet Elisaios through a third party told Neeman to go under the waters of the river Jordan seven times and he would be healed. Neeman however left angrily saying, "I thought that this person would come to visit me, stand over me in prayer and call on his God and then put his hand on my ill body and heal me. Are not the rivers of Avana and Farfar in Damascus better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not go under these waters and be healed?" His soldiers drew near and said, "The prophet did not tell you to do something very hard or impossible." And they made him follow the commandment of the prophet. Truly, Neeman believed. He went to the river Jordan, immersed himself seven times and his body was cleansed of leprosy. His skin became like that of a small child. Yet from Neeman, the leprosy went to prophet Elisaios1 servant, Yehazi. It went to Yehazi because he secretly ran to Neeman and received an unlawful gratuity for the miraculous healing and then concealed his sin from the prophet with a silly lie.
Who healed Neeman from leprosy? The waters of the Jordan? No of course! If the prophet sent him to the Euphrates river and Neeman went under the water in the river Jordan he would not have been healed! Neeman was healed from the healing power of OBEDIENCE. He obeyed the prophetic truth and was freed from leprosy. The leprosy was saddled on the lie of Yehazi. What a powerful and irrefutable teaching this story leaves us! Who can dispute that obedience to truth is a sacrifice greater than every other sacrifice? The greatness of truth on earth is noted by Zorobabel in the Old Testament (1 Esdras 4:34-41). The greatness of the sacrifice of obedience is taught by Prophet Samuel (1 Kings 15).
One day the prophet Samuel told the King Saul to go into battle with the Amalikites and slay them and all their animals. Saul went to war with them, defeated them, but withheld as spoils of war, their best animals to sacrifice to God. God however did not want a sacrifice such as the spoils of disobedience. He was visited by prophet Samuel telling him the following very significant words, "Do you think your sacrifices are more preferable to God from obedience to his commandments? Obedience to his commandments is higher than any other sacrifice and his careful attention to God's commandments is more preferable from the fat of the sacrifices of rams. This is a sin which is equivalent to sacrifices being made to idols and such sacrifice brings pain to man. For this disobedience, Saul's lost his title as King.
With these two stories, the truth, more brighter than the sun, teaches us that no one received healing without obeying God's commandments and no one becomes holy with sacrifices that are done outside obedience of his commandments that are given through his prophets. Because genuine sacrifice to God is the humblest of spirits (Psalm 50:19); that is, the spirit of obedience. Genuine freedom for man is knowledge of truth. "Know the truth and the truth will free you." (John 8:32) What however is the truth? Dear reader: as a hospital is verifiable as a healing centre from the good results of healing the sick, the truth is verifiable from the results of its healings. Neeman obeyed the truth of the prophet and saw immediately the results of his healing.
Today, there are many rivers in which people are baptized with no results of healing. This is because their source is not based on truth and obedience. The Jordan river springs from the sources of Ior and Dan. Symbolically, these springs can be translated as obedience to truth. The river today that springs from these two sources is named Orthodoxy. If you want to see the healing results of baptism in this river do not hesitate to follow the example of Neeman. You may at the beginning become angry like Neeman and put reason above faith. Afterwards however, think more clearly, and place your faith above human reasoning. Your faith to obedience of truth will become the joy of your salvation. I wish this upon you!
Gregorian Monk Christodoulos
Cantor at the Holy Church of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem- Palestine

For all those who read this text can you please forward it to your friends for their benefit and in their turn in the same way spreading the word of God to as many of our Christian brothers. Thank You!!
Facebook: Christodoulos Monk
Skype: Christodoylos.monaxos
Those wishing to send names for commemoration in the Divine Liturgy can send them by post to the following address:
Fr Christodoulos
Greek Orthodox Convent
P.O Box 52
Bethlehem – ISRAEL

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