Part 2 Chapter 20: On the Crucifixion with Christ

[尼古拉前执事]

Part 2 Chapter 20: On the Crucifixion with Christ

[Reader Benjamin]

Stavrophila opens this chapter lamenting that she has not become one with our Lord Jesus. In responce the Angel tells her that she has been seeking Christ in the world, in all the wrong places, and not at Golgotha where the cross is, where Christ is.

We suffer from the same thing. how often do we seek Christ in the world, as a matter of fact, how do we seek Christ in the world? Are we looking for His aproval by our comforts? I work in construction, no I'm not a contractor I am barly a carpenter and more of a labourer. The men talk of finding love, in the bars. Many worldly songs, especialy country western, speak of this. But we know that real Love is not found in bars, or in personal adds, or in church groups. Real Love is found in Christ. But this Love is not the instant gratifying love that so many people want, so they leave it be. Our Love for Christ, as it grows, causes us to be compleatly united with Him. Causes us to say as Paul, I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me. Unlike the instant gratification that the world offers, Christ offers us something that will last for Eternaty, the world as quickly as it gratifies it is gone.

So offten we seek for Christ in the world, wanting instant gratification in something; family, freinds, work, school, entertainment, even Church. Our life in Christ is full of dangers, pit falls, destractions, pain ect. It is not easy, and the Holy Scriptures have made that clear, the Church Fathers have made that clear, and the lives of the Saints have made it clear. We will fail frome time to time, well I guess I could put it the oposite way, from time to time we may get it right. But we get up and keep trying, back up and try again, until we are granted rest from our labours, death.

Am I rambling now? We are to be crucified with Christ, united with Him. This will not happen by looking in the world, but looking to the Cross.