We Have Found Him!

(John 1:43-51) (Sunday of Orthodoxy)

They had no idea what was in store for them, but that didn’t stop them. They would experience miracles; and martyrdom. They would catch a glimpse of the glories of heaven; and be all too familiar with the suffering that is a form of hell on earth. They had no idea what was in store for them; they knew almost nothing at all. But when our Lord Jesus said, “Follow me,” they did; and Philip even ran to Nathanael and said, “We have found Him!”

Can you hear it? The excitement in his voice? “We have found Him of whom Moses mentioned in the Law, and the prophets foretold.” There’s a joy there, too, as we can hear when the righteous Symeon says, “Lord, now lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.” Symeon had been watching and waiting, and recognized the Lord when He was placed in the arms of this righteous man. Philip was waiting for the Holy One of Israel, and studying the Scriptures; and recognized the Lord when he was called to follow.

The seven holy hieromartyrs of Cherson, who suffered for Christ at the beginning of the fourth century, knew the excitement. Only one of them died peacefully. One, Basil, was bound by the feet and dragged behind a chariot through the streets of the city until he died, because he had raised the son of a prince to life. One was beheaded. Three were beaten to death with rods and stones. The last, in response to a request of the pagan Scythians, put on his Episcopal vestments and entered a fiery furnace, remaining in it for about an hour, emerging unharmed, without even a scorch-mark on his clothing. This caused those who had challenged him to praise God, and be baptized; and this provoked others among the pagans to drown the miracle-working bishop. But all endured, were willing to endure, because they, too, had found Him.

The faithful who suffered at the hands of the iconoclasts in the eighth century knew the excitement. They endured suffering and death while continuing to reverence the holy ones – our Lord Jesus Christ, our most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos, and all the saints – depicted on the icons that had been outlawed and banned. Why did they suffer? Why did they bother? Because they had found Him Who is greater than any earthly treasure, and worth any burden – our Lord Jesus Christ.

Things really aren’t much different today. It’s still possible to catch the occasional glimpse of heaven, if you’re willing to do what is necessary. Of course, one has to work hard to avoid seeing the suffering that continues to this very day and hour – hell on earth hasn’t gotten any better. There are still miracles; and even martyrdom for the faithful. Our Lord still calls people to follow Him.

So here’s the question for you. Do you know the excitement? Have you been called? Have you found Him?

Brothers and sisters! Great Lent has begun. We have entered into the time of cleansing, so that we who are bearers of the image of God but have hidden that image by the stain of our sins might be restored once more to the love of God. We have started the time of preparation, by prayer and fasting, alms-giving and struggle, to be able to see our Lord risen from the dead. Why bother to fast? Why bother to pray? Why bother to give up TV and movies, and popular music, and talk radio, and the like? You can’t do it for long, if you don’t hear the excitement; you won’t do it for long, if you have not found Him..

May God grant to each of us to hear Him call us to follow. May we, too, be like Philip, filled with excitement; and may we also draw others to follow, to the glory of God, and the salvation of souls.