CALLED TO BE SAINTS
All Orthodox Christians are called to become holy, that is, (“saints” in Greek), for they partake of the holy Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion in the Eucharist. In Holy Scripture, the Apostle Paul addresses the Christians in the city of Ephesus saying: “To the saints which are at Ephesus” confirming their calling was to become saints. In order to partake of Holy Communion we first must first rid ourselves from all sins and violations of the divine law and thus do away with vices and then we can adorn ourselves with virtues. For the Holy Mysteries are offered to us in the Divine Liturgy with these words: “The holy things to the holy (saints.” For there is no other way to become holy but to partake of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. For we cannot take Communion unworthily which is a sin.
To become saints is not for a few or small group, but for all who will to partake for they bear the name of Christ are Christians, called to holiness and sanctity. The heavenly kingdom of God is filled with saints and those who were martyred for Christ. We certainly can clean our mouths and speak only good things and we can cleanse our minds so that they will contain only clean and good thoughts. Our bodies will humbly follow our minds and hearts..
We pray to God repeatedly with this prayer: “Heavenly King and Comforter, Spirit of truth, who are everywhere present and fills all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell within us, cleanse us from every impurity and save our souls, O Good One. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy upon us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy upon us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy upon us.
Lord cleanse us from our sins; Master pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.” Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy. Glory to the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
These words indicate a holy attitude which is the only way to address our Lord, with praise and doxology. In the churches looking at the Holy Doors leading into the altar, we always see in the left side the icon of the Theotokos and Christ, and on the right side an icon of Christ. The Priest celebrates and intercedes for us and we realize that only through Christ and His Mother can we elevate our souls to the kingdom of God
Instead of preaching the wicked nonsense and heresy of ecumenism, the Orthodox clergy ought to be teaching the faithful how to live their lives as saints, for this is possible for all those who make the effort. The early Church was made up of such sinless and sanctified saints This caused the Church to increase continually in members as it spread Christianity throughout the world. In the early holy Church Saints were the norm and the unholy were the exception.
If some would consider this objective to be out of reach, there are methods to return to such a beautiful heritage through the doors of repentance. We live in sins and iniquties because we sin and do not repent We ask God to give us a clean heart containing good feelings, and this will inspire the mind to do the same, then the body will follow and such action, and this will fills such souls with great happiness for they are doing the will of God Each and every one of us are called to become saints!
In our daily prayers we continually call God holy, also the Theotokos and the angels. We seek them as our companions and solicit their help in all things. We are called “sons and daughters of God” and we call God the Father in heaven addressing him as Christ taught: “Our Father”! We call the Kingdom of heaven holy, for who else but the holy ones can occupy heaven but the saints. Heaven is the dwelling place of all the saints and martyrs and hopefully we will all reach that perfect and eternal joy!
Help for accomplishing our goal of becoming saints is readily provided by the Lord for He delights in those who seek to do His will and strive to become saints. Saints have become the minority in modern times, but more help than ever will be supplied to those who at least try.
Living without God and being disinterested is without excuse, for if we don’t pray and give God glory and are not faithful, why do we tell people that we are followers of Christ with the name Christians. If we take the name Christian in place of atheism or paganism we should at least struggle to live a holy life. A vile and evil life is a sure ticket to eternal torment which we should bear in mind as we seek the mercy of God.
Can married men and women become saints? Many early saints were unmarried and today’s married have just as good an opportunity to become saints if they make the effort. Our lives become good or bad as we choose them to be. Let us consider a person who uses bad language. Surely with effort he can change and fight against it using only good language. Another may commit dishonest acts, but he can decide to change and perform only honest actions, accomplished through repentance by our choice.
We all have the ability to go from worse to better or better to worse, to improve ourselves is naturally possible for men, otherwise the Lord would not have given us such ability and the law. If we choose to improve our lives we will find that every improvement gives us more self respect and causes happiness to begin to raise up our souls. For the first one who will greatly rejoice in our future good behavior is ourselves.
We are certainly going to depart from this world andentering the next world we will be judged according to our deeds and faith in Christ and the keeping of His commandments. If we ignore Him and turn our faces away, we can expect Him to do the same to us, for as we sow so shall we reap.
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