Don’t Lose Hope

In today’s world it is quite easy to lose hope. Watching the news or scrolling through your social media timeline, and it seems we are surrounded by destruction and hatred. Around every corner we find so many examples of evil in the world and so few examples of love, we begin to wonder if it is even possible to love today.

As we get closer to the Great Fast, the Church is bringing us to the close of the New Testament Lectionary. Today’s reading from Saint John’s First Universal Letter, for me today, was a bit like watching cable news. I asked myself, “Then who can be saved?” after reading that those who sin are of the devil. We sin every day. Does that make us sons of the devil instead of Christ? What happened to our baptism? Why even bother trying if committing sin is going to be our condemnation?

BRETHREN, no one born of God commits sin; for God’s nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God. By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother. For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, and not be like Cain who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not wonder, brethren, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Any one who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But if any one has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask. – 1st John 3.9-22

Saint John is urging us to take seriously the need for our repentance. I’m sure as you read the above passage, at least one example could have been taken from your life. At least once, you ignored the needs of others, or spoke with hatred toward a brother. Then I read today’s Gospel lesson below and am again reassured of God’s love. Focus your attention on Saint Peter in today’s reading.

At that time, Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them. And when they heard it they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him. And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the passover?” And he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the householder, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” And the disciples set out and went to the city, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the passover. And when it was evening he came with the twelve. And as they were at table eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be sorrowful, and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. For the Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said vehemently, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same. And they went to a place which was called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible to you; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what you will.” And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come; the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” – Mark 14.10-42

Saint Peter, the one whom Christ gave the keys to the Kingdom, denied even knowing Christ, not just once but three times in one night! If Saint Peter was able to again be trusted by Christ, then there is hope for us.

In our sin we betray God, living as sons and daughters of evil rather than of God, which we are. The recognition that we have betrayed Him is what we need to draw upon to give us the strength to repent. Peter went away sad as did Judas, but only Peter repented. Judas gave up all hope, while Peter came to his senses and returned to Christ.

The Triodion is a time for us to come to our senses like Saint Peter. We must first admit that we have betrayed God, and that our sin separates us from Him. Then, once we have the chance to live as His children, we must not “Love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.” Then our hearts will reveal our love for God, and He will restore us as He restored Saint Peter.

When the Disciples said, “Then who can be saved?” Christ answered, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19.26