Being Christ Centered
In a society that encourages education beyond the basics, it can be difficult to see past learning for the sake of our soul. We walk around with ‘a bunch of letters after our name’ to show just how brilliant we were in school. All the while, we forget that life isn’t about us. It is about Christ.
Brethren, lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of Gentiles come in, and so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” As regards the gospel they are enemies of God, for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy. For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. Amen.
Romans 11.25-36
On my mind is the story of Saint Macrina, who the Church commemorates today. It was her influence on her brother Basil that led him away from conceit for a life of humility dedicated to serving Christ and His Church.
Saint Basil was educated by all the great schools of his day. He knew ‘all there was to know’ at the time. It was thanks to his sister that he was able to see past himself for Christ. Without her, the Church may never have had the hospitals and orphanages which he established. We should thank her.
Today’s reading from Romans isn’t about hospitals or orphanages. It isn’t even about taking care of the poor. It is about getting past ourselves. It is about getting beyond what we learned in school and allow God’s promise and plan for salvation to direct our lives.
God established His covenant with His people. God doesn’t walk away from a promise. God Established His Church. God doesn’t walk away from His Church. In both cases, conceit drives us away from God when we think we know better. When we think we are smarter than God, we are wrong.
Sure, I’ve never heard anyone ‘say’ they were smarter than God. I know many who act and speak as if they are. Saint Basil was able to use his great scientific knowledge to help people see the glory and grace of God. We should strive for the same.
Thanks to Saint Macrina, Saint Basil didn’t leave his knowledge behind. He used to it for God and the Church. He didn’t allow science to get between him and God. His used science to explain what we didn’t understand about God. We should strive for the same.
It is time we stop living for education and start living our education for Christ. Instead of allowing conceit to drive our actions away from the Church saying, “The Church is out of touch,” we should be using our knowledge to understand God’s creation. It is still God’s creation.
Instead of using science and learning to be disobedient to God, we should use it to show others how God loves us. As Orthodox Christians we know God is at the center of everything, even science and learning. It is time we start being Christ centered rather than learning centered.
