Gift for the Future

For most Christians, at least for most Christians living in America, dwelling on the past is considered closed minded. We are taught to look to the future. Sayings such as “The youth are the future of the church,” draw our attention to the future but we cannot have a future without a past.

Brethren, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated – of whom the world was not worthy – wandering over deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

Hebrews 11:33-40;12:1-2

The Church draws our attention to the past every day with the commemoration of the saints. Today is no different. A balanced part of any daily reflection should include, at the very minimum, reading a brief synopsis of the lives of the saints of the day. It helps with the future.

Today’s reading from Hebrews is chosen to honor the Feast of the Seven Maccabean Children and their Mother. What is different today from most other days, is the saints were martyred before Christ was born. These were Jewish martyrs, not Christian martyrs. This is our past too.

Our past doesn’t begin with Jesus, but with Genesis. As such, the Church did not begin on Pentecost, as most say, but with Creation. Everything from Adam and Eve, Christ and the Holy Apostles, and two thousand years of saints, is all our past.

It guides the future too, but not just as history. The past saints, Jewish and Christian, “conquered kingdoms” etc. for us to have the Church today. I invite you to ask yourself, “What am I offering the future Church?” Learning about the past isn’t just for us. It is for the future.

If the saints didn’t sacrifice in the past, the Church may have remained obscure. If we do not offer something of ourselves for the future Church, we run the same risk. Without our willingness to suffer for Christ and Church, our children will be left with empty buildings.

Christ and His Church is worth the sacrifice, if not for us, then for our future. As a practical point, most Churches in America were founded and built but our ancestors. We enjoy the gifts of Orthodoxy because of their sacrifice. What will be our gift for the future?

As we begin the fasting season in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos today, I encourage you to renew your commitment to Christ and His Church. Become a willing servant to the Church. Sacrifice like our past so the Church will thrive for the future.

Increase your stewardship. Increase your attendance. Increase your volunteer hours. Increase your prayers. Increase fasting. Increase your daily commitment to Christ. Increase your sacrifice. It is your gift for the future.