April 20, 2022

A Lesson for the Soul on Holy Wednesday: Be Loving (Archimandrite Athanasios Mitilinaios)

 
Be Loving
 
 On Holy Wednesday
we commemorate 
the Anointing of the Lord with myrrh by the sinful woman.

"For she loved much...." (Matt. 26:6-16; Lk. 7:36-48)

By Archimandrite Athanasios Mitilinaios
 
Love - Betrayal. The two poles of the heart. You will either love Jesus or betray Him. There is no third situation. No one in history has been indifferent to Jesus. You will definitely have an opinion about Him. You will either wash His feet with the myrrh of your love or you will betray Him with the satisfaction of your ego.

Sinful Woman - Judas. The first, a sinful woman and far from God, reached towards the feet of Jesus, emptying onto them the alabaster of her heart. The second, a disciple and a close associate of Jesus, opens his hand to accept the silver coins of His betrayal.

Sister soul, on which pole of your emotional axis do you stand? The Word, out of love, puts on human nature, to teach you to put on the garment of God, which is love. God is Light. God is Love. Love is Light. He who loves is Light. In the Kingdom of God there will be only one Law: the Law of Love. Or rather there will be no Law. Because it becomes a way of life, therefore one ceases to obey the Law. It surpasses it.

Those who now love Jesus very much here on earth, will then meet clearly the eternal personification of the Incarnate Love.

My soul, Lord, longs to love You.

"For she loved much…". These words of Yours burn me.

As long as I live in this world, I want a reverent candle to shine on the edge of Your holy Icon, melting from tears of love.

Exaposteilarion. First Tone.
I see Your Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Saviour, 
and I have no wedding garment, that I may enter therein; 
O Giver of Light, make radiant 
the vesture of my soul, and save me.