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ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE
ARCHDIOCESE OF
THYATEIRA & GREAT BRITAIN

BULLETIN OF SPIRITUAL EDIFICATION
B ()
31 2013
. . 1277

2nd SUNDAY OF LENT (Palamas)

31 March 2013
2nd Mode. No. 1277

EPISTLE READING

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n the beginning, Lord, you

founded the earth, and the
heavens are the work of your hands;
they will perish but you remain; they
will all wear out like clothing; like a
cloak you will roll them up, and like
clothing they will be changed. But you
are the same, and your years will never
fail. But to which of the angels has he
ever said, Sit at my right hand until I
make your enemies a footstool for your
feet? Are not all angels spirits in the
divine service, sent to serve for the
sake of those who are to inherit
salvation? Therefore we must pay
greater attention to what we have
heard, so that we do not drift away
from it. For if the message declared
through angels was valid, and every
transgression or disobedience received
a just penalty, how can we escape if we
neglect so great a salvation? It was
declared at first through the Lord, and
it was attested to us by those who
heard him.

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Heb. 1:10-2:3

The Kingdom of God is not food and drink, but

righteousness and abstinence with holiness: and
so the rich shall not enter it, but those who
entrust their treasures to the hands of the poor.
This is what David the Prophet teaches us,
saying: The righteous man shows mercy all the
day long; his delight is in the Lord, and walking
in the light he shall not stumble. All this was
written for our admonition, that we should fast
and do good; and in exchange for earthly things
may the Lord reward us with the things of
heaven. (The Lenten Triodion)

GOSPEL READING

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t that time, Jesus entered

Capernaum, and it was reported
that he was at home. And immediately
many gathered around so that there was
no longer room, not even in front of the
door; and he was speaking the word to
them. Then some people came, bringing
to him a paralysed man, carried by four
of them. And when they could not bring
him near Jesus because of the crowd,
they removed the roof where he was; and
after having dug through it, they let
down the mat on which the paralysed
man was lying. When Jesus saw their
faith, he said to the paralysed man, Child,
your sins are forgiven. Now some of the
scribes were sitting there, questioning in
their hearts, Why does this man speak in
this way? It is blasphemy! Who can
forgive sins but God alone? At once Jesus
perceived in his spirit that they were
discussing these questions among
themselves; and he said to them, Why
are you discussing these questions in
your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the
paralysed man, Your sins are forgiven,
or to say, Arise, and take your mat and
walk? But so that you may know that
the Son of Man has authority on earth to
forgive sins he said to the paralysed
man I say to you, arise, take your mat
and go to your home. And he
immediately arose, and took the mat and
went out before all of them; so that they
were all amazed and glorified God,
saying, We have never seen anything like
this!

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Mark 2:1-12

The insensitive man is a foolish philosopher, an exegete condemned by his own words, a scholar who
contradicts himself, a blind man teaching sight to others.... He talks profoundly about death and acts as if he
will never die...He has plenty to say about self-control and fights for a gourmet life. He reads about the
judgement and begins to smile, about vainglory and is vainglorious while he is reading. He recites what he has
learnt about keeping vigil, and at once drops off to sleep. Prayer he extols, and runs from it as if from a plague.
Blessings he showers on obedience, and is the first to disobey. Detachment he praises, and he shamelessly
fights over a rag... He blesses silence and cannot stop talking about it. He teaches meekness and frequently gets
angry while he is teaching it... In front of others he criticises himself for being vainglorious, and in making the
admission he is looking for glory... Out in the world he is full of praise for the solitary life and cannot see how
much he is disgracing himself. He glorifies almsgivers and despises the poor (St John of the Ladder).


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SERMON ON ST GREGORY PALAMAS

oday on the second Sunday of the Great Fast, we commemorate our holy father Gregory,
Archbishop of Thessalonica, who is known as Palams. He became a monk of Athos
where he grew into Hesychasm. In 1333 this was denounced by Barlaam, a southern Italian
theologian, who felt that the idea of man being able to see the uncreated light denied the
transcendence and unity of God. Gregory countered with his trilogy The Triads. For his
pains he was excommunicated, but in 1351 a council held at Constantinople vindicated him.
Metropolitan Kallistos in Act out of Stillness distinguishes five understandings of
Hesychasm: the practice of the solitary or eremitical life, the practice of solitary prayer taking
us beyond images, concepts and languages, the desire for union with God through the Jesus
prayer, the techniques used during the Jesus Prayer and the Theology of Palams. In a sermon
given in December 2012 he spoke about the double aspect of the Jesus prayer, in which the
first part takes us heavenward and the second part brings us back with a start to the
imperfection of our earthly existence.
Consider, then, the quotation from Psalm 101 in todays Apostolos passage: You,
Lord, founded the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish,
but you remain; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle you will roll them up, and they will be
changed. But you art the same, and your years will never end.
These words are applied to the Word of God, through whom all things were made. Christ
is no mere prophet, but pre-eternal and pre-existent. He was active in the formation of our
Universe and far beyond any angelic power. Psalm 109, "Sit at my right hand, till I make your
enemies a stool for your feet" proclaims his supernatural kingship. Orthodox Christians are
entrusted with the supreme insight of the New Testament that God was in Christ reconciling
the world to himself; they witness to the revelation that at the Annunciation God assumed
human flesh without ever ceasing to be divine. As they contemplate this mystery they
reverently used the words of the Akathistos hymn during this holy season.
As he writes about the practice and effects of prayer, Palams draws on such
Scriptural teaching to explain to us our unique position in the created order. We may never
comprehend the essence or being of God, but in devotion may become godlike by being united
to his energies. During these holy days we kneel in wonder when we hear the words The light
of Christ enlightens everyone during the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified. Continually our Holy
Church brings to our attention the ineffable God calling us to share in something of his divine
and radiant light.
How can we approach such heavenly mysteries? Surely by placing our bodies
paralysed by sin at the feet of the Master. In faith we too, like the Paralytic in todays gospel
passage, will be lowered through the broken roof to hear "My son, your sins are forgiven.
Our broken earthly existence can be transformed by acknowledging the divinity of Christ and
reaching out towards him in penitence. In this way we too may experience the energies of God
during this lifes pilgrimage. Therefore, O God, have mercy on us and save us, through the
intercessions of Gregory Palams. Amen.

APOLYTIKION OF ST GREGORY PALAMAS

Orthodoxys beacon, support and teacher of the Church, fair glory of monks, invincible
champion of theologians, Wonderworker Gregory, the boast of Thessalonica and
preacher of grace, intercede without ceasing that our souls may be saved.
ArchdioceseofThyateira&GreatBritain,5CravenHill,LondonW23EN
Tel.:02077234787.Fax:02072249301.Email:mail@thyateira.org.uk.Website:www.thyateira.org.uk

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