Nicholas of Myra the Wonderworker

__________________________________________________________________________________Hebrews 13:17-21 (12/6) Epistle for the Feast of Nicholas of Myra the
Wonderworker
Submission: Hebrews 13:17-21, especially vs. 17: "Obey those who rule
over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those
who must give account."
In Orthodox churches, one may observe the custom of Servers, Readers,
Chanters, and even of Clergy coming to the Bishop for a Blessing before
beginning their ministries at services.
What is the message in these actions? Submission! We are to come under
the orderly and rightful leadership of those designated to rule within
the Church, as they submit to the Lord. Acts of submission demonstrate
respect and readiness to obey those appointed to watch over our souls.
Saint Paul believes that submission is undertaken readily, with
heartfelt delight, "...with joy and not with grief..." (vs. 17). Let us
all - serving or not - have truly submissive hearts toward our spiritual
Fathers, those ordained of Christ to care for our souls.
What is the Apostle's point in admonishing us to be submitted in the
Church? Simply that submission relates to the eternal destiny of our
souls. Saint Paul points to our stance before God when he reminds us
that our Pastors "...watch out for [our] souls..." (vs. 17). So,
consider the pastoral burden. Every Pastor and Bishop will give account
to Christ the Lord concerning those submitted to him. Submission is the
warp interwoven into the woof of Christian faith.
Recall the steps through which a candidate passes during the Baptismal
Liturgy: first, he is asked "Dost thou unite thyself unto Christ?" Then,
"Dost thou believe in Him?" When this desire and commitment is
established, there follows a double check, a cross-questioning: "Hast
thou united thyself unto Christ?" However, observe what follows once the
candidate answers, "I have:" no question follows, nor is a statement
made. Rather, a command is given: "Bow down also before Him." Submission
is of the essence for life in Christ.
Observe further the acts of submission that follow when the candidate
bows down: he kneels before the icon of the Lord. The fact and reality
of submission continues thereafter. Not only is it unprofitable for us
(vs. 17) if we fail to submit to the Lord in our hearts and deeds; but
more - God help us! - let us not be found unsubmissive to Him, Incarnate
as He is in our Godly Pastors. Then we could be judged incomplete "...in
every good work to do His will..." (vs. 21). Rebellion and resistance
are attitudes having temporal and eternal consequences.
How then may we manifest that we are compliant under the Lord? In
today's reading, the Apostle speaks for all Pastors of the Church as he
pleads, "Pray for us..." (vs. 18). Let us ask God for hearts ready to
obey the Lord in and through all our relationships - that we realize a
holy submission to each other that is "...well pleasing in [the Lord's]
sight..." (vs. 21).
When the Apostle wrote the letter to the Hebrews, he was absent from his
flock. Therefore, he asked them, "...I especially urge you to [pray for
me], that I may be restored to you the sooner" (vs. 19). Read the double
entendre here: if there is resistance within us to submit, see how
prayer functions to restore us to our Pastors and superiors the sooner.
Let us learn to watch for resistance, restiveness, or twinges of
rebellion within ourselves, and then to pray to the Lord for a wholesome
submissiveness, so that our souls not verge into serious, mortal danger.
Considering wholesome submission, let us also recognize that there is
such a thing as obsequiousness and servility, as well as inappropriate
domination or lording it over the Faithful, as some are given to doing
(Mt. 20:25-28). Let Pastors and Bishops submitted to the Lord as they
rule, and let the Faithful submit first to the Great Shepherd Himself
and then to Pastors and Bishops as they themselves are submitted to Him!
O Master, unite us to Thee that we may be Thy children, ever submitted
to Thee.