July: Day 14: Teaching 2: Holy Apostle Aquila

  

July: Day 14: Teaching 2:
Holy Apostle Aquila
 
(Believers Must Be of One Mind)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Apostle Aquila, whose memory is celebrated today, was a Jew from Pontus, who believed in the Lord Jesus, and lived in Rome with his wife Priscilla. On account of unrest among the Jews, Caesar Claudius expelled them all from Rome, and then Aquila moved to Corinth, where he lived by his trade making tents. When the Apostle Paul arrived in Corinth from Athens, he settled in the house of Aquila, and they both worked together, engaging in the same trade. Paul found in Aquila and his wife zealous co-workers; they helped him spread the word of God, joyfully enduring persecution and danger for the holy cause. They followed Paul to Ephesus and there labored with the same zeal. In the Acts it is mentioned that when Apollos of Alexandria began to teach about the Lord, Aquila and Priscilla received him and also explained to him the ways of the Lord, for Apollos knew only the baptism of John. When Apollos went to Achaia, Aquila and Priscilla gave him letters to the disciples there, so that he would be received with love. “So the believers then acted with one mind” with “zeal and a fervent spirit,” serving God with all their strength, with all their means. Ardent love united them; they all considered themselves brothers in Christ and loved one another as brothers. In many of his epistles the Apostle Paul mentions his faithful co-workers. In the Epistle to the Romans he says: “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus, who laid down their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles, and the church in their house” (Rom. 16:3-4).

Aquila and Priscilla were already living in Rome at that time, for Claudius Caesar had died, and his law had ceased to be in force; but they did not remain there long. Having devoted their whole lives to the service of God, they returned to their first labors in Asia Minor and again lived in Ephesus; it is believed that Aquila preached in many other countries and suffered a martyr's death from the unbelievers.

II. Let us, brethren, learn from the example of the apostles unanimity. It is required of us by the unity of our nature and the unity of our purpose.

a) We all came from one Heavenly Father and received a corrupted nature from one earthly father, our forefather. From God we were created in His image and likeness; and from the first man we received sin with all its consequences along with our bodily birth. Hence, with all our differences among ourselves, a unity is observed in our powers and abilities, in our perfections and shortcomings, in our aspirations and inclinations.

This unity naturally disposes us to mutual love, agreement and unanimity. It served as the foundation of families, societies and states. On it depends the mutual philanthropy of people close and distant, and not only the philanthropy of individuals, but also of entire societies among themselves. So do not be surprised if you see unanimity among people: they are obliged to this by nature itself, the unity of its origin and the unity of its powers and abilities. It is much more surprising and unnatural if we notice discord between those created by one Creator and Provider.

b) But besides the general grounds for unanimity, there are particular grounds for us Christians to be unanimous. We have not only one Lord, but also one faith, founded by Him. We are redeemed by one blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He alone suffered for us, died, rose again and ascended into heaven. By His intercession the gifts of the Holy Spirit were sent down upon us and we were granted the strength necessary for life and piety. In such a gracious unity, all of us are adopted by God the Father as His children by grace, we have one Redeemer, one Mother of God who intercedes for all of us, and the same saints of God and our intercessors. Let us remember this unity of ours by grace, in all our divisions according to natural and gracious gifts. “One and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (1 Cor. 12:11).

c) Add to this unity of our sanctified nature the unity of our purpose, and you will understand the demand from us of unanimity in all our thoughts and deeds. We have many cares and worries, needs and requirements, desires and searches on earth. But all these cares, not being satisfied with earthly goods, express the search for the one thing needed. We are all created for heaven and strive for one heavenly blessedness. We choose many paths during our earthly pilgrimage; but we try to reach one haven for our souls and bodies along them. There in heaven is our eternal abode, where we will rest from all labors and sorrows. There, in the house of the Heavenly Father, are many abodes; but all these abodes are only degrees of one blessedness, one eternal life, where joy will be endless for all who desire salvation. These are not earthly rewards, which one is sometimes deprived of if another receives them. Heavenly rewards can be achieved by all together, not by hindering, but by helping one another. They are achieved more quickly and successfully if they use common labors and efforts. Here there should be neither envy, nor hatred, nor strife, nor discord; but there should be complete unanimity, mutual love and agreement. Love has prepared blessedness for us; by love it is received from the elect. But those who do not have Christian love, who are carried away by various passions and earthly thoughts, cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven. Where there is no love, there is no unanimity. And where there is no unanimity, there is discord and enmity, there the Holy Spirit, the Author of peace and order, cannot dwell.

III. My brethren! Be of one mind, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.  

 

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.