Prologue in Sermons: October 11

We Must Read the Word of God, Even If We Do Not Understand Much of It

October 11

(On the Holy Apostle Philip, One of the Seven Deacons)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Many Christians today are almost entirely ignorant of the word of God. They've read and studied everything secular a thousand times, but have never once picked up the Bible. You ask: why don't they read it? They answer: because they don't understand much of it. But that's no excuse, brethren! They don't understand the word of God because they never read it. If they read it diligently, then, over time, even the incomprehensible would become clear to them, and the dark would become bright.

A monk, coming to his spiritual father, said: "Father! I will stop reading the word of God." "Why so?" asked the elder. "Because I don't understand what is being read," replied the monk. "Child," the elder then said to him, "sheep, when they find fertile pasture, greedily seize the grass and swallow it without chewing, trying only to grab as much as possible; and then, having eaten their fill, they chew it. So you too, while you have the time and opportunity, read the divine books as much as possible without laziness, and the dark will become clear to you. For either through practice you will understand the incomprehensible, or you will learn from the fathers and teachers of the Church, or, finally, if there is no one to explain it to you, the Lord Himself will enlighten you" (Prologue, February 4).

That the Lord sometimes uses extraordinary means to enlighten those who do not understand what is being read is evident from the following.

A nobleman of the Ethiopian queen Candace, on his way to Jerusalem, was reading the 53rd chapter of the Book of Prophet Isaiah, which contains a prophecy about Jesus Christ. The nobleman did not understand the prophecy, but the Lord, seeing his sincere desire to know the truth, sent him unexpected help. The Holy Spirit carried the Apostle Philip to the road along which the nobleman was traveling. Philip approached the nobleman and spoke to him. Philip asked if he understood what he was reading. The nobleman replied, "How can I understand when I have no guide? Sit with me and explain to me whether the prophet is speaking of himself or of someone else." The Apostle fulfilled his wish and explained to him the prophecy about Jesus Christ. Then the nobleman believed with all his heart in the Savior of the world and immediately received baptism, after which the Holy Spirit descended upon him (Acts 8:26-39).

The Holy Spirit will find a way to help you understand God's word if you listen to or read it with diligence and attention. He is always close to those who receive it with love and learn from it. Just ask Him to enlighten you, and He will do so either directly or through the shepherds of the Church, to whom you should always turn for clarification when you do not understand something in God's word. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.