Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: November 2

The Month of November

Day 2

64. The Lord Is Always an Unfailing Helper to His Faithful Servants in Their Sufferings

(From the Life of the Holy Martyrs Akindynos, Pegasios, Anempodistos, and Those with Them)

People of little faith, who waver in their faith, are always especially fainthearted in times of distress and suffering, and cry out: “Where is God? Why doesn't He deliver me from my troubles? Apparently, He does not see, or does not want to see, human sorrows and sufferings and relieve them!” Are people of little faith right to speak this way? Is it true that God does not see, or does not want to see, human sufferings and relieve them? What answer should we give to those who waver in their faith? We will answer as God has put it into our minds, but not with arguments or conjectures. We will answer with actual and indisputable examples.

Once, the Persian king Shapur II learned that the men who served at his court, Akindynos, Pegasios, and Anempodistos, professed the Christian faith. He ordered them to be tied to trees and a fire to be kindled beneath them, “so that,” as it is said, “they might perish miserably through their bonds and the fire.” The Saints were tied up, and a fire was kindled beneath them. In the midst of their torments, they began to pray:

“O our Lamp and Creator, who was betrayed for us, spat upon, reviled, and hanged on a tree as an evildoer; O Master, who holds all things in Your hand! Come now, look upon our sufferings, and reveal Your salvation to us! Look upon our afflictions, have mercy on us, and show everyone that You alone are our God in Heaven!”

And what happened after this prayer? Immediately, the Lord appeared to the martyrs, His face shining like the sun. At His appearance, the bonds fell from the Saints, the fire went out, and the martyrs became completely well. They were filled with indescribable joy at the Lord's appearance, and then the Lord became invisible.

Here is another example. When Saint Katherine the Great Martyr had been thrown into prison by the king and had remained there for a long time, the account of her life tells us that Christ, the Merciful and Lover of Mankind, did not leave His holy bride forgotten. Rather, like a father who loves his children, He cared for her, miraculously sending her food every day. Finally, He Himself appeared to her in divine glory, accompanied by all the heavenly powers, and said:

“Do not be afraid, My beloved bride, for I am with you, and no torment will come near you. Through your endurance, you will turn many people to Me, and you yourself will receive many crowns.”

With these words, the Lord comforted Katherine, strengthened her courage, and encouraged her to proceed boldly toward martyrdom.

From these examples, brothers and sisters, it should be easy to see that people of little faith are wrong when they cry out that God does not see, or does not want to see, human sufferings and relieve them. As we have just seen, the Lord is always an unfailing helper to His faithful servants in their sorrows and sufferings. He either relieves and removes their sufferings, or gives them unwavering patience and courage, so that even death itself holds no fear for these servants.

As for the fact that the Lord does not relieve the sorrows and sufferings of people who themselves have little faith, this does not in any way prove that their cries and arguments are true. The Lord does not relieve the sufferings and sorrows of such people precisely because they have almost no faith in Him and no love for Him. Moreover, they are proud, self-confident, and selfish. God is not a helper to such people in times of sorrow, for Isaiah says, “There is no peace for the wicked” (Isaiah 57:21).

In view of all this, if such people wish to receive God's help in their sufferings, let them first abandon their complaints, put aside their doubts, and turn to God with their whole being. Let them strengthen their faith in Him, place all their hope in Him, and cling to Him with all their heart. Then, without a doubt, the Lord will help them in their sufferings as well. He Himself says, “For this is the one I will look upon: the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:2). And concerning such a person He adds: “I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him and glorify him... and show him My salvation” (Psalm 90 LXX). Amen.

Questions for Discussion 64:

1. By what names did the holy martyrs Akindynos, Pegasios, and Anempodistos address God in their prayer while they were being tortured?

2. What did the holy martyrs ask God to reveal to them?

3. What did the holy martyrs ask God to show everyone?

4. According to the words of Christ, the Lover of Mankind, to Saint Catherine the Great Martyr, by what means would she turn many people to Him?

5. Upon whom, according to the Lord's words, will He look?

 

Source: The Cheti-Minei: Homilies for Every Day of the Year (Book 1: September, October, November) by Archpriest Viktor Guryev. Publication of the Russian Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos, 1896. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.