St. Barnabas said this to the new Christians in Antioch, and he says it to us this morning. He knew that there are many who begin to walk on God’s road willingly and with excitement.  Yet as soon as the first obstacles appear, we often get discouraged and fall back into our old and sinful ways.  I am willing to bet that many of the people that heard these words of St. Barnabas didn’t heed them, and when the first threat was made against them, or the first passion was inflamed within them, they turned their back on Christ.  Perhaps some denied Him…or cursed Him…or worse yet, simply ignored His Love and impact in their lives.   

When we read from the Holy Scripture is not meant to be read as a “feel good” story that happened long ago. It isn’t written as a historical account for scholars to dissect dates or political movements. It wasn’t written as a justification for war in the Middle East. It was written for us to enter into it! We discover the depth of scripture by placing ourselves within its pages and within its Holy Words. Christ doesn’t speak to and heal people 2,000 years ago…He’s talking and healing us directly right now in the year 2026! When you read scripture this way, it’s meaning and depth is uncovered in a beautiful and profound way!

Brothers and Sisters in Christ…Be different.  The winds of change in “the world”, even in our own country, are constantly howling.  Right will become wrongs, and wrongs will be made right.  St. Anthony the Great once said: “A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying: ‘You are mad; you are not like us.”

In a very real way dear ones, when we miss a Sunday, we miss the joy of Pascha!  We deprive ourselves of Christ’s joyful presence in our lives!  We deny ourselves the Holy Eucharist…Christ Himself!  We deny ourselves the inner change that comes from the descent of the Holy Spirit.  We reject the peace that can only be found within the walls of the Church and in the presence of Christ…in favor of a war torn, broken, and confused world, that has no answers. 

True and full happiness and satisfaction cannot be found in the world…but only in the love of God.  To think otherwise is insanity.