Spiritual Relations Prevail

About Bishop St. Theophane the Recluse

About "old" and "new" calendar

July 12 (25)

Rom. 15:17-29; Mt. 12:46-13:3

"Whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother" [Mt. 12:50]. By saying that, the Lord lets us know that the spiritual affinity which He has come to establish on earth is greater than physical kinship, although by appearance they might be similar.

There are spiritual fathers and mothers — those who give us birth by the word of truth, the word of the Gospel, as St. Paul says [Cor. 4:15]. There are also spiritual brothers and sisters — those who come from the same origin and grow in the same spirit.

Spiritual relations are based upon the action of Lord’s grace; rather than external and superficial, they are as deep and vital as physical relations, though in a different, superior realm. Thus, they can prevail over physical kinship; the latter could be sacrificed to the spiritual necessity with no regret, in full awareness that the Lord expects and welcomes such a sacrifice from His children.

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