Victory Over Worldliness

About Bishop St. Theophane the Recluse

About "old" and "new" calendar

February 22 (March 7)

IJohn 4:20-5:21; Mk. 15:1-15

“This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" [IJohn 5:4], the faith of Christ.

And what does it mean to overcome the world? No, it is not about slaying every worldly person and destroying every worldly custom or institution. It is about living in the midst of the worldly people, of their worldly pursuits, and being alien to everyone and everything. By rejecting the world and worldliness, you have overcome the world.

Now, whence comes the impulse to reject the world? Whence comes the strength to do that? From our faith. Faith shows us all the viciousness of the worldly attractions, kindling in our hearts the desire to set free from their snares. Then, when we decide to escape, to brake the bonds of sin, and approach the holy sacraments of renewal — baptism or repentance, — through faith we feel the joy of a life not of this world, a mysterious joy beyond compare with any kind of worldly amusements.

From that point on, an aversion to worldliness enters into our heart, which in fact is the victory over the world. And by the same token we receive a mysterious power to firmly remain alien to the world — a power which makes our victory decisive and lasting.

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