St. Theophan the Recluse: Seeking the Truth or Seeking Excuses

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Thursday, November 7 (October 25), 2024
Philip. 3:1-8; Lk. 7:17-30

St. John the Baptist sends his disciples to find out whether He is the One that should come, or someone else ought to be expected [Lk.7:19]He was not asking for himself — he had heard the voice from the heavens saying that Jesus was Christ — but for his disciples.  And the disciples were seeking the answer to this question not because of idle curiosity, but out of a sincere desire to know the truth. 

Such people do not need much to be said; so, the Lord does not say much, but simply points them to what He has done at that time.  His divine works testified to His divinity, and that was so clear that the inquirers immediately wrapped up their inquiry.

And it always happens this way.  The power of the Lord abides in the Church, and any sincere seeker immediately feels the truth and ascertains it. Such empirical certainty resolves any remaining questions and gives complete peace to one’s mind.  But if someone does not want to believe, and, having lost his faith, explores the Church and Christian teaching to find an excuse for his disbelief rather than foundations of faith, he will never accept anything for a satisfactory answer.  Yet his own disbelief satisfies him completely, even though its foundations are incoherent and worthless. If such is the desire of his heart — anything is acceptable.

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