Metropolitan Anthony, in one of his works ("The Spiritual Journey"), in the chapter on Bartimaeus, unexpectedly also speaks about today's passage on the miraculous catch, recalling...
Metropolitan Anthony, in one of his works ("The Spiritual Journey"), in the chapter on Bartimaeus, unexpectedly also speaks about today's passage on the miraculous catch, at the same time recalling the story of the healing of the centurion's servant. In other words, he points us to the spiritual closeness of these two events. We must understand what they have in common and make it a rule for our spiritual life. "It is reckless to seek a premature meeting. Therefore the whole teaching of the Orthodox Church about prayer and about conduct in life says: 'Do not seek any mystical experience; in reverent worship ask God, with all the attention and faith available to you, with all the power of hope and aspiration, to change you, to make you such that someday you may meet Him,'" Metropolitan Anthony writes.
Let us not force the Lord to reveal Himself to us. More than that, when we experience something that seems so stunning to us that we are sure this is the Lord giving a sign, this is Him, and it delights us, when we are in a state of some spiritual elation and it seems to us, here it is, the miracle, we must make a serious effort to push this experience away from ourselves, as it were, and try to step back from it. Then, if it really is something true, after our emotional sphere has calmed down, we will clearly see whether there is substance in what happened to us, or whether it is pseudomysticism, a temptation, and so on.
Peter, like the centurion, is moved by a feeling of deepest humility, by his own smallness before the face of God and his unworthiness to commune with Him. But this is precisely what the Lord values so highly, and it is precisely such a person whom He does not abandon.
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1:9 We pray for you - This was mentioned in general, Col 1:3, but now more particularly.That ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will - Of his revealed will. In all wisdom - With all the wisdom from above.And spiritual understanding - To discern by that light whatever agrees with, or differs from, his will.
1:10 That, knowing his whole will, ye may walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing - So as actually to please him in all things; daily increasing in the living, experimental knowledge of God, our Father, Saviour, Sanctifier.
1:11 Strengthened unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness - This is the highest point: not only to know, to do, to suffer, the whole will of God; but to suffer it to the end, not barely with patience, but with thankful joy.
1:12 Who, by justifying and sanctifying us, hath made us meet for glory.
1:13 Power detains reluctant captives, a kingdom cherishes willing subjects. His beloved Son - This is treated of in the fifteenth and following verses. Col 1:15
1:14 In whom we have redemption - This is treated of from the middle of Col 1:18. The voluntary passion of our Lord appeased the Father's wrath, obtained pardon and acceptance for us, and, consequently, dissolved the dominion and power which Satan had over us through our sins. So that forgiveness is the beginning of redemption, as the resurrection is the completion of it.