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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3:18 Let him become a fool in this world - Such as the world accounts so. That he may become wise - In God's account.
3:19 For all the boasted wisdom of the world is mere foolishness in the sight of God. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness - Not only while they think they are acting wisely, but by their very wisdom, which itself is their snare, and the occasion of their destruction. Job 5:13.
3:20 That they are but vain - Empty, foolish; they and all their thoughts. Psa 94:11.
3:21 Therefore - Upon the whole. Let none glory in men - So as to divide into parties on their account. For all things are yours - and we in particular. We are not your lords, but rather your servants.
3:22 Whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas - We are all equally yours, to serve you for Christ's sake. Or the world - This leap from Peter to the world greatly enlarges the thought, and argues a kind of impatience of enumerating the rest. Peter and every one in the whole world, however excellent in gifts, or grace, or office, are also your servants for Christ's sake. Or life, or death - These, with all their various circumstances, are disposed as will be most for your advantage. Or things present - On earth.Or things to come - In heaven. Contend, therefore, no more about these little things; but be ye united in love, as ye are in blessings.
3:23 And ye are Christ's - His property, his subjects. his members. And Christ is God's - As Mediator, he refers all his services to his Father's glory.