Christ is risen, dear Brothers and Sisters!
Since we recently celebrated the Sunday of the Good Shepherd, which is dedicated to Christ as well as to the faithful shepherds of His Church, we would like to bring to your attention a part of the sermon of our Bishop Vsevolod.
This is a small parish. But small Christian parishes are necessary, not only to serve their parishioners, but also to be a living testimony of Christ, such “islands of salvation,” “arks” in the raging ocean of unbelief.
I often say this to those priests who are embarrassed by the small number of their parishioners. Not only to our priests and not only in our country. For example, in Germany, which has long entered the post-Christian era. And the priests feel bad because a very small number of people come to church services.
So I tell them: there is no need to feel ashamed. Because you do not serve numbers, but God. You serve God by saving those He has entrusted to you. Preach Christ to them. Listen to their confessions and, by the authority that you received in the sacrament of ordination, forgive their sins. Baptize their children. And be ready to give “a reason for the hope you have in you” to everyone who asks (1Pet. 3:15).
***
Do you remember, in the Book of Acts there is an episode when one rabbi, his name is Gamaliel, said about the young apostolic Church that “if this undertaking and this work are of men, then it will be overthrown, but if it is of God, then you cannot overthrow it” (Acts 5:38-39)?
Well… You and I don’t have to go far to understand this. We were born in a country that began with the destruction of Christianity. It is clear that Christianity and communism cannot coexist on the same territory. Either one must win or the other. And therefore, in just the first years of our country’s history alone, tens of thousands of priests, monks and nuns were killed. Not just killed, but brutally. They were shot, chopped with axes and shovels, crucified on crosses in churches. And the churches were blown up or turned into warehouses and stables.
And just thirty-five years ago, who would have thought that Christianity was not completely overthrown? But it turned out that “the days of years” that allotted to communism were “seventy,” and it was no longer enough for a greater strength of eighty years (from Ps. 90:10).
And Christianity rose from the ashes. No matter how much we are destroyed, we are here, living and serving in our country.
And even though some parishes are still small, the important part of the mission of the Church is to show that we exist. That Christianity has not disappeared. That the Church has not gone away, has not ceased, despite all the efforts of her enemies. That no amount of persecution, be it physical violence or intellectual bullying, could destroy her. Because the Church is of God. And everything that is of God will endure.
This is what small Christian parishes scattered across the face of the Earth witness to the world. Majority of people in our world are still unchurched. But when Christians live next to them, when there are churches in towns, then every person has the opportunity and chance to come and be baptized and be saved.
Therefore, we should call everyone we can to church, tell them about Christ, Who is waiting for them where He appointed a meeting place for all near His altar.
Why did I start talking about this? Because today’s Sunday is dedicated to Christ our Good Shepherd and us, shepherds of His flock (1Pet. 5:1-2).
Please pray for the Lutheran parishes in Siberia.