The Sunday of the Seventh Ecumenical Council
Scripture: Titus 3:8-15
The Sermon in a Nutshell
(1) The Challenge of Online Debates
In our democratic society, we all have ideas and opinions, and we often want to share them. However, sometimes we lose sight of the bigger picture and find ourselves arguing over trivial matters, particularly on social media platforms.
(2) Longing for Understanding
Engaging in arguments often leads to increasing frustration. But deep down, our persistent arguing may indicate a sense of inadequacy, a recognition that we may not possess as much knowledge as we believe.
(3) The Consequences of Senseless Quarrels
St. Paul reminds us that when we engage in quarrels over insignificant controversies, it proves to be unproductive and meaningless. We forget that we are part of Christ’s body as we continue to harm our fellow human beings. Ultimately, it only results in division and exposes our sinful nature.
(4) Christ’s Example of Humility
Christ’s willingness to humble himself, rather than asserting his own righteousness against the temple and Roman authorities, led to his exaltation by God above all others.
(5) Fulfilling Our Longing
As Christians, we are called to emulate Christ. Through this emulation, we find completeness and shed our feelings of inadequacy. With Christ, we are elevated and become a part of something much greater.
(6) Evident Transformation
As imitators of Christ, our way of life aligns with our prayers. We demonstrate patience, virtue, and, most importantly, love.
(7) Taking Positive Action
Instead of causing discord on social media, our emulation of Christ attracts people. It shows them that they too can experience transformation by following Christ’s example of selflessness. Thus, the Kingdom of God expands.
Full Text
(1) The Challenge of Online Debates
There’s a famous story that’s told by Aesop. It’s about a young shepherd boy who is tasked with watching over a flock of sheep—you probably know it …
Well, this shepherd boy repeatedly cries out that a wolf is approaching to play a trick on the villagers. Each time, the villagers rush to his aid, but they soon realize he was lying and that there was no wolf. The boy finds this deception amusing and repeats the false alarms.
However, when a real wolf eventually appears and threatens the sheep, the boy cries out for help once more. This time, the villagers do not believe him, assuming it’s another false alarm. The wolf attacks the flock, and the boy learns a harsh lesson about the consequences of his dishonesty.
In this story, the boy’s obsession with fooling the villagers with his pranks on a small scale causes him to lose their trust when a genuine, more significant threat arises. The villagers miss the real danger because of the boy’s repeated distractions and false alarms.
This story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of not getting caught up in minor deceptions and distractions at the expense of recognizing genuine, larger issues—such as building up trust within a community.
Now, we may not be shepherds, but there are times when we also lose sight of the bigger picture, and we find ourselves engaged in trivial matters—especially on social media.
(2) Longing for Understanding
Like the shepherd boy, we often find that engaging in trivial matters can be entertaining and amusing. However, if we’re not careful, we can quickly become consumed by these trivial matters.
I know this may not have happened to you, but when I was younger, during the era when blogs held great influence, I often found myself correcting people when they made errors on fine political points or religious topics. I would engage in arguments with them, becoming obsessed with the need to be right. I spent a significant amount of time scouring the internet for facts and figures to prove my correctness, sometimes at the expense of more important tasks.
Looking back, it’s possible that my persistent arguing was a reflection of a deeper sense of inadequacy, an acknowledgment that I didn’t possess as much knowledge as I believed. Consequently, I felt the need to prove to myself that I could hold my own as an educated individual, seeking to exalt myself.
(3) The Consequences of Senseless Quarrels
However, when we become preoccupied with trivial matters, we tend to miss the bigger picture.
In my case, I was more focused on being right and creating a favorable image for others, rather than prioritizing the nurturing of friendships, community, and trust.
Fortunately, I believe I didn’t cause any lasting harm to others, but my excessive pride did hinder my spiritual growth. I was so busy showcasing my knowledge that I unintentionally belittled others.
And this is precisely what St. Paul cautioned us about. He reminded us that engaging in disputes over “… stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law … are unprofitable and futile.”
When we argue over such trivial things, we forget that we are all part of Christ’s body, and instead, we harm our fellow human beings.
Ultimately, this behavior leads to division and exposes our sinful nature.
In short, we fail to live up to the name bestowed upon all of us, “Christian,” because we aren’t walking the walk.
(4) Christ’s Example of Humility
Perhaps there is only one person who can demonstrate how not to become entangled in trivial matters and, instead, concentrate on what genuinely matters: Jesus Christ.
Throughout his life, there were numerous issues Jesus could have argued over, yet he didn’t. He remained laser-focused on his mission: to endure suffering at the hands of sinful individuals, be crucified, die, and ultimately rise again for the salvation of the world.
During his trial before the Roman authorities and the temple leaders, Jesus chose to remain silent.
Despite being falsely accused, he could have corrected them, offered an unparalleled defense, and proven their wrongdoing. Yet, he did not. He accepted their judgment because he know there were more important things at hand.
It was not his role to rectify the situation; that task fell to the Father, who did so by raising Jesus from the dead. Through the resurrection, God the Father reversed the verdict of the human court that had condemned Jesus to death.
He set the record straight and showed that Jesus was undeniably the righteous one.
Nevertheless, it was in Christ’s willingness to humble himself, rather than assert his own righteousness, that ultimately led to his exaltation by God above all others.
Christ knew that he couldn’t get caught up in the small things. He had to stay focused on his mission. He had to stay focused on saving the world.
(5) Fulfilling Our Longing
As Christians, we are called to emulate Christ and stay focused on what really matters. Perhaps, an exemplar of this is St. Seraphim of Sarov.
He lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was known for his ascetic life, deep prayer life, and humble demeanor.
During his time as a hermit in the Sarov Monastery, a group of monks approached St. Seraphim with the intention of testing his spiritual wisdom. They asked him a series of complicated and contentious theological questions, hoping to engage him in debates and disputes. (This sounds like a lot of internet forums!)
St. Seraphim responded with love and humility. Instead of arguing or getting caught up in theological controversies, he chose to simplify their questions and focus on the core of the Christian faith.
He said, “My joy, I beg you, acquire the Spirit of Peace. When you possess peace within yourself, you will be able to bring peace to others. This is the most important thing in your life now.”
By redirecting the discussion away from theological debates and toward the pursuit of inner peace and love, St. Seraphim demonstrated his commitment to avoiding trivial arguments and emphasizing the spiritual priorities of humility, love, and unity with God. In this way, he was able to guide others towards a deeper, more meaningful spiritual life.
As we also model this sort of love, we find completeness and shed our feelings of inadequacy. And, just as Christ was elevated for staying focused on the mission, we too are elevated and become a part of something much greater.
(6) Evident Transformation
Because he walked the walk, St. Seraphim was said to have been transfigured like Christ.
As the story goes, one day, while he was in deep prayer and contemplation, St. Seraphim experienced a profound spiritual encounter. He was surrounded by a radiant, heavenly light, and his face shone with a brilliant, supernatural brightness.
During this transfiguration, St. Seraphim conversed with the Virgin Mary and received a vision of the apostles Peter and John. This transformation was a sign of St. Seraphim’s sanctity and closeness to God.
As imitators of Christ and St. Seraphim we also seek to humble ourselves and stay focused on what really matters: patience, virtue, and, most importantly, love.
As we follow in Christ’s footsteps our way of life aligns with our prayers, and we are transfigured, exalted into the people of God.
(7) Taking Positive Action
And what happens as a result?
Well, instead of causing discord on social media, our emulation of Christ attracts people because it shows them that they too can experience transformation by following Christ’s example of selflessness.
And, in this way the Kingdom of God expands.
Amen!