One More Episode

Passages: Is. 38:1-8; Heb. 1:1-14; Lk. 17:1-10
Ընթերցուածքներ՝ Եսայ. ԼԹ 1-8; Եբր. Ա 1-14; Ղկ. ԺԷ 1-10

In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen!

Many years ago, if you wanted to know what show or movie was on TV, you had to read the TV Digest, which was mailed to your door. Eventually, as technology developed, with the click of the remote the TV Guide menu began showcasing the next show and time. You could see and pick a channel based on the show or movie you liked but not the time or episode of a particular show. Today, with all so many streaming platforms we have the option to pick and choose when and what we want to watch. Not only that, but we can find entire seasons, or series of shows, episode after episode, one after another. The truth is we all know that when we start watching, there is no such thing as “just one more episode.” We enjoy watching an episode or two, which too soon becomes a few. Occasionally this can lead us into binging an entire season in a single sitting. In the Gospel today we read, “Temptations to sin are sure to come…” Does this mean binging an entire season of our favorite show is sinful? No, of course not!

Yet, my dears, binging begins with the temptation of indulging. And when we binge, what happens? Not just movies or shows, but when we binge on our favorite shows, food, alcohol, shopping, etc. what eventually happens? Whether we recognize it or not, we begin to prioritize immediate gratification over planned activities or responsibilities. We want what gives us that momentary pleasure and, in the morning, or the next day, we’re too tired, to full, to broke, have too much of a headache and we are caught unprepared when it comes time for planned activities, responsibilities, in other words, the more important and substantive things in life. This is where the “sinfulness” lies.

Among the 7 deadly sins, which we read every Sunday, we find slothfulness and gluttony. Another word for slothfulness is Lazy! And it is interesting that these 2 are listed back-to-back. This is because my dear brothers and sisters, when we fall into gluttony, the temporary thrill and fill, we become lazy; when we fall into bad habits such as binging on food, movies, or perhaps when we overindulge on even healthier things like socializing, or focusing on material wealth, we can become complacent, passively careless and ultimately lazy. We begin to prioritize immediate gratification over what is truly valuable. Food, TV, movies, material goods, our friends and leisure are not bad or sinful. Yet, when we choose to give into desire, into the temptation of overindulgence, of gluttony, we casually, often subconsciously, become lazy. This is the distinction that Christ makes – that temptations are unavoidable. Temptations come from good things, and bad things; Temptations can be mental, physical, psychological or emotional; temptations come from internal issues and also external influences. Yet, when we begin allowing temptation to fester and become desire, when we begin to chase the temporal, then we are caught unprepared, we become lazy, unwilling and careless – we fall into sinfulness.

Perhaps my dears, binging on a few episodes of our favorite show, overindulging in dessert or spending too much time on social media isn’t the end of the world or the beginning of our sinful life. Yet, how often do we struggle with real temptations and difficulties? How often do we question God’s love, or presents, our faith and the importance of our relationship with God in more serious times? Though perhaps childish and simple, our attitude and approach to the most basic things like how we watch television, directly impacts our readiness and strength for the harder challenges we face. That is why Christ tells us that if we have faith even as small as a mustard seed we can move mountains and trees; we can have direction and control. In the smallest things in life we prepare for the larger difficulties we will face.

St. Maximus the Confessor says, “Sometimes men are tested by pleasure, sometimes by distress or by physical suffering. By means of His prescriptions the Physician of souls [God] administers the remedy according to the cause of the passions lying hidden in the soul.” This means yes, in this sinful world we face temptations. But these temptations can lead to preparation. God does not send temptations our way but provides us with the tools, the remedy to overcome. God helps us heal at the root of our pain and brokenness hidden in our soul that causes us to fall to the temptations that lead to sin, such as gluttony, arrogance, hatred, addiction, pornography, gossip, or looking down on others. Sadly, because we have allowed laziness and gluttony to penetrate our hearts and minds in the simplest of things, we have also become blinded to the deeper pains of our life, leaving us unprepared for the larger challenges ahead. Yet, even so God does not abandon us; God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ comes into this world of temptations and through His death on the Cross and Resurrection reminds us that sin and the penalty of sin does not have the final verdict for us, who, even in times of laziness, are called to turn and recognize a need for God.

Admiral William H. McRaven, in his book “Make Your Bed” emphasizes that making your bed is a small accomplishment that can encourage you to do more throughout the day. To take this further, not having the last slice of pizza, not spending an entire day behind a screen, putting down our phones, truly watching “just one more episode” directly impacts our ability to overcome greater challenges. When we direct our time towards prayer, towards repentance, when we spend time preparing our heart, soul and mind not just intellectually but also spiritually in Communion with God, than we are prepared and when we do face real challenges, when we face real temptation, we will overcome.

My dears, what choices do we make each and every day that can impact how we grow and move forward? In the Evangelical Churches, when someone is preparing to be baptized, they will give a testimony and tell their story of how they came to believe in Christ. They will speak about the beautiful moment of how they asked Christ Jesus to be a part of their life and through Him they found healing and strength. In the Orthodox Church we don’t have this “moment of testimony.” This is not a criticism of our Evangelical Christian brothers and sisters but rather, in the Orthodox Church we recognize that every moment, every decision, every breath, every social interaction, every time we get out of bed, every relationship we make, every time we eat, every time we watch a show or go somewhere, sit in our car, every moment is another moment for us to either respond to God in our life or to succumb to temptations and fall into sin. It is these small moments my dears that prepare us, keep us alert, drive out laziness and fear, dissipate hopelessness and anxiety from us so that when we face real temptations, when we face darkness in our life, we will be prepared with the love, hope and faith in God.

So, my dears, next time we want to watch “just one more episode” or “have one more slice”, let us pause and reflect on where and what we are putting our energy, and hope into. Does the momentary and temporary satisfaction truly outweigh the blessings and love of our Heavenly Father? Does the momentary satisfaction and immediate gratification prepare us for what is to come? I pray we place our hope and faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who equips and strengthens us through the Holy Spirit by illuminating and removing our real pain. Let us all pray that if there is darkness and temptation in each other’s lives, that God will illuminate us and prepare us to overcome. By the intercession of our Saints, and the grace of the Holy Spirit, let us also lift each other up in prayer, and place our hope in Christ Jesus in every moment and every opportunity, now and always, Amen!