95. SERMON OF PATRIARCH MOSES ON ASCENSION DAY, 08.06.2008
The 7th week after the Resurrection of Christ
In the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit!
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Today we heard a part of the Holy Gospel (John XVII:1-13) in which Jesus Christ had prayed before He went to Heavenly Father. And He said: "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began". It means that Jesus was glorified in Heaven when He went to the Earth to save people: "Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory". In other words, God asked about his status in Heavens while leaving the Earth. At the same time He worried not only about Himself, during this pray, He worried about all the people who were following Him, who believed in the Word which He was carrying. They accepted this word of Truth that this word was given by God. This word allows people to understand the real nature of God. This Word explains that it is easy to communicate with God, but you should simplify your hearts, make your ways level, build your relationships with each other in a right way. And He continues His pray: "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world" - Jesus says that they behold the truly God, - "For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me".
And He prays for those apostles whom He leaves on the earth: "I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours" - He says that He prays not for judges, or alike, but for those who "accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me? I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world". With such way of thinking they accepted and followed Him and even copied His behavior, His words, His actions, they accepted that energy of Him. "While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me", with the name of truth, grace, - says Jesus, - and now "I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name" save this people by the power of your name that they do not die. Because Jesus knew that when He leaves this world the Prince of this world the Devil will start to tempt these people, persecute, divide and break to pieces. And we can see it in reality, the Church of Christ is broken into pieces and its teachings have been changed. Devil could do such things that even children of God fight against each other.
It was very difficult for the God's soul to find the truth. But they believe in God, in Jesus, they have determined in the Divine Spirit - here is the Truth, because here I feel good, calm and blissfully. And there is aggression and hatred. Despite the fact, that they have beautiful golden domes they are not with God. In such a way people of God again search the way to Heavenly Father. And Heavenly Father saves those people with the help of His Angels, as Jesus asked: "protect them by the power of your name".
It can be said about you. God prays for any soul which is present and absent here but that it is saved in the God's Community, that he or she follows God and does not lose the Truth. There are lot false teachings and a lot of lie spread in the world the servants of Devil against your teachers, and a lot of evil which must persecute us. It enables us to be formed spiritually, strong and to be that spiritual family about which Jesus prays and says: "All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one". That they are as one family that they were not divided, that there will be one saving church. Even the Creed of the 4th century which was composed by the Christians (not orthodox or catholic believers, there were no such denominations) it affirmed that Jesus had prayed for the catholic (Ecumenical united) Church , united Church for the development of the Holy Kingdom on the Earth.
In other words, God, through the Creed calls for building the God's order on the Earth, charging the souls and hearts of people with the God's ideology, which make the God's children know how to build the Holy Kingdom on the Earth. This is exactly what we do with you. And you should not give it up; you should do it, because a great number of Angels came for help from God, to save us in His name and to build His kingdom on the Earth. God wants people to learn the Truth, justice that people live on the earth full live in happiness, harmony.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Apostle (Acts, 20:16-18, 28-36):
20
16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he
might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at
Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders
of the church to come to him.
18 And when they came to him, he said to them: "You
yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day
that I set foot in Asia,
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock,
in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of
God, which he obtained with his own blood.
29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in
among you, not sparing the flock;
30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking
twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did
not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace,
which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all
those who are sanctified.
33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my
necessities and to those who were with me.
35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in
this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and
prayed with them all.
Gospel (John, 17: 1-13):
17
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to
heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son
may glorify you,
2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give
eternal life to all whom you have given him.
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true
God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that
you gave me to do.
5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the
glory that I had with you before the world existed.
6"I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me
out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have
kept your word.
7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is
from you.
8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they
have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and
they have believed that you sent me.
9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but
for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified
in them.
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the
world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which
you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you
have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost
except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in
the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
