BECOMING A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST

BECOMING A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST Learning from the Humility of Saint Nektarios   Jesus Christ restores life where there is death, He heals, renews, and raises up. That is what our Christian journey is all about! Healing. Renewal. New Life. Well, we celebrate today in our Church Family as we have the sacred privilege of baptizing two children in Christ, and chrismating two more catechumens into the fullness of the Church. Just like we did back in August when we welcomed 12 new members into our Church Family through baptism and christmation, we rejoice this morning. Yet not only do we rejoice; Heaven itself rejoices. Remember the words of our Lord Jesus when he proclaimed, “There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). This special celebration today coincides with the feastday of Saint Nektarios of Aegina, one of the most beloved modern saints of our Church. And it is not by accident that these two events – baptisms that lead to a new life in Christ and the commemoration of Saint Nektarios - fall together. Saint Nektarios’ life itself is a living icon of what a new life in Christ means, a life of humility, of struggle, of suffering, and yet of deep and abiding joy and love in the Kingdom of God. Saint Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans: “Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, so that, as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3–4) Baptism is not simply a ceremony. It is the mystery of death and rebirth; of death and resurrection. In the blessed waters of baptism, we bury the old fallen self with all its pride, passions, self-centeredness, and we rise anew, clothed with the Risen Christ. In Holy Chrismation, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, the very breath of God dwelling in us, turning us into temples of His Divine Presence. Saint Nektarios reflected on this mystery. “Baptism is the beginning of the renewal of the human being — the rebirth of the soul and the entrance into divine life. Through this mystery the soul is illumined; it becomes capable of knowing God, of loving Him, and of living in communion with Him.” For Saint Nektarios, new birth was not something theoretical but the lived reality of Divine Grace. Each day, he sought to live his baptism anew, dying to the old man deep within and rising in humility and love to become a new creation. Like Saint Paul he could say, “Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Saint Nektarios’ life reflects this reality of becoming a new creation. We know his well-known story, a story which became better known through the inspiring movie The Man of God. (You can watch this movie on Netflix) He was a bishop beloved by his people but falsely accused, humiliated, and cast aside by his fellow clergy. Because of slander by people within the church, St. Nektarios lived for years in obscurity, poverty, and misunderstanding. Through all of it, though, he never grew bitter. He never lived with resentment. He never sought revenge. He didn’t even defend himself. Instead, he prayed, forgave, persevered and maintained his peace. There is a story of a nun who had negative thoughts (logiasmoi) about Saint Nektarios. Why is he such a beloved saint and how did he do all these miracles, she wondered? He wasn’t a great ascetic like the saints of old. He was a simple bishop who really didn’t do anything special. After a few days Saint Nektarios appeared to the nun in a dream and said, “Yes. You’re right. I didn’t perform great ascetic feats like the saints of old, but God gave me a special grace because I suffered terrible trials and didn’t complain once.” Saint Nektarios was maligned, slandered, and kicked out of the Church of Egypt simply because of jealousy toward him. Then when he went to Greece, the slanderous lies followed him. He tried preaching in a village where the people interrupted the Liturgy, yelling at him and chasing him out of the church because of rumors about immorality and corruption. He lived in poverty. Even when he eventually started a convent on the island of Aegina, some villagers falsely accused him of immorality with the nuns and called the local police to investigate him. From the moment he died, however, hundred and then thousands of miracles happened and have not ceased. Why? How? Well, he never complained. He didn’t accuse others. He didn’t hold on to any bitterness. He would write, “Where there is humility, there is peace. Where there is peace, there is God. And where there is God, there is no room for fear.” Saint Nektarios’ entire life radiated the baptismal grace he received as a child. He descended into the waters of humility and rose with Christ in peace and joy. He revealed that true holiness comes through patient forbearance, faithful humility, and long-suffering love. He lived out the words of our Lord Jesus, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” And truly, he inherited the Kingdom of God. “The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence,” our Lord once said, “and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12) Of course, Christ didn’t imply physical violence, but referred to the spiritual struggle, our inner warfare against pride, anger, resentment, and despair. Every one of us who has been baptized in Christ must continue to struggle for the Kingdom of God and take it by force, just as Saint Nektarios did. Baptism offers us a new birth, a new beginning where we become a new creation. Yet, we must nurture this new life through continual prayer and deep repentance, through participation in the Holy Sacraments, and with our acts of humble and divine love. The Christian“’s life is a continual baptism,” Saint Nektarios wrote to his spiritual children. “We must wash the garments of our soul daily with tears of repentance.” Our baptism begins a lifelong journey, a pilgrimage toward union with God. And we don’t take this journey alone but within the Church, with the communion of saints, and with the grace of the Holy Spirit guiding us every step. For those who are baptized and chrismated today, you are stepping into this Mystery of the Divine Life. The angels rejoice. The saints shout with gladness. And Saint Nektarios himself celebrates with you. “Wherever Christ is,” Saint Nektarios said, “there you will taste the Kingdom of Heaven. Let your heart become His dwelling place, and heaven will take an abode within you.” You are now members in the Body of Christ; no longer visitors, nor catechumens but members of His household, anointed as kings and queens, prophets and priests, to bear His light into the world. Carry that light with humility. Defend it with patience and perseverance. And renew it daily with prayer and acts of love. And for all of us baptized years ago, may we strive to reignite our baptismal grace. Do we still live as those who have died to sin and risen with Christ? Do we forgive as He forgave? Do we love as He loves? Do we walk in humility as Saint Nektarios walked? Saint Nektarios shows us the path of humility that led him into the Kingdom. He was mocked, but he blessed. He was slandered yet he patiently endured. He was forgotten, but he prayed. He lost everything, yet gained the Kingdom of Heaven. May his life remind us that the fulfilling our baptism grace is not easy, but this union with Christ is a never-ending journey into paradise itself.