The Fast of Advent, by Father Leonidas Contos
If there is one central idea in Paul, a kind of link that binds his theology to his ethics, that is his doctrinal theology and his moral theology; it is the idea of “newness of life.” Again and again he makes this emphasis: that when a person became a Christian, he literally renounced a former way of life and adopted a wholly new way. In baptism the Christian dies and rises again. As the waters close over him it is as though he is buried in death; when he emerges from the water, it is like being resurrected. What follows this resurrection, this new birth, must be a new life. The Christian does not emerge the same man that descended. To [die] in Christ, then, means to be actually involved in the process of death, that is, the death of that part of us which existed before Christ put His claim on us. In a sense we are continually dying in order to remain alive in Christ. Or, to turn the equation about, if we continue living in the old way even after we have accepted Christ, and He has accepted us, then in reality we are dying in the new life and its promises are us a dead letter.
What are these things that must be put to death? “Immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). The same idea appears frequently, as in Romans: “It follows, my friends, that our lower nature has no claim upon us; we are not obliged to live on that level. If you do so, you must die. But if by the Spirit you put to death all the base pursuits of the body, then you will live (8:12, 13 NEB). It is precisely what Jesus meant when he said that a man should cut off a hand or foot, or put out an eye, that became the occasion for sin.
“Passion” and “evil desire” also must go. A Christian is a totally free person; he has been redeemed. It is as if Paul is saying, “How can a man who has been ransomed by Christ, and at such a price, permit himself to be enslaved by his own appetites and unworthy desires?” There is a vogue, especially in our day, a kind of preaching that has a lot to answer for. It says, “Come to Jesus and you will find rest and peace and joy.” This is not untrue, of course; but it is a dangerous half-truth. Surely we discover through Jesus that God is not our enemy but our loving Father, and that fear is banished by His love. But it is also true that when we accept Christ, or when Christ accepts us, a great struggle begins because other powerful claims are being made on us all the time. We are faced forever after with a new and uncompromising ethical demand, a new challenge, a new standard.
All these things that mar the image and blemish the body are part of the old life. In the new, which is discovered in Christ, they are replaced: with a heart of pity, with goodness, with humility, with gentleness, with patience, and finally, with love which is the perfect bond.
Why is this message put before us at this Advent time? I suppose because the time is upon us when our memory will be stirred anew to the awareness that the tiny radiant child, born on a still night, is God’s gift of newness of life to man. St. John wrote of Him, that He came “full of grace and truth.” He reports that many did not receive Him, did not know Him, because their hearts were empty of grace, their minds hostile to truth, their lives hardened in their earthly nature. But to those who did receive Him, who believe in His name, He brought the unspeakable gift. To them He gave power to become sons of God.
~Adapted from Father Leonidas Contos, In Season and Out of Season: Sermons by Father Leonidas Contos
