Faithful

Monday of Easter 7
17 May 2010

Last week I spoke to a first-time guest to our church on the phone. She said there were a couple of things that she didn't like about our church: "I don't think it was right that I was unable to commune. And I did not think I should have to be instructed before I could become a member. I am still going to visit other churches but I am looking for a more liberal church; one which teaches more of what I want." I simply said that she should not join the congregation I serve because the last thing you could say about it was that it is "liberal." "You should not join a church that teaches the scriptural truth, if you only want a church to teach you what you already presume to know." The church has always instructed her children in the faith before they were admitted to communicant membership into the body of Christ. The catechumens are to be taught by the church. Ignorance is the only alternative. And that is hardly faithful.

Bishop Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 350-87 A.D.) preached at least two series of sermons to catechumens; one before baptism and the other after. These sermons or lectures are full of baptismal imagery connected with the mystery of the resurrection of Christ. Today we hear Cyril speaking to the catechumens before their baptism. Baptism so connects us with Christ that the divine titles are themselves bestowed on us.

God is called "faithful." We too are called "faithful" by our baptism. Cyril warns the catechumens and us that we may not take this title lightly because it is shared with God Himself. So we must be found faithful to God's work in our baptism. Christ joins us to Himself through the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of baptism. We ought to think as much of it as we do any significant event in our lives including our wedding day, because baptism tells us who we are before God, "faithful." God calls us faithful.

Cyril of Jerusalem

"See how great a dignity Jesus bestows on you! You were called a Catechumen, while the word echoed around you from without; hearing of hope, and knowing it not; hearing mysteries, and not understanding them; hearing Scriptures, and not knowing their depth. The echo is no longer around you, but within you; for the indwelling Spirit (Rm 8:9-11) henceforth makes your mind a house of God. When you have heard what is written concerning the mysteries, then you will understand things which you did not know before. And do not think that you receive a small thing: though you are a miserable man, you receive one of God's titles. Hear St. Paul saying, 'God is faithful' (1Cor 1:9). Hear another Scripture saying, 'God is faithful and just' (1Jn 1:9). Foreseeing this, the Psalmist, because men are to receive a title of God, spoke thus in the person of God: "I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High'" (Ps 82:6).

"But beware lest you have the title of 'faithful,' but the will of the faithless. You have entered into a contest, toil on through the race: another such opportunity you cannot have. Were today your wedding day, would you not have disregarded all else, and set about the preparation for the feast? And on the eve of consecrating your soul to the heavenly Bridegroom, will you not cease from carnal things, that you may win spiritual?"

Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 7.2