Divine Liturgy in Star Dojran ( 18.11.2007 )
Today, in the monastery of Saints Maximus the Confessor and Gregory Palamas in Star Dojran, Metropolitan Nahum of Strumica celebrated the Divine Liturgy. While interpreting today’s reading from the Gospel, the Bishop, among else, said:
"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, and he set on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you'. (Luke 10:33-35)
We are all visitors to this world, more or less wounded by the demons-robbers, placed by the merciful Samaritan to heal in the inn – the Church. The innkeeper is the Bishop (or the priests). The good Samaritan – Christ leaves all that is necessary to the innkeeper in order for him to look after, and heal those, whose hearts and souls have been wounded by demonic assault. The Godman Christ left to the priesthood His own personal example and inexhaustible grace so that the wounded visitor could never spend more than that. The promise to reimburse the additional expenses refers only to the despondent innkeepers. Therefore, the only thing left for the innkeeper is to conscientiously continue doing his job for which he has been paid in advance. And should he finish the job as a child of God (and not as a mercenary), spending from his own more than what he was paid for, blessed will he be for making God his “debtor”. God will make him His son by grace, while any other recompense is no longer significant… Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner!"
