On Sunday, January 7, the feast of the Synaxis of St. John the Baptist, Archbishop Makarios of Australia presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. John the Baptist in Parramatta, Sydney.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, speaking extensively about the personality of the honored saint, the Archbishop first recalled the laudatory saying of Christ: “Among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.”
Subsequently, the Archbishop elucidated that Saint John played a pivotal role in the Mystery of Divine Economy, embodying God’s plan for the salvation of humanity. He stressed, among other aspects, that he prepared the way for Christ, serving as a precursor to the Mystery of Baptism, which remains a prerequisite for entry into the Orthodox Church.
Additionally, he highlighted Saint John’s role as a forerunner of Monasticism. In fact, he also referred to the fact that in Orthodox iconography Saint John often appears to have wings on his shoulders. This is because, as the Archbishop explained, Saint John will lead the order of angelic beings that will replace the fallen angelic order of Lucifer.
Focusing on the characteristics of St. John’s sermon, the Archbishop noted that it was not demagogic; on the contrary, it contained elements that made it uncomfortable and bothersome for people. Invoking his well-known phrase, “Repent, for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand,” he emphasized that the Holy Forerunner preached repentance not in a superficial or hypocritical sense but as something essential for changing the way of thinking and, by extension, the way of life.
“Even thought many people,” the Archbishop observed, “confess their sins to their spiritual father, they do not repent and lead the same life. Otherwise, they go to the spiritual father because they want merely to deceive their conscience momentarily.
What John the Baptist meant is that we need to change our way of thinking. Let’s not be the same. To merely confess or accept my sins is not repentance. This is very important to understand and above all to accept it.”
The second feature of the sermon of Saint John the Baptist is reflected in the phrase: “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none.” “John the Baptist was not advocating for the imposition of a law; rather, he spoke of a personal transformation in humankind,” noted the Archbishop, emphasizing, “John preached change, a change that begins within ourselves.”
Today’s great problem is that one deals with oneself only when it comes to good and pleasant things. However, when it comes to criticism, then we are not dealing with ourselves, but we are dealing with others. And often, we only see the faults and flaws in others.”
In conclusion, the Archbishop urged the faithful to study and strive to apply in their lives the teachings of their Parish-Community’s Protector.
He congratulated the Hierarchical Head, Fr. Dimitrios Kokkinos, the President, Kosmas Dimitriou, and all their associates for the God-pleasing work they carry out, for the spirit of love and unity with which they work for the further progress of the Parish-Community, and for their dedication to the Holy Archdiocese of Australia and the Mother Church of Constantinople.
Translated by Thanos Chrysanthopoulos