Christ Conquers: Freedom from Bondage and the Fruit of the Spirit

Fr. Geoff Harvey reflects on the deliberate contrast between this Sunday's Gospel and Epistle: the two demoniacs enslaved by evil, and the fruit of the Spirit that grows in those who follow Christ. Drawing on the sobering example of Judas, he calls us to stay close to Christ, cultivate one fruit of the Spirit, and bear one another's burdens.

Transcript

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today we have the Gospel and the Epistle. When I first looked at them, I always look to see how the two are connected — there's usually a link. But I looked at them today and thought, where's the connection? It wasn't long before I realised there is no connection, and that this is deliberate. They are meant to show us opposing things. On the one hand, if you follow Christ, you have what's described in the Epistle: the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. But if you follow the devil, you end up like these two demoniacs who found themselves in that terrible place, the cemetery. In the Scriptures, living among the tombs and the graves is an indication of spiritual death.

So the Gospel shows us what life looks like under the power of evil, and the Epistle shows us what life looks like under the power of the Holy Spirit. We have to choose one or the other. We can't just be neutral; it's one or the other. So I've got three points, as usual: Christ conquers, the Spirit shapes, and the faithful support.

First, Christ conquers. When I was in the military as a chaplain, we had stoles with a special cross on the bottom — like this cross here — but around it was the sign "conquer." That was the military chaplain's uniform. The last I heard, actually, was that some were upset by this, not surprisingly, and were trying to get it changed. I don't know whether they have or not. Just as a quick aside, thinking about King Charles, who now wants to be the defender of faith — all faiths, rather than the faith — I don't know how he's going to do it. The Christians and the Muslims can't even agree about the cross on the chaplain's stole; what about the other major things? I'm going to put a few thoughts together in my weekly email next week, so if you want to follow up you can. But that's a bit of a sidetrack. Let's get back to the Gospel.

When Jesus appears in the cemetery, the demons knew exactly who Christ was. The people in the region feared these two men, these two demoniacs, but the demons feared Christ. That's the difference here. Now, in Australia today, I don't know anyone who lives among the tombs. I've never been down to Springvale Cemetery at night and found people in there. There might be people in there, but I haven't found them. And I haven't come across many people who've been possessed — really, really possessed. I've come across many people who've been oppressed, but that's different to being possessed, where you have Satan or the devil inside you.

But we are oppressed by the devils, by the demons, in many ways. Many people are captive to things like addiction — it could be alcohol, anger, greed, despair, loneliness, pornography, or consumerism — along with the relentless pressure of a secular culture that pushes God to the sidelines. These things may not look like the demonic possession described in the Gospel, but they still enslave the human heart. We need to realise that evil is real, and that the Church has always taken seriously the reality of demonic activity. I think it's becoming more and more clear now in our culture, at every level — unfortunately, at every level.

Well, how could anybody get into that state? The Gospels don't tell us how these two demoniacs came to be in that bad state. But there is one example in the Scriptures where someone did become possessed, and it's worth looking at because there are important lessons for us. In Matthew 26 we read: "Then one of the twelve, who was named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, 'What will you give me if I deliver Jesus to you?'" That was on the Wednesday. On the Thursday morning they worked out thirty pieces of silver. On that Thursday morning, Jesus was washing Judas's feet. Judas probably had the money on him. Jesus knew what was going on, but he still loved him and still gave him a chance: "Now, wash your feet. Follow me."

Judas had no excuse for his actions. He was part of Jesus's inner band of disciples. He heard every sermon Jesus preached. He witnessed the healings; he witnessed Jesus walking on the water, stilling the storm, and multiplying the loaves. He heard the Lord confirm that he was the Messiah, the Son of God. He also heard him predict his arrest and crucifixion. But in spite of all these amazing experiences and others, Judas betrayed Christ.

When Jesus told the disciples, "One of you will betray me," John, the beloved disciple, leaned close to Jesus and asked, "Lord, who is it?" And Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And having dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot. Now, after the piece of bread — listen to these words — after the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said, "What you do, do quickly."

Jesus loved Judas, and he demonstrated that right to the end. His last act toward Judas was to offer him a piece of bread — an act of care and friendship. The Lord did not do this because he hoped to avoid the cross. He knew what Judas would do, and he would not interfere with his disciple's free will. But he gave Judas one final opportunity to change his mind. However, when Judas accepted the food from Jesus, Satan entered into him. It's a truly chilling comment. Our Lord made a simple act of kindness and friendship, sharing a bit of food, but Judas received Satan.

Our Lord did not cause Satan to enter Judas by handing him the food. Rather, it was Judas's perverse spiritual state that allowed Satan to enter. Christ would have been looking at Judas when he gave him that piece of bread. The power of human free will was on full display at that moment. God does not interfere with our ability to choose him or to reject him. We are absolutely and completely responsible for our choices and for our eternal destiny, because it is we who choose in this life whether to be with God and follow Christ, or to be apart from him. Jesus neither blocked Judas's decision nor denied him any opportunity to repent.

And this is the case for each one of us, which is why Judas is an important figure to think about, in case we are tempted to betray the Master in our own way. Satan entered Judas not because of the piece of bread, but because of Judas's attitude toward Jesus. We know from other Scriptures that Judas was a thief, and Jesus would have known about that too. But he didn't pick him up and finish him off or kick him out, because he wanted to give him a chance. Yet evil was living in his heart. A small thing — a little thieving. What's wrong with that? But it starts to cause problems in the heart. No doubt the Lord saw that Satan had entered him at the Last Supper, and then, knowing the prophecy would be fulfilled, he simply said, "What you are going to do, do quickly."

If you're worried that there is sin in your heart and that Satan might enter it, you're doing the right thing about it by being here in the Liturgy this morning. And you could do even more, if you're really worried about it and it's bugging you: come to confession, get it off your chest, confess it, and then God will give you forgiveness.

The good news is that Christ remains the same today as he was back then. The Christ who liberated the demoniacs still liberates people today through prayer, repentance, the Holy Mysteries, and life in the Church — or, if you like our mnemonic: confession, almsgiving, fasting, Eucharist, Scriptures, serving, and saints, all under prayer. So whenever we confess our sins, receive Holy Communion — the holy Body and Blood of Christ — and turn back to him, we experience his liberating power.

Some of the prayers of preparation for Communion say, "I tremble when I look upon the Body and Blood of Christ." Why do I tremble? Well, look what happened to Judas: because of the evil in his heart, when he received that piece of bread from Jesus, Satan entered into him. This is why, if you have unconfessed sin, you should not take Communion; you should come to confession.

So that's the lesson, and the application: stay close to Christ every day. This week, try to make one deliberate decision to draw closer to Christ each day. Begin and end the day with prayer. Resist one temptation rather than giving in to it. And if there's a sin weighing on your conscience, prepare yourself for confession. The safest place is to be close to Christ. Christ still frees people today, but we have to play our part. That was the biggest point.

Now, two shorter points. The second: the Spirit shapes. Some people would say "shakes," but I'd say "shapes." In today's Epistle, St. Paul describes what happens when Christ's victory takes root in our lives: the fruit of the Holy Spirit begins to appear. The contrast between the Gospel and the Epistle is striking. The demoniacs were violent and out of control; the Spirit produces self-control. They were isolated from others; the Spirit produces love and kindness, which help us relate to others. Their lives were in turmoil; the Spirit produces peace and love and joy.

The Christian life is not merely about avoiding sin, about not doing bad things. It's about becoming people in whom the Holy Spirit dwells. This is especially important in our fast-paced, secular Australian society. We're surrounded by impatience, division, outrage, and self-centredness. Social media often rewards anger rather than gentleness. Success is often measured by personal achievement rather than holiness. St. Paul calls us to a different way of living.

The question for each of us is simply this: what fruit is growing in my life? When our families, friends, and workmates encounter us, what do they see? Do they see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness? Or do they see anxiety, resentment, selfishness?

Fruit grows slowly. I think some people get frustrated: "I've become a Christian, I've been baptised, and I'm still getting angry. I'm still struggling with this and that." Yes — fruit grows slowly. You can't stand there and watch a pear or a banana grow on a tree; it takes time. It's the same with us. Fruit grows slowly. It requires prayer, worship, repentance, and perseverance. But where the Holy Spirit is at work, fruit will grow, and it will eventually appear.

An old Indian man was once asked, "What's it like being a Christian?" He said, "It's like having two dogs inside you, a black one and a white one." And the person said, "Which dog wins?" He said, "The one I feed the most." Ask yourself this week: which fruit of the Spirit do I need most? Perhaps patience with our family. Perhaps gentleness at work. Perhaps kindness toward a neighbour, or self-control over our words. Pray each morning for that one gift, that one fruit, and look for opportunities to put it into practice during the day. This is the practical way of feeding the white dog.

Now, the third point: the faithful support. In the final verse of today's Epistle, St. Paul instructs faithful believers to restore those who have fallen and to bear one another's burdens. This is an important lesson. The Christian life is not a solitary journey — it's a community journey. We are members of one body. The healed demoniacs did not remain isolated among the tombs; our Lord restored them to human community. In the same way, the Church is called to be a place where wounded people find healing and support.

Many people in our communities carry heavy burdens: grief, family difficulties, financial pressures, mental struggles, and spiritual battles. St. Paul tells us not to judge from a distance. People might come into this church and we think, "Oh, I'm not sure I want to have anything to do with that person." But we're not to judge at a distance; we're to help carry their burdens with gentleness.

For us Orthodox Christians in Australia, this means creating parish communities where people encounter not only correct doctrine and the correct way of living the life, but also genuine Christian love. It means praying for one another, encouraging one another, and helping one another remain faithful to Christ. When we bear one another's burdens, we become living witnesses to the love of God.

So think of one person you know who is struggling. Have a think now — can you think of anyone in your life who is struggling right now? Give them a phone call, visit them, pray with them, offer practical help, or simply listen. We can't solve everybody's problems, but every one of us can help carry someone else's burden.

So, in conclusion, today's readings present us with two pictures. The Gospel shows humanity enslaved and Christ setting people free. The Epistle shows what that freedom looks like when the Holy Spirit is at work: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. As we leave church today, remember just three things for this week: stay close to Christ, grow one fruit of the Spirit, and carry one person's burdens. If each of us does these three things this week, the Gospel we have heard today will not simply remain words in our ears — it will become visible in our lives.

May the Lord who delivered the demoniacs deliver us from every form of spiritual bondage, fill us with the fruit of the Spirit, and make us faithful members of his holy Church. Now to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit be ascribed all glory, honour, and praise, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.