The Voice of Thunder

This evening, thunderstorms rolled through the area.  A nice rain fell, and we give thanks to God for that.

Also this evening, we begin the commemoration of another kind of thunder, a Son of Thunder, whose voice has rolled through the ages and all over the world: “In the beginning was the Word…”  On the 8th of May, we remember the Holy, Glorious, Illustrious Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.  Though he was a son of thunder, he was also a bringer of light.  His Gospel is filled with an abundance of light.  This evening we sang: You give light to all people to lead them to the knowledge of God (3rd Sticheron at Psalm 140).  In a world of darkness, adrift from the knowledge of God, alight came, and St John bore witness to that Light.  That Light is the Truth, and shows us the way to knowledge, knowledge of God, or Creator.

This Light shows us the way, and is also the Way.  And this Way leads us to God, and reveals what is of God.  This evenings readings from the First Universal Epistle of John tells us this much.  If we are of God, we will keep his commandments.  And there are but two: believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another.  Every spirit from God will acknowledge Christ, and every spirit that does not is an antichrist.  Also, we can say that every spirit (or person) who loves is of God, and every spirit that does not is an antichrist.

Our world if full of darkness and hate.  St John calls to us to love one another, and carry the light of Christ throughout the world.  In this we will uncover the darkness, and the antichrists of our age, and be little lights, reflecting the Light, and carry the Spirit into the world, and conquer it.  In faith in Jesus and in love, God dwells in us, and gives us his very Spirit, a Spirit that can vanquish the darkness, and crush hate, and draw others who will listen to the voice of the Father.

To Him is all glory, honor and worship, with his only-begotten Son, and his all-holy and live giving Spirit, now and always, and to the ages of ages. Amen.