A CALL FOR MINISTRY As the prophet Ezekiel saw the fiery chariot - the likeness of the glory of God (Ez. 1:28), he fell on his face, a sign of his complete inability to encounter God. But God called him for ministry, granting him the possibilities as well as the conditions of work. As God calls for ministry, He provides us with qualifications to realize it. St. Augustine says that God’s commands make man capable of carrying out His work. In full confidence, the minister of God says: “Truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord” (Mic 3:8); God never sends someone on his own expense; or to realize the message of God by his own ability; but grants him all the possibilities of success1. 1- Enjoyment of the experience of resurrection 1. 2- Working by the Spirit of God 2. 3- A feeling of being a steward 3-5. 4- Ministering with courage 6-7. 5- Caring for his personal life 8. 6- Enjoyment of the experience of the word of God 9-10. 1- ENJOYMENT OF THE EXPERIENCE OF RESURRECTION As the prophet Ezekiel saw the fiery chariot, he helplessly fell on his face, as though he was about to die; that is why God commanded him saying: “Son of Adam, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you” (Ez. 2:1). As it is not possible to speak to an almost dead man, he should first stand on his feet, in order to enjoy listening to the words of God. If it is the mission of the ministers of God to bring the souls, dead with sins, to the risen life; it is rather fitting for the ministers themselves to experience the resurrection inside them. This is what happened with Saul of Tarsus, who thought that he was capable on his own, by his human zeal, by his Law upbringing, and by his personal capabilities and talents, to minister to God. Yet, when he encountered the Lord Christ, he fell on his face as dead, and realized that he was nothing. He then heard the divine voice saying: “Rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you” (Acts 26:16). When he rose and enjoyed the new resurrected life, he started to preach to the Gentiles “Jesus and the resurrection” (Acts 17:18). That is the mission of the disciples and the apostles: “With great power, they gave witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (Acts 4:33). The command to rise and to stand on his feet, refers to the importance of working incessantly; as God does not work through the slothful, but through the persistent strife. By persistent work, we carry a divine feature, according to the words of the Lord Himself: “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working” (John 5:17). The prophet Ezekiel was commanded to rise on his feet, to be ready to realize a holy and an important mission. He had been deprived of the priestly work because of captivity; but God is calling him now for prophetical work, to present the divine will to a rebellious nation; to stand in awe before God, to listen attentively to His voice, to realize His will. 2- WORKING BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD 1 See H. A. Ironstone: Ezekiel, ch. 2. 5 The command was given to rise; but how could the fallen creation rise?! We are in need of the Spirit of God Himself, the Life-giver; who grants us the union with Christ Jesus, the risen from the dead; to experience in us the power of His resurrection. Ezekiel describes his rise as such: “The Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me” (Ez. 2:2). He could not have heard the divine voice speaking to him, nor entered with Him into the talk of love, except by the entrance of the Holy Spirit in his life. By that he could comprehend the divine words, experience the divine work, and become capable of preaching by the power of the Spirit. Ezekiel started his ministry by the opening of heaven before him, to see the awesome divine chariot. He trembling fell on his face; and needed the Spirit of God to raise him and help him to stand on his feet. The Lord Christ, on the other hand, started His ministry by the opening of heaven, to let those present know that He is the Only- Begotten Son, beloved by the Father; and to let them behold the Holy Spirit coming down on Him as a dove. He opens heaven to grant His believers the adoption to God, to find for them a place in the Father’s bosom. While the prophet Ezekiel got terrified because, through the divine chariot, he receives the prophecy of divine chastisement; the Lord Christ rejoiced, because, by His Baptism, he proclaims the forgiveness of sin, and believer’s enjoyment of the New Covenant, in the worthiness of His precious blood. 3- A FEELING OF BEING A STEWARD If the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers, is broadly to bring them to the resurrection of the Lord Christ, for them to have in baptism the new life according to the image of their Creator. The same Spirit works in the ministers of the Church, to descend to where people lie in the death of sin, and to set forth with them to the joyful gospel of resurrecting with Christ, and to the enjoyment of the risen life. This is the work of the minister. It is something beyond any human energy; it is the work of God Himself; the minister is only the steward of God’s mysteries. This is what the Lord confirmed; saying: “Son of Adam, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. For they are impudent and stubborn children, I am sending you to them” (Ez. 2:3, 4). God is confirming to him the difficulty of his mission; there is a need for descending to a rebellious, impudent, and stubborn people, taking after their fathers and grandfathers. Who can bring them forth to obedience, instead of rebellion; to gentility, instead of cruelty; to openness of heart instead of its hardness and narrowness? It is the work of God Himself. That is why He confirms more than once: “I am sending you;” namely, it is My mission and not yours; to work inside the heart; to create it anew and grant it life. That is what those working honestly in the vine of the Lord realized. The apostle Paul says: “Let a man so considers us, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor 4:1). He realized that he is just a steward who speaks and works, not in his own name but in that of the One who sent him. St. John Chrysostom comments on this, saying: [A steward carries out well the affairs of his employer; he does not refer to himself what are his employer’s; but on the contrary he refers what are his to his employer... Do you want an example of honest stewards? Hear what the apostle Peter says: “Why do you look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we 6 had made this man walks” (Acts 3:12). And to Cornelius he said: “Stand up; I myself am also a man” (Acts 10:26). The apostle Paul was not less honest; saying: “I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (I Cor 15:10). When some dishonest people opposed him, he says: “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Cor 4:7)1.] The minister, as a steward, works for his employer, and not for himself; that is why St. John Chrysostom was always cautious before love of vainglory and praise; lest he would extort God’s right. In this concern he says: [Surely, the mystery of priesthood will condemn us if we abuse it]; and: [Who takes over himself the mission of preaching, while he harbors such desires (love of being praised), would be chased by pains and afflictions. It is easier for the sea to have no waves, than for such a person to be without trouble or grief2.] This saint, apprehensive of himself as the Patriarch of Constantinople, said: [I shed tears when I see myself sitting on a chair higher than those of others; and when I get more respect than they do.] It is not the work of Christ’s ambassadors to give eloquent human speeches; nor to parade their achievements, and glorify their personal efforts; their work is to proclaim the word of God, and to call for repentance with the spirit of humility and meekness. The word of God is strong and capable; as “Where the word of a king is, there is power” (Eccles 8:4). God is the King of kings; “His word shall not return to Him void” (Is 55:11). Feeling of being a steward gives the minister strength, He would never fear work, even if it seems difficult or impossible; he works leaning on the breast of his employer, whatever the consequences are; as he hears the divine voice: “As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse - for they are a rebellious house - yet they will know that a prophet has been among them” (Ez. 2:5). That does not imply that God does not know whether they hear or refuse, but he so says, to give them the freedom of choosing either; to have no excuse to claim that He condemned them of rebellion beforehand. And as said by St. John Chrysostom: [He did not utter that out of ignorance, but to keep any of the oppressors from claiming that his prophecy committed them to rebellion3.] 4- MINISTERING WITH COURAGE “And you, son of Adam, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are rebellious house” (Ez. 2:6). The divine mission is not easy; as the minister works as though among briers and thorns that corrupt the plantation of God; and as though dwelling among scorpions, subject to their hidden stings. Yet, he should not fear men, nor be dismayed by their talk, or by their looks; He should recall God’s command to Joshua the son of Nun: “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Jos 1:9); And His warning to the prophet Jeremiah against fear; saying: “Rise and speak to them all I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, lest I dismay you before them. For behold, I have made you this day a fortified city and an iron pillar and bronze walls against the whole land.... They will fight against you, . 1 للمؤلف: الحب الرعوي ، 1965 ، ص، 17 .196 ، 2 المرجع السابقص 193 3 In Matt, hom 68 :1. 7 but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, ‘says the Lord,’ to deliver you” (Jer 1:17-19). It is as though He is threatening his minister, if dismayed, not only to stop protecting him, but also to dismay him Himself; as He does not work in the heart that does not lean on Him. St. John Chrysostom presented us with a splendid example of a father filled with compassion, who loves his flock more than the light of his eyes. If one of his children happen to fall in sin, he would feel as though he personally is in a great danger, or in a dark prison, or condemned to get scourged 10,000 times, or to be thrown into a deep pit; That is why he used to cry out to his children, saying: [I can’t bear it anymore! Stretch your hands to help me1.] Yet he was straightforward and brave, used to say boldly, frankly, and without fear: [I am ready to bear anything. Whoever persist on his behavior and disregard my warnings, I shall ban him from entering the Church, as though by the sound of a trumpet; even if he is a prince or an emperor! How can I sit on this chair, if I do not do what is fitting for it?! It is better for me to leave it; as there is nothing worse than a Bishop who does not benefit his people2.] God called the rebellious people, ‘briers, thorns, and scorpions;’ not to make His minister despair or despise them, but to be aware of the difficulty of the task and to be well prepared for it; to say with the righteous ‘Job’: “I (became) a brother of Jackals, and a companion of ostriches” (Job 30:29). And to remember the words of the apostle Paul: “That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as light in the world” (Phil 2:15). Some may object, saying: Why did God call them as such? St. Clement of Alexandria answers: [This is a great proof of His love; as despite His knowledge of the extent of their disgrace, that made Him uproot and drive them out of Jerusalem, yet He exhorts them to repent3.] God speaks frankly with His ministers, proclaiming to them the difficulty of their mission. Although in every generation, they will encounter opponents to the Truth; and they should be prepared to bear pain and persecution; Yet, they should be sure that God would grant them the grace to be capable of overcoming the opposing currents. The minister should be aware that roses do not pave the road of ministry, but it is the narrow way of the cross, that will definitely end in the joy of resurrection. Our God does not deceive us, but He clearly reveals to us the roughness and affliction of the way. God says: “You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious” (Ez. 2:7); as though the minister’s mission is to offer the word of God as it is. They may listen and repent, or refuse to respond to the divine voice. So be it! The minister’s success lies in his honesty in presenting the word of God as it is. 5- CARING FOR HIS PERSONAL LIFE: Although God chose Ezekiel for prophetical work; and knows well his heart and his strife; yet He warns him saying: “Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house” (Ez. 2:8). He feared for him, lest as he preaches to the people to be obedient, he might fall together with them in rebellion, instead of lifting them up. It is as though God intends to .171 ، 1 ا رجع للمؤلف : القدیس یوحنا الذهبي الفم، 1980 ،ص 170 . 2 المرجع السابقص 158 3 Instr. 1 ; 9. 8 confirm to His minister, that he should not forget his personal salvation, or his spiritual life during his ministry; as many have lost their peace and salvation in the course of their human zeal, and their labor in ministry. That is why the apostle Paul says: “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become rejected” 1 Cor 9:27). That is what made St. John Chrysostom’s heart, melting for the sake of ministry, become alert, not only for the salvation of his brothers, but also for his own salvation; saying: [My words are beneficial for my own life, more than for that of those who listen to me1.] He also says: [I am aware of the seriousness and difficulty of my mission; The storms that sweep the soul of a priest, are far more violent than those of the sea2.] 6. ENJOYMENT OF THE EXPERIENCE OF THE WORD OF GOD “Open your mouth and eat what I give you. Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. Then he spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside; and written on it were lamentations, and mourning3 and woe” (Ez. 2:8-10). The subject of his work was the ‘word of God,’ that a minister of God should eat, to fulfill his inner depths, and to become the object of continuous meditation. He should even hide in it; presenting nothing of his own, but what is God’s. Eating the word implies its entrance into his depths, turning in his life into blood that flows in his veins; as though he intermingles with it, and counts it as his life! He eats it and lives by it to offer it to others; through presenting his own evangelic life, as a message to be read by all people. St. John Chrysostom used to offer his congregation an almost daily feast of the Holy Bible, giving special care to the apostolic evangelic word; in one of his homilies he says: [You heard the apostolic voice! It is a heavenly trumpet! It is harp of the Spirit! Yes, Reading in the Scriptures is a meadow! It is a garden that does not only offer flowers, but fruits that feed the soul! We are like those who melt gold they extract from the apostolic mines; but not by casting it in a furnace; but by introducing it in their souls’ minds; not through using earthly fire, but that of the Spirit. Let us meticulously collect tiny pieces of it... Jewels are not valued by their size, but by their natural beauty4.] He received a scroll of a book, with writing on the inside and on the outside; probably meaning that the word of God is proclaimed on the outside by letters on paper; but there is the need for the work of the Holy Spirit, to reveal in the heart the writings that are on the inside; namely the deep inner concept. He probably also means that that book includes on the outside, the people’s sins and transgressions, while on the inside it includes God’s chastisements for the sake of their repentance. The writings, according to the Septuagint version were: “Lamentations, mourning and woe” (Ez. 2:10).The following are some comments by the saintly fathers on this phrase: The Book as a whole is filled with woe on those who would end in perdition, with mourning for the saved, and with lamentation for those in between (namely those on 1 In 2 Thess PG 62 :498. . 2 المؤلف: القدیس یوحنا الذهبي الفم ،ص 186 “hymn, “or “ song” according to the Septuagint. ". 3 الترجمة السبعینیة" تسبحه أو أغنیة 4 Conc. Statues, hom 1 :1, 2. 9 their way to repentance)1. Origen It included two sad things and one that will bring joy; as whoever weeps now, will find salvation in the future; as “The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of the fools is in the house of mirth” (Eccles 7:4). And as the Lord Himself says: “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh” (Luke 6:21)2. St. Ambrose In it was written ‘Lamentations, mourning, and woe.’ The first of these concerns you, if, as a sinner, you repent your sins.The second concerns the saints, who are called to praise the Lord; as praise is not for the mouth of sinners. The third concerns those who are in despair like you, who delivered themselves to abomination, adultery, greed, and lowly lusts; those who assume that death is the end of everything; and that, after death there is nothing else; those who say: “When the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us” (Is 28:15). The scroll the prophet eats, represents all the Holy Bibles, that makes the repentant weep, the righteous dignified, and gives woe to the despairing3. St. Jerome 1 Comm. Ioan. 5 :3. 2 Conc. Repent : 2 : 6. 3 Epis. 147: 3 (See Epis. 122 :1). 10 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF E ZEKIEL 2 I AM YEARNING TO LABOR IN YOUR VINE When You revealed Your heavens to Ezekiel, He yearned to minister to you. Reveal it to me, to make me labor seriously in Your vine. Your heavens are joy and rejoicing; Ministering to You is a heavy cross, But, at the same time, it is joy and rejoicing. How wonderful is working for You, You proclaim Yourself to those working by, and for You. You sent Your prophet to a very stubborn people. But Your Spirit raised him to raise many. Grant me the spirit of resurrection, so as not to fear death. Death has gotten into my brethren and me. But You are the Resurrection itself. You sent him to a stubborn people. And feared lest stubbornness may get into him. Keep me, lest, in my ministry, I may fall and weaken. Keep me by Your grace, and keep your people. What can I offer my brethren? Here I am, opening my mouth, for You to stretch Your hand with the scroll. I will eat it, and enjoy its sweetness, O You, the sweetness of my soul. This stretched hand is Your incarnation. You have given me Your Body to eat, O the Word of God. In Your Word, there is sweetness and bitterness. Make it sweet by Your grace; as I acquire Your divine promises. Grant me to accept Your chastisements, as temporary bitterness, For the sake of everlasting edification of my soul.
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