Commemoration of Cyril and Methodius 2009

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THE COMMEMORATION OF CYRIL AND METHODIUS

13 May Anno + Domini 2009 (Observed)

"In Our Own Language”

Gen. 11:1-9; Eph. 3:1-7; Mark 16:15-20

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

"And [Jesus] said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation'” (Mark 16:15).  And so it is that the Apostolic Word and Sacrament Ministry instituted by Jesus made its way even to the Slavic peoples in the 9th century.  The brothers Cyril and Methodius were sent to the Slavs by the emperor more as ambassadors for political reasons than missionaries.  But, God had other plans for these faithful brothers.  He used them in a powerful way to proclaim the Gospel to the people there.  And, these saints went above and beyond their call of duty, for not only were the intent on proclaiming the Gospel to a people that remained in darkness, but they saw to it that the people were able to hear and read the Gospel in their own language.  This was revolutionary, to put it mildly.  In times past, when the Church sent missionaries, the missionaries worked fervently at teaching the people to understand the language of the Church.  But, these brothers set a precedent for a new paradigm of doing mission work.  They took the time to learn the language of the people, so that the people might hear the Gospel in their own language and, thus, be able to, in turn, readily proclaim that same Gospel to others.  And all of this in hostile, enemy territory. 

Truly these saints are an example of what Christ meant when He said, "Love your enemies.”  They loved the Slavs enough to put the language of salvation into the vernacular, that they might more readily receive it.  And, in so doing, the old way of doing missions was greatly improved.  The principle was established that it was much easier and far more proficient for people to learn God's Word in their own language rather than having to learn a new language first. 

That seems like a no-brainer to us, doesn't it?  But, that's only because we're guilty of taking the great blessing of having the Scriptures in our own language for granted.  We really don't know any different, do we?  We don't know what it's like to not have the Scriptures readily available to us in our own language, so that we can sit and read them whenever we like.  Repent, dear friends.  Do not take this for granted.  It is a great blessing indeed that we have the mystery of the Gospel made readily available to us today.  Give thanks and praise to our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for sending saints like Cyril and Methodius, and all those who followed in their footsteps, to put His Holy Gospel into the vernacular.

What if the Gospel was proclaimed to you like this:

"ou3twj ga0r h0ga/phsen o9 qeo\j to\n ko/smon, w3ste to\n ui9o\n to\n monogenh= e1dwken, i3na pa=j o9 pisteu/wn ei0j au0to\n mh\ a0po/lhtai a0ll 0 e1xh| zwh\n ai0w/nion.”

That's the Gospel in a nutshell.  That's John 3:16 in Greek.  You know the verse well:  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”  You know that Gospel because it has been proclaimed to you in your own language.  Thanks be to God for that, dear friends.  For you know that you have a Savior in Jesus Christ; that He lived, died, rose, and ascended for you, that you may be forgiven, have life in His name, and eternal salvation in His Kingdom, which has no end. 

Thus, we commemorate Saints Cyril and Methodius today, praising God that He has seen fit to deliver the Good News of His eternal plan of salvation accomplished by His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, into our ears, hearts, and minds, in a language we readily understand.  And, He says to you, dear friends, again, loudly and clearly this night, "Come and taste the mystery of the Gospel as you eat and drink My very Body and Blood, that you may be forgiven of all your sins and strengthened in the one, true faith, unto life everlasting.”  In Jesus' Holy and Precious Name.  Amen.

Now the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, unto life everlasting.  Amen.