THE PARAGON Thursday January 19/Feb 1 ns 2024 • St. Makários of Egypt; St. Mark, Metropolitan of Ephesus; St. Melétios of Mt. Galésion - St. Makarios: Gal. 5:22-6:2; St. Matt. 11:27-30 - Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.~ Paraphrases of the Homilies of Saint Makarios of Egypt

Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.

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ASCETICAL

Saint Makarios of Egypt; 

St. Mark, Metropolitan of Ephesus;

St. Melétios of Mt. Galésion

Makarios was an Egyptian and one of the younger contemporaries of Anthony the Great. His father was a priest. Out of obedience to his parents, Makarios married. However, his wife died shortly thereafter and he withdrew into the wilderness where he spent sixty years in labor and struggle, both internally and externally for the Kingdom of Heaven. When they asked him: "Why is he so thin when he eats and when he does not eat?" He responded: "From the fear of God." So much did he succeed in cleansing his mind of evil thoughts and his heart of evil desires that God bestowed upon him the abundant gift of miracle-working so that he even raised the dead from the graves.

The power of humility
His humility amazed both men and demons. A demon once said to him: "There is only one thing in which I am unable to overpower you. It is not in fasting; for I do not eat anything. It is not in vigils; for I never sleep." "But, what is it?" asked Makarios. "Your humility" answered the demon. 

The reward of self-effacement
Makarios often spoke to Paphnoútios, his disciple: "Do not judge anyone and you will be saved." 

The Prophecy
Makarios lived to be ninety-seven years old. Nine days before his death, St. Anthony and St. Pachómios appeared to him from the other world and informed him that he would die within nine days, which happened. 

Have faith, anything is possible

Also, before his death, Makarios had a vision in which a cherubim revealed to him the blessed heavenly world, commended his effort and his virtue and said to him that he was sent to take his soul into the Kingdom of Heaven. He died in the year 390 A.D.

Galatians 5:22-6:2  KJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

6 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Saint Matthew 11:27-30 KJV

27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

"Do you want it or not"

Paraphrases of the Homilies
of Saint Makarios of Egypt

What is the purpose of Christ's advent?  The restoration and reintegration of human nature in Him.  For He restored to human nature the original dignity of Adam, and in addition bestowed on it the unutterable grace of the heavenly inheritance of the Holy Spirit.  Leading it out of the prison of darkness, He showed it the way and the door to life.  By traversing this way and knocking on this door we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  As He said:  'Ask and it will given to you...knock and it will be opened to you' (St. Matt.7:7)  By passing through this door it is possible for everyone to attain the freedom of his soul, to cut off his evil thoughts, and to become Christ's bride and consort through the Communion of the Holy Spirit.  Such is the ineffable love of the Lord toward man, who He has created in His own image.