Christ is in our midst brothers and sisters! Greetings of the Lord's Grace, Mercy, and Peace be with you all on this wonderful and beautiful day that the Lord our God has graciously provided for us! It is truly a wonderful gift from God that he has graciously provided. Let us therefore take a moment right now to give thanks to God Almighty for all the wonderful things he has done in all time. Just to name a few, he created all of heaven and earth in all of its goodness, he created human beings in his image, he created the stars in all their brightness, the moon in its beauty, the sun with its radiant light and warmth, the oceans with all the creatures in them, the land with all kinds of plants, trees, and life. He has truly done all things greatly and with virtue. The beaches, the mountains, the rivers, the lakes, all of creation points to the goodness and glory of the Only God, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, the Three in One, and the One in Three. And so therefore it is fitting and good for us to give God thanksgiving and glory, for he truly does deserve all goodness, for he has created everything with Love. And he is actively renewing the world at this very moment, through the Church and through all who belong to him, who belong to His Son, who are in communion with the Holy Spirit. Let us all always keep these important truths in our minds my brothers and sisters, and always give thanks.

One of the great pillars of truth in all of the Church and Christianity is Saint Clement of Rome. Born around the same time as Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Saint Clement of Rome was born around the year 35 AD, and died around the year 101 AD. During his life, he came to know the Apostolic Teaching of the Risen Christ, through the Apostles Peter and Paul. Clement of Rome personally knew Peter, and it is probable that he spent a lot of time in Rome with Peter when Peter was the Bishop of Rome. Later in life, after doing much Apostolic Work for Our Lord and God, he became the fourth Pope of the Church, the fourth Bishop of Rome in all of Christendom, his service as Bishop of Rome from 92 AD to 101 AD. It is probable that Saint Clement of Rome did write many valuable works during his service as Pope, but today only one survives it all, his letter to the Corinthian Church. Thanks be to God though, it is completely intact, and much valuable information can be learned from his letter to the Corinthian Church. While doing the Apostolic Work of living and spreading The Gospel in a way that was truly blessed by the power of the Holy Spirit, converting and evangelizing hundreds in Rome, he was sentenced to go to modern-day Crimea to work in a quarry alongside 2000 other Christians, because the Roman authorities feared Clement's influence over Rome, and despised his refusal to sacrifice to the pagan gods. While Clement of Rome was in the quarry, working and suffering alongside them, one day all of them were carrying water for six miles, looking for a place to dig. Clement prays to God, and behold, a lamb appears where they have to dig, and once they dig there, a spring came out of the place, flowing with water, to the point that it was a small river. Everyone in the region believed, came to the faith, and within a year, 75 Churches were established in the region. It was a blessing from God. But Clement was found to be despised by the Roman Authorities and was sentenced to die by being tied to an anchor, and drowned. But he never ever disowned Christ, and so because of his faithfulness to God, never disowning him, he now is in the very presence of God, being an adopted son of God, being an heir to God's promises, blessings, and sonship. This is the full story of his martyrdom here, if you are interested in the fuller account.

But thanks be to God, his words and wisdom that he spoke out of inspiration from the Holy Spirit are still here today, preserved in his letter to the Corinthian Church in 96 AD, to which right now, we will learn from.

Saint Clement of Rome was the Bishop of Rome when he wrote this letter to the Corinthian Church. The Corinthian Church at this time was struggling with the sin of schism and division. Clement of Rome writes to them to encourage them to come together again, and heal the schism that has happened, as well as teaching on many key teachings on the Christian faith. Clement starts by commending the Corinthians for their former conduct within the faith, highlighting their brotherhood, their care for the outcast, and their unity in Christ the Lord. They were full of virtue by the power of the Holy Spirit. But then after his commendation, Clement of Rome then addresses the problem, the schism and division that has arisen in the Church because some have rebelled against the Church authority there, and so schismed away from the Church. 

Saint Clement of Rome after writing these things then goes into various teachings and doctrines that are essential to the Christian faith, and offers many good teachings intended to end this schism that has arisen. Before we go into the teachings that Clement wrote in his letter, Clement shows us how to approach the sin of schism and division, in that he acknowledges the good things that the Church has done in the power of the Holy Spirit, and then also firmly but lovingly correcting the people of God there, so as they can turn away from their sin. We can learn to do this to one another whenever we mess up, acknowledging the good things that a person has brought out of Love for God, no matter how small or big they are, and then gently but firmly correcting the person to not sin in that way again. 

Now for the various teachings from Saint Clement of Rome that he communicated to the Corinthians that we can learn from. This is not an exhaustive list, but simply the highlights of what he communicated. 

Saint Clement of Rome does talk a little about the Saints, the great Saints of the Early Church that the entire Christian world looked up to, admired, and imitated. He talks a little about Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and their very Godly examples, as well as a few other martyrs of the faith. He also mentions Abraham and Rahab, as well as Noah and Enoch. Let us steadfastly contemplate those who have perfectly ministered to his excellent glory. Let us take (for instance) Enoch, who, being found righteous in obedience, was translated, and death was never known to happen to him. Noah, being found faithful, preached regeneration to the world through his ministry; and the Lord saved by him the animals, which with one accord, entered into the ark. Abraham, styled "the friend," was found faithful, inasmuch as he rendered obedience to the words of God. He, in the exercise of obedience, went out from his own country, and from his kindred, and from his father's house, in order that, by forsaking a small territory, and a weak family, and an insignificant house, he might inherit the promises of God. These are Saint Clement of Rome's words. These words do not just apply to the Corinthians that he was writing to, it also applies to all Christians in every generation. We are invited to look at the illustrious examples of those who came before us, the Saints, not just of the Old and New Testaments, but of the entire Christian Era. Some great and Holy examples of what it means to Love God are Saint Anthony the Great, Saint John the Long-Suffering, Saint Carlos Acutis, Saint Paisios, Saint Padre Pio, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Monica, Saint Cecilia, Saint Athanasius, and Saint Pope John Paul II, just to name a few Holy examples, from the ancient days, until now. Of course we all follow Jesus Christ, we all Love Jesus Christ, and we are all called to imitate Jesus Christ in everything in perfect humility. The Saints in their own lives help us get there by their Holy and venerable examples of faithful lives. And this is what Saint Clement of Rome is teaching to the Corinthians. So, in the words of Saint Clement, let us all think upon the Holy and faithful lives of all the Saints, and taking lessons from all of them, as many as we wish, let us live Holier, more Loving, and with more Compassion and Mercy. 

Saint Clement addresses the Corinthians' problem that the root of this recent schism has been envy. He makes a couple interesting points on envy that ware worth noting briefly. Paraphrasing his writing to the Corinthians, Cain did kill Abel out of envy for his brother. That was a definite sin. Envy and Jealousy led directly to Abel's death. He goes on to name a couple more examples, such as David fleeing Saul, because King Saul had very hot envy against David. These all resulted in sins against God, something that we really should avoid at all costs. However, Saint Clement of Rome also highlights something interesting: talking about Saints Peter and Paul, he notes that there was very deep envy and hatred towards both of the Apostles from the Romans, but both of the Holy Apostles did not retaliate, but instead Loved God and Loved neighbor in a sacrificial way up to the point of death. And right now, they stand before the face of God, inheriting everything that God promised, including Eternal and Everlasting Life in Union with God. You can see, brothers and sisters, that although the malice of envy, jealousy, and hatred attacked Peter and Paul, they both stood firm in the Lord's Grace and Doctrine, and overcame them all by the power of Love, by submitting fully to God, and Loving just as Jesus Christ did, speaking all of the truth, and responding kindly and lovingly whenever one spoke evil against them. You see then, here is the lesson: whenever one is tempting us to do evil, to be bad, or to sin against God, we need to stand firm in the presence of the Holy Spirit, and overcome it completely by God's infinite Love. In this way, we fully imitate Jesus Christ, and we inherit Eternal Life as heirs to God's Everlasting Kingdom, a Kingdom that is living and real.

Saint Clement of Rome also writes that we should adhere to the one who actually cultivate Peace, Peace not in the way that the world gives, but that Christ Jesus gives. We need to follow closely those who actually plant Peace in the Lord's name, and not the one who merely say they do, and not actually do it. Clement points to Jesus Christ as the ultimate sign of humility, for he emptied himself, taking upon himself the form of a servant, and as the King of the Universe, he served among the poor, the lame, and the outcast, in order to give them what is very Good from God, and to give them the gift of God's Love. We also must remember to imitate Jesus Christ in this way. 

Saint Clement of Rome also writes and comments on the total harmony and peace of the entire universe in a very beautiful discourse on how God made all things. This is his discourse right here: The heavens, revolving under his government, are subject to Him in peace. Day and night run the course appointed by Him, in no wise hindering each other. The sun and moon, with the companies of the stars, roll on in harmony according to his command, within their prescribed limits, and without any deviation. The fruitful earth, according to his will, bring forth food in abundance, at the proper seasons, for man and beast and all the living beings upon it, never hesitating, nor changing any of the ordinances which he has fixed. The unsearchable places of abysses, and the indescribable arrangements of the lower world, are restrained by the same laws. The vast unmeasurable sea, gathered together by his working into various basins, never passes beyond the bounds placed around it, but does as he has commanded. For he said, "Thus far shall you come, and your waves shall be broken within you." The ocean, impassable to man and the worlds beyond it, are regulated by the same enactments of the Lord. The seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, peacefully give place to one another. The winds in their several quarters fulfil, at the proper time, their service without hindrance. The ever-flowing fountains, formed both of enjoyment and health, furnish without fail their breasts for the life of men. The very smallest of living beings meet together in peace and concord. All these great the Creator and Lord of all has appointed to exist in peace and harmony; while he does good to all, but most abundantly to us who have fled for refuge to his compassions through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory and majesty forever and ever. Amen. This discourse from Saint Clement teaches us many things: 1) God freely created everything to be truly good and beautiful, for he is the source of all goodness and beauty, 2) we are invited to have this same way of thinking as Saint Clement has, always seeing things with a pure heart, for the pure of heart will see God, and see God's goodness in everything, and 3) God is truly Almighty, All-Powerful, All-Knowing, and All-Loving, as all of creation testifies to, and we are to live our lives with this knowledge in our hearts. 

Saint Clement also offers some pretty neat analogies as to the Resurrection at the end of the Age in which everyone will partake in. He uses the image of a dry seed, planted into the dry ground, as symbolic of our bodies right now. And when the Almighty Power of God causes the seed to grow into a plant, the plant symbolizes the Resurrected Body that we will have at the Resurrection of the Dead, which will occur when Jesus Christ comes again. The righteous shall rise in a glorified resurrected body in the same manner as Jesus Christ rose, but the wicked and those who participate with evil will rise to their final fate, the everlasting fire. However, do not be afraid; God has come to show us the way through the Son, Jesus Christ. Simply choose Jesus Christ in every option and choice, and all things will be made right for you. So then, the ones who show faithfulness to Christ by choosing him in every choice in life, they will receive the Glorified and perfected Human Resurrected Body, which when compared to our bodies in this life, is infinitely greater than our bodies in this life. For as Saint Clement of Rome put it, the resurrected body is life the plant compared to the seed that it grew out of. He also offers the image of the Phoenix, the great bird that lives, then makes a nest to die, and then comes alive again. This is put forth to help us understand the fact of the resurrection easier. So, with this in mind, let us always do everything in choosing Christ, knowing that we will be resurrected at the end of the age, and so we must be prepared for that time.

There are many other images and teachings put forth by Saint Clement of Rome: Jesus Christ is the source of all our heavenly blessings, we are all soldiers of King Jesus Christ's army, so we are to obey him at every order, we are saved by the Faith of Jesus Christ, which is the same faith that Abraham adhered to. He also talks a little about the Church, which is important: saying that the Body of Christ should have always the practice of brotherly love, that all things in the Body of Christ be kept in harmony, with the Lord's Peace. All in the Body of Christ work together, in harmony and love for one another, for Clement says, Let our whole body, then, be preserved in Christ Jesus; and let every one be subject to his neighbor, according to the special gift bestowed upon him. Let the strong not despise the weak, and let the weak show respect unto the strong. Let the rich man provide for the wants of the poor; and let the poor man bless God, because he has given him one by whom his need may be supplied. And on one more thing on the Church, he says to preserve the order that the Lord has made the Church. The layman is bound by the laws that pertain to laymen. God made the Church as it is, with its structure that God has seen would work the best in people's salvation, and would work best to spread his intimate and infinite Love to as many who are willing to receive it.

The last of these highlights would be his discourse on Love. Let him who has love in Christ keep the commandments of Christ. Who can describe the [blessed] bond of the love of God? What man is able to tell the excellence of its beauty, as it ought to be told? The height to which love exalts is unspeakable. Love united us to God. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love bears all things, is long-suffering in all things. There is nothing base, nothing arrogant in love. Love admits of no schisms: love gives rise to no seditions: love does all things in harmony. By love have all the elect of God been made perfect; without love nothing is well-pleasing to God. In love, has the Lord taken us to Himself. On account of the love he bore us, Jesus Christ our Lord gave his blood for us by the will of God; His flesh for our flesh, and his soul for our souls. In writing to the Corinthians, Saint Clement of Rome, as the Bishop of Rome, urges and compels the ones who triggered this schism to turn back, repent, and come to acknowledge their sins. It is not a condemnation of them when they do so. He compels them to do so, so that they can come to share in God's Love again, which is the greatest force in the world. They will be brought back in Love, received back in Love, and sanctified by the truth. For the sacrifice of God is a broken spirit. 

In highlighting great examples of this great love that is needed to heal this schism and bring everyone in Peace and harmony once again in the Lord, he highlights Moses' Love. At the time when Israel built the golden calf, Exodus 32, which is a grave and deep sin that they committed against God, God wanted to destroy the Israelites, because they sinned gravely and hatefully against God, therefore rejecting God. God would have, after this, made Moses a great nation, the only one out of 500,000+ Israelites to be saved by God. But Moses prayed for the forgiveness of his people, knowing that they are God's handiwork, and completely identifies with his people. Moses hated their evil behavior, but he knew that God created each and every one of them, and they are all created in God's image. Moses would rather perish with his people than have the great honor of being a great nation, for he Loved them, and looked after their best interests, which was to be with the Lord. Clement comments on this that this was such marvelous Love, that he was willing to die with the rebelling Israelites in an effort to save them, than to inherit great Honor and Glory as head of a new great nation. God of course said this to draw out his great Love of the Israelites, a Love that Clement writes to encourage the Corinthians to emulate, and an invitation for us Christians today to Love in like manner as well.

My brothers and sisters, I know that there was a lot written in this writing. But do not worry if you don't understand it all right now. Ask God to guide you, to sustain you always, and to give you the wonderful gift of understanding the Holy things of God. Read this again if you have to, and do not forget the Love of God, but always keep it in your heart. If you want to read his entire Epistle, click here. It would be useful, for there may be things that have been left out that could apply to your Christian life and faith. Know Saint Clement of Rome's teachings, and know that they ultimately came from God. Don't worry, have faith. The Word of God indeed makes all things new.

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The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all always. Amen.