St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary - Events - Orthodox Education Day Education Day Articles 2004

A Chosen People in Christ:
Reflections on John 15:16

V. Rev. Sergei Glagolev

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman speaks of chrismation as the personal Pentecost of every one of us. It is the Holy Spirit’s seal and gift that enables us as “chosen,” appointed, elected, designated—one might even say “ordained” and empowered—to live Christ’s presence on earth. We are called and chosen to live this Christ-filled, Spirit-empowered mission:  this vocation of witness and service which completes Christ’s Church—his body on earth.

This Education Day we have been invited to reflect on the Johannine Gospel text in chapter 15, verse 16. We Orthodox Christians see all texts in the all-embracing context of both liturgical and scriptural verses—as well as the teachings of our fathers among the saints who are chosen “to rightly define the word of thy truth.”

Briefly, we can begin with the two “book-ends” of sacred scripture:  the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:6–9) and the Apocalypse (Revelation 17:14). Note that to be “chosen” is both personal and communal (not one without the other). We are personally called to be a chosen people.  In Deuteronomy, we read that God chose us to be a people for himself not because we are the most, or even the best, but because we are the least (in the image of his Son, the rejected, suffering servant of Isaiah’s prophecy). On the other end, in Revelation, we know “the world” makes war with “the Lamb” and we who are “his Church” will suffer with much tribulation—“We who are with him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Rev 17:14). But the Lord Jesus adds through the promise of his saving Passion: “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33)! We are in the world, but not of it.

Perhaps the most beloved meditation on the Church as a chosen people in Christ is found in St Peter’s Paschal/Baptismal-Chrismation Homily recorded in I Peter 2:9–10. Without Christ we are divided and powerless, and live in darkness. But “he who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). Orthodox Christians begin every attempt to do good works with a prayer like this:

Lord Jesus Christ, You have said that with your own most pure lips: ‘Without me you can do nothing.’ O Lord our Lord, with faith we embrace in our hearts these words spoken by you; help us to put this faith into action, fanning the flame of witness and service for the upduilding of your Holy Church, and for the glory of your Holy Name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Baptized into Christ and chrismated by the Holy Spirit, this is what St Peter declares of a chosen generation of God’s special people:  “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God” (I Pet 2:10).

We are coming to the verse upon which we were asked to reflect. But first, our Lord explains what servitude and friendship in Him means. He calls us “friends,” but he is still the lord and master of our lives (Jn 13:13–15). He is our friend because he personally lays down his life for us in his awesome Passion. And, he declares we are his friends if we serve him with joy by loving one another, even as he loves us all unconditionally.

St Andrew of Crete says that holiness is simple; it is sin that is so complicated. Our Lord Jesus Christ—as a simple summary of a truly Christian life—gives us a great commission and the greatest commandment:

Go make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the end of the ages. Amen. (Mat 28:19–20)

The Greatest Commandment is to love God and to love one another as ourselves (Mat 22:37–40).

Set our hearts on fire with the love of Thee, O Christ our God, that in its flame we may love Thee with all our hearts, with all our mind and all our soul and all our strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves, so that, thus keeping Thy Greatest Commandment, we may glorify Thee the Giver of all good gifts!

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit…. These things I command you, that you love one another” (Jn 15:16–17).