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Instructions and Teachings
St Tikhon of Moscow, Russian Orthodox American Messenger, 1898–1905
Address Delivered Just Before the Te-Deum on the 27 Aug. (9-th Sept.) 1900, The 50-Th…
During these days we celebrate the 50-th anniversary of the annexation of our State of California to the United States. That this annexation has been beneficial and has brought only good to this country,— it were superfluous to demonstrate: if we were not all conscious of the fact, the present unanimous and enthusiastic celebration would not be taking place. Nor will I enter fully into the question as to what character this festivity ought to bear, to be worthily celebrated. That is the province of the secular population, and a proper subject for their care and consideration. As the representative of the Orthodox Church, and as one bound to view all things from a spiritual standpoint, I merely consider it my sacred duty to remind you that you may not forget God during the present jubilee.
The celebration of a 50-th anniversary is itself a Biblical institution. God Himself commanded through Moses to celebrate the 50-th as a sacred year. (Levit. XXV). In all such celebrations the first and chief thought of every believer should of course be of God, and of gratitude to Him from Whom we receive all, in Whom we live, and move, and have our being (Acts XVII, 28). Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights (James 1, 17). All good things are given us from God, and there are so many and they are so habitual, that we have become accustomed to them, and, from habit, we do not notice, or feel them, as for instance that the air encompasses us on all sides. We value good things only when we lose them, but when we are in possession of them we forget the Lord and all His gifts. Of this the people of Israel presents a striking example. The Lord led them into a good land, flowing with honey and milk; He gave them bread, wine, and oil; they had much cattle, also an abundance of silver and gold; but their hearts were lifted in pride, and they forgot the Savior, who had delivered them from the bondage of Egypt (Deut. VIII and XXXI). The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass knoweth the manger of his master, but Israel, saith the Lord, hath not known Me, but hath forsaken and despised his Holy one and served foreign gods (Esaias 1, 3—4). For this the Lord in His wrath hath cast them off and given His kingdom to others.
My brethren! By the mercy of God we, also, like Israel, live in a good land, a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, of olive trees and honey, in a land where there is not a little gold and silver, and a plenty of all things (Deut XIII). But do we always give thanks to the Lord Who is so good to us? On the contrary, does not our heart become lifted in pride and do we not in our blindness think that all this abundance is the fruit of our own labor and our hands?” What has God given us? Yet He filled our houses with good things (Job. XXII, 17. 18). We must beware lest we, like Israel, fall after the same example of unbelief (Heb. IV, 11), and lest from us also because of this, the kingdom of God and all good things be taken and given to a nation bringing forth fruits, as we read in today’s Gospel (Matth. XXI, 43).
Let us now hasten to give thanks to the Lord for His benefits, and let us pray that He may continue His mercies to them that know Him (Psal. XXXV, 11) and that in the future He, the merciful One, may deliver from all evil happenings His holy church, this city and country, and grant them peace and tranquillity.