St Seraphim Day 2022 Fr. Nicholas Carr

We are remembering St. Seraphim of Sarov, the

Wonder Worker, who was born July 19, 1754, and

died, although yet he is still alive, we know,

in heaven, January 2, 1883. And this day we commemorate

him on the day of his death. prayers of Saint

Seraphim are still of great value to all of us

here this very day. In his life, he lived something

that some of us don't know, and some of us know,

but we can't quite do it. And that is, he knew

that God's plan is always the best plan. and

he knew that God's timing is always the best

timing. And yet, for us in our lives, we can

even acknowledge that and know it in our hearts,

and yet our lives don't match that great life

of St. Seraphim that blessed so many people.

And why is that? Because we trust our own minds.

We think we know better. Sometimes, without even

knowing it, we think we know better than God

knows. God forgive us. Sometimes we trust in

what public opinion is. We want to be popular.

We want to have people like us. And so we make

decisions based on how others will think of us.

And we forget that first part that St. Seraphim

knew. To seek God's will first. Whatever the

case, whenever we do not follow God's plan, how

can it be that we are still surprised when it

doesn't work out right? And yet that can be.

And so as we walk through our lives, let us look

to this wonderful saint, St. Seraphim, who from

his youth chose to follow God's will, sought

after God's will, and through his whole life

followed God's will to the point where he knew

when he was going to die and he was prepared

and he said, let us all be ready for the crowns

we have in heaven and to those that were with

him at the time. and St. Seraphim is the example

for us to follow. Psalm 146 .3 says, Trust not

in princes, nor in sons of men, in whom there

is no salvation. Psalm 118 .8 .9 says, It is

better to trust in the Lord than to trust in

man. It is better to hope in the Lord than to

hope in princes. The words of Saint Tikhon of

Zadonsk. Not all men have the same hope. One

man hopes in princes and in the sons of men.

Another hopes in his wealth. Another hopes in

his honor. Another hopes in his intelligence.

Another hopes in his strength. And another man

hopes in something else. Only true Christians

set their hope on God alone, forsaking everything

else. The latter have true hope, and the former

have false hope, and therefore they have wandered

astray. Let us follow the example of this great

Saint, Saint Seraphim, whose life blessed those

around him. and continues to bless us to this

very day by realizing this lesson and seeking

to live it in our lives, that God's plan is always

the best plan. And let us listen to the Lord

with all of our heart, trusting in his timing,

in his provision, in his protection, and let

us walk forward in faith as this great saint

was an example for us. Glory to Jesus Christ.