During the Divine Liturgy, one thing that we ask for is to be delivered from all Tribulation, Wrath and Necessities. Now, Tribulation and Wrath we can easily understand why we would want to be free from, Necessities however, are really the big thing though.
There are certainly times and peoples who’s lives are defined by Tribulation and Wrath and we pray for them and ask God to Deliver, have Mercy and Save them from these terrible circumstances.
Most of us though, if we are fortunate, experience very little in the way of Tribulation and Wrath throughout our lives. Necessities on the other hand, are something that each one of us is familiar with and are yoked to from the moment of conception to the very last moment of our lives, for the very sake of our continued existence, not to mention our ongoing health and well-being. Our life is defined, in many ways, by our ‘Needs’ and the ways in which we can satisfy them.
And let me say right here that, to enjoy one something or another is one thing, but to NEED those things is another thing altogether! God will not only provide for our needs, things like food, clothing and shelter, but do away altogether of our ‘Need’ for not only those basics, but for things like water, gravity or to be subject to Time/Space or any of the Laws of Physics whatsoever. God is offering to deliver us entirely from Illness, Accident, Corruption and Death - translating each of us into an Infinite, Unlimited, Eternal Life.
We can begin to enter into this kind of Life in the ‘Here and Now’ as many of the Saints have clearly demonstrated throughout the history of the Orthodox Church if we are willing to walk along the ‘Narrow Way’ as they have…
A life without Tribulation or Wrath is something that we can easily understand, desire and be grateful for. A life without Necessities is almost unimaginable, but that is exactly what God has prepared for us and is offering us, if we so desire and are willing to act accordingly, in such a manner that allows for us to receive such a Great Good Thing. Amen! Let it be so!
Not only ourselves, but all of creation waits for us to take our rightful place in creation so that, "...the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage to corruption into the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God."
https://substack.com/profile/100124894-steven-berger/note/c-47217187
https://substack.com/profile/100124894-steven-berger/note/c-54237909