This is Life!: Revolutions Around the Cruciform Axis

The Intercessions of St. John the Wonderworker

First, a little background. I first learned of St. John (Maximovitch) the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco from the first edition of the Seraphim Rose biography, Not of This World, and from the hagiographical book put out by the St. Herman Brotherhood, Blessed John the Wonderworker. St. John reposed on July 2 (June 19 Old Calendar), 1966, and was canonized June 19 (Old Calendar), 1994. (An account of the examination of the incorrupt remains of St. John can be found in the appendix to the volume Man of God [Nikodemos Orthodox Publication Society, 1994], excerpts of which can be found here.)

Recently (that is to say, since March), I have been reading the accounts of the life of St. John in the aforementioned Blessed John the Wonderworker, Man of God, and a small pamphlet entitled St. John the Wonderworker. Moved by the accounts of the sanctity of St. John's life, and of the efficacy of his intercessions, in the last few weeks I decided to ask St. John's intercessions that I would be able to secure an income adequate to provide for my family's needs. Being a graduate student in philosophy and the sole source of income for our home, this has weighed heavily on me.

I am convinced that through St. John's intercessions I became aware of no less than three job possibilities since I first started to ask his prayers: assisting another graduate student in the completion of a rough draft for a research project (and the initial editing of that project); a second part-time job through the university library where I work; and teaching a summer class. That last (teaching a summer class) I had completely given up on prior to asking St. John's prayers. Then, through a chance call to ask a professor for letter of reference I was asked if I were still available to teach. I said yes, and after some waiting was given confirmation this past week, that I do have a summer class to teach (an ethics course).

But perhaps the most timely answer to my prayer requests is exemplified by the events that happened yesterday. I was really sweating our financial situation. I figured that our tax refund (a helpfully sizable amount) would arrive near the first of June, since we had sent it on tax day and not before. But I was hopeful that if I got the second part-time job at the university library I would start by mid-May. However, at my interview last week, it was clear that even if I were offered the job (not a done deal, I shouldn't have to note), the offer would not come before the first week of June. This left the last half of May without any additional income. I just got my last check for teaching at Loyola, and this week will be my last check for teaching at Oakton. The only other income would be the few hundred dollars I get bi-weekly at my current part-time job. And there was rent, bills, groceries . . .

I was sweating it. So, with a much stronger sense of desperation, I again today asked St. John's intercessions. I didn't ask for money to fall out of the sky, nor did I buy a lottery ticket. I simply asked for wisdom, discernment, and ready hands. I thought maybe the parish could have some odd jobs I might be able to do. Maybe the research project writing job would come through. But there was nothing definite. So I just prayed and tried to be attentive to what God was doing, and willing to follow him wherever the path lay.

Yesterday afternoon, not twelve hours after I'd asked St. John's prayers, I opened the mailbox to find therein our much-anticipated tax refund. My first response was only, "Praise the Lord."

I still don't know what I will do if I don't get the other part-time job. And if the research project writing job comes through that will help a lot. Then there's the whole question of income for the fall semester. But God has been faithful thus far, and St. John's intercessions have been both timely and efficacious. My faith is being strengthened, and these things are a witness to my wife and daughter. (In fact, when we got the check, one of the first things I blurted out to Sofie and Anna was, "See! The saints do pray for us!")

Glory be to God! And may his saints, especially St. John, be honored among us!

Troparion (Tone 5)
Thy care for thy flock in its sojourn has prefigured the supplications which thou didst ever offer up for the whole world. Thus do we believe, having come to know thy love, O holy hierarch and wonder-worker John. Wholly sanctified by God through the ministry of the all-pure Mysteries, and thyself strengthened thereby, thou didst hasten unto suffering, O most gladsome healer--hasten now also to the aid of us who honor thee with all our heart.

Kontakion (Tone 4)
Thy heart hath gone out to all who entreat thee with love, O holy hierarch John, and who remember the struggle of thy whole industrious life, and thy painless and easy repose, O faithful servant of the all-pure Directress.

Troparion (Tone 6)
Glorious apostle to an age of coldness and unbelief, invested with the grace-filled power of the saints of old, divinely-illumined seer of heavenly mysteries, , feeder of orphans, hope of the hopeless, thou didst enkindle on earth the fire of love for Christ upon the dark eve of the day of judgment; pray now that this sacred flame may also rise from our hearts.

Posted by Clifton at May 18, 2004 06:00 AM | TrackBack