Latest / Sermon on the Mount - Commentary / 006 - Homily 18 - MT 538-48 On Love and Perfection

Transcript

006 - Homily 18 - MT 538-48 On Love and Perfection · Sermon on the Mount - Commentary

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Homily eighteen Saint John Chrysostom Homilie's and the Gospel of
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: Saint Matthew, translated by the Reverend Sir George Previst m A.
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Homily eighteen, Matthew,
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: five thirty eight through forty eight. Ye have heard that
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: it hath been said an eye for an eye, and
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: that ye resist not the evil. But whosoever shall smite
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: And if any man will soothe thee at the law
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak.
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: Also seeest thou that it was not of an eye
• 0:53
  Speaker 1: that he was speaking before when he made the law
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: to pluck out the offending eye, but of him who,
• 1:01
  Speaker 1: by his friendship, is harming us and casting us into
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: the gulf of destruction. For he who in this place
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: uses so great strength of expression, and who not, even
• 1:14
  Speaker 1: when another is plucking out your eye, permits you to
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: strike out his. How should he have made it a
• 1:22
  Speaker 1: law to strike out one's own. But if any one
• 1:27
  Speaker 1: accuses the ancient law because it commands such retaliation. He
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: seems to me very unskillful in the wisdom that becomes
• 1:37
  Speaker 1: a legislator, and ignorant of the virtue of opportunities and
• 1:42
  Speaker 1: the gain of condescension. For if he considered who were
• 1:47
  Speaker 1: the hearers of these sayings, and how they were disposed,
• 1:51
  Speaker 1: and when they received this code of laws, he will
• 1:55
  Speaker 1: thoroughly admit the wisdom of the lawgiver, and will see
• 1:59
  Speaker 1: that it is one and the same who made both
• 2:02
  Speaker 1: those laws and these, and who wrote each of them,
• 2:06
  Speaker 1: exceeding profitably and in its due season. Yes, for if
• 2:13
  Speaker 1: at the beginning he had introduced these high and most
• 2:16
  Speaker 1: weighty commandments, men would not have received either these or
• 2:21
  Speaker 1: the others. But now ordaining them severally in their due time,
• 2:27
  Speaker 1: he hath by the two corrected the whole world. And besides,
• 2:33
  Speaker 1: he commanded this, not that we might strike out one
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: another's eyes, but that we might keep our hands to ourselves,
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: for the threat of suffering hath effectually restrained our inclination
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: to be doing. And thus, in fact he is silently
• 2:53
  Speaker 1: dropping seed of much self restraint, at least in that
• 2:57
  Speaker 1: he commands to retaliate with justice the same acts. Yet
• 3:02
  Speaker 1: surely he that began such transgression were worthy of a
• 3:06
  Speaker 1: greater punishment, and this the abstract nature of justice demands.
• 3:13
  Speaker 1: But forasmuch as he was minded to mingle mercy also
• 3:18
  Speaker 1: with justice, he condemns him whose offenses were very great,
• 3:23
  Speaker 1: to a punishment less than his dessert, teaching us even
• 3:28
  Speaker 1: while we suffer to show forth great consideration. Having therefore
• 3:34
  Speaker 1: mentioned the ancient law and recognized it all, he signifies
• 3:40
  Speaker 1: again that it is not our brother who hath done
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: these deeds, but the evil one. For this cause he
• 3:48
  Speaker 1: hath also subjoined. But I say unto you that you
• 3:53
  Speaker 1: resist not the evil one. He did not say, resist
• 3:59
  Speaker 1: not your brother, but the evil one, signifying that on
• 4:04
  Speaker 1: his motion men dare so to act, and in this way,
• 4:08
  Speaker 1: relaxing and secretly removing most of our anger against the
• 4:13
  Speaker 1: aggressor by transferring the blame to another. What, then, it
• 4:19
  Speaker 1: is said, ought we not to resist the evil one?
• 4:24
  Speaker 1: Indeed we ought, but not in this way, but as
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: he hath commanded, by giving oneself up to suffer wrongfully.
• 4:33
  Speaker 1: For thus shalt thou prevail over him. For one fire
• 4:39
  Speaker 1: is not quenched by another, but fire by water. And
• 4:44
  Speaker 1: to show thee that even under the old law. He
• 4:47
  Speaker 1: that suffered rather prevails that he it is who wins
• 4:52
  Speaker 1: the crown. Examine just what is done, and thou wilt
• 4:57
  Speaker 1: see that his advantage is great. For as he that
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: hath begun with unjust acts will have himself destroyed the
• 5:05
  Speaker 1: eyes of both his neighbors and his own. Wherefore also
• 5:11
  Speaker 1: he is justly hated of all, and ten thousand accusations
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: are aimed at him. So he that hath been injured,
• 5:20
  Speaker 1: even after his equal retaliation, will have done nothing horrible.
• 5:26
  Speaker 1: Wherefore also he hath many to sympathize with him, as
• 5:31
  Speaker 1: being clear from that offense, even after he hath retaliated.
• 5:36
  Speaker 1: And though the calamity be equal to both parties, yet
• 5:40
  Speaker 1: the sentence passed on it is not equal either with
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: God or with men. It should seem then that neither
• 5:50
  Speaker 1: is the calamity equal in the end. Now, whereas at
• 5:55
  Speaker 1: the beginning he said, he that is angry with his
• 5:59
  Speaker 1: brother without a cause, and he that calleth him fool,
• 6:04
  Speaker 1: shall be in danger of hell fire. Here he requires
• 6:09
  Speaker 1: yet more entire self restraint, commanding him that suffers ill
• 6:15
  Speaker 1: not merely to be quiet, but even to be more
• 6:19
  Speaker 1: exceedingly earnest, in his turn by offering the other cheek.
• 6:25
  Speaker 1: And this he saith not as legislating about such a
• 6:29
  Speaker 1: blow as this only, but as teaching also what forbearance
• 6:34
  Speaker 1: we should practice in all our other trials. For just
• 6:39
  Speaker 1: as when he saith whoso calleth his brother fool is
• 6:44
  Speaker 1: in danger of hell, he speaks not of this word only,
• 6:49
  Speaker 1: but also of all reviling. Even so here also he
• 6:54
  Speaker 1: is making a law, not so much for our bearing
• 6:58
  Speaker 1: it manfully. When Mitten is that we should be undisturbed
• 7:03
  Speaker 1: whatever we suffer because of this, he both there singled
• 7:09
  Speaker 1: out the extremest insult, and here have set down that
• 7:14
  Speaker 1: which seems to be of all blows most opprobrious, the
• 7:18
  Speaker 1: blow on the cheek, so full of all insolence. And
• 7:23
  Speaker 1: he commands this as having regard both of him that
• 7:27
  Speaker 1: strikes and of him that is stricken. Since both he
• 7:32
  Speaker 1: that is insulted will not think that he suffers any harm,
• 7:37
  Speaker 1: being thus framed to self restraint. Nay, he will not
• 7:42
  Speaker 1: even have any sense of the insult as striving rather
• 7:47
  Speaker 1: for a prize than as receiving a blow. And he
• 7:51
  Speaker 1: that is offering the affront will be made ashamed, and
• 7:55
  Speaker 1: not add a second blow, though he be fiercer than
• 7:59
  Speaker 1: any wild beast. Yea rather will condemn himself heartily for
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: the former, For nothing so restrains the wrong doers as
• 8:12
  Speaker 1: when the injured bear what is done with gentleness. And
• 8:17
  Speaker 1: it not only restrains them from rushing onward, but works
• 8:21
  Speaker 1: upon them also to repent for what is gone before
• 8:26
  Speaker 1: and in wonder at such forbearance to draw back, and
• 8:31
  Speaker 1: it makes them more our own, and causes them to
• 8:35
  Speaker 1: be slaves, not merely friends, instead of haters and enemies,
• 8:41
  Speaker 1: even as avenging oneself does just the contrary, for it
• 8:46
  Speaker 1: both disgraces each of the two and makes them worse,
• 8:51
  Speaker 1: and their anger it heightens into a greater flame. Yea,
• 8:56
  Speaker 1: often no less than death itself is the end of it,
• 9:00
  Speaker 1: going on from bad to worse. Wherefore, he not only
• 9:05
  Speaker 1: forbade thee to be angry when smitten, but even enjoined
• 9:10
  Speaker 1: thee to satiate the other's desire. That so neither may
• 9:15
  Speaker 1: the former blow appear to have befallen THEE against thy will.
• 9:20
  Speaker 1: For thus lost as he may be to shame, thou
• 9:25
  Speaker 1: wilt be able to smite him with a mortal blow,
• 9:28
  Speaker 1: rather than if thou had smitten him with thine hand,
• 9:33
  Speaker 1: or if his shamelessness be still greater, thou wilt make
• 9:37
  Speaker 1: him gentle in proportion. And if any man will soothe
• 9:42
  Speaker 1: thee at the law and take away thy coat, let
• 9:46
  Speaker 1: him have thy cloak also, for not in the matter
• 9:50
  Speaker 1: of blows only, but of our goods. Also he would
• 9:55
  Speaker 1: have such forbearance exhibited. Wherefore he again in employs the
• 10:00
  Speaker 1: same strong figure. That is, as in the other case,
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: he commands to overcome in suffering. So here again by
• 10:11
  Speaker 1: allowing ourselves to be deprived of more than the wrong
• 10:16
  Speaker 1: doer expected. However, he did not put it so merely,
• 10:22
  Speaker 1: but with something to enhance it, not saying give thy
• 10:27
  Speaker 1: cloak to him that asketh, but to him that would
• 10:31
  Speaker 1: sue thee at the law, that is, if he dragged
• 10:35
  Speaker 1: thee into court and give thee trouble. And just as
• 10:41
  Speaker 1: after he had bidden not to call another fool, nor
• 10:45
  Speaker 1: to be angry without cause, he went on and required
• 10:50
  Speaker 1: more in that he commanded to offer the right cheek. Also.
• 10:55
  Speaker 1: Even so here, having said agree with thine advert he
• 11:01
  Speaker 1: again amplifies the precept. For now he orders us not
• 11:07
  Speaker 1: only to give what the other would have, but even
• 11:10
  Speaker 1: to show forth a greater liberality. What then, one may say,
• 11:17
  Speaker 1: am I to go about naked? We should not be naked?
• 11:22
  Speaker 1: If we obeyed these sayings with exactness, rather more abundantly
• 11:27
  Speaker 1: than any should we be clothed. For first, no one
• 11:32
  Speaker 1: would attack men of this disposition. And next, if their
• 11:38
  Speaker 1: chance to be any one so savage and ungentle as
• 11:43
  Speaker 1: to proceed even so far, yet many more would be
• 11:47
  Speaker 1: found to clothe him who acted with such self denial,
• 11:52
  Speaker 1: not with garments only, but even with their own flesh,
• 11:56
  Speaker 1: if it were possible. Further, even though no one were
• 12:00
  Speaker 1: of necessity to go about naked on account of this
• 12:03
  Speaker 1: sort of self denial, neither so were it any disgrace,
• 12:09
  Speaker 1: Since Adam too was naked in Paradise and was not ashamed.
• 12:15
  Speaker 1: And Isaiah was naked and barefoot, and more glorious than
• 12:20
  Speaker 1: all the Jews. And Joseph also when he stripped himself,
• 12:26
  Speaker 1: did then more than ever shine forth. For to be
• 12:30
  Speaker 1: thus naked is no evil. But to be so clad
• 12:34
  Speaker 1: as we now are with costly garments, this is both
• 12:39
  Speaker 1: disgraceful and ridiculous. For this cause, you see, those had
• 12:45
  Speaker 1: praise of God, but these he blames both by prophets
• 12:50
  Speaker 1: and apostles. Let us not therefore suppose his injunctions impossible, Nay,
• 12:59
  Speaker 1: for besides their expediency, they are very easy if we
• 13:04
  Speaker 1: are sober minded, and the profit of them is so
• 13:07
  Speaker 1: great as to be an exceeding help, not to ourselves only,
• 13:12
  Speaker 1: but to those also who are using us despitefully. And
• 13:17
  Speaker 1: in this chiefly stands their excellence, that while they induce
• 13:22
  Speaker 1: us to suffer wrong, they, by the same means teach
• 13:26
  Speaker 1: them also that do the wrong, to control themselves. For
• 13:31
  Speaker 1: while he, on his part thinks it a great thing
• 13:34
  Speaker 1: to take what belongs to others, but thou signifiest to
• 13:39
  Speaker 1: him that to thee it is easy to give, even
• 13:43
  Speaker 1: what he doth not ask. While thou bringest in liberality
• 13:48
  Speaker 1: for a counterpoise to his meanness, and a wise moderation
• 13:53
  Speaker 1: to his covetousness. Consider what a lesson he will get,
• 13:58
  Speaker 1: being taught not by sayings but by actual deeds, to
• 14:03
  Speaker 1: scorn vice and to seek after virtue. For God will
• 14:08
  Speaker 1: have us profitable not to ourselves alone, but to all
• 14:13
  Speaker 1: our neighbors as well. Now, if thou givest and abstainest
• 14:18
  Speaker 1: from suing, thou hast sought thine own advantage only. But
• 14:23
  Speaker 1: if thou give him some other thing, thou hast made
• 14:27
  Speaker 1: him too better, and so sent him away. Of this
• 14:31
  Speaker 1: nature is salt, which is what he would have them
• 14:35
  Speaker 1: to be, seeing it both recruits itself and keeps all
• 14:40
  Speaker 1: other bodies with which it may associate. Of this nature
• 14:44
  Speaker 1: is light, for it shows objects both to a man's
• 14:49
  Speaker 1: self and to all others. Forasmuch then as he hath
• 14:54
  Speaker 1: set THEE in the rank of these things, help thou
• 14:58
  Speaker 1: likewise him who sitting in darkness, and teach him that
• 15:03
  Speaker 1: neither before did he take anything by force. Persuade him
• 15:09
  Speaker 1: that he hath done no despite yea. For thus thou
• 15:14
  Speaker 1: thyself also wilt be had in more respect and reverence.
• 15:19
  Speaker 1: If thou signify that thou gavest freely and wert not robbed,
• 15:24
  Speaker 1: make therefore his sin through thy moderation, an instance of
• 15:30
  Speaker 1: thine own bounty. And if thou think this a great thing, wait,
• 15:36
  Speaker 1: and thou wilt see clearly that neither yet hast thou
• 15:40
  Speaker 1: attained to perfection. For not even here doth the stop
• 15:44
  Speaker 1: with THEE who is laying down the laws of patient endurance.
• 15:50
  Speaker 1: But he proceeds even further thus saying, if any one
• 15:55
  Speaker 1: shall compel THEE to go one mile, go with him,
• 15:59
  Speaker 1: Twain seest thou the height of self denial in this
• 16:05
  Speaker 1: at least, that after giving thy coat and thy cloak.
• 16:10
  Speaker 1: Not even if thine enemy should wish to use thy
• 16:14
  Speaker 1: naked body for hardships and labors, not even so saith
• 16:19
  Speaker 1: he must thou forbid him, For he would have us
• 16:24
  Speaker 1: possess all things in common, both our bodies and our goods,
• 16:30
  Speaker 1: as with them that are in need, so with them
• 16:33
  Speaker 1: that insult us, for the latter comes of manliness, the
• 16:38
  Speaker 1: former of mercifulness. Because of this, he said, if any
• 16:45
  Speaker 1: one shall compel THEE to go one mile, go with him,
• 16:49
  Speaker 1: Twain again leading THEE higher up, and commanding THEE to
• 16:54
  Speaker 1: show forth the same kind of ambition. For if the
• 16:59
  Speaker 1: things of which she speak at the beginning, being far
• 17:02
  Speaker 1: less than these, have so great blessings pronounced on them,
• 17:08
  Speaker 1: consider what sort of portion awaits them who duly perform these,
• 17:13
  Speaker 1: and what they become, even before their rewards, in a human,
• 17:18
  Speaker 1: impassable body, winning entire freedom from passion. Since when neither
• 17:25
  Speaker 1: insult nor blows, nor the spoiling of their property galls
• 17:30
  Speaker 1: them while they give way to no such thing, but
• 17:35
  Speaker 1: rather add in large measure to their endurance. Reflect what
• 17:39
  Speaker 1: kind of training their soul is undergoing. On this account, then,
• 17:45
  Speaker 1: as in regard of blows, as in regard of our goods,
• 17:51
  Speaker 1: so in this case also he hath bidden us act.
• 17:56
  Speaker 1: For why saith he do I mention insult and property?
• 18:02
  Speaker 1: Though he should want to make use of thy very
• 18:05
  Speaker 1: own limbs for toil and weary work, And this unjustly
• 18:11
  Speaker 1: do thou again conquer and overpass his unjust desire. For
• 18:17
  Speaker 1: to compel is this to drag, unjustly and without any reason,
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: and by way of despite Nevertheless, for this also be
• 18:29
  Speaker 1: thou ready in thy station, so as to suffer more
• 18:33
  Speaker 1: than the other would fain do to THEE. Give to
• 18:38
  Speaker 1: him that asketh THEE, and from him that would borrow
• 18:41
  Speaker 1: of THEE. Turn not thou away. These last are less
• 18:47
  Speaker 1: than what went before. But marvel not for this he
• 18:52
  Speaker 1: is ever wont to do mingling the small with the great.
• 18:57
  Speaker 1: And if these be little in comparison with THEE, let
• 19:01
  Speaker 1: them hearken, who take the goods of others, who distribute
• 19:05
  Speaker 1: their own among harlots, and kindle to themselves a double fire,
• 19:11
  Speaker 1: both by the unrighteous income and by the pernicious outlay.
• 19:17
  Speaker 1: But by borrowing here he means not the compact with usury,
• 19:22
  Speaker 1: but the use merely. And elsewhere he even amplifies it,
• 19:27
  Speaker 1: saying that we should give to them from whom we
• 19:30
  Speaker 1: do not expect to receive. Ye have heard that it
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: hath been said, thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate
• 19:40
  Speaker 1: thine enemy. But I say unto you. Love your enemies,
• 19:46
  Speaker 1: and pray for them which despitefully use you. Bless them
• 19:50
  Speaker 1: that curse you. Do good to them that hate you,
• 19:54
  Speaker 1: that ye may become like your father, which is in heaven.
• 19:58
  Speaker 1: For he maketh his son to rise on the evil
• 20:02
  Speaker 1: and on the good, and sendeth rein on the just
• 20:06
  Speaker 1: and on the unjust. See how he hath set the
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: highest pinnacle on our good deeds. For this is why
• 20:14
  Speaker 1: he teaches not only to endure a blow, but to
• 20:18
  Speaker 1: offer the right cheek. Also not only to add the
• 20:22
  Speaker 1: cloak to the coat, but to travel also two miles
• 20:26
  Speaker 1: with him who compels thee to go one, in order
• 20:31
  Speaker 1: that thou mightst receive with all facility, that which is
• 20:35
  Speaker 1: much more than these. But what one may say is
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: more than these, not even to count as an enemy
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: him who is doing these things, or rather even some
• 20:49
  Speaker 1: one else more than this. For he said not do
• 20:53
  Speaker 1: not hate, but love. He said, not do not injure,
• 20:59
  Speaker 1: but do good. And if any one should examine accurately,
• 21:05
  Speaker 1: he will see that even to these things somewhat is
• 21:08
  Speaker 1: added much greater than they are. For neither did he
• 21:13
  Speaker 1: simply command to love, but to pray. Seeest thou, how
• 21:19
  Speaker 1: many steps he hath ascended, and how he hath set
• 21:23
  Speaker 1: us on the very summit of virtue. Nay, mark it,
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: numbering from the beginning. A first step is not to
• 21:33
  Speaker 1: begin with injustice. A second after he hath begun, to
• 21:39
  Speaker 1: vindicate oneself by equal retaliation. A third not to do
• 21:45
  Speaker 1: unto him, that is vexing us the same that one
• 21:48
  Speaker 1: hath suffered, but to be quiet. A fourth even to
• 21:54
  Speaker 1: give oneself up to suffer wrongfully. A fifth to give
• 22:00
  Speaker 1: up yet more than the other who did the wrong wishes.
• 22:06
  Speaker 1: A sixth not to hate him who hath done so,
• 22:11
  Speaker 1: a seventh even to love him, an eighth to do
• 22:16
  Speaker 1: him good. Also a ninth to entreat God himself on
• 22:22
  Speaker 1: his behalf. Seest thou, what height of self command? Wherefore
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: glorious I, as we see, is the reward which it hath.
• 22:35
  Speaker 1: That is, because the thing enjoined was great and needed
• 22:40
  Speaker 1: a fervent soul and much earnestness, he appoints for it
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: also such a reward as for none of the former.
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: For he makes not mention here of earth as with
• 22:53
  Speaker 1: respect to the meek, nor of comfort and mercy as
• 22:58
  Speaker 1: with regard to the mourners and the merciful, nor of
• 23:02
  Speaker 1: the kingdom of heaven, but of that which was more
• 23:06
  Speaker 1: thrilling than all our becoming like God in such wise
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: as men might become. So. For he saith that ye
• 23:17
  Speaker 1: may become like unto your Father, which is in heaven,
• 23:22
  Speaker 1: and observe I pray thee. How neither in this place
• 23:27
  Speaker 1: nor in the preceding parts doth he call him his
• 23:31
  Speaker 1: own father. But in that instance God and a great king.
• 23:37
  Speaker 1: When he was discoursing about oaths, and here there Father,
• 23:44
  Speaker 1: and this he doth as reserving for the proper season
• 23:48
  Speaker 1: what he had to say, touching these points. Then bringing
• 23:53
  Speaker 1: the likeness yet closer, he saith because he maketh his
• 23:58
  Speaker 1: son to rise on the evil and on the good,
• 24:02
  Speaker 1: and sendeth rein upon just and unjust, for he too,
• 24:08
  Speaker 1: so far from hating, so he speaks even pours benefits
• 24:13
  Speaker 1: on those that insult him. Yet surely, in no respect
• 24:18
  Speaker 1: is the case parallel, not only because of the surpassing
• 24:22
  Speaker 1: nature of his benefits, but also by reason of the
• 24:26
  Speaker 1: excellence of his dignity. For Thou indeed art despised by
• 24:31
  Speaker 1: thy fellow slave, but he by his slave, who hath
• 24:36
  Speaker 1: also received ten thousand benefits from him. In Thou indeed
• 24:42
  Speaker 1: givest words in praying for him, but he deeds very
• 24:48
  Speaker 1: great and marvelous, kindling the sun and giving the annual showers. Nevertheless,
• 24:57
  Speaker 1: even so I grant THEE to be mine equal in
• 25:01
  Speaker 1: such wise as it is possible for a man so
• 25:04
  Speaker 1: to be hate. Not then the man that doeth THEE wrong,
• 25:09
  Speaker 1: who is procuring THEE such good things, and bringing THEE
• 25:13
  Speaker 1: to so great honor, curse not him that uses THEE despitefully,
• 25:20
  Speaker 1: For so hast thou undergone the labor, but art deprived
• 25:24
  Speaker 1: of the fruit. Thou wilt bear the loss, but lose
• 25:29
  Speaker 1: the reward, which is of the utmost folly, having borne
• 25:34
  Speaker 1: the more grievous, not to bear what is less than it.
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: But how saith one is it possible for this to
• 25:42
  Speaker 1: take place? Having seen God become man and descend so
• 25:48
  Speaker 1: far and suffers so much for thy sake? Dost thou
• 25:53
  Speaker 1: still inquire in doubt how it is possible to forgive
• 25:58
  Speaker 1: thy fellow servants there injuriousness. Hearest thou, not him on
• 26:03
  Speaker 1: the cross, saying forgive them, for they know not what
• 26:08
  Speaker 1: they do. Hearest thou not Paul when he saith, He
• 26:14
  Speaker 1: who was gone up on high and is sitting on
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: the right hand, intercedeth for us. Seest thou not that,
• 26:22
  Speaker 1: even after the cross, and after he had been received up,
• 26:27
  Speaker 1: he sent the apostles unto the Jews that had slain him,
• 26:32
  Speaker 1: to bring them his ten thousand blessings. And this though
• 26:36
  Speaker 1: they were to suffer ten thousand terrors at their hands.
• 26:41
  Speaker 1: But hast thou been greatly wronged? Nay, what hast thou
• 26:46
  Speaker 1: endured like thy lord bound beaten with whips, with rods,
• 26:53
  Speaker 1: spit upon by servants, enduring death, and that death, which
• 26:58
  Speaker 1: is of all deaths, the most shameful, after ten thousand
• 27:03
  Speaker 1: favors shown. And even if thou hast been greatly wronged
• 27:08
  Speaker 1: for this very cause, most of all do thou do
• 27:12
  Speaker 1: him good, that thou mayst both make thine own crown
• 27:16
  Speaker 1: more glorious and set thy brother free from the worst infirmity.
• 27:22
  Speaker 1: For so to the physicians, when they are kicked and
• 27:26
  Speaker 1: shamefully handled by the insane, then most of all pity
• 27:31
  Speaker 1: them and take measures for their perfect cure, knowing that
• 27:36
  Speaker 1: the insult comes of the extremity of their disease. Now
• 27:40
  Speaker 1: I bid thee too, have the same mind, touching them
• 27:44
  Speaker 1: that are plotting against THEE. And do thou so treat
• 27:48
  Speaker 1: them that are injuring THEE. For it is they above
• 27:52
  Speaker 1: all that are diseased. It is they who are undergoing
• 27:56
  Speaker 1: all the violence. Deliver him, then, from this grievous contumally,
• 28:03
  Speaker 1: and grant him to let go his anger, and set
• 28:06
  Speaker 1: him free from that grievous demon wrath. Yea, For if
• 28:11
  Speaker 1: we see persons possessed by devils, we weep for them.
• 28:16
  Speaker 1: We do not seek to be ourselves also possessed. Now
• 28:22
  Speaker 1: let us do this likewise with respect to them that
• 28:25
  Speaker 1: are angry. For in truth, the enraged are like the possessed. Yea. Rather,
• 28:32
  Speaker 1: are more wretched than they, being mad with consciousness of it.
• 28:37
  Speaker 1: Wherefore also their frenzy is without excuse trample not then
• 28:42
  Speaker 1: on the fallen, but rather pity him. For so should
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: we see anyone troubled with bile, blinded and giddy, in
• 28:52
  Speaker 1: straining to cast up this evil humor. We stretch forth
• 28:56
  Speaker 1: a hand and continue to support him through his struggle.
• 29:00
  Speaker 1: And though we may stain our garments, we regard it not,
• 29:04
  Speaker 1: but seek one thing only, how we may set him
• 29:08
  Speaker 1: free from this grievous distress. This, then let us do
• 29:13
  Speaker 1: with respect to the angry also, and continue to bear
• 29:17
  Speaker 1: them up when vomiting and struggling. Nor let him go
• 29:22
  Speaker 1: until he put from him all the bitterness. And then
• 29:26
  Speaker 1: shall he feel toward THEE the greatest thankfulness. When he
• 29:30
  Speaker 1: is at rest, then he will know clearly from how
• 29:34
  Speaker 1: great trouble thou hast released him. But why do I
• 29:38
  Speaker 1: speak of the thanks from him? For God will straightway
• 29:43
  Speaker 1: crown THEE, and will requite THEE with ten thousand honors,
• 29:48
  Speaker 1: because thou hast freed thy brother from a grievous disease,
• 29:52
  Speaker 1: and that brother too will honor THEE as a master,
• 29:56
  Speaker 1: ever reverencing Thy forbearance. Seeest thou not the women that
• 30:02
  Speaker 1: are in travail, how they bite those that stand by,
• 30:06
  Speaker 1: and they are not pained, or rather they are pained,
• 30:10
  Speaker 1: but bear it bravely and sympathize with them who are
• 30:14
  Speaker 1: in sorrow and are torn by those pangs. These do
• 30:19
  Speaker 1: thou too emulate and prove not softer than women. For
• 30:24
  Speaker 1: after these women have brought forth, for these men are
• 30:28
  Speaker 1: more feeble minded than women, then they will know THEE
• 30:32
  Speaker 1: to be a man in comparison, What then can we deserve,
• 30:37
  Speaker 1: who are commanded to emulate God, and are perhaps in
• 30:41
  Speaker 1: a way not so much as equal to the publicans.
• 30:45
  Speaker 1: For if to love them, that love us be the
• 30:48
  Speaker 1: part of publicans, sinners and heathens. When we do not
• 30:54
  Speaker 1: even this, and we do it not so long as
• 30:57
  Speaker 1: we envy our brethren, who are in honor, what penalty
• 31:02
  Speaker 1: shall we not incu command it? As we are to
• 31:06
  Speaker 1: surpass the scribes in taking our place below the heathens,
• 31:11
  Speaker 1: How then shall we behold the kingdom? I pray THEE.
• 31:15
  Speaker 1: How shall we set foot on that holy threshold? Who
• 31:19
  Speaker 1: are not surpassing even the publicans? For this he covertly
• 31:23
  Speaker 1: signified when he said, do not even the publicans the same?
• 31:30
  Speaker 1: In this thing? Most especially, we may admire in his
• 31:34
  Speaker 1: teaching that while in each instance he sets down with
• 31:38
  Speaker 1: very great fullness the prizes of the conflicts, such as
• 31:43
  Speaker 1: to see God and to inherit the kingdom of Heaven,
• 31:48
  Speaker 1: and to become sons of God and like God, and
• 31:53
  Speaker 1: to obtain mercy and to be comforted, and the great reward.
• 31:59
  Speaker 1: If anywhere he must needs mention things grievous, he doth
• 32:04
  Speaker 1: this in a subdued tone. Thus, in the first place,
• 32:09
  Speaker 1: the name of Hell he hath set down once only
• 32:12
  Speaker 1: in so many sentences, and in some other instances too,
• 32:17
  Speaker 1: it is with reserve that he corrects the hearer, and
• 32:21
  Speaker 1: as though he were managing his discourse rather in the
• 32:25
  Speaker 1: way of shaming than threatening him. Where he saith, do
• 32:30
  Speaker 1: not even the publicans the same. And if the salt
• 32:34
  Speaker 1: have lost its savor, and he shall be called least
• 32:39
  Speaker 1: in the kingdom of heaven. In there are places where
• 32:43
  Speaker 1: he puts down the sin itself by way of punishment,
• 32:48
  Speaker 1: leaving to the hearer to infer the grievousness of the punishment.
• 32:53
  Speaker 1: As when he saith, he hath committed adultery with her
• 32:57
  Speaker 1: in his heart, and he that putteth away causeth her
• 33:02
  Speaker 1: to commit adultery. And that which is more than these
• 33:07
  Speaker 1: is of the evil one. For to them that have understanding,
• 33:13
  Speaker 1: instead of the mention of the punishment, the very greatness
• 33:17
  Speaker 1: of the sin is sufficient for correction. Wherefore also he
• 33:22
  Speaker 1: here brings forth the heathens and the publicans, by the
• 33:26
  Speaker 1: quality of the person, putting the disciple to shame, which
• 33:30
  Speaker 1: Paul too did, saying, sorrow not even is the rest
• 33:35
  Speaker 1: which have no hope, and even as the gentiles, which
• 33:40
  Speaker 1: know not God. And to signify that he requires nothing
• 33:45
  Speaker 1: very overpowering, but a little more than was accustomed, he saith,
• 33:51
  Speaker 1: do not even the gentiles the same. Yet nevertheless he
• 33:56
  Speaker 1: stops not the discourse at this, but may could end
• 34:00
  Speaker 1: with his rewards in those good hopes, saying, be ye
• 34:06
  Speaker 1: therefore perfect as your heavenly Father. And he intersperses everywhere
• 34:12
  Speaker 1: abundantly the name of the heavens by the very place,
• 34:16
  Speaker 1: thoroughly elevating their minds, for as yet I know not
• 34:21
  Speaker 1: how they were somewhat weak and dull. Let us, then,
• 34:27
  Speaker 1: bearing in mind all the things which have been said,
• 34:31
  Speaker 1: show forth great love, even towards our enemies, and let
• 34:35
  Speaker 1: us cast away that ridiculous custom to which many of
• 34:39
  Speaker 1: the more thoughtless give way waiting for those that meet
• 34:43
  Speaker 1: them to address them first towards that which hath a
• 34:48
  Speaker 1: great blessing. They have no zeal, But what is ridiculous
• 34:53
  Speaker 1: that they follow after? Wherefore, now dost thou not address
• 34:58
  Speaker 1: him first? Because he is waiting? For this is the reply? Nay,
• 35:05
  Speaker 1: for this very reason, most of all, thou shouldst have
• 35:09
  Speaker 1: sprung forward to him, that thou mightest win the crown.
• 35:14
  Speaker 1: No saith he, since this was his object. And what
• 35:19
  Speaker 1: can be worse than this folly? That is, because this
• 35:24
  Speaker 1: saith he was his object to become procure of a
• 35:28
  Speaker 1: reward for me. I will not put my hand to
• 35:32
  Speaker 1: what he has thus suggested. Now, if he first addressed thee,
• 35:38
  Speaker 1: thou gainest nothing, even though thou accost him. But if
• 35:43
  Speaker 1: thou be first to spring forward and to speak to him,
• 35:47
  Speaker 1: thou hast made thyself profit of his pride, and hast
• 35:51
  Speaker 1: gathered in a manner abundant fruit from his obstinacy. What
• 35:57
  Speaker 1: is it then but the utmost folly, when we are
• 36:00
  Speaker 1: to reap so large fruit from bare words, to give
• 36:04
  Speaker 1: up the gain, and condemning him to stumble at the
• 36:08
  Speaker 1: very same thing. For if thou blamest him for this
• 36:13
  Speaker 1: that he first waits to be addressed by another. Wherefore
• 36:17
  Speaker 1: dost thou emulate that same thing which thou accusest, that
• 36:22
  Speaker 1: which thou saidest was evil? Why art thou to imitate
• 36:27
  Speaker 1: the same as good? Seeest thou, how that nothing is
• 36:31
  Speaker 1: more senseless than a man who associates with wickedness. Wherefore
• 36:38
  Speaker 1: I entreat let us flee this evil and ridiculous practice. YEA,
• 36:43
  Speaker 1: for ten thousand friendships. Hath this pestilence overthrown? Many enmities?
• 36:49
  Speaker 1: Hath it wrought for this cause? Then let us anticipate them.
• 36:55
  Speaker 1: Since we who are commanded to take blows and be
• 36:59
  Speaker 1: compelled to journey, and to be stripped by enemies, and
• 37:03
  Speaker 1: to bear it, What kind of indulgence should we deserve
• 37:09
  Speaker 1: exhibiting so great contentiousness in a mere formal address? Why
• 37:15
  Speaker 1: saith one we are despised and spit upon the moment
• 37:20
  Speaker 1: we have given him up this? And in order that
• 37:23
  Speaker 1: man may not despise thee, dost thou offend God. And
• 37:28
  Speaker 1: in order that thy frenzied fellow's servant may not despise THEE,
• 37:33
  Speaker 1: dost thou despise the Lord who hath bestowed on THEE
• 37:37
  Speaker 1: benefits so great. Nay, if it be amiss that thine
• 37:43
  Speaker 1: equal should despise THEE, how much more that thou shouldst
• 37:48
  Speaker 1: despise the God that made THEE. And together with this
• 37:53
  Speaker 1: consider that other point also, that when he despises THEE,
• 37:59
  Speaker 1: he is at that very moment employed in procuring to
• 38:02
  Speaker 1: THEE a greater reward, since for God's sake thou submittedest
• 38:07
  Speaker 1: to it, because thou hast hearkened to his laws. And
• 38:12
  Speaker 1: this to what kind of honor? Is it not equal
• 38:16
  Speaker 1: to how many diadems? Be it my portion both to
• 38:21
  Speaker 1: be insulted and despised for God's sake, rather than to
• 38:25
  Speaker 1: be honored by all kings. For nothing nothing is equal
• 38:31
  Speaker 1: to this glory. This, then, let us pursue in such
• 38:36
  Speaker 1: wise as himself commanded, and making no account of the
• 38:41
  Speaker 1: things of men, but showing forth perfect self restraint in
• 38:45
  Speaker 1: all things, let us so direct our own lives, For
• 38:50
  Speaker 1: so even now, from this very time we shall enjoy
• 38:55
  Speaker 1: the good things of the heavens and of the crowns
• 38:59
  Speaker 1: that are there, walking as angels among men, going about
• 39:04
  Speaker 1: in the earth like the angelic powers, and abiding apart
• 39:08
  Speaker 1: from all lust, from all turmoil. And together with all
• 39:14
  Speaker 1: these things we shall receive also the unutterable blessings unto
• 39:20
  Speaker 1: which may we all attain by the grace and love
• 39:24
  Speaker 1: towards Man of our Lord, Jesus Christ, to whom be
• 39:28
  Speaker 1: glory and power and worship with the unoriginate Father and
• 39:34
  Speaker 1: the Holy and Good Spirit, now and always, even forever
• 39:39
  Speaker 1: and ever Amen. End of Homily eighteen