Homily on the Sunday of the Forefathers.

-St. Gregory Palamas.

After the Only-begotten Son of God became incarnate for our sake from the Virgin, and by His life in the flesh fulfilled and completed the Law given through Moses, and introduced the Law of Grace for us to keep, and in relation to the Church replaced that ancient Law—since then the Jewish people have been expelled from the holy Church, and in their place we, chosen from among the Gentiles, have been brought in. The Lord has united us to Himself and to the Father, making us kin as sons and brothers, and even as His own Parents (O inexpressible love for mankind!). For He says: “Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother, and sister, and mother” (Matt. 12:50).

Yet today in the Church we celebrate the memory of the Forefathers, most of whom were Jews. Why is this? It is so that all may know that it was not unjust, unreasonable, or unworthy of God who effected this change and brought about such a replacement—that the Jews were expelled and the Gentiles adopted as sons. Rather, just as among the called Gentiles only those who obey (Christ’s teaching) are reckoned as kin to God, so too with regard to the people of Israel and those from Adam down to that people—and there were a great many such—only those are true Israelites who lived among them according to God’s will. To them belonged the prophecies; through them were given the types and shadows; to them were made the promises. And only they are the true Fathers and Forefathers—first of the Virgin who bore Christ, the God of all, according to the flesh, and then, through Him, ours as well (they are Forefathers and Fathers).

These Fathers and Forefathers have not been cast out from Christ’s Church, and today we boldly celebrate their feast as those who belong to the company of the fulfilled saints. For in Christ there is neither old nor new: “There is neither Greek nor Jew, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all” (cf. Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11). A “Jew” is not one who is such outwardly, nor is “circumcision” that which is outward in the flesh; but a true “Jew” is one inwardly, and true circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter (cf. Rom. 2:28–29). All who have this circumcision are one in it—whether ancient or new—those who pleased God by living in a manner pleasing to Him, whether before the Law, under the Law, or after the Law in the Gospel of Grace.

Thus, if anyone carefully examines God’s entire dispensation toward the human race from beginning to end, he will see that it is consistent and coherent with itself. For just as now the chosen are selected from every nation—only the worthy are renamed (as God’s own), while the unfit are cast out (“for many are called, but few are chosen,” as the Lord said, Matt. 20:16)—so too in the time of those ancient people, and afterward among the Jewish people, and even among those who were renamed, only the chosen are accepted, while the great multitude of the unfit are cast out from their number as well.

Thus, among the descendants of Seth, called “sons of God,” those who lusted after the daughters of men, as Scripture says (Gen. 6:2), became rejected. There was also an unfit multitude among the Jews—not only among the proselytes living in their midst, but even among the native-born Jews. For example, Esau, the very brother of Jacob, the first called “Israel” (Gen. 32:28), who was disobedient to his parents (Gen. 26:34–35; 27:46), and Absalom, the son of the Prophet and King David who ruled Israel immediately after Saul, who plotted against his father’s life—both proved alien to the sacred lineage.

So too among us: not all who are named after Christ—as not all those formerly named after Israel—are reckoned in Christ’s lineage, but only those who live according to His will and keep His commandments, making up what is lacking through repentance. Judas Iscariot was not only among the called, but among the Apostles—and not merely among the Apostles, but among the Twelve, the very chief ones. Yet having estranged himself from kinship with Christ, he became the most alien of all from the name that speaks of kinship. Why did this happen? Because he had no zeal for the proclaimed Kingdom of Heaven, nor did he take to heart the astonishing works and teaching of the Savior. For the signs and works of God that are beheld lead those who desire to see them to faith; hearing the sacred teaching, together with truth in God, reveals a life pleasing to God. Through both, despising all that is fleshly and earthly, we direct our thoughts toward the hope prepared in heaven.

But Judas desired none of this; he looked to the earth and saw the meaning of life in theft, in earthly and base gain, in the supposed material benefit he imagined would come to him from it. He loved things repeatedly and most strongly forbidden by the Father, Master, and Teacher of all. Thus he was no fellow-apostle of Christ, but kin to those to whom the Lord said: “You seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled” (John 6:26). For just as those, though they saw the signs, ate the bread, and heard the words of the Self-subsistent Word incarnate for us, later cried out to Pilate, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him” (John 19:15)—so too Judas, having seen with his own eyes (and to a greater degree than others), having experienced the greatness and divinity of the Lord, later betrayed Him to the murderers.

Yet He endured (O unspeakable magnanimity!) “even death, death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8), for the victorious sign over the originator of evil, and to teach us patience and show that temptations and afflictions bring us benefit. For the Prophet says: “In affliction we remembered You” (cf. Isa. 26:16 or 26:18 in some versions); and: “I will bear the indignation of the Lord” (Mic. 7:9); and: “Your chastening will receive me” (cf. Ps. 17:36 LXX), that is, it raised up and persuaded me, bent as I was toward bodily cares and bodily things, to look only to You.

But if even in time of affliction you do not turn to God, if you are not corrected by His chastisement, then what time or what event will ever contribute to your correction? Someone may object: “But does not the body need food and other necessities?” Indeed, very much so! How could it be otherwise? Therefore, if you possess all things—having received them, of course, from God (for as the Apostle says: “What do you have that you did not receive?” 1 Cor. 4:7)—give thanks to the Giver, rendering Him gratitude through deeds: just as He obeyed your will and fulfilled your desire, so too draw near, listen, learn what His will is, obey it, and act accordingly, that, like a prudent man, you may be praised. For the Lord says: “Whoever hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man” (cf. Matt. 7:24). And consequently, not only in regard to passing and earthly things, but also in regard to future, abiding, and heavenly things, you will have Him as a generous Benefactor. For He says: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:21).

If at present you suffer material want or fear impending ruin, again draw near to Him, again entreat Him, again show Him obedience. For it is written: “Be subject to the Lord and entreat Him” (Ps. 36:7 LXX). Again, His good servant is known by deeds; for He is the One who, according to the Psalm, “gives food in due season, opening His hand and satisfying all living things with favor” (cf. Ps. 144:15–16 LXX). He is the One who said: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Josh. 1:5). He is the One who says: “My servants shall eat,” but to those who are not His servants: “You shall be hungry” (Isa. 65:13).

Why do you imitate in irrational animals that which is harmful to you—namely, their bent posture toward the belly and their inability to rise from earthly things—although you were created upright, so that you might have thoughts of the higher things and seek what is above? Why, like that woman bowed down whom Satan had bound for eighteen years, do you yourself wish to remain bound, although this Word of Life, who released her, desires and is able easily to loose you, if only you draw near to Him, listen to Him, and obey—rather than stopping your ears, fleeing away, and resisting?

Why do you imitate in irrational creatures what harms you, but not what would benefit you? Hear the Prophet speaking of how the young lions, when in need of food, roar and seek it from God, and receive it to seize as prey. For it is said: “The young lions roar after their prey and seek their food from God” (Ps. 103:21 LXX). In speaking of young lions, he abundantly provides those who have understanding the opportunity to draw a conclusion about all other animals as well: for if the lion—of all beasts the most voracious, predatory, and powerful in hunting—cannot seize food for itself unless God gives it, what can be said of the other, weaker animals?

This is what Christ Himself sets forth in the Gospel using the example of birds: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matt. 6:26). What need I say of land animals, flying creatures, sea-dwellers, or amphibians? For Christ says: “And if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven—not toiling, not watching—will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (cf. Matt. 6:30).

Brethren, “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33)—and not only will you inherit this inalienable kingdom of God forever, being justified by His grace, but “all these things will be added to you” as well. But if you seek chiefly not the kingdom of God and His righteousness, but rather what feeds and pampers this corruptible body, then you will not obtain even that—unless you fall into still greater evil for the sake of the same body, thereby bringing condemnation and harm upon your eternal soul. This is seen in the example of the Rich Man (from the Lord’s parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus), who hears from Abraham: “You received your good things in your lifetime” (Luke 16:25).

Once the people of Israel craved meat in the wilderness, and God gave them quail in countless numbers: “And they ate and were well filled, for He gave them what they craved” (Ps. 77:29 LXX)—“but while the meat was still in their mouths, the wrath of God rose against them, and He killed the strongest of them and struck down the chosen men of Israel” (Ps. 77:30–31 LXX). Why “the strongest of them”—that is, why did God’s wrath strike many from the multitude? Because they fearlessly grumbled and blasphemed against God and against Moses, who by God’s command was their leader. And why did He strike down “the chosen men of Israel”? Because they did not restrain the multitude from inclining toward evil.

Behold, such are those who are cast out from the holy Church and the kingdom of God, whether they be from among the ancient people or from the New Israel. This is what the Lord showed in the Gospels when He said: “Many will come from east and west and north and south and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness” (cf. Matt. 8:11–12; Luke 13:28–29).

Who are these “sons of the kingdom” who will be cast into the outer darkness? They are those who, though they confess faith with their lips, deny God by their deeds—abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work (cf. Titus 1:16). And who are those who will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven? They are those who, with right faith, follow the Law or the teaching of Grace and manifest their faith through works.

If anyone desires to be numbered with them, to escape the outer darkness, and to be counted worthy of the never-setting light of the kingdom of God, and to dwell eternally with the saints in heaven—let him “put off the old man who is corrupted according to the deceitful lusts” (Eph. 4:22)—which are drunkenness, fornication, adultery, uncleanness, greed, love of money, hatred, anger, slander, and every evil passion—and “put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (cf. Col. 3:10), in love, brotherly affection, purity, self-control, and every kind of virtue. Through these Christ dwells in us, reconciling us to Himself and to one another, to the glory of Himself and of His beginningless Father and of the co-eternal and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.