HOMILY 13 #

On Friday of the First Week of Lent, a Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom, from the Holy Gospel Exhortations

Listen, brothers, to how many various edifying exhortations there are: Ahab, having humbled himself, found consolation; the Ninevites, by fasting, escaped the wrath of God; Zeno, by almsgiving, was delivered from sins; the harlot, by tears, moved the Master Christ to mercy; Paul, confessing his sins, became a teacher of penitents; the thief, believing, was received into paradise. Let us take these remedies and heal the wounds of sin. Do you see how many cures the Physician has prepared for us? If you do not wish to give alms like Zeno, then at least humble yourself like Ahab. If you do not wish to fast like the Ninevites, then at least, like the harlot, wash away your sins with tears. Only flee to the Lord’s prayer, saying with David: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy!” Only uncover your wounds and say: “Have mercy on my soul and body; have mercy on me here and in the world to come; have mercy on me, for You know the weakness of the human race.” The Physician greatly desires your salvation.

If you have nothing with which to buy the Kingdom of God, then do not seek anything greater than this: to restrain your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking guile, and that will be sufficient for your salvation. But if you have fasted, do not exalt yourself. If you have given alms, do not be proud, but consider—what will you have gained when the fast is over? Will you leave as you entered? Look, what sin will you have cast off? In what will you have become wiser? What correction will you have made? Have you ceased from anger, from slander, from swearing, or have you done any other good? If you have merely abstained from food, you have gained nothing by not eating. For the Lord will say to you: If you were able to fast, then why did you not humble yourself before your enemies? Why did you remain in enmity and hold on to envy? And why did you grow angry at the one who offended you? Not only this, but you also harbored wrath, which is worse than anything else: for he who commits fornication or adultery does so in a single moment and ceases from lust, but he who harbors wrath sins constantly—by night and by day, in every hour, he continuously commits sin.

If you inscribe these things upon your mind, you will suffer no torment. Therefore, before we fall into the pit of destruction, let us flee from such great sins. Let us consider, brothers, that no one can deliver us from those torments—not Moses, not Noah, not Daniel, not even Abraham himself, the lover of strangers, will be able to intercede for us. We, though greatly honored by God, cannot render Him even the same honor that slaves give to their masters, or soldiers to their commanders, or friends to one another. With what diligence and love do we converse with our friends? But when we pray to God for our sins, we do so with our lips while our minds wander here and there.

If He exposes our gazes, those filled with lust upon the faces of others, what shall we answer? If we act out of vainglory while praying, fasting, or giving alms, can we even lift our eyes toward heaven? If we speak deceitfully with our brother and, turning away, slander him—what torments shall we not endure? And if He examines how we stand during the singing of hymns—standing thoughtlessly while divine Scripture speaks to us and commands us to stand in church with fear—if we ignore this and instead engage in idle talk, what punishment shall we not suffer?

Therefore, let us always keep the fiery Gehenna in our memory. It is for this reason that He sets Gehenna and torment before us, that we might flee from that calamity. Do we not also show enmity toward God when we always excuse ourselves with lies before Him? If He commands us to fast, we claim weakness. If He commands us to show mercy, we plead poverty. If He tells us to go to church, we excuse ourselves with grief and busyness. But if He commands us not to be angry, what can we say in response? There is no sickness, no poverty, no harsh labor that prevents us from attaining true humility—yet we do not practice it.

How, then, without repentance for our sins, can we lift our hands to heaven or even move our tongue? How can we ask for the remission of sins? Have you been offended? Insulted? Have you heard slander, malice, blasphemy, or reproach? Then wait for the Judge and entrust it to Him. If a stranger’s servant wrongs you, do you not refrain from punishing him but instead report him to his master? How much more fitting it is, then, to entrust such things to God! If you have fasted from food, be mindful—what sin have you washed away? In what have you become wiser? What correction have you achieved?

Know that we must stand before the Judge, where no clever speech will prevail, nor will helpers be of any assistance. But pour forth streams of tears against your sins: if you have stumbled a little, a little tear will suffice; if you have sinned greatly, then even a few tears, but from a contrite heart, will be enough. And weep also for your brother who has sinned. Let us repent before the door is shut. Where there is sin, let there be repentance; where there is a wound, let there be healing; where there is a fall, let there be rising again and strengthening. For not only for our deeds, but also for our thoughts shall we be judged.

Knowing this, let us help ourselves, saying with David: “Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies,” for they tempt us to sin and then become our accusers. The devil alone does not open his mouth against us—our own sins accuse us. Do not demons themselves say: “Were we not your servants in anger, in lust, in slander against your brethren, in drunkenness, and in wrath?” Let us fear that day, in which even our thoughts will be the most bitter accusers against us! But let us not wait for the voice of condemnation—rather, let us go before it and beseech the Master. Though the flesh we bear is weak, God is mighty and able to help us.

It is fitting to love the Master and always be prepared to meet Him, that we may hear the voice: “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!” It is necessary to know how to guard ourselves against the evil one. To our God be glory, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.