Homily 80. On the Second Sunday, after the Commemoration of All Saints, A Teaching of St. John Chrysostom

Friends and brethren, I had hoped that with each passing Sunday more people would gather in church to listen to the divine words. But now I see that fewer of you are coming. If I were speaking on my own behalf, you would do well not to come. But now I proclaim to you the commandments of the Master.

For when someone brings a royal decree into a city, whether from a king or a prince, no one inquires about the life of the one who brings it—whether he is rich or poor, righteous or sinful. They listen only to what is written and strive not to forget a single word. And if someone misses part of the message, he asks those who heard it. And if someone disorderly makes noise, they beat him and drive him out as a troublemaker.

If such attention is paid to the letters of an earthly ruler, how much more ought we to listen attentively when the Lord Himself speaks through His angel? Therefore, I beg you who are present here: instruct those who are absent, and encourage them to come to church, to stand with reverence and pay attention.

You have already tasted the honey of instruction—others have not. “O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 33:8). You know, “that if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as My mouth” (Jeremiah 15:19).

Having said this, let me now teach you about prayer, for by prayer all good deeds are set in order. If prayer proceeds from a heart moved with compunction, then it rises to God like sweet incense. That is why the prophet says: “Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense” (Psalm 140:2).

Why “as incense”? Because incense, when set upon coals, releases its fragrance. Likewise, prayer, when it comes from a heart aflame, ascends to God like a sweet aroma.

Do you understand what is being said? If you desire to learn more, then listen attentively. But if you are inattentive, then I will fall silent, though unwillingly—and you shall be condemned for not heeding instruction and not listening to the one who teaches you.

How willingly would you undertake a long journey—like the queen of the South who came to hear the wisdom of Solomon? “And, behold, a greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:42). I do not speak for my own sake—for I am a sinner—but for the sake of the Gospel’s teaching.

Tell me, brothers: if, when the sun is rising, someone were to shut his eyes, refusing to see the light and saying, “Darkness is better for me than this light,” would anyone have mercy on him? Would he not rather be despised and cast away?

Let the same be said about the word of instruction. For the word of God is called light in the Scriptures, and it is greater than the visible light. By the sun, our bodily eyes are illumined—but by the word of God, the eyes of our soul are enlightened.

That is why David says to God: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 118:105). And Isaiah says: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2).

Who, then, will have mercy on one who refuses to see the light?

As many of you as do come to church—urge those who do not to come. Let no one say, “I am busy with other tasks.” Rather, consider those invited to the king’s banquet, who all began to make excuses: one said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them”; another, “I have bought a piece of ground”; and another, “I have married a wife” (Luke 14:18–20). “And the king was angry with them.”

And can you not even set aside one hour for the Lord?

Let me ask you plainly—answer me this: if I were handing out gold or silver every day, or honey or wine, would you not come uninvited, even bringing others with you?

And yet now I offer you the words of God—more precious than gold and precious stones, sweeter than honey and the honeycomb—and you deprive yourselves of them of your own free will, not coming to God’s church.

Therefore, I rebuke and reproach not you who are present and who taste this spiritual honey—but those who refuse to come. If you have friends, neighbors, a wife, or children—invite them all to church and instruct them in soul-profiting words, that having lived here in a way pleasing to God, we may become heirs of eternal blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.