Homily 25 #

On Monday of the Third Week of Lent: A Teaching of St. John Chrysostom on the Rule of the Christian Life

Whoever is merciful and gives alms from his own labor is pleasing to the Lord. But whoever lives by injustice, taking profit from the poor and the orphan, and then gives alms from that gain, thinking to please God by it, is hateful to Him. Such a person is like a dead dog that stinks, whose stench people cannot bear, nor even come near to smell, but they turn away their faces and cannot look at it. In the same way, God abhors such a person who gives alms from unrighteous gain, and He does not endure him, but turns His face away as from a foul odor. Instead, the devil draws near to him, filling him with greed, teaching him to plunder the property of others, and leading him into all manner of evil so that he may amass wealth unjustly.

But, brothers, it is better to give alms from honest labor, even if it is little, for this is great and acceptable to God. Furthermore, I say to you, brothers: love one another, do not judge anyone, do not envy, do not slander, do not reproach, do not bear false witness, but greet everyone with truth and humility. And if you cannot give anything, at least offer kind words. Do not be ashamed to bow your head before the elderly, nor be weary of standing before those who are honored. For all these things are done in honor of God, as the Apostle says: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Understand this: if a person tries to lift a heavy stone beyond his strength, he harms his body. Likewise, small amounts of food and drink bring health to the body, but excessive eating and drinking cause sickness and bring sin and destruction to the soul. Above all, have equal love for all, both rich and poor, for it is hypocrisy to love the rich but oppress the poor.

Do not insult those who are weak, of low birth, or poor, for God has chosen them, while He puts to shame the wise, the strong, and the rich. Consider the spider, how small it is, yet it spreads its web and catches flies in it. And often, even sparrows and other birds come and take food from this small trap. In the same way, we also receive spiritual nourishment from the weak and lowly, feeding our souls and bodies with God’s blessing.

Listen to what the Apostle Paul says to Timothy: “In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour” (2 Timothy 2:20). In the same way, all people, both rich and poor, have a place in the world. Do not despise or reproach God’s creation, but let each of you examine himself. “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3,5).

When you hold feasts and invite your brothers, relatives, princes, or noblemen, you seek worldly honor and glory. But if you invite the poor, you shall not lose your reward from God. Do not lend money with interest, for the holy Apostle Paul counts usurers and those who take bribes as equal to fornicators. In many places, Holy Scripture forbids this practice.

If any among you can read, let him follow the rule that is prescribed. But if someone cannot read, let him go to the holy Church of God and listen attentively to the sacred singing and reading, without speaking idly. For whoever reads books or listens to the one reading is conversing with God.

If someone knows how to read but does not pray Matins, the Hours, Vespers, or Compline for himself, he deprives himself of the light of God. Yet, even those who do not know how to read should still pray Matins, the Hours, Vespers, and Great Compline. But you may say, “How can I pray if I do not know how to read?” You should recite Psalm 50: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness…” If you do not know this, then say the Trisagion and the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, which art in heaven…” And if you do not know even this, then bow down as many times as you are able, saying the prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Do this in place of Matins, the Hours, Vespers, and Compline. This is the way prescribed for those who cannot read and for those who are lazy. And if you do this every day, glorifying your Creator, you will receive from Him an eternal reward.

If you are traveling or engaged in some necessary labor and thus cannot complete your rule of prayer, do not think that it is already too late to fulfill it later, or that God will not accept your prayer. Rather, I tell you this: if you owe someone a debt and forget to pay it, and the creditor likewise forgets to ask for it, but later you remember and pay him, will he not receive it from you with joy and gratitude? In the same way, the merciful God will accept your prayer at any time if it is offered with sincerity.

Be careful of eating and drinking early in the day, for if someone becomes drunk in the morning, his whole day will turn into night. Some people, though they hold the Orthodox faith, do not keep the commandments of God, thinking that faith alone is enough for salvation. Others live virtuously but neglect faith, believing that their good deeds alone will earn them a reward. Yet neither of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.

A certain elder was asked, “How do the demons wage war against us?” He answered, “The soul is like a tree, the demons are the axe, and our will is the handle by which we are cut down.”

If a person fasts on Wednesdays and Fridays, eating only once a day, and taking only bread and water or simple vegetables, then when the angel comes for his soul and leads it to the third heaven, the angels of Wednesday and Friday will meet him and say: “Rejoice, O soul! For you have labored much for our sake on earth!”

But if someone has not fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays, even if he has lived virtuously, then when the angel comes for his soul and leads it to heaven, the angels of Wednesday and Friday will say to him: “O poor soul! Why did you not fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, taking only bread, water, and simple vegetables for a single day? For on Wednesday, the Jews conspired against Christ, and on Friday, they crucified Him.” Therefore, every Christian should abstain from oil and dairy on Wednesdays and Fridays, except on those days when the Church grants a dispensation.

To our God be glory, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.