Homily 37 #

On Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent. A Teaching of St. John Chrysostom on the Veneration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross

Let us cast off despondency, brothers and sisters, now that we have reached the midpoint of the holy days of this honorable fast, and let us press on joyfully toward the remainder. For this reason the holy fathers, foreseeing our need, established that at the very midpoint of the Great and Holy Fast the Cross of the Lord should be set before us for veneration.

Let us all approach it and bow down before it, having put away anger, envy, slander, judgment, and every form of malice. Let us purify both soul and body through repentance and almsgiving, and so let us venerate and kiss with joy the Honorable Cross, glorifying Christ our God, who was nailed to it in the flesh. And let us look forward with eager expectation to the Lord’s voluntary entry into Jerusalem, His Passion, burial, and Resurrection.

Let us not grow weary in our Lenten labors, but imitate the Lord’s humility and love. For Christ Himself humbled Himself for our sake and became man, and in His own person gave us the example of every virtue. He fasted for forty days, setting before us the image of fasting. He endured reproach, mocking, crucifixion, and death. The Creator of all things suffered all this for our salvation.

Therefore, beloved, let us strive to become like Him—through fasting, prayer, almsgiving, humility, and love. And let no one say: “How can I begin to fast, having already wasted a week or two in laziness?” O brothers and sisters, speak not so! For there are many dwellings in heaven, each prepared for a different work, and each will receive a reward according to his effort. Let us at least strive diligently to reach those of the first rank, by laboring twice as hard through hunger, thirst, and prostrations.

For God receives the one who comes late in repentance just as He does the one who came early. As Christ said in the parable, “So the last shall be first, and the first last.” If we do not repent now, during these days of fasting, and if death should overtake any one of us, then it would have been better for that person never to have been born than to perish in wickedness.

Let us therefore hasten, brothers and sisters, to repent sincerely. For the Lord our God Himself is calling us to radiant joy, and to those who keep the fast He grants incorruptible crowns. Let us not, then, deprive ourselves of the joy of heaven, which will be inherited by those who do good. For our evil deeds, though they bring us a little pleasure now, will bring eternal torment in the age to come.

The Lord our God has said: “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life.” And the holy fathers cry out the same. If you have been a troublemaker, now become a peacemaker.

If you have been a drunkard, then today show yourself to be a steadfast faster. If you have lived to please the flesh, then today become a light to your soul. Let us not be Christians in name only, lest what is written be said of us: “This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

If a message or decree comes from an earthly ruler, everyone listens and quickly obeys the command. Yet God calls to us every day and every hour—through the prophets, the apostles, the bishops, the martyrs, and the holy fathers—and few there are who do His will.

Let us press forward, faithful ones, joyfully through the remaining days. Even if we have lived carelessly until now, let us at least finish the rest of the fast well. For if we truly repent, the Lord will forgive us everything we have done wrong throughout the year. What burden is it to pray to God? And when you do pray, do not harbor anger or malice in your heart, lest your labor be in vain.

And when the Church is singing hymns, do not fill the air with idle chatter, lest you lose your reward. Do not judge others for their sins—this only brings joy to the enemy. Each of us should be concerned with our own sins, for each will give an answer and be judged according to his own deeds.

When we stand before earthly rulers, no one dares to speak idly; we stand with fear, giving honor to such men. Should we not all the more give honor to God, fear Him, and do what is right? He holds power over both our souls and our bodies. “He killeth and maketh alive, He bringeth low and lifteth up.” For He said, “By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.” And again, “Riches and honour are with me.” And also, “Them that honour me I will honour.”

Let us therefore fear Him, brothers and sisters, and with a pure conscience receive the Body and Blood of Christ—casting aside enmity and anger, rejecting envy and judgment, and forsaking every evil deed.

Just as the body cannot live without bread, so the soul, if it does not partake of Communion, is dead. Christ Himself says: “Man shall not live by bread alone.”

Beloved, give food to the soul as well as to the body. This table is for the soul—it is the veins and lifeblood of our conscience. For this reason, the devil tries to keep the faithful from frequent Communion, so that he may retain power over them.

Beloved, my heart rejoices to see the faithful—together with their wives and children—receiving the Body and Blood of the Lord. For you have heard the Lord say: “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.” But whoever is deprived of Communion is not even worthy to stand in the church.

To our God be the glory forever. Amen.