Homily 38. #

On Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent: The Command of Our Holy Fathers, Found in the Wisdom of Saint Basil the Great, Concerning Humility.

Listen, brethren and beloved ones, to the voice of the great high priest, who speaks, saying:

“If any among the faithful and God-loving, whether by the devil’s prompting or by the pride and arrogance of his own mind, falls into the snares of the enemy—that is, into wrath and strife or any kind of enmity—let him take upon himself the fear of God in his heart, and embrace a tender and submissive meekness. Let him receive the love of holy and blessed humility with great earnestness, striving quickly, sincerely, and without hypocrisy to make peace.”

Hear the prophet, who says: “In whatsoever I find thee, in that will I judge thee.” And elsewhere he says: “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” David says: “Be ye angry, and sin not; for what ye speak in your hearts, show compunction upon your beds.” And again he says: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

Again, the Lord Himself saith: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you.” And the Apostle Paul says: “Peace be to you, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” And again the Lord says: “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Also: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

And again He says: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” And: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

Listen, beloved, to the Lord Himself, who says: “Let not one word fall to the ground, lest it be found like the swine that hath swallowed the Lord’s gold.” These are the Jews and heretics, who have not the right understanding; for this cause they are called swine, and the gold is the Divine teaching.

But as for us, brethren, let us not be called by that name—those who disregard the Divine and soul-saving teaching. Rather, let us be obedient, submissive, and meek, like Paul, and David, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

For Paul suffered many wounds and afflictions from all the nations, yet he endured everything with love. Likewise, David endured many troubles from foreigners and from his own neighbors. And our Lord Jesus Christ Himself accepted suffering and death at the hands of His own servants, and rendered not evil for evil, but bore all things for the sake of our salvation. But we sinners are unable to bear even the slightest offense for the sake of our own salvation.

Therefore I beseech you, brethren: let us break the nets of enmity, which are wrath, strife, fighting, slander, envy, hatred, contentiousness, remembrance of wrongs, disobedience, pride, and all other evils. For because of such wickedness, our prayers are not acceptable to God; rather, we provoke God to anger and prepare for ourselves eternal torment.

But let us hasten quickly toward humility—for those who desire humility shall be called the sons of God. And likewise, many times because of humility, men have spoken openly with angels. In the beginning, men were deceived by the cunning of the devil, turned away from God, and began to serve demons. Among them arose strife and many disputes. But the angels of God, seeing the delusion of Satan and the evils of men, waged war not only against the demons but also against wicked men.

Yet when God saw that mankind had turned away from the path of truth and that all had inclined toward evil, He was moved with compassion by His ineffable mercy and tender heart, and turned again to mankind with humility—not only in thought but in deed. The All-Merciful One resolved to send His Only-Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to descend from heaven and dwell among men, to overcome the devil and his servants—and so it came to pass.

Therefore God first sent the prophets, proclaiming His coming and incarnation, even unto the Cross and Resurrection. Therein the demons were trampled down, and mankind was granted salvation; and there was peace in heaven and on earth, among angels and among men.

Listen, beloved, how good it is to have peace among ourselves. For if anyone preserves peace among his brethren and has love for every man, he shall be saved without labor, and his prayer shall be pleasing to God. But if one goes to church while angry and has not forgiven his brother, his prayer is not pleasing to God; rather, he provokes God to wrath, and upon such men comes the anger of God and punishment for disobeying His holy words.

So then, brethren, let us cast our anger and all enmity of the devil back upon Satan and his servants, and let us take upon ourselves the peace of the angels, delaying not even for a moment, that we may have, both here and in the age to come, our dwelling with the angels and all the saints, rejoicing together.