St. John Chrysostom,
Homilies on the Gospel of John,
3. Saturday after Pasha,
John 15:17-16.2
These things
I command you, that you love one another.
That is, It
is not to upbraid, that I tell you that I lay down My life for you, or that I
ran to meet you, but in order to lead you into friendship. Then, since the
being persecuted and insulted by the many, was a grievous and intolerable
thing, and enough to humble even a lofty soul, therefore, after having said ten
thousand things first, Christ entered upon this matter. Having first smoothed
their minds, He thus proceeds to these points, showing that these things too
were for their exceeding advantage, as He had also shown that the others were.
For as He had told them that they ought not to grieve, but rather to rejoice,
because I go to the Father, (since He did this not as deserting but as greatly
loving them,) so here also He shows that they ought to rejoice, not grieve. And
observe how He effects this. He said not, I know that the action is grievous,
but bear for My sake, since for My sake also ye suffer, for this reason was not
yet sufficient to console them; wherefore letting this pass, He puts forward
another. And what is that? It is that this thing would be a sure proof of their
former virtue. And, on the contrary, you ought to grieve, not because you are
hated now but if you were likely to be loved; for this He implies by saying,
John 15:19
If you were
of the world, the world would love its own.
So that had
ye been loved it would be very clear that you had shown forth signs of
wickedness. Then, when by saying this first, He did not effect his purpose, He
goes on again with the discourse.
John 15:20
The servant
is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also
persecute you.
He showed
that in this point they would be most His imitators. For while Christ was in
the flesh, men had war with Him, but when He was translated, the battle came in
the next place upon them. Then because owing to their fewness they were
terrified at being about to encounter the attack of so great a multitude, He
raises their souls by telling them that it was a special subject of joy that
they were hated by them; For so you shall share My sufferings. You should not
therefore be troubled, for you are not better than I, as I before told you, The
servant is not greater than his lord. Then there is also a third source of
consolation, that the Father also is insulted together with them.
John 15:21
But all
these things will they do unto you for My Name's sake, because they know not
Him that sent Me.
That is,
they insult Him also. Besides this, depriving those others of excuse, and
putting also another source of comfort, He says,
John 15:22
If I had not
come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin.
Showing that
they shall do unjustly both what they do against Him and against them. Why then
did You bring us into such calamities? Did You not foreknow the wars, the
hatred? Therefore again He says,
John 15:23
He that
hates Me, hates My Father also.
From this
also proclaiming beforehand no small punishment against them. For, since they
continually pretended that they persecuted Him on account of the Father, to
deprive them of this excuse He spoke these words. They have no excuse. I gave
them the teaching which is by words, that by works I added, according to the
Law of Moses, who bade all men obey one speaking and doing such things, when he
should both lead to piety, and exhibit the greatest miracles. And He spoke not
simply of signs, but,
John 15:24
Which none
other man did.
And of this
they themselves are witnesses, speaking in this way; It was never so seen in
Israel Matthew 9:33; and, Since the world began was it not heard that any man
opened the eyes of one that was born blind John 9:32; and the matter of Lazarus
was of the same kind, and all the other acts the same, and the mode of
wonder-working new, and all beyond thought. Why then, says one, do they
persecute both You and us? Because you are not of the world. If you were of the
world, the world would love its own. John 15:19 He first reminds them of the
words which He spoke also to His own brethren John 7:7; but there he spoke more
by way of a reflection, lest He should offend them, while here, on the
contrary, He revealed all. And how is it clear that it is on this account that
we are hated? From what was done to Me. For, tell Me, which of My words or
deeds could they lay hold on, that they would not receive Me? Then since the
thing would be astounding to us, He tells the cause; that is, their wickedness.
And He stays not here either, but introduces the Prophet Psalm 35:19; 69:4,
showing him proclaiming before of old time, and saying, that,
John 15:25
They hated
Me without a cause.
3. Which
Paul does also. For when many wondered how that the Jews believed not, he
brings in Prophets foretelling it of old, and declaring the cause; that their
wickedness and pride were the cause of their unbelief. Well then; if they kept
not Your saying, neither will they keep ours; if they persecuted You, therefore
they will persecute us also; if they saw signs, such as none other man wrought;
if they heard words such as none other spoke, and profited nothing; if they
hate Your Father and You with Him, wherefore, says one, have You sent us in
among them? How after this shall we be worthy of belief? Which of our kindred
will give-heed to us? That they may not therefore be troubled by such thoughts,
see what sort of comfort he adds.
John
15:26-27
When the
Comforter has come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit
of Truth, which proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me. And ye also
shall bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
He shall be
worthy of belief, for He is the Spirit of Truth. On this account He called It
not Holy Spirit, but Spirit of Truth. But the, proceeds from the Father, shows
that He knows all things exactly, as Christ also says of Himself, that I know
whence come and whither I go John 8:14, speaking in that place also concerning
truth. Whom will send. Behold, it is no longer the Father alone, but the Son
also who sends. And ye too, He says, have a right to be believed, who have been
with Me, who have not heard from others. Indeed, the Apostles confidently rely
on this circumstance, saying, We who ate and drank with Him. Acts 10:41 And to
show that this was not merely said to please, the Spirit bears witness to the
words spoken. Acts 10:44
John 16:1
These things
have I spoken unto you, that you should not be offended.
That is,
when you see many disbelieve, and yourselves ill-treated.
John 16:2
They shall
put you out of the synagogues.
(For the
Jews had already agreed, that if any one should confess Christ, he should be
put out of the synagogues John 9:22)
Yea, the
time comes, that whosoever kills you will think that he does God service.
They shall
so seek after your murder, as of an action pious and pleasing to God. Then
again He adds the consolation,
John 16:3
And these
things will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor Me.
It is
sufficient for your comfort that you endure these things for My sake, and the
Father's. Here He reminds them of the blessedness of which He spoke at the
beginning, Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be
exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven. Matthew 5:11-12
John 16:4
These things
have I told you, that when the time shall come, you may remember them.
So, judging
from these words, deem the rest also trustworthy. For you will not be able to
say, that I flatteringly told you only those things which would please you, nor
that the words were words of deceit; for one who intended to deceive, would not
have told you beforehand of matters likely to turn you away. I have therefore
told you before, that these things might not fall upon you unexpectedly, and
trouble you; and for another reason besides, that you might not say, that I did
not foreknow that these things would be. Remember then that I have told you.
And indeed the heathen always covered their persecutions of them by a pretense
of their wickedness, driving them out as corrupters; but this did not trouble
the disciples who had heard beforehand, and knew for what they suffered. The
cause of what took place was sufficient to rouse their courage. Therefore He
everywhere handles this, saying, they have not known Me; and, for My sake they
shall do it; and, for My Name's sake, and for the Father's sake; and, I
suffered first; and, from no just cause they dare these things.
4. Let us
too consider these things in our temptations, when we suffer anything from
wicked men, looking to the Beginner and Finisher of our faith Hebrews 12:2, and
considering that it is by wicked men, and that it is for virtue's sake, and for
His sake. For if we reflect on these things, all will be most easy and
tolerable. Since if one suffering for those he loves is even proud of it, what
feeling of things dreadful will he have who suffers for the sake of God? For if
He, for our sake, calls that shameful thing, the Cross, glory John 13:31, much
more ought we to be thus disposed. And if we can so despise sufferings, much
more shall we be able to despise riches, and covetousness. We ought then, when
about to endure anything unpleasant, to think not of the toils but of the
crowns; for as merchants take into account not the seas only, but also the
profits, so ought we to reckon on heaven and confidence towards God. And if the
getting more seem a pleasant thing, think that Christ wills it not, and
straightway it will appear displeasing. And if it be grievous to you to give to
the poor, stay not your reckoning at the expense, but straightway transport
your thoughts to the harvest which results from the sowing; and when it is hard
to despise the love of a strange woman, think of the crown which comes after
the struggle, and you shall easily bear the struggle. For if fear diverts a man
from unseemly things, much more should the love of Christ. Difficult is virtue;
but let us cast around her form the greatness of the promise of things to come.
Indeed those who are virtuous, even apart from these promises, see her
beautiful in herself, and on this account go after her, and work because it
seems good to God, not for hire; and they think it a great thing to be
sober-minded, not in order that they may not be punished, but because God has
commanded it. But if any one is too weak for this, let him think of the prizes.
So let us do in respect of alms-doing, let us pity our fellow-men, let us not,
I entreat, neglect them when perishing with hunger. How can it be otherwise
than an unseemly thing, that we should sit at the table laughing and enjoying
ourselves, and when we hear others wailing as they pass through the street,
should not even turn at their cries, but be angry with them, and call them
cheat? What do you mean, man? Does any one plan a cheat for a single loaf of
bread? Yes, says some one. Then in this case above all let him be pitied; in
this case above all let him be delivered from his need. Or if you are not
minded to give, do not insult either; if you will not save the wreck, do not
thrust it into the gulf. For consider, when you push away the poor man who
comes to you, who you will be when you call upon God. With what measure ye
mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:2 Consider how he departs,
crushed, bowed down, lamenting; besides his poverty having received also the
blow from your insolence. For if you count the begging a curse, think what a
tempest it makes, begging to get nothing, but to go away insulted. How long
shall we be like wild beasts, and know not nature itself through greediness?
Many groan at these words; but I desire them not now, but always, to have this
feeling of compassion. Think, I pray you, of that day when we shall stand
before the judgment-seat of Christ, when we shall beg for mercy, and Christ,
bringing them forward, shall say, For the sake of a single loaf, of a single
obol, so great a surge did ye raise in these souls! What shall we reply? What
defense shall we make? To show that He will bring them forward, hear what He
says; Inasmuch as you did it not to one of these, you did it not to Me. Matthew
25:45 They will no more say anything to us, but God on their behalf will
upbraid us. Since the rich man saw Lazarus too, and Lazarus said nothing to
him, but Abraham spoke for him; and thus it will be in the case of the poor who
are now despised by us. We shall not see them stretching out their hands in
pitiful state, but being in rest; and we shall take the state which was theirs
(and would that it were that state only, and not one much more grievous) as a
punishment. For neither did the rich man desire to be filled with crumbs there,
but was scorched and tormented sharply, and was told, You in your lifetime
received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things. Luke 16:25 Let us
not then deem wealth any great thing; it will help us on our way to punishment,
if we take not heed, just as, if we take heed, poverty also becomes to us an
addition of enjoyment and rest. For we both put off our sins if we bear it with
thankfulness, and gain great boldness before God.
5. Let us
then not be ever seeking security here, in order that we may enjoy security
there; but let us accept the labors which are in behalf of virtue, and cut off
superfluities, and seek nothing more than we need, and spend all our substance
on those who want. Since what excuse can we have, when God promises heaven to
us, and we will not even give Him bread? When He indeed for you makes the sun
to rise, and supplies all the ministry of the Creation, but thou dost not even
give Him a garment, nor allow Him to share your roof? But why speak I of sun
and moon? He has set His Body before you, He has given you His Precious Blood;
and do you not even impart to Him of your cup? But have you done so for once?
This is not mercy; as long as, having the means, you help not, you have not yet
fulfilled the whole duty. Thus the virgins who had the lamps, had oil, but not
in abundance. Why, you ought, even did you give from your own, not to be so
miserly, but now when you give what is your Lord's, why do you count every
little? Will ye that I tell you the cause of this inhumanity? When men get
together their wealth through greediness, these same are slow to give alms; for
one who has learned so to gain, knows not how to spend. For how can a man
prepared for rapine adapt himself to its contrary? He who takes from others,
how shall he be able to give up his own to another? A dog accustomed to feed on
flesh cannot guard the flock; therefore the shepherds kill such. That this be
not our fate, let us refrain from such feasting. For these men too feed on
flesh, when they bring on death by hunger. Do you see not how God has allowed
to us all things in common? If amid riches He has suffered men to be poor, it
is for the consolation of the rich, that they may be able by showing mercy
towards them to put off their sins. But thou even in this hast been cruel and
inhuman; whence it is evident, that if you had received this same power in
greater things, you would have committed ten thousand murders, and wouldest
have debarred men from light, and from life altogether. That this might not
take place, necessity has cut short insatiableness in such matters.
If you are
pained when you hear these things, much more I when I see them taking place.
How long shall you be rich, and that man poor? Till evening, but no farther;
for so short is life, and all things so near their end, and all things
henceforth so stand at the door, that the whole must be deemed but a little
hour. What need have you of bursting storehouses, of a multitude of domestics
and house-keepers? Why have you not ten thousand proclaimers of your almsdoing?
The storehouse utters no voice, yet will it bring upon you many robbers; but
the storehouses of the poor will go up to God Himself, and will make your
present life sweet, and put away all your sins, and you shall gain glory from
God, and honor from men. Why then grudgest you yourself such good things? For
you will not do so much good to the poor, as to yourself, when you benefit
them. You will right their present state; but for yourself you will lay up
beforehand the glory and confidence which shall be hereafter. And this may we
all obtain, by the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom
with the Father and the Holy Ghost be the glory and the might for ever. Amen.
