Homilies on First Corinthians 20 part 2/2

And why do I speak of Peter? For Paul himself, this very man, after countless journeyings and after so many miracles, standing at a tent-maker's workshop, stitched hides; and angels stood in awe of him, and demons trembled.

'These hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me.'

And why do I say he was not ashamed? Nay, he even gloried in this.

'And who now,' one says, 'is like Paul in virtue?' I too know that there is no one; but this is no reason why those who now exist should be worthy of contempt.

For if you honour a man for Christ's sake, even though he be the lowest, provided he is a believer, he would justly be worthy of honour.

For if, when both a general and a mere common soldier arrive, both being friends of the king, you open your house to each of them, through which of them would you be thought to honour the king more? Clearly through the soldier.

For the general had, apart from the king's friendship, many things sufficient to induce you to render him this honour;

but the soldier had nothing else save the king's friendship.

For this reason God has commanded that the lame and the maimed and those who cannot repay be called to our suppers and banquets, because these above all are properly the good deeds done for God's sake.

But if you entertain some great and much-regarded man, what is done is not so pure an act of mercy;

rather, vainglory often claims a share in you, and the receiving of good treatment and becoming more conspicuous in many men's eyes comes about through him.

At any rate, I could point to many who for this very reason wait upon the more conspicuous of the saints, that through them they may enjoy greater freedom of access with rulers, and thereby become more useful to their own affairs and households;

and they demand many such favours of those saints;

which mars for them the recompense of their hospitality, when they pursue it with such an intent.

And why need one say this concerning the saints? For he who seeks here from God the requitals of his labours, and pursues virtue for the sake of present things, has diminished his own reward;

but he who demands his crowns whole and entire yonder appears far more admirable, like that Lazarus who received all his good things there, like the three children who, when about to be cast into the furnace, said, 'There is a God in heaven able to deliver us;

and if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.'

like Abraham, who both brought up his son and slew him, and did this not for any reward, but reckoning obedience to the Master to be the one greatest recompense.

Let us also imitate these men.

For thus the recompense of good things will come to us in abundance—because we do all things with such a disposition—and we shall attain to more resplendent crowns;

which may it be granted us all to attain, by the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father together with the Holy Spirit be glory, might, honour, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.