Homilies on Genesis 8

On the day being wintry; and on the assembly of the bishops; and on the giving of the commandment to Adam; and that it was with much solicitude that he received the law.

The gathering of the clouds has made the day more gloomy for us;

but the presence of the teacher has made it more radiant.

For the sun, sending forth its rays from the very summit at the midst of heaven, does not so illumine our bodies as the countenance of fatherly affection, sending forth its rays from the midst of the throne, sheds light upon our souls.

Perceiving this, then, he himself has come to us not alone, but has come bringing with him a whole choir of luminaries, so that the light might become greater.

Wherefore the church too rejoices for us, and the flocks leap for joy, and we with greater eagerness take hold of the words.

For where there is a gathering of shepherds, there also is the safety of the sheep.

So too sailors rejoice when many pilots are present with them;

for when there is calm and a still air, they lighten for them the toil of rowing by means of the rudders;

and when the sea is in tumult, by their skill and the abundance of hands they master the violence of the waters.

For this reason we too, taking courage, set forth the word for teaching, having cast the whole matter upon their prayers.

But in order that the hearing may become for you more easy to learn and more clear, let us also briefly recall the things spoken to you yesterday.

I said that before the eating of the tree the man knew good and evil, and that it was not after this tasting that he received knowledge.

I said for what reason it was called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and how it is the custom of Scripture, whenever some event befalls at a place or a time, to name both the place and the time from that event.

Today it is necessary to read out the commandment itself, by which He forbade the eating of the tree.

What then is it? 'And the Lord God commanded Adam, saying:'

'Of every tree that is in the garden you may freely eat.'

The law is divine; but let us give heed.

For if men, when reading a royal letter, cause a whole theater to rise to its feet,

much more must we, who are about to read the laws not of men but of God, rouse ourselves in mind and give heed to what is said.

I know that some accuse the Lawgiver, and say that the law was the cause of the transgression.

Against this, then, we must first take our stand, and show by the very facts that it was not out of hatred for man, nor from a wish to insult our nature, but out of love and care, that He gave the law.

That He gave it to us as an ally, hear what Isaiah says:

'For He gave the law for help.'

'Your law is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths.'

But one who hates does not dispel the darkness by means of a lamp, nor guide the one who has gone astray with a light.

The commandment of the law is a lamp, and a light, and life, and reproof, and instruction.

Behold, it is not only a help, nor only a lamp, but also light and life.

But these words are not those of one who hates, nor of one who wishes to destroy, but of one who stretches out his hand and raises up the fallen.

For this reason Paul also, addressing himself to the Jew and showing how much gain the law brought in, and that it is a rest and not a burden to our nature, said:

«Behold, you are called a Jew, and you rest upon the law.»

Do you see that God gave the law not to burden our nature, but to give it rest? Do you wish to learn that it was also to honor it? These things by themselves are indeed sufficient to show the honor and the tender care; nevertheless, I shall make this very point plain from other testimonies as well.

«Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem,» he says;

«praise your God, O Zion;»

«for he has strengthened the bars of your gates, he has blessed your children within you;»

«he who makes your borders peace, and fills you with the finest of the wheat.»

Then, after speaking also of the benefit bestowed by God through the rest of creation, he added the choice and greater gift, saying thus:

«He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and his judgments to Israel.»

«He has not dealt so with any other nation, and as for his judgments, he has not made them known to them.»

«For he has strengthened,» he says, «the bars of your gates;»

«For he who makes,» he says, «your borders peace;»

«And fills you with the finest of the wheat.»

Yet nevertheless, above all these things he declared the giving of the law to be more precious.

For to show that to receive the law and to learn the ordinances of God is a gift far greater than safety, than peace, than deliverance from wars, than fair offspring and abundance of children, and than plenty of the necessities of life, he set this last of all, as the sum and bond of all good things, and added, saying:

«He has not dealt so with any other nation.»

«So»—in what respect? For indeed many have often enjoyed abundance too, and the other things that were enumerated. «But I am not speaking of the things mentioned before,» he says, «but of the law, that He has not dealt so with any other nation.»

«And as for his judgments, he has not made them known to them.»

Do you see how the law is greater than all the good things that were enumerated?

This Jeremiah also made manifest;

for lamenting those who were in captivity, he said: «Why is it that you are in the land of your enemies? You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom»—meaning the law.

Just as a fountain sends forth many streams in every direction, so too the law sends forth many commandments in every direction, watering our soul.

Then, making plain the surpassing worth of the honor that came through the law, he said:

«This wisdom was not heard of in Canaan, nor was it seen in Teman; neither the sons of Hagar, the merchants, nor the seekers knew her ways, nor did they remember her paths.»

And to show that it is something spiritual and divine, «Who,» he says, «has gone up into heaven and brought her down?» Then he added:

«This is our God; none other shall be reckoned against him.»

«He found out every way of knowledge, and gave it to Jacob his servant, and to Israel who was beloved by him.»

For this reason David also said:

«He has not dealt so with any other nation, and as for his judgments, he has not made them known to them.»

This too Paul hinted at when he wrote:

«What advantage then has the Jew? Or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way.»

«For first of all, because they were entrusted with the oracles of God.»

Do you see how he also interpreted the words, «He has not dealt so with any other nation, and as for his judgments, he has not made them known to them»? For if this is the Jew's advantage, that they alone of all men were honored with the giving of the written law, then God gave the law not to burden our nature, but to honor it.

And it was not only by this that he honored them, namely by giving the law, but also by giving it through himself;

for this too is a very great kind of honor, not merely to bestow.

That this gift is indeed great, hear Paul also demonstrating this.

For seeing the Jews puffed up because the prophets had come to them, and abasing their pride, showing that we have enjoyed a greater honor, having obtained our instruction not through a servant but through the Master, he speaks somewhat thus, writing to the Hebrews:

«In many portions and in many ways God, having spoken of old to our fathers, has in these last days spoken to us in a Son.»

«And not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.»

Do you see him rejoicing not merely in the reconciliation, but also in having received the reconciliation through Christ? And again, magnifying the resurrection, he says:

«The Lord himself shall descend from heaven.»

See how there too the whole thing is accomplished through the Master;

and here also it was not through some household servant, nor through an angel or archangel, but he himself, through himself, gave the command to Adam, honoring man with a twofold honor: both by giving the law, and by giving it through himself.

How then did that man slip and fall? Through his own carelessness;

and this is shown by all those who received a law and did not slip, but even did more than what was enjoined.

But since I see that the time is pressing us hard, I shall defer the discourse to another discussion;

and you, meanwhile, keep the things that have been said, and remember them, and teach those who have not heard; and let each one meditate on these things both in church, and in the marketplace, and in the home.

For nothing is sweeter than the hearing of divine things.

Hear at least what the Prophet says concerning this: «How sweet are your words to my throat, sweeter than honey and the honeycomb to my mouth!»

Set out this honeycomb, then, upon your evening table, so as to fill it entirely with spiritual delight.

Do you not see the wealthy among men, how after the meal they bring in harpers and flute-players? Those men turn their own house into a theater;

but you, make your house a heaven;

and you will do this not by changing the walls, nor by altering the foundations, but by inviting the very Master of the

heavens to your table.

God is not ashamed of such suppers.

For where there is spiritual teaching, there also are self-control and gravity and gentleness;

where there are husband and wife and children, there also are concord and love;

and where they are bound together by the bonds of virtue, there in their midst is Christ.

For he does not seek a golden ceiling, nor the flashing of columns, nor the beauty of marbles, but the bloom of the soul, and the comeliness of the mind, and a table laden with righteousness and bearing the fruits of almsgiving.

And should he see such a table, he swiftly enters into fellowship with the gathering and is present there.

For it is he himself who has said:

«You saw me hungry, and you fed me.»

So then, whenever you hear a poor man below crying aloud, and then from the table of the things set before you give something to the one in need, you have invited the Master through his servant to your table, you have filled it entirely with blessings, and through the firstfruits you have furnished a very great occasion for your storehouses to be multiplied with many good things.

And may the God of peace and of love, who gives bread for food and seed to the sower, multiply your seed and increase the fruits of your righteousness in you all, granting you the grace that comes from him, and may he count you worthy of the kingdom of the heavens; which may it be granted us all to attain, by the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father be glory, honor, and might, together with the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.