Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew 26 part 2/2

but I do not say this only, but I have also declared the murder to be twofold, both from the one who was wronged, and from the quality of the person who committed the fault.

For it is not the same thing for one who had been deemed worthy of the Spirit, and had been so greatly benefited, and had possessed such great boldness, and at such an age to dare such things, and apart from all these to do this very same thing.

But nevertheless, precisely in this most of all is that noble man admirable, that having fallen down into the very bottom of wickedness, he did not sink back, nor despair, nor cast himself down supine, having thus received from the devil a mortal blow, but quickly, or rather immediately, and with great vehemence, he gave a more deadly blow than he had received.

And it was the same as if, in war and in battle array, when some barbarian had thrust a spear into the heart of a champion, or had let fly an arrow against his liver, and had added to the former a second and more deadly wound, he who had received these grievous blows, having fallen and being drenched all around with much blood, should quickly rise again, and hurling a spear against the archer, should straightway show him dead upon the plain.

So indeed here too, by how much greater you call the blow, by so much the more admirable do you show the soul of him that was smitten, in that after this grievous wound he had strength both to rise again, and to stand in the very front of the phalanx, and to bring down him that had wounded him.

And how great this is, they know best of all who fall into grievous misfortunes.

For it is not so much the mark of a noble and youthful soul to walk uprightly and to run all the way through (for such a soul has as its fellow-traveller good hope, anointing it, rousing it, nerving it, making it more eager), as it is to be able, after the ten thousand crowns and the many trophies and the victories, having endured the uttermost loss, to lay hold once more of the same courses.

And that what I say may become clearer, I will try to bring before you yet another example, no less telling than the former.

For consider with me some pilot who has traversed a thousand seas, who, after sailing across the whole ocean, after enduring many storms and rocks and waves, laden with a heavy cargo, is shipwrecked at the very mouth of the harbour, and, barely with his naked body, escapes this grievous wreck.

How is it likely that such a man would be disposed toward the sea, toward seafaring, and toward such toils? Would such a one ever choose—unless he had an exceedingly noble soul—to look upon a shore, or a ship, or a harbour? I, for my part, think not.

Rather he will lie with his face covered, seeing day as night, and renouncing everything;

and he will sooner choose to live by begging than to lay his hand to the same toils again.

But not such was this blessed man;

rather, having endured such a shipwreck, after those countless toils and sweats, he did not remain with his face covered, but both launched his ship again, and spreading his sails, and taking the rudder in hand, he laid hold once more of the same toils, and again wrought for himself a greater wealth.

But if merely to stand firm is so admirable, and not to lie prostrate when one has utterly fallen, then to rise again as well and to accomplish such things—of how many crowns would it not be worthy? And indeed there were many things that might have cast him into despair;

and first, the magnitude of the sin;

secondly, that he suffered these things not at the beginning of life, when hopes are more abundant, but near its end.

For neither does the merchant who has scarcely left the harbour and at once suffered shipwreck grieve in the same way as one who, after countless trading ventures, strikes upon a rock.

Thirdly, that he suffered this after having already amassed much wealth.

For no small cargoes were then laid up in store for him;

such as those of his early age, when he was a shepherd;

the deeds concerning Goliath, when he set up that glorious trophy;

the deeds concerning his wisdom in the affair with Saul.

For indeed he displayed the long-suffering of the Gospel, having ten thousand times taken his enemy into his hands, yet continually sparing him;

choosing rather to be cast out from country and freedom and life itself, than to slay the one who was unjustly plotting against him.

And even after gaining the kingdom, no small were his good achievements.

Besides what has been said, both the esteem in which the multitude held him, and the falling from so brilliant a glory, caused no ordinary tumult.

For the purple did not adorn him so much as the stain of his sin disgraced him.

And you surely know how great a thing it is to have one's sins made a public spectacle, and how great a soul such a man needs, so that after the accusation of the many, and having so many witnesses of his own transgressions, he should not sink down.

Nevertheless, that noble man, having plucked out all these darts from his soul, so shone forth afterward, so wiped away the stain, so became clean, that even after his death he made atonement for the sins of his own descendants;

and what was said concerning Abraham, God is seen saying concerning this man also;

or rather, much more concerning this man.

For concerning the patriarch He says, 'I have remembered My covenant with Abraham';

but here He says not, 'the covenant,' but how? 'For the sake of David My servant I will shield this city.'

And Solomon too, on account of His goodwill toward David, He did not suffer to fall from the kingdom, though he had committed so great a sin.

And so great was the glory of the man, that Peter, after so many years, when addressing the Jews, spoke thus:

'It is permitted to speak to you with boldness concerning the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried.'

And Christ too, when discoursing with the Jews, shows him to have been, even after his sin, so greatly deemed worthy of the Spirit, that he was counted worthy to prophesy again concerning His own

Godhead;

and thereby stopping their mouths, He said:

'How then does David in the Spirit call Him Lord, saying:

The Lord said to my Lord:

Sit at My right hand'? And what took place in the case of Moses, this same thing took place in the case of David also.

For just as, even against the will of Moses, God punished Miriam for the insult against his brother, since He greatly loved the holy man;

so also, when this man was insulted by his son, God swiftly avenged him, and that too when he did not wish it.

These things then are sufficient, or rather, above all the rest, these are sufficient to show the virtue of the man.

For when God gives His verdict, there is no need to investigate anything further.

But if you wish to learn his wisdom in detail, you may, by going through the history after his sin, behold his boldness toward God, his goodwill, his advancement in virtue, his exactness even to his last breath.

Having then these examples, let us be watchful, and let us be diligent not to fall down;

and if ever we should fall, not to lie prostrate.

For it was not to cast you into slothfulness that I spoke of David's sins;

but that I might work in you a greater fear.

For if that righteous man, by being slightly slothful, received such wounds, what shall we suffer, who are negligent every day? Do not therefore, because he fell, look on and grow slothful;

but consider how much he wrought even after this, how much lamentation he displayed, how much repentance, adding the nights to the days, pouring forth fountains of tears, bathing his bed with his tears, and besides this clothing himself in sackcloth.

But if that man had need of so great a conversion, when shall we be able to be saved, who after so many sins remain insensible? For he who has many good deeds may easily even thereby overshadow his sins;

but he who is naked, wherever he receives a dart, receives a mortal wound.

In order, then, that this may not happen, let us arm ourselves with good works, and if any transgression should befall us, let us wash it away;

that we may be counted worthy, having lived the present life to the glory of God, to enjoy the life to come;

which may it be granted us all to attain, by the grace and love toward mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and might unto the ages of ages. Amen.