Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew 32 part 2/2

But you, biting me in secret, and not receiving me in the Master's house, I fear lest you again increase my despondency;

not because you have insulted me, nor because you have cast me out, but because you have thrust away the peace, and have drawn upon yourself that grievous punishment.

For even if I do not shake off the dust, even if I do not turn away, the terms of the threat remain unmoved.

For I indeed often pronounce peace upon you, and I will never cease saying this;

but if with your insults you do not receive it, not even so do I shake off the dust;

not because I disregard the Master, but because I am exceedingly inflamed with love for you.

And besides, I have suffered nothing for your sake;

neither have I come on a long journey, nor have I come in that outward form and in poverty (for which reason we first blame ourselves), nor without sandals and a second tunic;

for this reason perhaps you also are wanting in what comes from you.

Nevertheless, this does not suffice you for an excuse;

but while the judgment upon us is the greater, it grants no pardon to you.

Then the houses were churches, but now the church has become a house.

Then it was not permitted to speak anything worldly in a house;

now there is nothing spiritual said in a church, but even here you bring in the affairs of the marketplace;

and while God is discoursing, forsaking to hear in silence the things that are spoken, you throw in and mix up contrary matters;

but now you both speak and hear the things that in no way concern you.

For these things I lament, and lamenting I will not cease.

For neither am I master to change this house, but here I must remain until we depart from the present life.

Make room for us, then, as Paul commanded.

For what he said there was not spoken concerning a physical table, but concerning the mind and the understanding.

This also we seek from you: love, that warm and genuine friendship.

But if you cannot even endure this, at least love your own selves, laying aside your present slothfulness.

This is enough to comfort us: if we see you well approved and become better men.

Thus shall I also display the greater love, if, loving more, I am the less loved.

For there are indeed many things that draw us together.

One table is set before all; one Father has begotten us; we were all loosed from the same birth-pangs; the same drink is given to all.

Or rather, not only the same drink, but also to drink from one and the same cup.

For the Father, wishing to lead us into tender affection, devised this also, that we should drink from one cup.

which belongs to intense love.

But we are not worthy of the Apostles.

I too confess it, and would never deny it.

Not only of those men, but we are not even worthy of their shadow.

But nevertheless, let what is yours to give be done.

This will be able to bring you no shame at all, but rather to profit you the more.

For when you display such great love and obedience even toward the unworthy, then you will receive the greater recompense.

For we do not speak our own things;

since you have no teacher upon the earth;

but the things we received, these also we give;

and in giving them we seek nothing more from you than only to be loved.

And if we are unworthy even of this, yet by loving you we shall quickly become worthy.

And yet we have been commanded to love not only those who love us, but even our enemies.

Who then is so harsh, who so savage, that having received such a law, will turn away from and hate those who love him, even were he full of ten thousand evils? We have partaken of a spiritual table;

let us also share in a spiritual love.

For if robbers, sharing salt together, forget their trade, what defense shall we have, who ever partake of the Lord's body, and do not even imitate their gentleness?

And yet for many, not only a shared table, but even to be of one city, has sufficed for friendship;

but we, when we have the same city, the same house, the same table, the same way, the same door, the same root, the same life, the same head, the same shepherd, king, teacher, judge, maker, and father, and when all things are common to us, of what pardon should we be worthy, being divided from one another? But you seek the signs which those men wrought when they went in—the lepers cleansed, the demons driven out, the dead raised? Yet this too is the greatest proof of your nobility and of your love: that you believe God without demanding pledges.

For it was on this account, and for another reason, that God caused the signs to cease.

For if, when signs are not being wrought, those who plume themselves on other advantages—such as eloquence of wisdom, or a display of piety—grow vainglorious, are puffed up, and split apart from one another;

if signs also had been wrought, where would divisions not have arisen? And that what has been said is no mere conjecture, the Corinthians bear witness, being from this cause divided into many parts.

Seek not, then, signs, but health of soul.

Seek not to see one dead man raised;

for you have learned that the whole inhabited world is rising again.

Seek not to see one blind man healed, but behold all men now recovering the better and more profitable sight;

and learn thou also to see soberly, and set thine own eye aright.

For indeed, if we all lived as we ought, the children of the Greeks would marvel at us more than at those who work wonders.

For signs often carry a suspicion of illusion and another wicked surmise, even though our own were not such;

but a pure life can admit no such reproach;

rather, the possession of virtue stops the mouths of all.

Let us then be diligent about this;

for great is its wealth, and great the wonder of it.

This gives the true freedom, and enables it to be seen even in slavery, not delivering from slavery, but showing those who remain slaves more honorable than the free—which is far greater than to bestow freedom;

not making the poor man rich, but showing him, while he remains poor, more amply provided than the rich.

And if you wish to work signs too, rid yourself of transgressions, and you have accomplished the whole.

For sin is a great demon, beloved;

and if you cast this out, you have done a greater thing than those who drive out ten thousand demons.

Hear Paul speaking, and setting virtue above miracles;

'Earnestly desire,' he says, 'the greater gifts;

and moreover I show you a way beyond all measure;'

and being about to tell this way, he spoke not of the raising of the dead, nor the cleansing of lepers, nor any other such thing;

but in place of all these he set love.

Hear Christ also speaking;

'Rejoice not that the demons are subject to you, but that your names are written in heaven.'

'Many will say to me in that day:

Did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons, and do many mighty works? And then will I confess to them, that I never knew you.'

And when He was about to be crucified, calling His disciples He said to them:

'By this shall all men know that you are My disciples'—not if you cast out demons, but 'if you have love one for another.'

'By this shall all men know that You sent Me'—not if these raise the dead, but 'if they be one.'

For signs have often profited another, but harmed him who possessed them, lifting him up into arrogance and vainglory, or in some other way;

but in the case of good works there is no such thing to suspect, but they profit both those who practice them and many others besides.

These things, then, let us practice with much diligence.

For if you change from inhumanity to almsgiving, you have stretched out the hand that was withered.

If, forsaking the theaters, you go to the church, you have set right the foot that was lame.

If you withdraw your eyes from the harlot and from a beauty not your own, you have opened eyes that were blind.

If instead of satanic songs you learn spiritual psalms,

you who were mute have spoken.

These miracles are the greatest;

If we continue working these signs, we ourselves shall become great and wonderful men through them, and shall draw all the wicked to virtue, and shall enjoy the life to come;

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