Catechetical Lectures 11 part 12/12

And since the name “church” is used of various things, as also it is written of the crowd in the theatre of the Ephesians:

“And having said these things, he dismissed the assembly”;

but one might properly and truly call the systems of the heretics also “churches of evildoers”—I mean of the Marcionites and Manichaeans and the rest; for this reason the faith has now securely delivered to you the clause “and in one holy catholic Church,” that—

you may flee those defiled systems, and may abide continually in the holy catholic Church, in which you were also regenerated.

And if ever you sojourn in cities, do not simply ask where the Lord’s house is (for the rest of the impious heresies attempt to call their own dens “Lord’s houses”), nor merely where the church is, but where the catholic Church is.

For this is the proper name of this holy Church and mother of us all.

which is the bride of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God (for it is written:

“even as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her,” and all that follows), and has the type and likeness of the Jerusalem above, which is free and is the mother of us all, who was formerly barren but is now mother of many children.

For when the first had been cast out, in the second catholic Church, as Paul says, “God set first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then powers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of tongues,” and every form of all virtue—I mean wisdom and understanding, temperance and righteousness, almsgiving and benevolence, and the patience that is unconquerable in persecutions.

which through the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, through glory and dishonour, formerly in persecutions and afflictions crowned the holy martyrs with the varied and many-flowered crowns of endurance; but now, in times of peace, by the grace of God, has the honour due to it from kings and those in high positions and from every kind and race of men—kings having the bounds of their authority according to the nations of each place, but the holy catholic Church alone having unbounded power throughout the whole world.

For God, as it is written, has set its border peace.

Concerning which, if I were willing to say all things, I should need many hours for the narration.

Being taught and living rightly in this holy catholic Church, we shall possess the kingdom of the heavens and inherit life everlasting, for the sake of which we also toil at all things, that we may enjoy it from the Lord.

For our aim is not about small things, but the thing earnestly sought is eternal life.

Therefore in the profession of the faith we are taught, after “and in the resurrection of the flesh,” that is, of the dead, concerning which we have discoursed, to believe also “in life everlasting,” concerning which is the struggle for us Christians.

Now the real and true Life is the Father, who through the Son in the Holy Spirit pours forth the heavenly gifts upon all; and because of his love for man, the things of eternal life have been promised without falsehood to us men also.

And it is not to be disbelieved that this is possible.

For we must believe, looking not to our own weakness, but to his power.

For all things are possible with God.

And that this is possible, and that we look for life everlasting, Daniel says:

“And of the many righteous, as the stars unto the ages,” and again:

“And so we shall always be with the Lord.”

For to be always with the Lord signifies the eternal life.

And most plainly the Saviour says in the Gospels:

“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life everlasting.”

And many are the proofs concerning eternal life.

And to us who desire to acquire this eternal life, the divine Scriptures set forth the ways of its acquisition;

of which, now, because of the length of the discourse, we shall set forth a few testimonies, leaving the rest for the diligent to search out.

At one time, that it is through faith.

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life,” and so forth.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, that he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has everlasting life,” and so forth.

At another time, that it is through the preaching of the Gospel.

For he says that “he who reaps receives a wage, and gathers fruit unto life everlasting.”

At another time, that it is through martyrdom and the confession in Christ.

“And he who hates his soul in this world…

…shall keep it unto life everlasting.”

And again, that it is through preferring Christ to riches and kindred:

“And everyone who has left brothers or sisters,” and so forth, “shall inherit life everlasting.”

And that it is through keeping the commandments:

“You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill,” and so forth, as he answered the one who came and said, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may have life everlasting?” And further too, through abstaining from evil deeds, and henceforth serving God.

“But now, having been set free from sin and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end, life everlasting.”

And manifold—which I have left out because of the multitude—is the finding of eternal life.

For the Lord, being a lover of man, has opened not one, nor a second only, but many doors of the entrance into eternal life, so that all may enjoy it, as far as in him lies, without hindrance.

These things, then, have been said by us thus far also concerning eternal life in due measure, which is the last teaching and the end of the things professed in the faith.

Of which may it be granted to all of us, both those who teach and those who hear, to enjoy by the grace of God.

Now, beloved brethren, the word of teaching exhorts you all to prepare your soul for the reception of the heavenly gifts.

Concerning, then, the holy and apostolic faith delivered to you for profession, we have given, by the grace of the Lord, as many catecheses as were possible during these past days of Lent.

Not that we ought to have said these things only;

for there are many things omitted, and perhaps understood more greatly by better teachers.

But now that the holy day of Pascha is at hand, and your love is being enlightened by regeneration in Christ through the washing, you shall be taught again, God willing, the things that are fitting: with how much piety and order those who are called must enter; for what reason each of the holy mysteries of baptism is performed; and with how much reverence and order you must, from baptism, approach the holy altar of God and enjoy the spiritual and heavenly mysteries there—that your soul, being illuminated beforehand through the word of teaching, may recognize in each the greatness of the gifts granted to you by God.

And after the holy and saving day of Pascha, from the second day of the week onward, entering each day in the days of the following week, after the assembly, into the holy place of the Resurrection, you shall hear other catecheses, God willing;

in which you shall again be taught the reasons for each of the things that took place, and from the Old and New Testaments you shall receive the proofs—first concerning the things that took place immediately before baptism, then how you were cleansed from sins by the Lord through the washing of water in the word, and how priestly you became partakers of the name of Christ, and how the seal of the communion of the Holy Spirit was given to you, and concerning the mysteries at the altar of the New Covenant, which have taken their beginning from here: what the divine Scriptures have handed down, what their power is, and how one must approach them, and when and how one must be disposed; and at the end of all, how you must conduct yourselves in the time to come, in deeds and words worthily of the grace, so that all of you may be able to enjoy eternal life.

And these things, if God will, shall be spoken.

Finally, brethren, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

for your redemption is drawing near, and the heavenly host of angels awaits your salvation;

and already there is the voice of one crying in the wilderness:

Prepare the way of the Lord.

All you who thirst, come to the water.

Hearken unto me, and you shall eat good things, and your soul shall delight itself in good things.

And after no long time you shall hear the good reading that says:

Be enlightened, O new Jerusalem;

concerning which Jerusalem the prophet has said:

You shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful mother-city, Zion—on account of the law that went forth out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem, which from there poured forth like rain upon the whole world.

And to her the prophet also says concerning you:

Lift up your eyes round about, and see your children gathered together.

And she answers, saying:

Who are these that fly as clouds, and as doves with their young ones unto me? Clouds, on account of their spiritual nature; and doves, on account of their innocence.

Who has known such things? Or who has seen it thus? Has the earth travailed in one day, and was a nation born at once? For Zion travailed and brought forth her children.

And all things shall be filled with unspeakable joy, on account of the Lord who said:

For behold, I make Jerusalem a rejoicing, and my people a joy.

And may it also be said to you even now:

Rejoice, O heavens, and let the earth be glad—and what follows—for God has had mercy on his people, and has comforted the lowly of his people.

And these things shall come to pass on account of the loving-kindness of God, who says to you:

Behold, I will blot out your transgressions as a cloud, and your sins as a thick mist.

But you, having been counted worthy of the name of the faithful (concerning whom it is written:

To those who serve me a new name shall be given, which shall be blessed upon the earth)—you shall say with gladness:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us—and so forth.

But God, being rich in mercy, on account of his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—and so forth.

And again likewise praise the Lord, the giver of good things, saying:

But when the kindness and love toward mankind of God our Saviour appeared, not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Lord, that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

And may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ himself, the Father of glory, give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; and may he keep you continually in good works and words and thoughts; to whom be the glory, honour, and might, through our Lord Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto all the unending ages of ages. Amen.