Thus far we have spoken of the mysteries which are celebrated either before the sacrament of baptism, or in baptism itself. But now we are to treat of those things which are accomplished by holy institution in those already baptized. For baptism being completed, we pour chrism, that is, the oil of sanctification, upon your head, whereby it is shown that a royal and priestly dignity is conferred by the Lord upon the baptized. For in the Old Testament those who were chosen to priesthood or to kingship were anointed with holy oil and with the anointing of the head; some received from the Lord the power of ruling, others of offering sacrifices. As we read that holy David and the other kings were anointed by the prophets, and from private men were changed into kings by the oil of sanctification.
As we also read that holy Aaron was anointed by Moses, and from a layman consecrated a priest of the Lord with holy oil. Whence also it is sung in the psalm: Like the ointment upon the head, which ran down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron (Ps. CXXXII). But that oil in the Old Testament conferred a temporal kingdom and a temporal priesthood: for therein the office of ministering was bounded within the span of a few years; but this chrism, that is, this anointing which has been laid upon you, has conferred the dignity of that priesthood which, once bestowed, is never to end. It is marvellous indeed, what we have said, that by that chrism you have obtained the kingdom of future glory, and the priesthood.
But it is not I who declare this dignity conferred upon you, but the apostle Peter, nay, Christ through Peter. For thus he speaks to the faithful, that is, to those who have been washed by baptism and consecrated by chrism: But you are a royal and priestly race, a holy nation, a people of acquisition, that you may declare the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light (1 Peter II). Consider therefore the honour which you have obtained in that mystery, and beware lest perhaps you who, after your sins, have been made sons of the kingdom through baptism, should again by sinning — which God forbid — be made sons of Gehenna. But all the sacraments being fulfilled, we have also handed down to you the commandment of Christ by both example and word.
For we washed the feet of each one, calling you to imitate us, nay rather to imitate our Lord and Saviour Himself; so that, just as we washed your feet, so you also ought to wash the feet of your brethren and of guests. We teach you not only to be hospitable, but also humble, so honouring those whom you have received into your lodgings that you are not ashamed to perform toward them the office of servants. And lest anyone think this beneath his dignity, and, puffed up with diabolical pride, disdain to do the Lord's commandment; even though he be noble in the world, let him not be ashamed to wash the feet of a poor Christian, contemptible in this world. For He who commanded this also did it, nay, before He commanded it, He deigned to do it.
For He first set the example, that He might the more easily commend the command. For thus we read in the Gospel concerning the Lord Jesus: Knowing, it says, that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He came forth from God and goeth to God, He rose from supper and laid aside His garments; and having taken a towel, He girded Himself. Then He put water into a basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded (John XIII). And again: After He had washed their feet, He took His garments; and when He had sat down again, He said to them: Do you know what I have done? You call me Master and Lord, and you say well. For so I am.
If then I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, how much more ought you also to wash one another's feet? For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you also should do. Verily, verily, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his lord, nor the apostle greater than He who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them (ibid.). Consider therefore, most beloved brethren, of what unhappiness, of what madness it is, that a servant should disdain to wash the feet of a fellow-servant, a disciple of a fellow-disciple, when the Lord and Master of all deigned to wash the feet of His servants and disciples. And this comes from nothing else than unbelief concerning things to come.
For if we truly and with our whole soul believed that through these commandments of the Lord, which we keep in the brief span of our whole life, we attain to eternal and heavenly rewards, we should not only not be ashamed to fulfil all the works of humility, but should even glory in them. Commit therefore firmly to your memory what you have heard from us, and what you have promised to us, nay, to the Lord. And let no tribulation of the present life ever take from you the remembrance of your pledge. Fulfil all that you have heard commanded. Do not be made like the people of the Jews, who, when they had heard the commandments of God, said indeed rightly: All that the Lord has commanded us we will hear, and we will do (Exod. XIX); but what they had well promised, they neglected.
For they pleased God because they promised that they would keep His commandments. Thus indeed we read that the people of Israel said to Moses: Go near, and hear all that the Lord our God says to you; and you shall speak to us all that the Lord our God speaks to us; and we will hear and do. And the Lord said to Moses: I have heard the voice of the words of this people, all that they have spoken. Who will grant that their heart should be so in them, that they may fear me and keep my commandments all their days? They pleased God, therefore, as we said, because they promised that they would do His commandments, but they displeased Him, because they transgressed the commandments laid upon them and which they had promised to keep. For concerning them the prophet speaks, saying:
They loved Him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied to Him (Ps. LXXVII). For this it is to love Him with the mouth, and not with the heart: that they promise they will do the will of God, yet they lie with their tongue, and flee to do the will of the devil; provoking to anger almighty God, who does not suffer Himself to be mocked. He who, though He beholds the works of men, however done in secret; who, though He hears all words, however secretly whispered; who, though He understands and knows the thoughts of all men, will judge most severely. Who for this reason does not always here punish His despisers, because He has decreed there to be a judgment in the future, where eternal condemnation and perpetual punishment is reserved for sinners:
there shall be weeping of eyes, and gnashing of teeth (Matt. VIII); where, as the Lord Himself says: Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched (Mark IX). But we, most beloved brethren, believe in the name of the Lord that you will not hear our words — nay, the divine words — in passing; for what we say to you, we borrow from the holy and divine oracles. We hope in the Lord that you will do all that you have promised, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ helping you in these very holy works: to whom be glory and honour, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen. The end.