Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostomof present things, but shall despise and mock at them all, and though one should bid us enter intokingly halls, we shall not while we have this hope choose to do so; yet nothing (earthly) seemsmore near to happiness than such a permission; but to those who are possessed by love of heaven,even this seems little and mean, and worthy of no account. Nothing which comes to an end is tobe much desired; whatever ceases, and to-day is and tomorrow is not, even though it be very great,yet seems to be very little and contemptible. Then let us not cling to fleeting things which slip awayand depart, but to those which are enduring and immovable. To which may we all attain, 1250 throughthe grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom and with whom, to the Father andthe Holy Ghost, be glory, now and ever and world without end. Amen.Homily XLV.John vi. 28–30“Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, 1251 that we might work the works of God? Jesusanswered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hathsent. They said therefore unto Him, What sign showest thou then, that we may see and believethee? what dost thou work?”[1.] There is nothing worse, nothing more shameful, than gluttony; it makes the mind gross,and the soul carnal; it blinds, and permits not to see clearly. Observe, for instance, how this is thecase with the Jews; for because they were intent upon gluttony, entirely occupied with worldlythings, and without any spiritual thoughts, though Christ leads them on by ten thousand sayings,sharp and at the same time forbearing, even thus they arise not, but continue groveling below. Forconsider; He said to them, “Ye seek Me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eatof the bread, and were filled”; He touched them by the reproof, He showed them what food theyought to seek, saying, “Labor not for the meat that perisheth”; He set before them the prize, saying,“but that which endureth unto everlasting life”; then provided a remedy for what might have beenan objection, by declaring that He was sent from the Father.What then did they? As though they had heard nothing, they said, “What shall we do, that wemight work the works of God?” This they said, not that they might learn and do them, (as the sequelshows,) but to induce Him again to supply them with food, and desiring to persuade Him to satisfythem. What then saith Christ? “This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hathsent.” On this they asked, “What sign showest thou, that we may see and believe?”Ver. 31 . “Our fathers did eat manna in the wilderness.”1581250al. “ that we may also be able to attain them. ”1251ποιῶμεν [ ποιοῦμεν , G. T.].242