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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom191Let us then, beloved, give heed to the Scriptures, and if no other part be so, let the Gospels atleast be the subjects of our earnest care, let us keep them in our hands. For straightway when thouhast opened the Book thou shalt see the name of Christ there, and shalt hear one say, “The birth ofJesus Christ was on this wise. When His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, she was found withChild of the Holy Ghost.” ( Matt. i. 18 .) He that heareth this will immediately desire virginity,will marvel at the Birth, will be freed from earthly things. It is not a little thing when thou seest theVirgin deemed worthy of the Spirit, and an Angel talking with her. And this upon the very surface;but if thou perseverest to go on unto the end, thou shalt loathe all that pertains to this life, shaltmock at all worldly things. If thou art rich, thou shalt think nothing of wealth, when thou hearestthat she who was (the wife) of a carpenter, and of humble family, became the mother of thy Lord.If thou art poor thou shalt not be ashamed of thy poverty, when thou hearest that the Creator of theworld was not ashamed of the meanest dwelling. Considering this, thou wilt not rob, thou wilt notcovet, thou wilt not take the goods of others, but wilt rather be a lover of poverty, and despisewealth. And if this be the case, thou shalt banish all evil. Again, when thou seest Him lying in amanger, thou wilt not be anxious to put golden garments about thy child, or to cause thy wife’scouch to be inlaid with silver. And if thou carest not for these things, thou wilt not do either thedeeds of covetousness and rapine, which are caused by them. Many other things you may gainwhich I cannot separately enumerate, but they will know who have made the trial. Wherefore Iexhort you both to obtain Bibles, and to retain together with the Bibles the sentiments they set forth,and to write them in your minds. The Jews because they gave no heed were commanded to suspendtheir books from their hands; 1468 but we place them not even in our hands but in our house, whenwe ought to stamp them on our heart. Thus cleansing our present life, we shall obtain the goodthings that are to come to which may we all attain, through the grace and lovingkindness of ourLord Jesus Christ, by whom and with whom, to the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory, now andever, and world without end. Amen.Homily LIV.John viii. 31, 32“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye Mydisciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”[1.] Beloved , our condition needs much endurance; and endurance is produced when doctrinesare deeply rooted. For as no wind is able by its assaults to tear up the oak, which sends down itsroot into the lower recesses of the earth, and is firmly clenched there; so too the soul which is nailedby the fear of God none will be able to overturn. Since to be nailed is more than to be rooted. Thusthe Prophet prayeth, saying, “Nail my flesh by Thy fear” ( Ps. cxix. 120 , LXX.); “do Thou so fix1468The Tephillim.291