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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostomwill bid you keep fast hold of the listening to the Holy Scriptures, and not fight with 1890 words tono purpose; as also Paul exhorteth Timothy ( 2 Tim. ii. 14 ), filled though he was with muchwisdom, and possessing the power of miracles. Let us now obey him, and leaving trifling; let ushold fast to real works, I mean to brotherly-kindness and hospitality; and let us make much accountof alms-giving, that we may obtain the promised good things, through the grace and lovingkindnessof our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for endless ages. 1891 Amen.246Homily LXVII.John xii. 25, 26“He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto lifeeternal. If any man serve Me, let him follow Me.”[1.] Sweet is the present life, and full of much pleasure, yet not to all, but to those who areriveted to it. Since, if any one look to heaven and see the beauteous things there, he will soon despisethis life, and make no account of it. Just as the beauty of an object is admired while none morebeautiful is seen, but when a better appears, the former is despised. If then we would choose tolook to that beauty, and observe the splendor of the kingdom there, we should soon free ourselvesfrom our present chains; for a kind of chain it is, this sympathy with present things. And hear whatChrist saith to bring us in to this, “He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life inthis world shall keep it unto life eternal; if any man serve Me let him follow Me”; and, “Where Iam, there is 1892 My servant also.” The words seem like a riddle, yet they are not so, but are full ofmuch wisdom. But how shall “he that loveth his life, lose it”? When he doeth its unseemly desires,when he gratifies it where he ought not. Wherefore one exhorteth us, saying, “Walk not in thedesires of thy soul” ( Ecclus. xviii. 30 ); for so wilt thou destroy it since it leadeth away from thepath leading to virtue; just as, on the contrary, “he that hateth it in this world, shall save it.” Butwhat meaneth, “He that hateth it”? He who yields not to it when it commands what is pernicious.And He said not, “ he that yieldeth not to it,” but, “He that hateth it”; for as we cannot endure evento hear the voice of those we hate, nor to look upon them with pleasure, so from the soul also wemust turn away with vehemence, when it commands things contrary to what is pleasing to God.For since He was now about to say much to them concerning death, His own death, and saw thatthey were dejected 1893 and desponding, He spake very strongly, saying, “What say I? If ye bear notvaliantly My death? Nay, if ye die not yourselves, ye will gain nothing.” Observe also how Hesoftens the discourse. It was a very grievous and sad thing to be told, that the man who loves life1890or, “ about. ”1891al. “ To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory now and for the endless ages of eternity. ”1892“ shall be, ” N.T.1893al. “ looking down, ” or, “ disdainful. ”372