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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostomnot act worthily of that calling this no longer rests with Him who hath honored us, but with ourselves;it is not He that casts us out from that admirable company of guests, but we cast out ourselves.He has done all His part. He has made the marriage, He has provided the table, He has sentmen to call us, has received us when we came, and honored us with all other honor; but we, whenwe have offered insult to Him, to the company, and to the wedding, by our filthy garments, that is,our impure actions, are then with good cause cast out. It is to honor the marriage and the guests,that He drives off those bold 245 and shameless persons; for were He to suffer those clothed in sucha garment, He would seem to be offering insult to the rest. But may it never be that one, either ofus or of other, find this of Him who has called us! For to this end have all these things been writtenbefore they come to pass, that we, being sobered by the threats of the Scriptures, may not sufferthis disgrace and punishment to go on to the deed, but stop it at the word only, and each with brightapparel come to that call; which may it come to pass that we all enjoy, through the grace andlovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom and with whom, to the Father and the HolyGhost, be glory for ever and ever. Amen.38Homily XI.John i. 14“And the Word was made Flesh, and dwelt among us.”[1.] I desire to ask one favor of you all, before I touch on the words of the Gospel; do not yourefuse my request, for I ask nothing heavy or burdensome, nor, if granted, will it be useful only tome who receive, but also to you who grant it, and perhaps far more so to you. What then is it thatI require of you? That each of you take in hand that section of the Gospels which is to be readamong you on the first day of the week, or even on the Sabbath, and before the day arrive, that hesit down at home and read it through, and often carefully consider its contents, and examine all itsparts well, what 246 is clear, what obscure, 247 what seems to make for the adversaries, 248 but doesnot really so; and when you have tried, 249 in a word 250 every point, so go to hear it read. For fromzeal like this will be no small gain both to you and to us. We shall not need much labor to renderclear the meaning of what is said, because your minds will be already made familiar with the senseof the words, and you will become keener and more clear-sighted not for hearing only, nor forlearning, but also for the teaching of others. Since, in the way that now most of those who comehither hear, compelled to take in the meaning of all at once, both the words, and the remarks we245 μ .246 al. “let him mark what is clear, &c.”247 al. “very plain.”248 al. “to be contradictory.”249διακωδωνίσαντες , “having tried by ringing.”250ἁ πλῶς .61