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

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom495borne lightly along. Hear Paul saying, “In all these things” (are his words) “we are more thanconquerors.” ( Rom. viii. 37 .) And again, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present timeare not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” ( Rom. viii. 18 .)And again, “For the light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceedingand eternal weight of glory.” ( 2 Cor. iv. 17 .)Consider what great dangers, shipwrecks, afflictions one upon another, and other such things,he calls “light”; and emulate this inflexible one, who wore this body simply and heedlessly. 3351Thou art in poverty? But not in such as Paul, who was tried by hunger, and thirst, and nakedness.For he suffered this not for one day, but endured it continually. Whence does this appear? Hearhimself saying, “Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked.” ( 1 Cor.iv. 11 .) Oh! How great glory did he already have in preaching, when he was undergoing so great[afflictions]! Having now [reached] the twentieth year [thereof], at the time when he wrote this.For he says, “I knew a man fourteen years ago, whether in the body, or out of the body, I knownot.” ( 2 Cor. xii. 2 .) And again, “After three years” (he says) “I went up to Jerusalem.” ( Gal.i. 18 .) And again hear him saying, “It were better for me to die, than that any man should makemy glorying void.” ( 1 Cor. ix. 15 .) And not only this, but again also in writing he said, “We arebecome as the filth of the world.” ( 1 Cor. iv. 13 .) What is more difficult to endure than hunger?What than freezing cold? What than plottings made by brethren whom he afterwards calls “falsebrethren”? ( 2 Cor. xi. 26 .) Was he not called the pest of the world? An Impostor? A subverter?Was he not cut with scourging?[8.] These things let us take into our mind, beloved, let us consider them, let us hold them inremembrance, and then we shall never faint, though we be wronged, though we be plundered,though we suffer innumerable evils. Let it be granted us to be approved in Heaven, and all things[are] endurable. Let it be granted us to fare well there, and things here are of no account. Thesethings are a shadow, and a dream; whatever they may be, they are nothing either in nature or induration, while those are hoped for and expected.For what wouldst thou that we should compare with those fearful things? What with theunquenchable fire? With the never-dying worm? Which of the things here canst thou name incomparison with the “gnashing of teeth,” with the “chains,” and the “outer darkness,” with the“wrath,” the “tribulation,” the “anguish”? But as to duration? Why, what are ten thousand years toages boundless and without end? Not so much as a little drop to the boundless ocean.But what about the good things? There, the superiority is still greater. “Eye hath not seen,” (itis said,) “ear hath not heard, neither have, entered into the heart of man” ( 1 Cor. ii. 9 ), and thesethings again shall be during boundless ages. For the sake of these then were it not well to be cut[by scourging] times out of number, to be slain, to be burned, to undergo ten thousand deaths, toendure everything whatsoever that is dreadful both in word and deed? For even if it were possiblefor one to live when burning in the fire, ought one not to endure all for the sake of attaining to thosegood things promised?[9.] But why do I trifle in saying these things to men who do not even choose to disregard riches,but hold fast to them as though they were immortal? And if they give a little out of much, thinkthey have done all? This is not Almsgiving. For Almsgiving is that of the Widow who emptied out3351ἁ πλῶς καὶ εἰκῆ717