Commentary on Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist, Homilies 1–47

Homily 32

HOMILIES 311 life, but for this reason: that we may conduct all our affairs with an eye to the life to come. Irrational creatures, to be sure, are useful only for the present life, but we possess an immortal soul on this account: that we may do all things with a view to the attainment of that other life. For, if someone inquires about the purpose of horses, and asses, and oxen, and other animals of the kind, we reply that they exist for nothing more than their service in t.he present life. But it is not possible to say this of us, for there is a nobler condition in store for us after our departure from this life. And we must do everything so that we may be illustrious there, that we may join in the chorus with the angels, that we may stand near the King forever, through the everlasting ages. It is for this reason, indeed, that the soul is immortal and the body will be immortal: that we may enjoy blessings without end. Moreover, if you cling to the earth, when heaven lies before you, consider how great an insult this is to the Giver. For He holds out to you heavenly blessings, while you, not considering them worth much, choose the earth instead. On this account He has even threatened you with hell, if you scorn His gifts, that you may learn from this how great the blessings are of which you deprive yourself. However, may we not experience that punishment, but, having made ourselves pleasing to Christ, may we attain to everlasting blessings, by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom glory be to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen. Homily 32 (John 4.13-21) 'In answer Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again. He, however, who drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water 312 SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM that I will give him shall become in him a fountain of water, springing up unto life everlasting." '1 Scripture at one time calls the grace of the Spirit fire, at another, water, to show that these appellations are applicable not to His substance but to His work. The Spirit is not made up of different substances, since He is invisible and simple. John the Baptist referred to the one when he said: 'He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire';2 and Christ said of the other: 'From within him there shall flow rivers of living water. He said this, however, of the Spirit whom they were to receive.'3 Thus, also, in speaking to the woman, He called the Spirit water. 'He, however, who drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst.' So, at one time He called the Spirit by the appellation of fire, referring indirectly to the fervor and ardor of grace and its destruction of sin; and at another, by that of water, to illustrate the purification that comes from It and the abundant refreshment for those souls who receive It. Rightly so; for It beautifies the well-disposed soul as a park verdant with all sorts of trees-both fruit-bearing and evergreenand does not permit it to feel despondency or the wiles of Satan, since It readily quenches all the fiery darts of wickedness . And do you, pray, reflect on the wisdom of Christ, how He drew the woman upward gradually. He did not say from the outset: 'If thou didst know who it is who says to thee, "Give me to drink," , but when He had furnished her with a pretext to call Him a Jew and she had brought the charge against Him, He then said this to refute the accusation . Further, when He had said: 'If thou didst know who it is who says to thee. "Give me to drink," thou, perhaps, 1 John 4.13,14. 2 Matt. 3.11. 3 John 7.38,39. HOMILIES 313 wouldst have asked of him,' and by promising great things had caused her to make mention of the patriarch, He thus caused the woman to understand more clearly. Then, when she replied: 'Art thou greater than our father Jacob?' He did not say: 'Yes, I am greater,' for He would have seemed merely to...