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

Homily 2

12 SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM It is not possible for one who perseveringly attunes himself to the words of God to remain fixed in his present weakness; he will of necessity acquire wings and fly aloft to the heavenly abode itself and become possessed of an infinite treasuretrove of blessings. Mayall of us attain these by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom and with whom glory be to the Father, together with the all-holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen. Homily 2 (fohn 1.1) 'In the beginning was the Word.' If John were about to address us and to tell us about his own affairs, it would be necessary to speak of his family, his native land, and his education. However, since not he, but God through his agency, is speaking to humanity, it seems to me to be superfluous and beside the point to inquire into these details. Yet it really is not superfluous, but very necessary, to do so. When you learn who he was, andvhence, and his parentage, and what sort of man, and after thlS you listen to his voice and all his teaching, then you will know truly that these utterances were not his, but belonged to the divine Power moving his soul. Of what native land, then, was he? Of no native land, but of an inglorious village, of a place little esteemed, and producing nothing of value. Writers vilify Galilee, saying: 'Ask and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.'! Even a true Israelite impugned it, saying: 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?'2 Yes, a native of this land, he did not even belong to a renowned village. Further, he was not even of a name well known there, but the son of a poor fisherman, so 1 John 7.52. 2 John 1.46. HOMILIES 13 poor that he also trained his sons to the same trade. Now, you all know that no workman will choose to make his son heir to his own trade unless extreme poverty force him, especially when the occupation is lowly. But none would be poorer nor lowlier than that of fisherman; none, further, more ignorant. However, even among such as these, some are greater, others less. But this Apostle of ours, even in this place, had the lower rank. He did not fish in the sea, but labored in a small lake. And while he was engaged there with his father and his brother James, and was mending torn nets (a circumstance which itself was a sign of extreme poverty), Christ called him.3 With regard to profane learning, we may gather also from these facts that he had none whatsoever. Besides, Luke bears witness to this, writing that he was not only of low estate, but also uneducated.4 Naturally. As he was so poor, and did not frequent marketplaces, or meet prominent men, but had confined himself to fishing, and since whenever he did hold converse with anyone he was associated with hucksters of fish and cooks, how would he be any better than an animal or brute beast? How could he avoid imitating the dumbness of the very fish? This fisherman, then, engaged about the lake with nets and fish, coming from Bethsaida of Galilee, son of a poor fisherman , poor even to extreme poverty, of low estate to the last degree of lowliness, learning letters neither before nor after becoming acquainted with Christ: let us see what he says and about what he discourses to us. Surely, it is about things in the fields? About those in the rivers? About the fish business? One would expect, no doubt, to hear these items of information from a fisherman. However, fear not; we shall hear none of these, but heavenly things which no one ever before has learned. He 3 Cf. Matt. 4.21.22; Mark 1.19,20. 4 Cf. Acts 4.13. 14 SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM comes to convey to us sublime teachings, and a virtuous way and philosophy of life, in a manner befitting one who draws his speech from the very treasures of the Spirit, and like one who has just now come from heaven itself. Further, it was not likely that even all in heaven knew these things, as I have just now said. Tell me, are these the words of a fisherman? Of...