Commentary on Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist, Homilies 48–88

Homily 59 (John 9.35-10.13)

120 SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM besides the crowns made ready in the next life, it makes our life sweet even here. Let us, then, be won over by what has been said, in order that we may attain to the blessings both in this life and in that to come, by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Glory be to Him and to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen. Homily 59 (John 9.35-10.13) 'And they turned him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and when he had found him, said to him, "Dost thou believe in the Son of God?" He answered and said, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" '1 Those who endure some terrible suffering and are insulted for the sake of truth and the confession of Christ are the ones particularly held in honor by Him. For, just as the man who loses his wealth for His sake is the one who finds it before all others, and the man who hates his life is the one who especially loves it, so also the man who suffers insult is held in honor most of all. And this also happened in the case of the blind man. Therefore, the Jews turned him out of the Temple and the Lord of the Temple found him. He was rid of the diseaseridden assembly and attained to the saving Fountain. He was dishonored by those who dishonored Christ and was honored by the Lord of the Angels. Such are the rewards of truth. Similarly, if we also dispense our wealth here, we shall find ease in the next world. If we give to the needy, we shall have rest in heaven. If we are insulted for God's sake, we shall be honored both in this world and in the next. Furthermore, since they had turned him out of the Temple, Jesus found 1 John 9.35-37. HOMILIES 121 him. The Evangelist pointed out that He came there for the purpose of meeting him. And what reward He conferred on him: the best of blessings. And I say this for He made Himself known to him who before did not know Him and included him in the company of His own disciples. Moreover, notice how the Evangelist told of His solicitude. For when Christ said: 'Dost thou believe in the Son of God?' he answered: 'Who is he, Lord?' Not yet, to be sure, did he know Him, though he had been cured by Him. He was blind before coming to his Benefactor, and after the cure he was maltreated by those dogs. Therefore, like some judge of the games, He welcomed him as an athlete who had been through many hardships and had been crowned. Yet, what did He say? 'Dost thou believe in the Son of God?' What is this? After such refutation of the Jews, after such words as his, does He ask whether he believes? He did so, not out of ignorance, but in the desire to make Himself known and to show how much He esteemed the man's faith. He meant: 'So many people have insulted Me, but I make no account of them. I am concerned about one thing only: namely, that you believe in Me. For, one man who does the will of God is better than thousands who transgress it. 'Dost thou believe in the Son of God?' He was asking the question of him, as it might be asked by one who had been present and had heard his words and first He awakened in the man the desire for Himself. He did not say at once: 'Believe in Me,' but addressed him in the form of a question. What, then, did the other reply? 'Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?' These were the words of a loving soul that was earnestly seeking Him. He did not recognize Him whose cause he had so valiantly espoused, in order that you might learn his honesty. For, actually, he had not seen Christ before this moment. He said to him: 'Thou hast both seen him, and he it is who 122 SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM speaks with thee.' He did not say: 'I am he,' but was as yet restrained and ambiguous in what He said. The words, 'Thou hast...