Homilies on Genesis, 1–17

Homily 12

HOMILY 12 On the sequel to creation: "This is the book about the origins ofheaven and earth when they were created, on the day God made heaven and earth." I OME NOW, TODAY let us fulfil our promise and move on to the accustomed instruction, connecting what we are about to say with the thread of the sermons given so far. (g8c) You remember, of course, that when we were all set on one or two occasions and quite intent on following that course, concern for our brethren changed the direction of our speech towards encouragement of them. You see, sometimes those of the brethren who are ailing, who habitually absent themselves from this spiritual gathering, and who spoil the joy coming to them from this holy festival, we persuade by much encouragement and advice not to cut themselves off for long from Christ's flock nor be misled beyond this spiritual fold by, on the one hand, associating with us in word and name while, on the other hand, following in fact the Jews, those seated in darkness and attracted to a lantern despite the illumination of the sun of justice.2 (g8d) At other times we have urged the uninitiated members of this congregation3 to respond to their spiritual calling by shaking off all drowsiness and all sloth, calling on a lively desire and heightened enthusi1 . Gn 2.4. 2. Chrysostom has often been charged with anti-semitism, and he does warn his congregation against Jewish positions. His biographers defend him by highlighting the influence held in Antioch by Jews at the time. Doubtless also his regard for Paul would encourage him to comparisons of this type deriving from 2 Cor 3. 3. The catechumens, preparing during Lent for baptism, are thus warned against rhathumia, "indifference." HOMILY 12 157 asm to make themselves ready for receiving the royal gift and to long for the one bringing them the gift of forgiveness of their sins and providing them with countless good things in abundance. (2) So, now that we have displayed the care that becomes us in regard to those who are mistaken about the feast of Easter, and who bring great harm to themselves by the little attention they think it deserves, and now that we have applied an appropriate remedy to their wound and have delivered the due admonition to the uninitiated, it would be in order at long last to spread before all of you alike, today, the spiritual banquet, since we have taken issue with the most urgent of the ailments and have dealt adequately with them. You can appreciate the comparison: if before (gga) attending to our brethren we had continued on from where we left off, forsaking the task of encouraging them and overlooking their difficulties, in all likelihood someone would have reproached us for passing up an opportunity; so, as things are now, since nothing has been omitted that lay within our power but on the contrary we have delivered words of instruction, we have gone to some expense , we have sown the seed in this spiritual soil, it is in order once again to open up for your consideration the reading from blessed Moses so that you may reap some benefit from it and thus make your way home. So, to find out what it is, let us listen carefully. (3) The text says: "This is the book about the origins of heaven and earth when they were created, on the day God made heaven and earth, before any grass of the field appeared on the earth or any crop of the field sprouted. (ggb) God, you see, had not sent rain on the earth, and there was no human being to till the soil; a spring used to flow out of the ground and water the whole face of the earth." 4 Notice again, I ask you, the insight of this remarkable author, or rather the teaching of the Holy Spirit. I mean, after narrating to us detail by detail all the items of creation and going through the 4. Gn 2.4-6. ST.JOHN CHRYSOSTOM works of the six days, the creation of human beings and the authority granted them over all visible things, now he sums them all up in the words, "This is the book about the origins of heaven and earth when they were created." It is worth enquiring at this point why...