Homilies on Genesis 18–45

Homily 42

HOMILY 42 "Now, when the men rose, they looked directly at Sodom and Gomorrah. "I ROM [385] WHAT WAS READ YESTERDAY, dearly beloved , we learnt the extraordinary degree of the just man's hospitality. Today, too, let us move to what follows and come to discover the patriarch's love and compassion . You see, this good man possessed each of the virtues to an extraordinary degree: he was not only loving, hospitable and compassionate, but he gave evidence as well of all the other virtues in generous measure. If there is need for him to display endurance, you will find him reaching the very height of that virtue; if humility, you will see him in turn, far from yielding place to anyone, surpassing them all; if there is need for him to display faith, he will again be found in this conspicuous above all others. His soul, in fact, is like an animated image, revealing in itself a range of colors of virtue. So what excuse remains for us when, despite the example of one human being adorned with every virtue, we prove to be so bereft as to have no intention to practice any virtue? You see, for proof that our being bereft of all goods is a matter not of being unable, but of being unwilling, we have clear indication in the fact that we find many of our peers conspicuous for virtue. The very fact that the patriarch, who lived before the age of grace and before the Law, reached such a degree of virtue of himself from the knowledge innate in his nature is sufficient to deprive us of any excuse. (2) Some people, however, will perhaps say that this man had the advantage of great care from God, and the God of all gave evidence of deep concern for him. Yes, I admit that; 1. Gen 18.16. 418 HOMILY 42 419 still, if he himself had not first given evidence of his own goodwill, he would not have enjoyed the Lord's help. So do not have eyes only for that, but each day study and learn how by first providing a sample of his own virtue in every circumstance , he was judged worthy of help.2 More than once we pointed out to you, when he was making his move from his ancestral land how, far from receiving from his forebears the seeds of religion, he gave evidence from his very own disposition of his great godliness. Despite his being a recent refugee from Chaldea, he was suddenly called upon to choose a foreign land in exchange for his own, and without hesitation, without delay he immediately obeyed the command, and without knowing where his traveling would end he pressed on in haste in these uncertain matters as though they were clear, giving pride of place over everything else to the command from God. (3) Do you see how from the very outset he exerted every effort of his own, and consequently he daily gained help from God as well, in very generous measure? Injust the same way, let us, too, dearly beloved, if we want to enjoy favor from above, imitate the patriarch, and instead of drawing back from virtue let us embrace each and every virtue and practice it with such zeal as to win over that unsleeping eye to rewarding our effort. You see, he understands the unspoken thoughts of our mind, [386] and when he sees us giving evidence of a sound attitude and anxious to embrace the struggles of virtue , immediately he supplies us with assistance from himself, at the one time lightening our exertions, supporting the limitations of our nature and granting us generous rewards. (4) At the Olympic Games you would not find anything like this happening. On the contrary, the trainer stands by, merely in the role of a spectator of the contestants, unable to contribute any help of his own, but merely waiting for victory to be declared. Our Lord, on the other hand, is not like that; instead, he becomes a contestant himself with us, offers us his 2. Had Chrysostom been living somewhat later in the West, statements such as these on the relation of human effort to divine grace might have earned him the charge of Semipelagianism. 420 ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM hand, takes part in the struggle, and seemingly in every way hands over our adversary to us in...