Christ the Educator

Chapter 12

190 CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA is on some military expedition. Being sandaled, in fact, is much like being bound. It is very frequent among athletes to go barefooted, both for the sake of their health and for greater freedom of movement; so, no necessity should prevent us from doing the same. But, if we are not traveling and are wearing shoes, we should wear the slipper or the white shoe. Athenians call them dust shoes because, I believe, they keep the feet close to the dust. When we put them on, the prayer that should be said is drawn from the witness given by John, who confessed that he was not worthy to loose the latch of the sandals of the Lord. For, He who suggested the model of true philosophy to the Hebrews did not wear anything elaborate on His feet. This means something here, but it will be explained more fully in another place. Chapter 12 ( 118) It is pure childishness to let ourselves become fascinated by gems, whether they are green or dark red, and by the stones disgorged by the sea, and by metals dug up out of the earth. To set one's heart on shining pebbles and peculiar colors and irridescent glass is simply to play the part of a man without intelligence, easily spell-bound by gaudy appearances. Just so, little children are attracted by the brillance of a fire they see, not realizing, in their immaturity , the danger of touching it. That holds true, too, of the stones that silly women hang about their necks on chains, and the amethysts and ceraunites that they string together on necklaces, as well as the jasper and topaz and 'the Milesian emeralds, the most valuable of all wares.'l I Adesp. 109. TGF. CHRIST THE EDUCATOR 191 The precious pearl has become an all too common item in the apparel of our women. This stone is formed in the oyster, a bivalve very similar to the pinna, in size about the shape of the eye of a large fish. These bewitched women are not ashamed to center all their interests on this small oyster. Yet they could adorn themselves instead with that holy stone, the Word of God, called somewhere in Scripture 'a pearl,'2 that is, Jesus in all His splendor and purity, the mysterious eye of the divine vision in human form,3 the glorious Word through whom human nature is born again and receives a great new value. The pearl is formed by the oyster after it has covered its flesh about to protect itself from the water that is in it. (119) Tradition assures us that the heavenly Jerusalem that is above is built up of holy gems and we know that the twelve gates of the heavenly city, which signify the wonderful beauty of the apostolic teaching, are compared to precious jewels.4 These priceless stones are described as possessing certain colors which are themselves precious, while the rest is left of an earthy substance. To say that the city of the saints is built of such jewels, even though it is a spiritual edifice, is a cogent symbol indeed. By the incomparable brillance of the gems is understood the spotless and holy brillance of the substance of the spirit. But these women, not understanding that the Scriptures speak only metaphorically, totally blinded by their passion for jewels, offer this remarkable excuse: 'Why may we not make use of what God has manifested? I already possess them, so why may I not enjoy them? For whom have they been made if not for us?' Such words can come only from those who 2 Cf. Matt. 13.46. 3 Literally, 'the contemplating eye in the flesh.' But the word epopti!s, savoring of the pagan mysteries, suggests the higher vision of divine things granted to the initiate. 4 Cf. Apoc. 21.18-21. 192 CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA are completely ignorant of the will of God. He supplies us, first of all, with the necessities such as water and the open air, but other things that are not necessary He has hidden in the earth and sea. (120) That is why there are lions to dig for gold, and griffins to guard it,5 and why the sea conceals the stone we call the pearl. You trouble yourselves about things you do not need. Behold, the whole heavens have opened up...