Homilies on Genesis, 1–17

Homily 7

HOMILY 7 "God said: 'Let the waters produce reptiles with living souls, and on the earth winged creatures flying across the firmament ofheaven.' This is what happened. God made the huge sea monsters, and every single living reptile of various kinds produced by the waters." I Y WE sufficiently upbraided those who deserted us for the horse racing. We showed them how great was the harm they suffered, and how in one fell swoop they had squandered the spiritual riches accruing to them from fasting, and (62a) how from great wealth they had at one stroke cast themselves into utter indigence. Come now, then, today let us make use of a milder remedy, and bind up the wounds of their souls just as if they were our own limbs, because even yesterday when we applied harsher remedies, it was not simply to cause them pain and aggravate their suffering , but rather that we might be able to reach the cancer by drastic measures. After all, this is what is done by doctors and parents: the former initially apply the more potent medications , and when they break open the ulcer, then they call into play remedies more likely to relieve the pain; and when parents see their children kicking over the traces, they first administer rebuke of a severer type, and afterwards admonition and encouragement. We too will follow the same procedure: if yesterday we used our words with severity, (62b) today on the contrary we will phrase our speech in a milder fashion, and show the same care as for our own limbs. You see, your progress encourages in us greater confidence, and this is a source of spiritual riches for us-to see you devoting yourselves to spiritual interests, being distinguished for virtue and I. Gn 1.20-21. 92 ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM shunning risk of harm. So by the same token, when we see you stumbling and ensnared in the deceits of the devil, we are filled with disappointment, and a certain shame, so to say, spreads over our soul. The blessed Paul says, remember, "This is what keeps us alive, to see you standing firm in the Lord."2 (2) So as mature people filled with understanding, forget what lies behind and press on to what is ahead; renew the covenant you have made with Christ, (62C) keep it firm for the future, and with sober reasoning shut off every entrance to the devil's wiles. Use every endeavor at this late stage to expunge the stigma of sloth attached to you, affected as you are by this demeaning and harmful habit; ponder the fact that not only is this habit bad enough in bringing great harm to those who attend those places, but they become cause of scandal to many others. I mean, when pagans and Jews see the person who daily frequents the church and is a beneficiary of constant teaching all of a sudden turning up there, how can they fail to conclude that what we do is a fraud, and entertain the same suspicion about everything to do with us? Don't you hear the blessed Paul counselling us in strident tones and urging us, "Give no scandal"3? (62d) Then, lest you think his warning is given only in regard to his own community, he continued , "to either Jews or Gentiles," and then added, "or to the Church of God." You see, nothing so harms and damages our religion as much as scandal given to unbelievers. So when they see amongst us people who are conspicuous for virtue and who display a disregard for things of this life, some of them are enraged by it but others are often overwhelmed with wonder at the fact that, while having the same human nature as theirs, they do not share the same values. Of course, when they see someone affected by a slight degree of indifference, at once they turn their tongue against us all without exception , and from one person's indifference condemn the whole community of Christians alike. Nor do they stop there: at once they direct their words against the head of the community , because of the negligence of the members, (63a) and do 2. I Thes 3.8. 3. I Cor 10.32. HOMILY 7 93 not refrain from blaspheming against the Lord of them all. They think the indifference of these Christians masks the very errors to...