Homily LXXVII.

John xv. 11, 12

“These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

[1.] All things good then have their reward, when they arrive at their proper end, but if they be cut off midway, shipwreck ensues. And as a vessel of immense burden, if it reach not the harbor in time, but founder in the midst of the sea, gains nothing from the length of the voyage, but even makes the calamity greater, in proportion as it has endured more toils; so are those souls which fall back when near the end of their labors, and faint in the midst of the struggle. Wherefore Paul said, that glory, and honor, and peace, should meet those who ran their course with patient continuance in well-doing. A thing which Christ now effecteth in the case of the disciples. ( Rom. ii. 7.) For since He had accepted them, and they rejoiced in Him, and then the sudden coming of the Passion and His sad words were likely to cut short their pleasure; after having conversed with them sufficiently to soothe them, He addeth, “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be fulfilled”; that is, “that ye might not be separated from Me, that ye might not cut short your course. Ye were rejoicing in Me, and ye were rejoicing exceedingly, but despondency hath fallen upon you. This then I remove, that joy may come at the last, showing that your present circumstances are fit cause, not for pain, but for pleasure. I saw you offended; I despised you not; I said not, ‘Why do ye not continue noble?’ But I spake to you words which brought comfort with them. And so I wish ever to keep you in the same love. Ye have heard concerning a kingdom, ye rejoiced. In order therefore that your joy might be fulfilled, I have spoken these things unto you.” But “this is the commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you.” Seest thou that the love of God is intertwined with our own, and connected like a sort of chain? Wherefore it sometimes saith that there are two commandments, sometimes only one. For it is not possible that the man who hath taken hold on the first should not possess the second also. For at one time He said, “On this the Law and the Prophets hang”2195   “On these two commandments,” &c. ( Matt. xxii. 40 ); and at another, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” ( Matt. vii. 12.) And, “Love is the fulfilling of the Law.” ( Rom. xiii. 10.) Which He saith also here; for if to abide proceeds from love, and love from the keeping of the commandments, and the commandment is that we love one another, then the abiding in God proceeds from love towards each other. And He doth not simply speak of love, but declareth also the manner, “As I have loved you.” Again He showeth, that His very departure was not of hatred but of love. “So that I ought rather to be admired on this account, for I lay down My life for you.”2196    Ver. 13. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” N.T. Yet nowhere doth He say this in these words, but in a former place, by sketching the best shepherd, and here by exhorting them, and by showing the greatness of His love, and Himself, who He is. But wherefore doth He everywhere exalt love? Because this is the mark of the disciples, this the bond of virtue.2197   τὸ συγκροτοῦν τὴν ἀρ On this account Paul saith such great things of it, as being a genuine disciple of Christ, and having had experience of it.

Ver. 14, 15. “Ye are My friends2198   “if ye do whatsoever I command you,” N.T. —henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth. Ye are My friends, for2199   “But I have called you friends, for,” &c. N.T. all things which I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you.”

How then saith He, “I have many things to tell you, but ye cannot bear them now”? ( c. xvi. 12.) By the “all” and the “hearing” He showeth nothing else, but that He uttered nothing alien, but only what was of the Father. And since to speak of secrets appears to be the strongest proof of friendship, “ye have,” He saith, “been deemed worthy even of this communion.” When however He saith “all,” He meaneth, “whatever things it was fit that they should hear.” Then He putteth also another sure proof of friendship, no common one. Of what sort was that?

Ver. 16. “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you.”

That is, I ran upon your friendship. And He stayed not here, but,

“I set you,”2200   “ordained,” E.V. He saith, (that is, “I planted you,”) “that ye should go,” (He still useth the metaphor of the vine,) that is, “that ye should extend yourselves”; “and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”

“Now if your fruit remain, much more shall ye. For I have not only loved you,” He saith, “but have done you the greatest benefits, by extending your branches through all the world.” Seest thou in how many ways He showeth His love? By telling them things secret, by having in the first instance run to meet their friendship, by granting them the greatest blessings, by suffering for them what then He suffered. After this, He showeth that He also remaineth continually with those who shall bring forth fruit; for it is needful to enjoy His aid, and so to bear fruit.

“That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you.”

Yet it is the part of the person asked to do the thing asked; but if the Father is asked, how is it that the Son doeth it? It is that thou mayest learn that the Son is not inferior to the Father.

Ver. 17. “These things I command you, that ye love one another.”

That is, “It is not to upbraid, that I tell you that I lay down My life for you, or that I ran to meet you, but in order to lead you into friendship.” Then, since the being persecuted and insulted by the many, was a grievous and intolerable thing, and enough to humble even a lofty soul, therefore, after having said ten thousand things first, Christ entered upon this matter.2201   What follows seems to be a commentary on ver. 18 , omitted. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.” Having first smoothed their minds, He thus proceedeth to these points, showing that these things too were for their exceeding advantage, as He had also shown that the others were. For as He had told them that they ought not to grieve, but rather to rejoice, “because I go to the Father,” (since He did this not as deserting but as greatly loving them,) so here also He showeth that they ought to rejoice, not grieve. And observe how He effecteth this. He said not, “I know that the action is grievous, but bear for My sake, since for My sake also ye suffer,” for this reason was not yet sufficient to console them; wherefore letting this pass, He putteth forward another. And what is that? It is that this thing2202   i.e. persecution. would be a sure proof of their former virtue. “And, on the contrary, ye ought to grieve, not because ye are hated now but if ye were likely to be loved”; for this He implieth by saying,

Ver. 19. “If ye were of the world, the world would love its own.”2203   “But because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” N.T.

So that had ye been loved it would be very clear that ye had shown forth signs of wickedness. Then, when by saying this first, He did not effect his purpose, He goeth on again with the discourse.

Ver. 20. “The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”2204    Ver. 20. “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant,” &c., adding, “If they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.” N.T.

He showed that in this point they would be most His imitators. For while Christ was in the flesh, men had war with Him, but when He was translated, the battle came in the next place upon them. Then because owing to their fewness they were terrified at being about to encounter the attack of so great a multitude, He raiseth their souls by telling them that it was an especial subject of joy that they were hated by them; “For so ye shall share My sufferings. Ye should not therefore be troubled, for ye are not better than I,” as I before told you, “The servant is not greater than his lord.” Then there is also a third source of consolation, that the Father also is insulted together with them.

Ver. 21. “But all these things will they do unto you for My Name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.”

That is, “they insult Him also.” Besides this, depriving those others of excuse, and putting also another source of comfort, He saith,

Ver. 22. “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin.”2205   “but now they have no cloke for their sin,” N.T.

Showing that they shall do unjustly both what they do against Him and against them. “Why then didst Thou2206   al. “did He.” bring us into such calamities? Didst Thou not foreknow the wars, the hatred?” Therefore again He saith,

Ver. 23. “He that hateth Me, hateth My Father also.”

From this also proclaiming beforehand no small punishment against them. For, since they continually pretended that they persecuted Him on account of the Father, to deprive them of this excuse He spake these words. “They have no excuse. I gave them the teaching which is by words, that by works I added, according to the Law of Moses, who bade all men obey one speaking and doing such things, when he should both lead to piety, and exhibit the greatest miracles.”2207   Implied in Deut. xiii. where it is written, that the prophet or dreamer who teaches idolatry is not to be followed. And He spake not simply of “signs,” but,

Ver. 24. “Which none other man did.”2208    Ver. 24. “If I had not done among them the works that none other man did, they had not had sin; but now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father.” N.T.

And of this they themselves are witnesses, speaking in this way; “It was never so seen in Israel” ( Matt. ix. 33 ); and, “Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind” ( c. ix. 32 ); and the matter of Lazarus was of the same kind, and all the other acts the same, and the mode of wonder-working new, and all beyond2209   Ben. “new and beyond.” thought. “Why then,” saith one, “do they persecute both Thee and us?” “Because ye are not of the world. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own.” ( Ver. 19.) He first remindeth them of the words which He spake also to His own brethren ( c. vii. 7 ); but there he spake more by way of a reflection,2210   ἠ θικώτερον lest He should offend them, while here, on the contrary, He revealed all. “And how is it clear that it is on this account that we are hated?” “From what was done to Me. For, tell Me, which of My words or deeds could they lay hold on, that they would not receive Me?” Then since the thing would be astounding to us, He telleth the cause; that is, their wickedness. And He stayeth not here either, but introduceth the Prophet ( Ps. xxxv. 19; lxix. 4 ), showing him proclaiming before of old time, and saying, that,

Ver. 25. “They hated Me without a cause.”2211    Ver. 25. “But that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They,” &c, N.T.

[3.] Which Paul doth also. For when many wondered how that the Jews believed not, he brings in Prophets foretelling it of old, and declaring the cause; that their wickedness and pride were the cause of their unbelief. “Well then; if they kept not Thy saying, neither will they keep ours; if they persecuted Thee, therefore they will persecute us also; if they saw signs, such as none other man wrought; if they heard words such as none other spake, and profited nothing; if they hate Thy Father and Thee with Him, wherefore,” saith one, “hast Thou sent us in among them? How after this shall we be worthy of belief? which of our kindred will give-heed to us?” That they may not therefore be troubled by such thoughts, see what sort of comfort he addeth.

Ver. 26, 27. “When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning.”

“He shall be worthy of belief, for He is the Spirit of Truth.” On this account He called It not “Holy Spirit,” but “Spirit of Truth.” But the, “proceedeth from the Father,” showeth that He2212   i.e. the Holy Ghost. knoweth all things exactly, as Christ also saith of Himself, that “I know whence come and whither I go” ( c. viii. 14 ), speaking in that place also concerning truth. “Whom will send.” Behold, it is no longer the Father alone, but the Son also who sendeth. “And ye too,” He saith, “have a right to be believed, who have been with Me, who have not heard from others.” Indeed, the Apostles confidently rely on this circumstance, saying, “We who did eat and drink with Him.” ( Acts x. 41.) And to show that this was not merely said to please, the Spirit beareth witness to the words spoken. ( Acts x. 44.)

Ch. xvi. ver. 1. “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.”

That is, “when ye see many disbelieve, and yourselves ill-treated.”

Ver. 2. “They shall put you out of the synagogues.”

(For “the Jews had already agreed, that if any one should confess Christ, he should be put out of the synagogues”— c. ix. 22.)

“Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”

“They shall so seek after2213   al. “think of.” your murder, as of an action pious and pleasing to God.” Then again He addeth the consolation,

Ver. 3. “And these things will they do,2214   “do unto you,” N.T. because they have not known the Father, nor Me.”

“It is sufficient for your comfort that ye endure these things for My sake, and the Father’s.” Here He remindeth them of the blessedness of which He spake at the beginning, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven.” ( Matt. v. 11, 12.)

Ver. 4. “These things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember them.”2215   “may remember that I told you of them,” N.T.

“So, judging from these words, deem the rest also trustworthy. For ye will not be able to say, that I flatteringly told you only those things which would please you, nor that the words were words of deceit; for one who intended to deceive, would not have told you beforehand of matters likely to turn you away. I have therefore told you before, that these things might not fall upon you unexpectedly, and trouble you; and for another reason besides, that ye might not say, that I did not foreknow that these things would be. Remember then that I have told you.” And indeed the heathen always covered their persecutions of them by a pretense of their wickedness, driving them out as corrupters; but this did not trouble the disciples who had heard beforehand, and knew for what they suffered. The cause of what took place was sufficient to rouse their courage. Therefore He everywhere handleth this, saying, “they have not known Me”; and, “for My sake they shall do it”; and, “for My Name’s sake, and for the Father’s sake”; and, “I suffered first”; and, “from no just cause they dare these things.”

[4.] Let us too consider these things in our temptations, when we suffer anything from wicked men, “looking to the Beginner2216   ἀ ρχηγὸν, so rendered in margin of E.V. and Finisher of our faith” ( Heb. xii. 2 ), and considering that it is by wicked men, and that it is for virtue’s sake, and for His sake. For if we reflect on these things, all will be most easy and tolerable. Since if one suffering for those he loves is even proud of it, what feeling of things dreadful will he have who suffers for the sake of God? For if He, for our sake, calleth that shameful thing, the Cross, “glory” ( c. xiii. 31 ), much more ought we to be thus disposed. And if we can so despise sufferings, much more shall we be able to despise riches, and covetousness. We ought then, when about to endure anything unpleasant, to think not of the toils but of the crowns; for as merchants take into account not the seas only, but also the profits, so ought we to reckon on heaven and confidence towards God. And if the getting more seem a pleasant thing, think that Christ willeth it not, and straightway it will appear displeasing. And if it be grievous to you to give to the poor, stay not your reckoning at the expense, but straightway transport your thoughts to the harvest which results from the sowing; and when it is hard to despise the love of a strange woman, think of the crown which comes after the struggle, and thou shalt easily bear the struggle. For if fear diverts a man from unseemly things, much more should the love of Christ. Difficult is virtue; but let us cast around her form the greatness of the promise of things to come. Indeed those who are virtuous, even apart from these promises, see her beautiful in herself, and on this account go after her, and work because it seems good to God, not for hire; and they think it a great thing to be sober-minded, not in order that they may not be punished, but because God hath commanded it. But if any one is too weak for this, let him think of the prizes. So let us do in respect of alms-doing, let us pity our fellow-men, let us not, I entreat,2217   al. “nor let us.” neglect them when perishing with hunger. How can it be otherwise than an unseemly thing, that we should sit at the table laughing and enjoying ourselves, and when we hear others wailing as they pass through the street, should not even turn at their cries, but be wroth with them, and call them “cheat”? “What meanest thou, man? Doth any one plan a cheat for a single loaf of bread?” “Yes,” saith some one. Then in this case above all let him be pitied; in this case above all let him be delivered from his need. Or if thou art not minded to give, do not insult either; if thou wilt not save the wreck, do not thrust it into the gulf. For consider, when thou thrustest away the poor man who comes to thee, who thou wilt be when thou callest upon God. “With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” ( Matt. vii. 2.) Consider how he departs, crushed, bowed down, lamenting; besides his poverty having received also the blow from your insolence. For if ye count the begging a curse, think what a tempest it makes, begging to get nothing, but to go away insulted. How long shall we be like wild beasts, and know not nature itself through greediness? Many groan at these words; but I desire them not now, but always, to have this feeling of compassion. Think, I pray you, of that day when we shall stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, when we shall beg for mercy, and Christ, bringing them forward, shall say, “For the sake of a single loaf, of a single obol, so great a surge did ye raise in these souls!” What shall we reply? What defense shall we make? To show that He will bring them forward, hear what He saith; “Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of these, ye did it not to Me.” ( Matt. xxv. 45.) They will no more say anything to us, but God on their behalf will upbraid us. Since the rich man saw Lazarus too, 2218   i.e. as well as Abraham. and Lazarus said nothing to him, but Abraham spake for him; and thus it will be in the case of the poor who are now despised by us. We shall not see them stretching out their hands in pitiful state, but being in rest; and we shall take the state which was theirs (and would that it were that state only, and not one much more grievous) as a punishment. For neither did the rich man desire to be filled with crumbs “there,” but was scorched and tormented sharply, and was told, “Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things.” ( Luke xvi. 25.) Let us not then deem wealth any great thing; it will help us on our way to punishment, if we take not heed, just as, if we take heed, poverty also becomes to us an addition of enjoyment and rest. For we both put off our sins if we bear it with thankfulness, and gain great boldness before God.

[5.] Let us then not be ever seeking security here, in order that we may enjoy security there; but let us accept the labors which are in behalf of virtue, and cut off superfluities, and seek nothing more than we need, and spend all our substance on those who want. Since what excuse can we have, when God promiseth heaven to us, and we will not even give Him bread? when He indeed for thee maketh the sun to rise, and supplieth all the ministry of the Creation, but thou dost not even give Him a garment, nor allow Him to share thy roof? But why speak I of sun and moon? He hath set His Body before thee, He hath given thee His Precious Blood; and dost thou not even impart to Him of thy cup? But hast thou done so for once? This is not mercy; as long as, having the means, thou helpest not, thou hast not yet fulfilled the whole duty. Thus the virgins who had the lamps, had oil, but not in abundance. Why, thou oughtest, even didst thou give from thine own, not to be so miserly, but now when thou givest what is thy Lord’s, why countest thou every little? Will ye that I tell you the cause of this inhumanity? When men get together their wealth through greediness, these same are slow to give alms; for one who has learnt so to gain, knows not how to spend. For how can a man prepared for rapine adapt himself to its contrary? He who takes from others, how shall he be able to give up his own to another? A dog accustomed to feed on flesh cannot guard the flock; therefore the shepherds kill such. That this be not our fate, let us refrain from such feasting. For these men too feed on flesh, when they bring on death by hunger. Seest thou not how God hath allowed to us all things in common? If amid riches He hath suffered men to be poor, it is for the consolation of the rich, that they may be able by showing mercy towards them to put off their sins. But thou even in this hast been cruel and inhuman; whence it is evident, that if thou hadst received this same power in greater things, thou wouldest have committed ten thousand murders, and wouldest have debarred men from light, and from life altogether.2219   lit. “all life.” That this might not take place, necessity hath cut short insatiableness in such matters.

If ye are pained when ye hear these things, much more I when I see them taking place. How long shalt thou be rich, and that man poor? Till evening, but no farther; for so short is life, and all things so near their end,2220   Ben. omits “all things so near their end.” and all things henceforth so stand at the door, that the whole must be deemed but a little hour. What need hast thou of bursting2221   ἐ ρευγομένων storehouses, of a multitude of domestics and house-keepers? Why hast thou not ten thousand proclaimers of thy almsdoing? The storehouse utters no voice, yet will it bring upon thee many robbers; but the storehouses of the poor will go up to God Himself, and will make thy present life sweet, and put away all thy sins, and thou shalt gain glory from God, and honor from men. Why then grudgest thou thyself such good things? For thou wilt not do so much good to the poor, as to thyself, when thou benefitest them. Thou wilt right their present state; but for thyself thou wilt lay up beforehand the glory and confidence which shall be hereafter. And this may we all obtain, by the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be the glory and the might for ever. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΟΖʹ. Ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν, ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ἡ ἐμὴ ἐν ὑμῖν μείνῃ, καὶ ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν πληρωθῇ. Αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἐντολὴ ἡ ἐμὴ, ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους, καθὼς ἐγὼ ἠγάπησα ὑμᾶς. αʹ. Πάντα τὰ ἀγαθὰ τότε ἔχει τὸν μισθὸν, ὅταν εἰς τέλος ἔλθῃ τὸ προσῆκον: ἐὰν δὲ ἐκκοπῇ μεταξὺ, ναυάγιον γίνεται. Καὶ καθάπερ τὸ πλοῖον τὸ μυριαγωγὸν, ἐὰν μὴ φθάσῃ καταντῆσαι πρὸς τοὺς λιμένας, ἀλλ' ἐν μέσῳ βαπτισθῇ τῷ πελάγει, οὐδὲν ἀπώνατο τοῦ πολλοῦ πλοῦ, ἀλλὰ καὶ μείζονα εἰργάσατο τὴν συμφορὰν, ὅσῳ καὶ πλείους ὑπέμεινε πόνους: οὕτω καὶ αἱ πρὸς τὸ τέλος τῶν πόνων ἀναπεσοῦσαι ψυχαὶ καὶ ἐν μέσοις ἐκλυόμεναι τοῖς ἀγῶσι. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Παῦλος δόξαν καὶ τιμὴν καὶ εἰρήνην ἔλεγε συναντήσεσθαι τοῖς καθ' ὑπομονὴν ἔργων ἀγαθῶν τρέχουσιν: ὅπερ οὖν καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν μαθητῶν ὁ Χριστὸς κατασκευάζει νῦν. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἀπεδέξατο αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἔχαιρον ἐπ' αὐτῷ: εἶτα τὸ πάθος παρεμπεσὸν, καὶ τὰ σκυθρωπὰ ῥήματα διακόπτειν ἔμελλε τὴν ἡδονὴν, μετὰ τὸ διαλεχθῆναι ἱκανὰ καὶ παραμυθήσασθαι αὐτοὺς, φησί: Ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν, ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ἡ ἐμὴ ἐν ὑμῖν μείνῃ, καὶ ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν πληρωθῇ: τουτέστιν, Ἵνα μὴ ἀποσχισθῆτέ μου, ἵνα μὴ διακόψητε τὸν δρόμον. Ἐχαίρετε ἐν ἐμοὶ, καὶ σφόδρα ἐχαίρετε, ἀλλ' ἐνέπεσεν ἀθυμία. Ταύτην οὖν ἐξαιρῶ, ἵνα πρὸς τὸ τέλος ἔλθῃ ἡ χαρά: δεικνὺς, ὅτι οὐ λύπης ἄξια τὰ παρόντα, ἀλλ' ἡδονῆς. Εἶδον ὑμᾶς σκανδαλισθέντας: οὐ κατεφρόνησα, οὐκ εἶπον: Διατί γὰρ μὴ μένετε γενναῖοι; ἀλλ' ἐλάλησα ὑμῖν τὰ παράκλησιν φέροντα. Οὕτω βούλομαι ὑμᾶς διαπαντὸς ἐπὶ τῆς αὐτῆς ἀγάπης τηρεῖν. Ἠκούσατε περὶ βασιλείας: ἐχάρητε. Ἵν' οὖν πληρωθῇ ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν, ταῦτα εἶπον ὑμῖν. Αὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἡ ἐντολὴ, ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους, καθὼς ἐγὼ ἠγάπησα ὑμᾶς. Ὁρᾷς τοῦ Θεοῦ τὴν ἀγάπην συμπεπλεγμένην τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ, καὶ ὥσπερ σειράν τινα συνημμένην; Διὰ τοῦτο ποτὲ μὲν δύο φησὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς, ποτὲ δὲ μίαν: οὐ γὰρ ἔνι τῆς προτέρας λαβόμενον, μὴ τὴν ἄλλην ἔχειν. Ποτὲ μὲν γάρ φησιν: Ἐν τούτῳ ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται κρέμανται: ποτὲ δὲ, Ὅσα θέλετε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, τὰ αὐτὰ καὶ ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε αὐτοῖς. Οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται. Καὶ, Πλήρωμα νόμου ἡ ἀγάπη: ὃ καὶ ἐνταῦθα λέγει. Εἰ γὰρ τὸ μεῖναι ἀπὸ τῆς ἀγάπης γίνεται, ἡ δὲ ἀγάπη ἀπὸ τῆς τῶν ἐντολῶν τηρήσεως, ἡ δὲ ἐντολή ἐστιν, ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους: τὸ μεῖναι ἐν τῷ Θεῷ, ἀπὸ τῆς πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγάπης γίνεται. Καὶ οὐχ ἁπλῶς ἀγάπην φησὶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν τρόπον δηλοῖ: Καθὼς ἐγὼ ἠγάπησα ὑμᾶς. Πάλιν δείκνυσιν, ὅτι οὐχὶ μίσους ἐστὶν αὕτη ἡ ἀναχώρησις, ἀλλὰ ἀγάπης: ὥστε με μᾶλλον ἐχρῆν θαυμάζεσθαι ὑπὲρ τούτου. Ὑπὲρ γὰρ ὑμῶν τὴν ψυχήν μου τίθημι. Ἀλλ' οὐδαμοῦ οὕτω φησὶν αὐτό: ἀλλὰ ἀνωτέρω μὲν, τὸν ἄριστον ὑπογράφων ποιμένα: ἐνταῦθα δὲ, ἐν τῷ παραινεῖν αὐτοὺς καὶ δεικνύναι τῆς ἀγάπης τὸ μέγεθος, καὶ ἑαυτὸν ὅστις ἐστί. Τίνος δὲ ἕνεκεν πανταχοῦ τὴν ἀγάπην ἐπαίρει; Ὅτι τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ δεῖγμα τῶν μαθητῶν, τοῦτο τὸ συγκροτοῦν τὴν ἀρετήν. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Παῦλος τοσαῦτα περὶ αὐτῆς φησιν, ἅτε μαθητὴς ὢν γνήσιος τοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ πεῖραν αὐτῆς λαβών. Ὑμεῖς φίλοι μου ἐστέ. Οὐκ ἔτι ὑμᾶς λέγω δούλους: ὁ γὰρ δοῦλος οὐκ οἶδε τί ποιεῖ ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ. Ὑμεῖς φίλοι μου ἐστέ: πάντα γὰρ ὅσα ἤκουσα παρὰ τοῦ Πατρός μου, ἐγνώρισα ὑμῖν. Πῶς οὖν λέγει, Πολλὰ ἔχω λέγειν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ' οὐ δύνασθε βαστάζειν ἄρτι; Οὐδὲν ἄλλο διὰ τοῦ Πάντα καὶ τοῦ ἀκοῦσαι κατασκευάζει, ἢ ὅτι οὐδὲν ἀλλότριον φθέγγεται, ἀλλ' ἢ τὰ τοῦ Πατρός. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ τοῦτο μάλιστα δοκεῖ φιλίας εἶναι τὸ τὰ ἀπόῤῥητα λέγειν, καὶ ταύτης ἠξιώθητε, φησὶ, τῆς κοινωνίας. Πάντα δὲ ὅταν εἴπῃ, ὅσα αὐτοὺς ἀκοῦσαι ἐχρῆν, λέγει. Εἶτα καὶ ἄλλο τεκμήριον, οὐ τὸ τυχὸν, φιλίας τίθησι. Ποῖον δὴ τοῦτο; Οὐχ ὑμεῖς με ἐξελέξασθε, φησὶν, ἀλλ' ἐγὼ ἐξελεξάμην ὑμᾶς: τουτέστιν, Ἐγὼ τῇ φιλίᾳ ἐπέδραμον τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ. Καὶ οὐδὲ ἐνταῦθα ἔστη: ἀλλὰ καὶ, Ἔθηκα, φησὶν, ὑμᾶς, τουτέστιν, ἐφύτευσα, Ἵνα ὑμεῖς ὑπάγητε (ἔτι τῇ μεταφορᾷ κέχρηται τῆς ἀμπέλου): τουτέστιν, ἵνα ἐκταθῆτε, Καὶ καρπὸν φέρητε, καὶ ὁ καρπὸς ὑμῶν μένῃ. Εἰ δὲ ὁ καρπὸς μένει, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ὑμεῖς. Οὐ γὰρ ἐφίλησα μόνον ὑμᾶς, φησὶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ μέγιστα εὐηργέτησα, πανταχοῦ τῆς οἰκουμένης ἐκτείνων ὑμῶν τὰ κλήματα. βʹ. Ὁρᾷς δι' ὅσων δείκνυσι τὴν ἀγάπην; τῷ τὰ ἀπόῤῥητα εἰπεῖν, τῷ πρώτως ἐπιδραμεῖν τῇ φιλίᾳ, τῷ μεγάλα αὐτοῖς χαρίσασθαι τὰ ἀγαθὰ, τῷ παθεῖν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν ἅπερ ἔπασχε τότε. Ἀπὸ δὲ τούτου δείκνυσιν, ὅτι καὶ παραμένει διηνεκῶς αὐτοῖς μέλλουσι διδόναι καρπόν. Ἀνάγκη γὰρ τῆς παρ' αὐτοῦ βοηθείας ἀπολαύοντας, οὕτω καὶ καρποφορῆσαι. Ἵνα ὃ ἐὰν αἰτήσητε τὸν Πατέρα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου, δῷ ὑμῖν. Καίτοι τοῦ αἰτουμένου ἐστὶ τὸ ποιῆσαι: εἰ δὲ ὁ Πατὴρ αἰτεῖται, πῶς ὁ Υἱὸς ποιεῖ; Ἵνα μάθῃς, ὅτι οὐκ ἐλάττων ὁ Υἱός. Ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν, ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους, τουτέστιν, Οὐκ ὀνειδίζων ταῦτα λέγω, ὅτι τὴν ψυχήν μου τίθημι, ὅτι πρῶτος ὑμῖν ἐπέδραμον, ἀλλ' εἰς φιλίαν ὑμᾶς ἐνάγων. Εἶτα ἐπειδὴ τὸ διώκεσθαι παρὰ τῶν πολλῶν καὶ ὀνειδίζεσθαι χαλεπὸν ἦν καὶ ἀνήκεστον, καὶ ἱκανὸν καὶ τὴν ὑψηλὴν ταπεινῶσαι ψυχὴν, διὰ τοῦτο μυρία προειπὼν, τότε εἰς τοῦτο καθῆκεν ὁ Χριστός. Προλεάνας γὰρ αὐτῶν τὴν ψυχὴν, οὕτως ἐπὶ ταῦτα ἔρχεται, καὶ αὐτὰ ἐκ περιουσίας δεικνὺς ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν ὄντα, ὥσπερ καὶ τὰ ἄλλα ἀπέδειξε. Καθάπερ γὰρ εἶπεν, ὅτι οὐ μᾶλλον οὐκ ἀλγεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ χαίρειν δεῖ, ὅτι ἀπέρχομαι πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα (οὐ γὰρ ἐγκαταλιμπάνων αὐτοὺς, ἀλλὰ καὶ σφόδρα φιλῶν, τοῦτο ποιεῖ): οὕτω καὶ ἐνταῦθα δείκνυσιν, ὅτι χαίρειν, οὐκ ἀλγεῖν δεῖ. Καὶ ὅρα πῶς αὐτὸ κατασκευάζει. Οὐ γὰρ εἶπεν, Οἶδα λυπηρὸν ὂν τὸ πρᾶγμα, ἀλλὰ δι' ἐμὲ φέρετε, ἐπειδὴ καὶ δι' ἐμὲ πάσχετε. Οὐδέπω γὰρ αὕτη ἡ πρόφασις, ἱκανὴ ἦν παραμυθήσασθαι. Διόπερ αὐτὴν ἀφεὶς, ἑτέραν προτίθησι. Ποίαν δὴ ταύτην; Ὅτι τῆς προτέρας ἀρετῆς τοῦτο τεκμήριον. Καὶ τοὐναντίον ἀλγεῖν ἐχρῆν, οὐχ ὅτι μισεῖσθε νῦν, ἀλλ' εἰ ἐμέλλετε φιλεῖσθαι. Τοῦτο γὰρ αἰνίττεται ἐκ τοῦ λέγειν: Εἰ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου ἦτε, ὁ κόσμος ἂν τὸ ἴδιον ἐφίλει. Ὥστε εἰ ἐφιλεῖσθε, εὔδηλον ὅτι πονηρίας ἐξεφέρετε δεῖγμα. Εἶτα, ἐπειδὴ τοῦτο προειπὼν οὐκ ἐξειργάσατο αὐτὸ, ἐπεξέρχεται πάλιν τῷ λόγῳ: Οὐκ ἔστι δοῦλος μείζων τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ. Εἰ ἐμὲ ἐδίωξαν, καὶ ὑμᾶς διώξουσιν. Ἔδειξε ζηλωτὰς αὐτοὺς κατὰ τοῦτο μάλιστα γινομένους. Ἕως μὲν γὰρ ἦν ἐν σαρκὶ ὁ Χριστὸς, πρὸς ἐκεῖνον τὸν πόλεμον εἶχον: ἐπειδὴ δὲ μετέστη, πρὸς αὐτοὺς πάλιν ἦλθεν ἡ μάχη. Εἶτα ἐπειδὴ ὀλίγοι ὄντες ἐθορυβοῦντο δήμου τοσούτου μέλλοντες πόλεμον καταδέχεσθαι, ἀνίστησιν αὐτῶν τὴν ψυχὴν λέγων, ὅτι Τοῦτο μάλιστα χαρᾶς ἔργον ἐστὶ τὸ μισεῖσθαι παρ' αὐτῶν: οὕτω γάρ μοι κοινωνήσετε τῶν παθῶν. Οὐ τοίνυν ὑμᾶς θορυβεῖσθαι χρή: οὐ γὰρ ὑμεῖς ἐμοῦ κρείττους: ὥσπερ οὖν καὶ προλαβὼν εἶπον, Οὐκ ἔστι δοῦλος μείζων τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ. Εἶτα καὶ τρίτη παραμυθία, ὅτι καὶ ὁ Πατὴρ ὑβρίζεται μετ' αὐτῶν. Ταῦτα γὰρ ἅπαντα ποιήσουσι, φησὶ, διὰ τὸ ὄνομά μου, ὅτι οὐκ οἴδασι τὸν πέμψαντά με: τουτέστι, κἀκεῖνον ὑβρίζουσιν. Πρὸς τούτοις συγγνώμης αὐτοὺς ἀποστερῶν, καὶ τιθεὶς καὶ ἑτέραν παραμυθίαν, φησίν: Εἰ μὴ ἦλθον καὶ ἐλάλησα αὐτοῖς, ἁμαρτίαν οὐκ εἶχον, δεικνὺς ὅτι ἀδίκως καὶ τὰ εἰς αὐτὸν καὶ τὰ εἰς ἐκείνους ἐργάσονται. Τί οὖν ἐπὶ τοσαῦτα ἡμᾶς ἤγαγες κακά; οὐχὶ προῄδεις τοὺς πολέμους, καὶ τὸ μῖσος; Διὰ τοῦτο πάλιν φησίν: Ὁ ἐμὲ μισῶν, καὶ τὸν Πατέρα μου μισεῖ, οὐ μικρὰν καὶ ἐντεῦθεν αὐτοῖς προαναφωνῶν κόλασιν. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἄνω καὶ κάτω προεφασίζοντο, ὅτι διὰ τὸν Πατέρα αὐτὸν ἐδίωκον, ἀναιρῶν αὐτῶν τὴν ἀπολογίαν ταῦτα εἴρηκεν. Οὐ γὰρ ἔχουσι πρόφασιν: τὴν ἀπὸ τῶν λόγων διδασκαλίαν παρεσχόμην, τὴν ἀπὸ τῶν ἔργων προσέθηκα κατὰ τὸν Μωϋσέως νόμον: ὃς τῷ τὰ τοιαῦτα ποιοῦντι καὶ λέγοντι πείθεσθαι ἅπαντας ἐκέλευσεν, ὅταν καὶ πρὸς εὐσέβειαν ἄγῃ, καὶ θαύματα παρέχῃ μέγιστα. Οὐχ ἁπλῶς δὲ εἶπε σημεῖα, ἀλλὰ ἃ μηδεὶς ἄλλος ἐποίησε. Καὶ τούτων αὐτοὶ μάρτυρες οὕτω λέγοντες: Οὐδέποτε οὕτως ἐφάνη ἄνθρωπος ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ: καὶ, Οὐκ ἠκούσθη ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος, ὅτι ἤνοιξέ τις ὀφθαλμοὺς τυφλοῦ γεγεννημένου: καὶ τὸ κατὰ τὸν Λάζαρον τοιοῦτον, καὶ τὰ ἄλλα πάντα τοιαῦτα, καὶ ὁ τῆς θαυματουργίας τρόπος: καινὰ καὶ παράδοξα ἅπαντα. Τίνος οὖν ἕνεκεν, φησὶ, καὶ σὲ καὶ ἡμᾶς διώκουσιν; Ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου οὐκ ἐστέ. Εἰ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου ἦτε, ὁ κόσμος ἂν τὸ ἴδιον ἐφίλει. Προαναμιμνήσκει τῶν ῥημάτων αὐτοὺς, ὧν καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς εἶπε τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ: ἀλλ' ἐκεῖ μὲν ἠθικώτερον, ἵνα μὴ πλήξῃ: ἐνταῦθα δὲ τοὐναντίον, τὸ πᾶν ἀπεκάλυψε. Καὶ πόθεν δῆλον ὅτι διὰ τοῦτο μισούμεθα; Ἀπὸ τῶν εἰς ἐμὲ γινομένων. Τίνος γὰρ, εἰπέ μοι, τῶν λεχθέντων ἢ τῶν πραχθέντων ἐπιλαβέσθαι ἔχοντες οὐκ ἐδέξαντό με; Εἶτα ἐπειδὴ τὸ πρᾶγμα ἔκπληκτον ἦν ἡμῖν, εἶπε καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν: τουτέστι, τὴν πονηρίαν τὴν αὐτῶν. Καὶ οὐδὲ ἐνταῦθα ἵσταται, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν Προφήτην ἐπάγεται, δεικνὺς αὐτὸν ἄνωθεν προαναφωνοῦντα καὶ λέγοντα, ὅτι Ἐμίσησάν με δωρεάν: ὃ καὶ Παῦλος ποιεῖ. Πολλῶν γὰρ θαυμαζόντων πῶς Ἰουδαῖοι οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν, προφήτας ἄγει προλέγοντας ἄνωθεν, καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν δηλοῦντας, ὅτι ἡ πονηρία αὐτῶν καὶ ἡ ἀπόνοια τῆς ἀπιστίας αἰτία. Τί οὖν; εἰ τὸν λόγον σου οὐκ ἐτήρησαν, διὰ τοῦτο οὐδὲ τὸν ἡμέτερον τηρήσουσιν: εἰ σὲ ἐδίωξαν, διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡμᾶς διώξουσιν: εἰ σημεῖα εἶδον, οἷα οὐδεὶς ἄλλος πεποίηκεν: εἰ ῥημάτων ἤκουσαν οἵων οὐδεὶς, καὶ οὐδὲν ἀπώναντο: εἰ τὸν Πατέρα σου μισοῦσι, καὶ σὲ μετ' ἐκείνου: τίνος, φησὶν, ἕνεκεν ἡμᾶς ἐνέβαλες; πῶς ἡμεῖς ἀξιόπιστοι λοιπὸν ἐσόμεθα; τίς δὲ προσέξει τῶν ὁμοφύλων ἡμῖν; γʹ. Ἵν' οὖν μὴ ταῦτα ἐννοοῦντες θορυβῶνται, ὅρα οἵαν ἐπάγει παράκλησιν. Ὅταν ἔλθῃ ὁ Παράκλητος, ὃν ἐγὼ πέμψω, τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας, ὃ παρὰ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἐκπορεύεται, ἐκεῖνος μαρτυρήσει περὶ ἐμοῦ. Καὶ ὑμεῖς δὲ μαρτυρεῖτε, ὅτι ἀπ' ἀρχῆς μετ' ἐμοῦ ἐστε. Ἐκεῖνος ἀξιόπιστος ἔσται: Πνεῦμα γὰρ ἀληθείας ἐστί. Διὰ τοῦτο οὐ Πνεῦμα ἅγιον, ἀλλ' ἀληθείας αὐτὸ ἐκάλεσε. Τὸ δὲ, Ὃ παρὰ τοῦ Πατρὸς ἐκπορεύεται, δηλοῖ ὅτι πάντα οἶδεν ἀκριβῶς, καθάπερ καὶ αὐτός φησι περὶ ἑαυτοῦ, ὅτι Οἶδα πόθεν ἔρχομαι, καὶ ποῦ ὑπάγω: καὶ ἐκεῖ περὶ ἀληθείας διαλεγόμενος. Ὃν ἐγὼ πέμψω. Ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἔτι ὁ Πατὴρ μόνος, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὁ Υἱός ἐστιν ὁ πέμπων. Καὶ ὑμεῖς δὲ ἔχετε τὸ ἀξιόπιστον, οἱ σὺν ἐμοὶ γενόμενοι, οἱ μὴ παρ' ἑτέρων ἀκηκοότες. Καὶ οἱ ἀπόστολοι ἐντεῦθεν διισχυρίζονται, λέγοντες: Οἵτινες συνεφάγομεν καὶ συνεπίομεν αὐτῷ. Ὅτι δὲ οὐ πρὸς χάριν εἴρηται, ἐπιμαρτυρεῖ τὸ Πνεῦμα τοῖς λεγομένοις. Ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν, ἵνα μὴ σκανδαλισθῆτε: τουτέστιν, ὅταν ἴδητε πολλοὺς ἀπειθοῦντας, καὶ δεινὰ πάσχοντας ὑμᾶς. Ἀποσυναγώγους ποιήσουσιν ὑμᾶς. Ἤδη γὰρ συνέθεντο, ἐάν τις ὁμολογήσῃ τὸν Χριστὸν, ἵνα ἀποσυνάγωγος γένηται. Ἀλλ' ἔρχεται ὥρα, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ ἀποκτείνας ὑμᾶς δόξῃ λατρείαν προσφέρειν τῷ Θεῷ. Οὕτω τὸν ὑμέτερον διώξουσι φόνον, ὡς πρᾶγμα εὐσεβὲς, καὶ τῷ Θεῷ ἀρέσκον. Εἶτα τὴν παραμυθίαν ἐπάγει πάλιν: Καὶ ταῦτα ποιήσουσιν, ὅτι οὐκ ἔγνωσαν τὸν Πατέρα, οὐδὲ ἐμέ. Ἀρκεῖ ὑμῖν εἰς παράκλησιν τὸ δι' ἐμὲ καὶ τὸν Πατέρα ταῦτα πάσχειν. Ἐνταῦθα ἀναμιμνήσκει πάλιν αὐτοὺς μακαρισμοῦ, ὃν ἀρχόμενος ἔλεγε: Μακάριοί ἐστε, ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑμᾶς, καὶ διώξωσι, καὶ εἴπωσι πᾶν πονηρὸν ῥῆμα καθ' ὑμῶν ψευδόμενοι, ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ. Χαίρετε καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς. Ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν, ἵνα, ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἡ ὥρα, μνημονεύητε τούτων: ὥστε ἀπὸ τούτων καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ πιστὰ ἡγεῖσθε. Οὐ γὰρ ἕξετε εἰπεῖν, ὅτι κολακεύων ὑμᾶς τὰ πρὸς χάριν ἔλεγον μόνον, οὐχ ὅτι ἀπάτης ἦν τὰ εἰρημένα: οὐ γὰρ ἂν ὁ μέλλων ἀπατᾷν, καὶ ταῦτα προεῖπεν ὑμῖν τὰ ἀποτρέποντα. Διὰ τοῦτο οὖν προεῖπον, ἵνα μὴ ἀπροσδόκητα προσπεσόντα ὑμᾶς διαταράξῃ: καὶ δι' ἑτέραν δὲ αἰτίαν, ἵνα μὴ λέγητε, ὅτι οὐ προῄδειν ἐσόμενα ταῦτα. Μνημονεύετε οὖν, ὅτι ἐγὼ εἶπον ὑμῖν. Καὶ γὰρ ἀεὶ περιετίθησαν σχῆμα τῇ διώξει αὐτῶν πονηρὸν, ὡς λυμεῶνας ἐλαύνοντες. Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐθορύβει τοὺς μαθητὰς τοῦτο, προακούσαντας καὶ εἰδότας ὑπὲρ ὧν ἔπασχον: ἱκανὴ γὰρ αὐτοὺς ἡ αἰτία τῶν γινομένων ἀναστῆσαι. Διὰ τοῦτο αὐτὴν πανταχοῦ περιστρέφει λέγων: Οὐκ ἔγνωσάν με, καὶ, ὅτι Δι' ἐμὲ ποιήσουσι, καὶ διὰ τὸ ὄνομά μου, καὶ διὰ τὸν Πατέρα, καὶ, ὅτι Ἐγὼ πρῶτος ἔπαθον, καὶ, ὅτι Οὐκ ἀπὸ δικαίας αἰτίας ταῦτα τολμῶσι. δʹ. Ταῦτα καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐν τοῖς πειρασμοῖς στρέφωμεν, ὅταν παρὰ πονηρῶν τι πάσχωμεν ἀνθρώπων, εἰς τὸν ἀρχηγὸν ἡμῶν ὁρῶντες καὶ τελειωτὴν τῆς πίστεως, καὶ ὅτι παρὰ φαύλων ἀνθρώπων, καὶ ὅτι δι' ἀρετὴν, καὶ ὅτι δι' αὐτόν. Ἂν γὰρ ταῦτα ἐννοῶμεν, ἅπαντα ῥᾷστα ἔσται καὶ φορητά. Εἰ γὰρ ὑπὲρ ἀγαπητῶν τις πάσχων καὶ ἐναβρύνεται: διὰ τὸν Θεὸν ἐάν τις πάθῃ τι, ποίαν λήψεται αἴσθησιν τῶν δεινῶν; Εἰ γὰρ αὐτὸς πρᾶγμα ἐπονείδιστον, τὸν σταυρὸν, δόξαν ἐκάλει δι' ἡμᾶς: πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἡμᾶς οὕτω διακεῖσθαι χρή. Εἰ γὰρ παθῶν οὕτω δυνάμεθα καταφρονεῖν, πολλῷ μᾶλλον χρημάτων καὶ πλεονεξίας. Δεῖ τοίνυν; ὅταν τι μέλλωμεν πάσχειν ἀηδὲς, μὴ τοὺς πόνους, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς στεφάνους ἐννοεῖν. Ὥσπερ γὰρ οἱ ἔμποροι οὐ τὰ πελάγη μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ κέρδη λογίζονται: οὕτω καὶ ἡμᾶς τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ τὴν πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν παῤῥησίαν ἀναλογίζεσθαι χρή. Κἂν ἡδὺ φανῇ τὸ πλεονεκτεῖν, ἐννόησον ὅτι ὁ Χριστὸς οὐ βούλεται, καὶ ἀηδὲς εὐθέως φανεῖται. Πάλιν ἂν ἐπαχθὲς ᾖ τὸ πένησι διδόναι, μὴ μέχρι τῆς δαπάνης στήσῃς τὸν λογισμὸν, ἀλλ' εὐθέως μετάγαγε τὴν διάνοιαν ἐπὶ τὸν ἀμητὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ σπόρου. Καὶ ὅταν φορτικὸν ᾖ τὸ καταφρονεῖν ἔρωτος γυναικὸς ἀλλοτρίας, λογίζου τὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ πόνου στέφανον, καὶ ῥᾳδίως οἴσεις τὸν πόνον. Εἰ γὰρ ἀνθρώπων φόβος ἀποτρέπει τῶν ἀτόπων πραγμάτων, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ὁ τοῦ Χριστοῦ πόθος. Σκληρὰ ἡ ἀρετή: ἀλλὰ περιθῶμεν αὐτῆς τῇ ὄψει τῆς τῶν μελλόντων ἐπαγγελίας τὸ μέγεθος. Οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἐνάρετοι, καὶ χωρὶς τούτων αὐτὴν καθ' ἑαυτὴν ὡραίαν ὁρῶσι. καὶ διὰ τοῦτο αὐτὴν μετέρχονται, καὶ διὰ τὸ τῷ Θεῷ δοκοῦν, οὐκ ἐπὶ μισθῷ ἐργάζονται: καὶ μέγα ἡγοῦνται τὸ σωφρονεῖν, οὐ διὰ τὸ μὴ κολάζεσθαι, ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ ὁ Θεὸς ἐπέταξεν. Εἰ δέ τις ἀσθενέστερος, καὶ τὰ βραβεῖα ἐννοείτω. Οὕτω καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς ἐλεημοσύνης ποιῶμεν, καὶ ἐλεῶμεν τοὺς ὁμοφύλους, μὴ δὴ περιορῶμεν ὑπὸ τοῦ λιμοῦ φθειρομένους. Πῶς γὰρ οὐκ ἄτοπον, αὐτοὺς μὲν ἐπὶ τῆς τραπέζης καθέζεσθαι γελῶντας καὶ τρυφῶντας, ἑτέρων δὲ διὰ τοῦ ἀμφόδου παριόντων ἀκούοντας ὀλοφυρομένων, μηδὲ ἐπιστρέφεσθαι πρὸς τὴν ὀλολυγὴν, ἀλλὰ καὶ δυσχεραίνειν καὶ ἀπατεῶνα καλεῖν; Τί λέγεις, ἄνθρωπε; δι' ἄρτον ἕνα τις ἀπάτην πλέκει; Ναὶ, φησίν. Οὐκοῦν ταύτῃ μάλιστα ἐλεείσθω: ταύτῃ μάλιστα τῆς ἀνάγκης ἀπαλλαττέσθω. Εἰ δὲ μὴ βούλει δοῦναι, μηδὲ ὑβρίσῃς: εἰ δὲ μὴ βούλει λῦσαι τὸ ναυάγιον, μὴ ὤσῃς εἰς βάραθρον. Ἐννόησον γὰρ ὅταν προσελθόντα ἀπώσῃ τὸν πένητα, τίς ἔσῃ τὸν Θεὸν παρακαλῶν. Ὧ| γὰρ μέτρῳ μετρεῖτε, φησὶν, ἀντιμετρηθήσεται ὑμῖν. Ἐννόησον πῶς συντριβεὶς ἐκεῖνος ἄπεισι, κάτω κεκυφῶς, ὀδυρόμενος, μετὰ τῆς πενίας καὶ τὴν ἀπὸ τῆς ὕβρεως πληγὴν λαβών. Εἰ γὰρ τὸ ἐπαιτεῖν κατάραν ὑμεῖς τίθεσθε, τὸ αἰτοῦντα μὴ λαβεῖν, καὶ ὑβρισθέντα ἀπελθεῖν, σκόπει πόσον χειμῶνα ἐργάζεται. Μέχρι τίνος τοῖς θηρίοις ἐοίκαμεν, καὶ τὴν φύσιν αὐτὴν διὰ τὴν πλεονεξίαν ἀγνοοῦμεν; Πολλοὶ στενάζουσιν ἐπὶ τούτοις: ἀλλ' οὐ βούλομαι νῦν, ἀλλὰ διαπαντὸς τοῦτον ἔχειν τὸν ἔλεον. Ἐννόησόν μοι τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην, ὅταν παραστῶμεν τῷ βήματι τοῦ Χριστοῦ: ὅταν παρακαλῶμεν ἐλεηθῆναι, καὶ εἰς μέσον αὐτοὺς ἀγαγὼν ὁ Χριστὸς λέγῃ πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ὅτι Δι' ἄρτον ἕνα καὶ ὀβολὸν ἕνα, τοσοῦτον ταῖς ψυχαῖς ταύταις ἐνειργάσασθε κλυδώνιον: τί ἐροῦμεν; τί δὲ ἀπολογησόμεθα; Ὅτι γὰρ καὶ εἰς μέσον αὐτοὺς ἄξει, ἄκουσον τί φησιν: Ἐφ' ὅσον οὐκ ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων, οὐδὲ ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι λοιπὸν ἐροῦσί τι πρὸς ἡμᾶς, ἀλλ' ὁ Θεὸς ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν ἡμῶν καθάψεται. Ἐπεὶ καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ὁ πλούσιος εἶδε: καὶ ὁ μὲν Λάζαρος οὐδὲν πρὸς αὐτὸν εἶπεν, ὁ δὲ Ἀβραὰμ τὸν ὑπὲρ ἐκείνου λόγον ἐποιήσατο. Οὕτω καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν πενήτων ἔσται τῶν νῦν παρ' ἡμῶν καταφρονουμένων. Οὐ γὰρ χεῖρας αὐτοὺς προτείνοντας ὀψόμεθα ἐλεεινῷ σχήματι, ἀλλ' ἐν ἀναπαύσει ὄντας: ἡμεῖς δὲ τὸ ἐκείνων ληψόμεθα σχῆμα: καὶ εἴθε τὸ σχῆμα μόνον, καὶ μὴ τὸ πολλῷ χαλεπώτερον, τιμωρίαν! Οὐδὲ γὰρ ὁ πλούσιος ψιχίων ἐπεθύμει χορτασθῆναι ἐκεῖ: ἀλλ' ἀπετηγανίζετο καὶ ἐκολάζετο χαλεπῶς, καὶ ἤκουσεν, ὅτι Ἀπέλαβες τὰ ἀγαθά σου ἐν τῇ ζωῇ σου, καὶ Λάζαρος τὰ κακά. Μὴ τοίνυν μέγα τι τὸν πλοῦτον νομίζωμεν. Οὗτος γὰρ ἐφόδιον ἡμῖν ἔσται κολάσεως, ἐὰν μὴ προσέχωμεν: ὥσπερ οὖν ἐὰν προσέχωμεν, καὶ ἡ πενία προσθήκη γίνεται καὶ τρυφῆς καὶ ἀναπαύσεως ἡμῖν. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἁμαρτήματα ἀποτιθέμεθα, ἂν εὐχαρίστως ταύτην φέρωμεν, καὶ πολλὴν παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ κτώμεθα τὴν παῤῥησίαν. εʹ. Μὴ τοίνυν ἀεὶ τὴν ἄδειαν ζητῶμεν, ἵνα ἀδείας ἀπολαύσωμεν ἐκεῖ: ἀλλὰ τοὺς ὑπὲρ ἀρετῆς δεξώμεθα πόνους, καὶ τὰ περιττὰ περικόπτωμεν, καὶ μηδὲν πλέον ἐπιζητῶμεν, ἀλλ' εἰς τοὺς δεομένους τὰ ὄντα πάντα ἀναλίσκωμεν. Τίνα γὰρ ἕξομεν ἀπολογίαν, ὅταν αὐτὸς μὲν ἡμῖν τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐπαγγέλληται, ἡμεῖς δὲ μηδὲ ἄρτον αὐτῷ παρέχωμεν; ὅταν αὐτὸς μέν σοι τὸν ἥλιον ἀνατέλλῃ, καὶ πᾶσαν τῆς κτίσεως παρέχῃ τὴν διακονίαν: σὺ δὲ οὐδὲ ἱμάτιον αὐτῷ δίδως, οὐδὲ στέγης κοινωνεῖν ποιεῖς; Καὶ τί λέγω ἥλιον καὶ κτίσιν; Τὸ σῶμά σοι παρέθηκε, τὸ αἷμα τὸ τίμιον ἔδωκε: σὺ δὲ οὐδὲ ποτηρίου μεταδίδως; Ἀλλ' ἔδωκας ἅπαξ; Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἔστι τοῦτο ἔλεος: ἕως γὰρ ἂν ἔχων μὴ ἐπαρκῇς, οὐδέπω τὸ πᾶν ἐπλήρωσας. Ἐπεὶ καὶ αἱ παρθένοι τὰς λαμπάδας ἔχουσαι, εἶχον ἔλαιον, ἀλλ' οὐ δαψιλές. Ἐχρῆν μὲν οὖν, εἰ καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν σαυτοῦ παρεῖχες, μηδὲ οὕτως εἶναι φειδωλός: νῦν δὲ τὰ τοῦ Δεσπότου διδοὺς, τίνος ἕνεκεν μικρολογῇ; Εἴπω βούλεσθε τὴν αἰτίαν ταύτης τῆς ἀπανθρωπίας; Ἀπὸ πλεονεξίας συνάγουσι τὰ ὄντα, καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἐλεημοσύνην εἰσὶν ὀκνηροὶ οὗτοι: ὁ γὰρ οὕτω μαθὼν κερδαίνειν, ἀναλίσκειν οὐκ οἶδε. Πῶς γὰρ ἄν τις παρεσκευασμένος εἰς ἁρπαγὴν, πρὸς τὸ ἐναντίον ἑαυτὸν ῥυθμίσειεν; ὁ γὰρ τὰ παρ' ἑτέρων λαμβάνων, πῶς δυνήσεται τὰ ἑαυτοῦ προέσθαι ἑτέρῳ; Καὶ γὰρ κύων μελετήσας σαρκῶν ἀπογεύεσθαι, φυλάττειν οὐκέτι δύναται τὴν ἀγέλην: διὰ τοῦτο τοὺς τοιούτους καὶ ἀναιροῦσιν οἱ ποιμένες. Ὅπερ ἵνα μὴ καὶ ἡμεῖς πάσχωμεν, ἀποσχώμεθα τῆς τοιαύτης θοίνης. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ οὗτοι σαρκῶν ἀπογεύονται, οἱ τὸν διὰ λιμοῦ θάνατον ἐπεισάγοντες. Οὐχ ὁρᾷς πῶς πάντα κοινὰ ἡμῖν ἀνῆκεν ὁ Θεός; Εἰ γὰρ ἐν χρήμασιν εἴασε πένεσθαι, καὶ αὐτὸ τῆς τῶν πλουτούντων ἕνεκα παραμυθίας, ἵνα ἔχωσι διὰ τῆς εἰς ἐκείνους ἐλεημοσύνης ἀποδύεσθαι τὰ ἁμαρτήματα. Σὺ δὲ καὶ ἐν τούτῳ ὠμὸς καὶ ἀπάνθρωπος γέγονας. Ὅθεν δῆλον ὅτι εἰ καὶ ἐν τοῖς μείζοσι ταύτην ἔλαβες τὴν ἐξουσίαν, μυρίους ἂν εἰργάσω φόνους, καὶ τὸ φῶς καὶ τὴν ζωὴν ἅπασαν ἀπέκλεισας. Ὅπερ ἵνα μὴ γένηται, ἀνάγκῃ τὴν ἐν ἐκείνοις ἀπληστίαν διέκοψεν. Εἰ δὲ ἀλγεῖτε ταῦτα ἀκούοντες, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐγὼ ταῦτα γινόμενα ὁρῶν. Μέχρι πότε σὺ πλούσιος, κἀκεῖνος πένης; Μέχρι τῆς ἑσπέρας, περαιτέρω δὲ οὐκ ἔτι. Οὕτω γὰρ βραχὺς ὁ βίος, καὶ πάντα ἐπὶ θύραις ἕστηκε λοιπὸν, ὡς ὥραν βραχεῖαν τὸ πᾶν εἶναι νομίζεσθαι. Τί σοι δεῖ ταμιείων ἐρευγομένων, καὶ πλήθους οἰκετῶν καὶ οἰκονόμων; διατί μὴ μυρίους ἔχεις κήρυκας, τῆς ἐλεημοσύνης; Τὸ μὲν γὰρ ταμιεῖον οὐδεμίαν ἀφίησιν φωνὴν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πολλοὺς ἐπισπάσεται λῃστάς: τὰ δὲ τῶν πενήτων ταμιεῖα πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀναβήσεται τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ ἡδὺν τὸν παρόντα ἐργάσεται βίον, καὶ πάντα λύσει τὰ ἁμαρτήματα, καὶ δόξαν παρὰ Θεῷ, καὶ τιμὴν παρὰ ἀνθρώποις οἴσει. Τί τοίνυν φθονεῖς σεαυτῷ τοσούτων ἀγαθῶν; Οὐ γὰρ ἐκείνους, ἀλλὰ σαυτὸν εὐποιήσεις μειζόνως, ἐκείνους εὐεργετῶν. Τοῖς μὲν γὰρ τὰ παρόντα ἐπανορθώσεις, σαυτῷ δὲ τὴν μέλλουσαν δόξαν καὶ παῤῥησίαν προαποθήσῃ: ἧς γένοιτο πάντας ἡμᾶς ἐπιτυχεῖν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ᾧ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν.