SUPPLEMENT TO THE WORKS OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE. TO THE HOMILIES.
HOMILY I. On the Holy Pentecost.
B1. The grace which distributed tongues today does not allow me to fear the poverty of my own tongue; the same grace which appointed the unlearned as teachers to the world, which made fishermen into orators by an improvised wisdom, and put the wise men of the world to shame. For from whence else did the flocks of men, diseased with the sickness of idolatry, run toward true piety? How did they learn to cast off the multifaceted slavery of the demons? How could it have happened that a small number of disciples could contend against the phalanxes of men and demons alike, if they had not been armed with the fire of the Godhead? Today the fountain of grace gushed forth through the fire, and a flame running through the air was fanned by the breezes of the Spirit. Christ, announcing this grace to the disciples, said: "I will not leave you orphans; the Father will send you another Paraclete." For the ascent of the Master into heaven guarantees the descent of the Spirit from heaven. It was necessary for those who had received Jesus to receive also the arrival of the Spirit, so that the teachings of the knowledge of God might run toward a more noble ascent. Jesus, then, having taken on human nature and being clothed in a form kindred to men, roused men for the reception of the Spirit: "For I have yet many things to say to you," he says, "but you cannot bear them; but when the Paraclete comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you into all the truth; there shall come after me one who is equal in merit to me." Consequently, they learned by *[deeds]* what had been announced to them in words; the promise they had received, the experience of these things they awaited, during the fulfilling of the day of Pentecost. A brief time elapsed between the ascent, and the descent of the Spirit takes place; the promise of the Savior received its fulfillment in works.