A you can, impose upon yourself a necessity to occupy yourself with them more frequently, for they dissipate the reasonings which the enemy, through his wicked contrivances, scatters, or by bringing many afflictions, or by providing and offering many prosperities and freedoms. For he works these things through his craftiness and deceit, so that he may alienate man from God. For when he cannot often influence and cast him down through thoughts, then finally he brings upon him afflictions, so that he may darken his understanding, and then find he can sow what he wishes. And then he begins to suggest to the man such thoughts, and says with oaths, "From the time I do good, I have seen evil days; let us do evil, so that good things may come." Then, if one is not found sober, he swallows him alive, like Hades. But if even in these things he cannot influence him, then he brings upon him prosperity, and exalts him, and brings upon him a deceit greater and worse than all passions. For this is what makes man proud and without fear; this casts the mind into the abyss of pleasures; this makes man not to know God, nor to know his own weakness, nor to consider the day of death and judgment; for this is the path of all evils. He who loves to walk on this path of freedom and relaxation finds himself reaching the chambers of death; this is the path of which the Lord said: "Wide and broad is the path that leads to perdition" (Matt. VII, 13).
XI: Discourse of Saint John Chrysostom on the Knowledge of God, and on the Holy Theophany, and on the Newly Illuminated.
Just as those who have their bodily eyesight damaged need guides, lest by falling into a pit through ignorance they perish, so also do those who have the eyes of the soul darkened need those who will lead them to the piety of God, lest by falling into an abyss of evils through ignorance they be destroyed. And all humanity was previously enveloped in such an evil of blindness; and as it happens to those with blurred vision, that instead of things that exist they often see things that do not exist, so also those who have the eyes of the soul dazzled saw, instead of the one and only God, many that do not exist. But the physician of bodies and souls sent the Law and the prophets, healing the blindness of men, and leading them to the knowledge of Him, but men turned away from the healing through the Law and the prophets. For they shut their eyes so as not to see, and stopped their ears so as not to hear, according to the word of Isaiah, so that they might not turn and be healed. Similar things to these another prophet, Jeremiah, cried out, saying: "We have treated Babylon, and it was not healed; no cure has come up in it" (Jer. LI, 9). Babylon is interpreted as 'confusion'; for humanity has been confused by blindness. But the manner is that of the best physicians; the healing of chronic wounds surpasses the disciples. So also the only-begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, seeing that the impiety of men had not been healed through the Law and the prophets, arrives from the heavenly vaults, born of the holy Virgin Mary, first by the cross putting the devil to flight, second, capturing death, and by His three-day resurrection granting peace to those near and to those far off, He led all to the knowledge of Himself. B Where, O death, is your sting? From God is blessedness. And seeing this, the prophet David says: "Blessed are they whose iniquities were forgiven, and whose sins were covered" (Ps. XXXI, 1). Who is able to forgive sins, except God alone (Mark II, 7)? For men blessing men profit nothing, but they often even harm, as the prophet Isaiah says: "My people, those who bless you, lead you astray, and disturb the path of your feet" (Isa. III, 12); but He who blesses, together with the word, also grants the grace. And take the proof of the word. The Lord said to Peter, when He asked the disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I am?" "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but My Father who is in heaven," not the one who is considered earthly. You have spoken the beatitude, give the grace of the kingdom of heaven. Do you see the grace following the word? And lately in the beatitudes decreed to us we heard each one of them having the grace corresponding to it. But let us return to the set subject of the present feast. For the presence of an earthly king is accustomed to grant joy and gladness to those present; but a heavenly King coming down from heaven to earth here, not only do we who are present rejoice, but the whole earth is glad. For if when the sun rises, all that is beneath is illuminated, when the Sun of righteousness has risen, how will not every soul be illuminated in this light-bearing night, concerning which the prophet David, seeing by the Holy Spirit, said: "That darkness shall not be darkened from Thee, and night shall be as day to be illuminated" (Ps. CXXXVIII, 11, 12); and again: "As is its darkness, so is its light." Do you see that he is recounting concerning the present night? For just as its darkness is seen by the eyes of the flesh, so its light appears to the eyes of the soul. O light-bearing and wonderful night, brighter than every day. Night indeed succeeds every day, but night does not succeed this light-bearing night: "For the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it" (John I, 5). Do not attend to the letter, but understand by the Spirit. Light is the only-begotten Son of God; night is the works of darkness. Therefore, when you are illuminated in your soul that is in darkness by the present light, no longer do the works of darkness grasp you; for that is why the Light arrived, that He might put to flight the darkness; the Life arrived, that it might abolish death; and first He announces the good news to the shepherds through angels, not that they should append the miracles to mere words, but that the shepherds, having taken the opportunity regarding the rational sheep, should announce the good news of the philanthropy of God to the peoples. In the holy place of Bethlehem we hastened to render the owed worship to the Lord God of us all, who deemed it worthy to become man for our sake. For He Himself was seen upon the earth, having descended from heaven for our salvation, without having left those places devoid of His presence; "For I fill heaven and earth," says the Lord, says Isaiah (Jer. XXIII, 24); and again David: "If I go up to heaven, You are there; C if I go down to Hades, You are present" (Ps. CXXXVIII, 8). Not yet has He happened upon earth having become man, and already the prophet signifies the presence in Hades. It is no great thing, therefore, if we also, having traversed this small distance from the city, came to this place to worship.
A Let us go back again to the Jordan to see the mysteries accomplished therein, how the sea saw and fled from its own Lord, and the Jordan turned backward (Ps. CXIII, 3). Let us again see John baptizing Him who takes away the sin of the world (John I, 29), and the Father testifying from above to the wondrous condescension of His Son, and the kindred Spirit descending in the form of a dove and remaining upon Him to whom testimony was borne. O wondrous miracles of a wondrous King! How was the clay-formed hand, when it touched the crown of the whole world, not consumed? Who has seen, or who has ever heard of hay being near to fire and receiving no harm from the fire? For blessed indeed, and thrice blessed, is the scion of Zacharias and Elisabeth. Blessed, finally, are we too, who behold the fruits of our own loins shining forth from the holy font, like certain stars traversing the full church. But, O Father, and Word, and Spirit, substance of three persons, and power, and will, and act, grant to us, who confess Thy unconfused and undivided persons, that we may stand at Thy right hand when Thou comest from the heavens to judge the world in righteousness (Acts XVII, 31). For to Thee is due glory, honor, and adoration, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always, and for ages of ages.
XII. A Sermon by our holy father John Chrysostom on the holy Ascension of our Savior.
Since by the grace of God we have discoursed upon the passion of our Lord at the appropriate time, and likewise upon the resurrection; listen now also to the history of this further discourse. After He had risen from the dead, and had appeared to the disciples, and had been with them, and had even been touched, and had remained with them for forty days, He came to the Mount of Olives opposite Jerusalem with His disciples. And a great multitude having gathered, Jesus Himself said to the disciples: As the Father hath sent me, even so send I you (John XX, 21). Go ye therefore into all the world, baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, for the remission of sins (Matt. XXVIII, 19; Mark XVI, 15). Heal the sick, cast out demons; freely ye have received, freely give (Matt. X, 8). Bless them that persecute you, bless, and curse not (Luke VI, 28). Imitate your Master. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples (John XIII, 35), if ye love them that hate you. BE B mindful of how many evils the Jews have inflicted upon me. The Seraphim, since they cannot gaze upon my face, cover their faces; yet the Jews spat in my face, and struck my cheek with their blows. My hands formed man from the earth, and created the most beautiful world; yet they fastened me with iron nails to the wood. If I look upon the earth, the earth trembles and is shaken; yet they, passing by and wagging their heads, mocked me. I suffered all these things from them, and did not retaliate with wrath against them. Do you think I was unable? Angels stood ready, saying: Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yoke from us (Ps. II, 3); but I did not permit it to them; rather, stretched upon the cross, with fixed hands, I invoked my Father for them, saying: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke XXIII, 34). And I suffered these things for your sake, that I might be an example to you. For if I had only spoken and not acted, my teaching would have been unfitting; I initiated the work first, and then I enjoin it upon you to do. I said, The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep (John X, 11); and I did not refuse death, though I am immortal: I said, Bless those who persecute you, and curse not (Matt. V, 44); and having suffered so much from the Jews, I did not curse them. I have done all things; I have completed all things which had been handed down about me by the prophets: and behold, I ascend to my Father (John XX, 17; XIV, 12). But do not be saddened, I will not leave you orphans; but I will send to you the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, consubstantial with the Father and with me: And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (Matt. XXVIII, 20). As I was with the prophets in the beginning, so also will I be with you. I saved Moses from C the hand of the Egyptians; I was with Joshua the son of Nun and by war I conquered seven tribes; I delivered Elijah from the hand of Jezebel; I conferred double grace upon Elisha; I saved David from the hand of Saul; I brought Jeremiah up from the deep pit; I took Daniel out of the jaws of the lions; I led the dance with the three youths in the furnace, and saved them, while I consumed their enemies. As I was with all them, so I shall also be with you. And lifting his eyes to the city of Jerusalem, he said: Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not (Matt. XXIII, 37; Luke XIII, 34)! Woe to you, children of Jerusalem: for I came in the name of my Father, and ye did not receive me, but ye receive the devil, who always deceives you. Therefore, Your house is left unto you desolate (Matt. XXIII, 38): let not a stone remain upon a stone in your temple: the glory of your temple, which ye had, lo, I deliver to those who believe in my cross, and in my resurrection. Woe to you, children of Jerusalem—Jews—who have the type from the beginning, and have not received the truth. I gave you the figure of this my presence, that having the figure, you might recognize the truth: I gave you Moses, the law, the rod, the golden jar holding the manna: wherever the ark was, there also was my glory. But because ye were imprudent, and, at my coming, did not receive me, therefore I take away the glory from you, and deliver it to the nations, and I ascend to my Father, who sent me into the world. In place of your temple I shall erect the Church: in place of the prophets, whom I sent to you, and you [imprisoned] them, I will send my disciples into the world, to preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. I gave you the tablets of the covenant; I give to the nations the Gospels of salvation; I gave you the law, and you made it void; I give the nations grace in place of the law: I gave you the rod which budded; I give the nations the cross that flowers, and brings forth life for the world as its fruit: I gave you manna, and when you had eaten, you adored a calf instead of me; I give to the nations the heavenly bread, which descended from heaven, that is, my body; I gave you water from a crag of rock, and drinking it you provoked me; I give to the nations the cup of my blood, that they may drink eternal life. These things I bestow upon the nations, and I ascend D to my Father (John XX, 17). Behold, your house is left unto you desolate (Matt. XXIII, 38). When the Lord had said these things, turning to his Mother and Virgin, he said: Peace be to you, most sweet mother; do not grieve that I ascend to my Father: I will not desert you, illuminator of the world; I will not desert you, my holy temple; I will not desert you, found alone faithful and void of fraud before me; I will not desert you, mystery of the whole world; I will not desert you, incorruptible flower. Do not grieve: nay, even when you are about to depart from life, I will not send angels or archangels, but I shall come myself, and I will receive your soul, brighter than the sun and more lucid than the moon. Do not grieve, Virgin, that I ascend to my Father: you have John in my stead, the virgin, and my bosom friend. Did I not, even when I was on the cross, deliver you to him, saying: John, behold thy mother? and to you I said, Behold thy son (John XIX, 27, 26)? And now the same word from me is pronounced to you: Peace be to you, my mother and virgin. But again, turning to the disciples, he said: Peace be to you, brethren: as I have commanded you, do. Let you not, therefore, be sad,