HOMILY CVII. On Compunction.
A Compunction brings forth weeping and tears. It does not come to a man through a mediocre effort, unless perhaps a more prolonged exercise has preceded it, or the remembrance of the dreadful day of judgment, and of the just retribution for those things which we have committed in word, in deed, and in thought; or certainly through the shame and disgrace that awaits those who are to be condemned before that dreadful tribunal, in the sight of angels and men, and of all the heavenly powers, when all things will be naked and laid bare, when each one of us shall stand to make an account for himself, when no one will be able to be an aid to another, when secret things will be revealed to all, which hitherto no one has known, save our conscience—or rather, most of which not even the heart knows, save only God who examines hearts and reins, when B “Fire shall go before Him and burn up His enemies round about.” When some are condemned to the outer darkness which is prepared for the devil and his angels, and others to the eternal fire; others are sent away to the worm that never sleeps, others are delivered to the abyss. And what need is there to recount all things in minute detail, and to cause weariness to the hearers? Therefore, dearly beloved, if we ponder all these things and similar ones, we shall attain to compunction and shall cease from our evil deeds; and we shall weep day and night before the Lord who made us. For where there are tears, there is the favor of God. The harlot, through burning tears of one hour, obtained the remission of many debts. Tears bring prayer before God and make it acceptable. Peter himself, through bitter tears poured out in one hour, not only merited the forgiveness of the sin of denial, but was also entrusted with the keys of the kingdom of heaven. To Hezekiah the king, through a few tears, fifteen years were added to his life. The drops of tears are as sweet as honey in the heart, and as a fragrant incense before God. It is necessary, therefore, before every petition, to employ the assistance of tears. For our Master greatly rejoices when He receives prayer in tears with a humble heart, not in the least exalting itself, as if we were better than the many, lest we further provoke Him who has given the grace. For many who weep for sins, forgetting the purpose of tears, have been driven to madness and have lost their senses. But if someone has attained perfect compunction, he perceives himself receiving from the Bread of Life, receiving spiritual food, food of a better fear, food of heavenly desire, and of the sighing of consolation and compunction, and of melody, and of deeper knowledge, and of certain divine mysteries. Compunction prepares the heart to bear tearful and gentle thoughts; whence it is truly possible to see the seeds of prayer sown in the earth of the heart through the hope of the joy of the harvest. The meditation with compunction and prayer brings forth the fear of God in us. For He says
the Law: "Sitting in your house, and walking by the way, and lying down and rising up, let them be fixed and immovable before your A eyes, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God" (Deut. vi, 7, 8). And Job also says: "Let my prayer come to the Lord, and before Him let my eye drip" (Job xvi, 21). And Anna, being troubled in Shiloh, was weeping. And she prayed to the Lord, saying: "If looking You will look upon my humiliation, and give me the seed of a man" (I Reg. i, 11). And the Lord heard her, and gave her the prophet Samuel. Also the other Anna, the wife of Joachim, weeping in her garden, when she had offered her petition for the obtaining of a son, merited to receive the holy Virgin Mary, who according to the flesh is the Mother of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ. And David himself: "Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear to my tears: be not silent" (Psal. xxxviii, 13). And being heard, he says: "The Lord is merciful and just, because I was humbled, and He saved me" (Psal. cxiv, 5, 6). And, "He delivered my soul B from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from slipping" (Psal. cxiv, 9). And, "Those who sow in tears shall reap in exultation" (Psal. cxxv, 5). And then also that: "I will be pleasing to the Lord in the land of the living" (Psal. cxiv, 9). That saying also: "Going they went and wept" (Psal. cxxv, 6). As I think, he uttered these oracles concerning our captivity, since these things prescribed have befallen us. We, therefore, ought to pour forth tears full of bitterness for ourselves and for them. First, indeed, because the holy city of Jerusalem has been consumed by fire, and the holy cross of Christ our God has also migrated into Persia: and also for the sake of those who have perished cut down in so many wars; for they were our fellow-members, and were marked by the same faith with us. After which manner the prophet Joel cries out: "Wail, O priests who minister at the altar, because all C the earth has been miserably afflicted. Weep, O priests who minister to the Lord, and say, Spare, O Lord, Thy people, and do not give Thy inheritance to reproach, that the nations may rule over it, that they may not say, Where is their God?" (Joel i, 13; ii, 17). For it is within our power to appease the unforgetful Lord, just as the prophet Zephaniah also teaches, saying: "He has set before you fire and water; where you will, stretch out your hand. Before man is life and death, and to whom he pleases it shall be given" (Ecclus. xv, 16, 17). For who shall justify the one sinning against his own soul, if not with hot tears and compunction? For the good and compassionate Master is always thirsting for our salvation; as the Apostle testifies, saying: "That He wills all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth." And it is written in the gospel according to Luke: "And behold, a woman D in the city who was a sinner, and having known that the Lord was reclining in the house of the Pharisee, she brought..."
an alabaster vessel of ointment, and standing behind by the feet of Jesus, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and to wipe them with the hairs of her head, and she kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment," and she heard from the Savior, "Your sins are forgiven you." To Him be glory unto the ages. Amen.
HOMILY CVIII. On the honor of parents.
We are debtors to honor those who gave us birth and to render returns to them, both from the law of nature and from the divine legislation. First, because we have seen this sensible light through them; then also the intelligible light, that is to say, the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through baptism; and B because of their natural affection for their own offspring; and because of the labor which they endure for their upbringing, and the care which they have night and day for them, lest any of those things that are not willed should befall them; and being at work and toiling for their clothing and their food, and to store up treasures for them after death. What worthy returns therefore can we render to them for all these things? Let us therefore always strive to perform those things which pertain to their honor, treatment, and rest, especially in their old age, so that they may be revived by the sight of their children, as Jacob was upon seeing Joseph. Let us become rivals, if even to the birds which are called hoopoes. C For when they see that their parents have grown old and their sight has become dim, the young ones strip the feathers from their parents, and lick their eyes, and warm their parents under their own wings, and nurture them; and their parents become young again; saying to their parents, "Just as you also nurtured us, and endured while laboring and feeding us, so we also do the like for you." And how, being rational, shall we not much more love our own parents? Let them not, therefore, groan against us; for this is unprofitable to us, and rather even harmful; and we are rightly found to be patricides and matricides. It is written in the law, D "Honor your father and your mother, that it may be well with you, and you may be long-lived upon the earth." And, "He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him die the death." Likewise also Isaiah, "He who says to the father, What have you begotten? And to the mother, What did you suffer in labor? I know that you are hard, and your neck is an iron sinew." And another, "He who honors his father will be gladdened by his children, and in the day of prayer he will be heard."