MONITION REGARDING THE HOMILY ON THE HOLY MARTYRS AND ON THE ONE WHOSE ARGUMENT IS: "THAT ONE OUGHT NOT PREACH FOR POPULAR FAVOR"
AThat this sermon concerning the holy martyrs does not refer to the preceding discourse, it was a matter of principle not to separate it from the previous one, because he pursues here the theme begun regarding those who communicate unworthily, as we have already said, being led by the occasion. In what year Chrysostom had both homilies, we are not able to attain even by conjecture. This much alone, from the second homily, which has the title *That One Ought Not Preach for Popular Favor*, we seem able to ferret out, namely, that both were delivered after the *Homily on Lazarus*. For the holy doctor says concerning Lazarus in number 3: "And what need is there to go through the whole parable? For you know the whole history, the cruelty of the rich man, how he did not make the beggar a participant at [his] table, and his need and hunger, with which he was perpetually harassed." These things indeed seem spoken after the sermons on Lazarus, although I would not dare to affirm it. But in what year the sermons on Lazarus were delivered, is likewise uncertain, as we have seen in the Monitum on those same ones.
Fronto Ducæus edited the Latin interpretation of both.
WHEN THE BISHOP HAD GONE AWAY TO CELEBRATE THE DAY OF THE MARTYRS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, A SERMON WAS DELIVERED IN THE CITY ON THE MARTYRS, AND ON COMPUNCTION OF HEART AND ALMSGIVING.
B1. Yesterday was the day of the martyrs, but today also is the day of the martyrs; and would that we might always celebrate the day of the martyrs. For if those who are mad about the theaters, and who gape at the horse races, never take their fill of those shameful spectacles, much more ought we to have an insatiable desire for the festivals of the saints. There is a diabolical procession, here a Christian festival: there demons dance, here angels celebrate: there the ruin of souls, here the salvation of all who are gathered. But do those things have some pleasure? But not as much as these. For what pleasure is there in seeing horses running at random and for no reason? But here you see not a yoke of brute animals, but ten thousand chariots of martyrs, and God presiding over these chariots and driving the road to heaven. CFor that the souls of the saints are the chariot of God, hear the prophet saying: *The chariot of God is ten thousandfold, thousands of them that rejoice* (Ps. 67: 18). For that which He bestowed upon the heavenly powers, this He granted also to our nature. He sits upon the Cherubim, just as the psalm also says: *He mounted upon the Cherubim and flew* (Ps. 17: 11); and again: *He who sits upon the Cherubim and beholds the abysses* (Dan. 3: 55). This He also granted to us in turn: He sits upon them, He dwells in us: *For I will dwell and walk among you* (Lev. 26: 12; 2 Cor. 6: 16). They have become a chariot, let us become a temple. Do you see the kinship of the honor? Do you see how He brought peace to things above and things below? Wherefore we are no different from the angels, if we are willing. But as I said at the beginning, yesterday was the day of the martyrs, and today is the day of the martyrs—not those among us, but those in the countryside; or rather, even they are with us. DFor city and country are separated in worldly affairs, but in the matter of piety they share and are united. For do not look to their unpolished speech, but to their philosophizing mind. For what harm does the unity of language do me, when the things of the judgment are divided? And what harm does the diversity of language do me, when the things of the faith are joined? By this reasoning, neither is the country inferior to the city; for they possess equality in the pinnacle of good things. For this reason also our Lord Jesus Christ did not dwell only in the cities, leaving the countries empty and desert, but He traveled through cities and villages, preaching the Gospel and healing every sickness and every infirmity (Luc. 7: 21; Matth. 4: 24). Our common pastor and teacher, imitating Him, has left us and run to them; or rather, he has not left us by going to them; for he went to the brothers who...