THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
And he finds no other cause for this except the will of God. This is what the words mean: “and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself.”
So that you should not think that He took upon Himself the office of a slave, the Apostle adds, “to Himself.” Elsewhere he says that Christ reconciles to God, as he said in the Epistle to the Corinthians, and he spoke rightly.
He says “through Him to reconcile,” because men had already been reconciled, and only final pacification was required, so that they should no longer be hostile to Him.
He shows how this is done immediately afterward. He does not merely announce reconciliation, but also explains the very manner of reconciliation: “having made peace through the blood of His cross.”
One word points to enmity, namely “to reconcile.” The other points to war, namely “having made peace.”
“Through the blood,” he says, “of His cross, through Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” Reconciliation is a great thing.
Greater still is reconciliation through Him. Greater still is reconciliation through His blood, and not simply through blood, but, what is greater, through the cross.
Thus there are five things worthy of wonder here: He reconciled us to God, by Himself, through death, through the cross.
Oh, how he joined all this together from another side! Lest you think that all this is one and the same thing, and that the cross by itself means nothing, he says, “through Him.”
On what ground does he count this important? On the ground that the Son of God accomplished all this, not by merely saying a few words, but by giving Himself for reconciliation.
But what does “things in heaven” mean? As for earthly things, this is clear, because here everything was filled with enmity and divided into many parts.
Each of us was in discord with himself and with many others. But how did He make peace with “things in heaven”?
Was there discord and disagreement there too? How then do we say in prayer, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” Mt 6:10?
What should we say to this? Earth had been separated from heaven. The angels were hostile toward men, seeing their Master insulted.
“He purposed,” he says, “to gather together all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth,” Eph 1:10. How? As for the things in heaven, in this way.
He transferred man there. He raised there the one who was an enemy, the one who was not loved there.
He not only established peace on earth, but also raised man to them, the angels. Man had been an adversary and an enemy.
This is deep peace. Angels again appear on earth, because man has appeared in heaven.
It seems to me that Paul was caught up to heaven for this reason also: that he might see that the Son had been taken there.
On earth there is a double peace: in relation to the heavenly inhabitants and in relation to one another. In heaven there is only one.
If the angels rejoice over one repentant sinner, they rejoice much more over so great a number. And all this was wrought by the power of God.
Why, then, they will say, do you rely so much on angels? They are not only unable to bring you to God; they were even once hostile to you.
If God Himself had not reconciled you with them, you would not have peace. Why, then, do you run to them?
Do you wish to know what the angels’ enmity toward us was, and what aversion they always had toward us?
They were sent for punishment against the Israelites, against David, against the people of Sodom, and into the valley of weeping.
But now it is not so. On the contrary, they sang on earth with great joy. God brought them down to men, and raised men up there.
Here observe something extraordinary. First the Lord brought them down to us, and then He raised man up to them.
Earth became heaven, because heaven was to receive those from earth. Therefore we cry out with thanksgiving: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men,” Lk 2:14.
See, he says, men too have at last become pleasing to God. What does “good will” mean? Reconciliation.
Now heaven is no longer closed to us by an impassable barrier. Formerly angels were assigned according to the number of the nations.
Now they are no longer assigned according to the number of the nations, but according to the number of the faithful. From where is this clear?
Listen to Christ’s words: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always behold the face of My Father who is in heaven,” Mt 18:10.
Every believer has an angel, just as from the beginning every pious man had an angel. Jacob says: “The angel who delivers me from all evil, bless these children,” Gen 48:16.
Therefore, if we have angels, let us conduct ourselves carefully, as though teachers were with us. For a demon is also with us.
Therefore let us pray and cry out, asking for an angel of peace for ourselves. Everywhere we ask for peace, because nothing can be compared with it.
We ask for peace in the churches, in private and common prayers, and in greetings. The president of the church gives it to us once, twice, three times, and many times, saying, “Peace be to you.”
Why so? Because peace is the source of all good things. It brings joy with it.
For this reason Christ commanded the Apostles, when entering houses, to speak of it at once, as of a sign of all blessings: “As you enter the house, say, Peace be to this house,” Mt 10:12.
Without it nothing has value. Again He says to the disciples: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you,” Jn 14:27, because love itself depends on it.
The president of the church does not simply say, “Peace be to you,” but “Peace be to all.” What profit is there if we have peace with one man and quarrel and are at enmity with another?
What gain is there? The body cannot be healthy when some of its parts are in harmony and others act discordantly.
It is healthy only when there is order, harmony, and peace throughout. If there is no peace throughout, everything will go beyond its bounds and be distorted.
Likewise in our mind, if the thoughts are not all in a peaceful state, there will be no peace.
Peace is so great a blessing that those who establish and preserve it are called sons of God. And rightly so.
The Son of God Himself came to earth to make peace between things earthly and things heavenly. If peacemakers are sons of God, then disturbers are sons of the devil.
What are you saying? Do you really cause divisions and internal wars? “Is there anywhere such a wretched man?” you ask.
There are many such men. They rejoice in evil and tear the body of Christ with greater cruelty than the soldiers who pierced it with the spear, and than the Jews who pierced it with nails.
That evil was less than this. Those members, though torn, were joined together again.
But these, when torn away, if they are not joined together here, will never be joined. They will remain outside the whole body of the Church.
When you wish to start a quarrel with your brother, remember that you are rising up against the members of Christ. Then restrain your anger.
What does it matter to you if he is an impatient and lowly man? What does it matter if he is despised?
“It is not the will of My Father,” He says, “that one of these little ones should perish,” Mt 18:14. Again: “Their angels in heaven always behold the face of My Father who is in heaven.”
For him God even became a slave and was slain. Do you count him as nothing? By this you rise up against God, lifting your voice in opposition to Him.
The president of the church, as soon as he enters, immediately says, “Peace be to all.” When he begins the discourse, he says, “Peace be to all.”
When he blesses, he says, “Peace be to all.” When he commands that the kiss be given to one another, he says, “Peace be to all.”
When the sacrifice is completed, he says, “Peace be to all.” During its celebration also he says, “Grace to you and peace,” Col 1:3.
How is it not senseless, then, if we hear so many times the reminder to have peace among ourselves, yet are hostile to one another?
How is it not senseless if, while we both receive and give it to others, we rise up against the one who gives us peace?
You say, “And to thy spirit,” and then you go out and begin to slander him. Alas, what is especially precious in the Church has become an outward rite, not a true reality.
Alas, all the signs of this army, the Church, are confined to words. Therefore you do not even know why “Peace be to all” is said.
But listen further to what Christ says: “Whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay there until you depart.
And as you enter the house, greet it, saying: Peace be to this house. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it.
But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you,” Mt 10:11-13. We do not know this because we consider these words a mere figure of speech and do not enter into their meaning.
It is not I who give peace, but Christ is pleased to speak through us. Even if at every other time we were strangers to grace, now we are not strangers to it for your sake.
If the grace of God, according to the ordering of Providence, acted for the benefit of the Israelites through a donkey and through a sorceress, then it surely will not refuse to act in us and consent to this for us.
Therefore let no one speak of me by saying that I am not perfect, that I am nothing and worth nothing. Let everyone listen to me attentively.
For I too belong to the number of those through whom the grace of God acts. God is accustomed to be constantly present in such men for the benefit of many.
Know that He was pleased to speak with Cain for Abel’s sake, with the devil for Job’s sake, with Pharaoh for Joseph’s sake, with Nebuchadnezzar for Daniel’s sake, and with Belshazzar for the same reason.
A revelation was also given to the magi, and Caiaphas prophesied because of the dignity of the priestly office, though he was a murderer of Christ and unworthy.
They say that Aaron was not struck with leprosy for the same reason. Indeed, tell me, why did she alone, Aaron’s sister, bear the punishment, when both had opposed Moses?
Do not be amazed. Among secular authorities it also happens that, though someone is accused of innumerable crimes, he is not brought to trial before he has been removed from office.
This is done so that the office should not be insulted along with him. Much more, in spiritual authority, whatever it may be, the grace of God always acts.
Otherwise everything would perish. But when a man lays it aside, then he undergoes the heaviest punishment, either after departure from this life or even here immediately afterward.
Do not think that I say this from myself. God’s grace acts even through the unworthy, not for our sake, but for yours.
Listen, then, to what Christ says: “If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it,” Mt 10:13. How does it become worthy?
“If they receive you,” He says. But if they do not receive you and do not hear your words, “Truly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city,” Mt 10:15.
What profit is there, then, if you receive us but do not listen to our words? What gain is there if you honor us and do not heed what we say to you?
This is honor for us. This is the wondrous respect that benefits both you and us: that you obey us.
Listen also to Paul’s words: “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest,” Acts 23:5. Listen also to Christ’s words: “Whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do,” Mt 23:3.
You do not despise me, but the priesthood. If you see me stripped of it, then despise me. Then I too will not exercise authority.
But as long as we sit upon this throne, as long as we have the presidency, so long we have dignity and power, though we ourselves are unworthy.
If the seat of Moses was so honorable that those who sat on it were heard because of it, Mt 23:2-3, then much more is the throne of Christ honorable.