THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
After saying that he suffers chains for the Gentiles, the Apostle again refers everything to God, saying, "according to the gift of the grace of God." For by the power of this gift he was counted worthy of this honor. Yet the gift would have been insufficient if divine power had not been placed within it.
Truly, human zeal alone is not enough for preaching the Gospel. A higher power is needed. The Apostle brought three qualities to the work of his evangelization: fervent and fearless zeal, a soul ready to endure absolutely everything, and understanding with wisdom. Yet courage would not have been enough, nor would a blameless life have been enough, if he had not received the power of the Spirit.
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For this, look at him himself, or rather listen to what he writes: "That our ministry may not be blamed" (2 Cor 6:3). Again: "For our exhortation was not from error, nor from uncleanness, nor in deceit, nor from a pretext for covetousness" (1 Thess 2:3, 5). Do you see how blameless the apostolic ministry was?
Again he says, "Take thought for what is good before all men," and not only before the face of the Lord (Rom 12:17). Then consider the following words: "I die daily. I affirm this by my boasting in you, brethren, which I have in Christ Jesus" (1 Cor 15:31). Again: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation, or distress, or persecution?" (Rom 8:35). Again: "In great patience, in afflictions, in persecutions, in necessities, in distresses" (2 Cor 6:4).
Then, concerning his prudence, he says, "To the Jews I became as a Jew, to those under the Law as under the Law, to those without the Law as without the Law" (1 Cor 9:20-21). He exposes himself to dangers and performs countless labors. But the most important thing is that the power of the Holy Spirit was always at work in him.
"For I will not dare," he says, "to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me" (Rom 15:18). Again: "For in what were you inferior to the other churches?" (2 Cor 12:13). Again: "For I am in no way behind the chiefest apostles, though I am nothing" (2 Cor 12:11).
Without these qualities he could not have had success. Therefore he did not convert people to the faith by a sign alone. His miracles were not the cause of this, nor did he boast in them, but in his other qualities. A preacher of the Gospel must be blameless in life, wise, ready for every danger, and able to teach. These qualities chiefly marked his actions.
If we also had these qualities, miracles would not be needed. We see that before he performed any sign, he had already accomplished countless labors of this kind. But now, while having not one of these qualities, we nevertheless want everything to obey us.
Yet even if these qualities were in us, but not all of them, they would bring us no benefit. What benefit is your readiness to endure dangers if your life gives occasion for stumbling? "If the light that is in you is darkness," the Savior said, "how great is the darkness?" (Mt 6:23).
What benefit will the most blameless life bring if you are careless and sleepy? "He who does not take his cross and follow Me," says the Savior, "is not worthy of Me" (Mt 10:38). He is not a good shepherd who does not lay down his soul for the sheep (Jn 10:11).
What benefit will there be from both these qualities if wisdom is absent, so that one does not know how to answer each person? If there are no signs in our time, then these qualities must exist. Yet after showing these qualities in himself, the Apostle attributes everything to grace. This is the mark of a grateful servant.
We would never have known of his labors if circumstances had not forced him to speak of them. After this, are we worthy even to remember Paul? He had grace assisting him, yet he did not think that this alone was enough. He exposed himself to thousands of dangers.
But we, who do not have such boldness, from what source, tell me, shall we draw the hope that we will preserve the souls entrusted to our care and attract those who have not yet entered the Church? How can we hope for this, we who care only for pleasures and always seek only rest? We cannot, or rather do not wish to, expose ourselves to dangers even in a dream. In wisdom we stand as far from Paul as heaven from earth.
This is why those shepherded by us are so much lower than those of that time. The disciples then were better than the teachers now. Among the people and the tyrants they were threatened. Everywhere they had enemies. Yet nothing could bend or shake them even for a short time.
Listen to what the Apostle says in the Epistle to the Philippians: "For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him" (Phil 1:29). Again, in the Epistle to the Thessalonians: "For you became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea" (1 Thess 2:14).
In the Epistle to the Hebrews he writes, "You accepted the plundering of your possessions with joy" (Heb 10:34). In the Epistle to the Colossians he testifies of them: "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col 3:3). He also left testimony concerning many other dangers to which they were exposed.
To the Galatians he wrote, "Have you suffered so many things in vain, if indeed it was in vain?" (Gal 3:4). Do you see? Then everyone thought only about doing what was good. Therefore grace acted with such power then. Therefore life was then spent in ascetic struggle.
But listen to what he writes to the Corinthians, whom he accused of countless sins. Does he not speak of them also with praise, mentioning their "zeal and desire" (2 Cor 7:11)? Yet what he praises in the Corinthians cannot now be found even among teachers.
Therefore everything has been destroyed and lost. The cause is that love has grown cold, and those who sin do not bear the punishment due. Listen to what he wrote to Timothy: "Those who sin, rebuke before all" (1 Tim 5:20). But now the leaders themselves suffer from these sins. And when the head is unhealthy, can the rest of the body be healthy?
Moreover, see what an unnatural order now exists in this matter. Those who live rightly and have somehow preserved boldness before God occupy the mountaintops. They have withdrawn from among us as from a society alien and hostile to them, not as from one akin to them. Lawless men, burdened with thousands of offenses, have burst into the Church. Tax-farmers have become superiors.
From this come thousands of evils, and there is no one to correct or admonish. On the contrary, this disorder has taken on a certain legal appearance and spreads freely. Has someone sinned and been accused? Such a person does not try to prove his innocence, but to find accomplices in his crimes.
With what horror I imagine the Gehenna that threatens us. Believe me, if God were not preparing punishment for us there, we would see every day dreadful sights, more terrible than the calamities endured by the Jewish people.
What, indeed, is happening among us? Yet let no one be angry. I will name no one. If someone came into the church and stood in the midst of you who are now with us, and began an examination, or if he did this not now, but on holy Pascha, and wished to examine carefully all who came here and prepared to approach the Mysteries, then how many evils would he find? They would be far heavier than the lawless deeds of the Jews.
He would find those who divine by the flight and cries of birds, those who resort to charms, incantations, and spells. He would find fornicators, adulterers, drunkards, and blasphemers. I do not even wish to mention the covetous, lest I touch someone standing here.
What then, if someone examined all who come to the churches of the whole world? What crime would he not encounter? He would see leaders greedy for money. He would see that offices had been acquired by purchase. He would see many among them who are envious, inclined to slander, vainglorious, devoted to insatiable covetousness, and enslaved to money.
Where such great impiety exists, every evil may be expected. To learn what punishment those given over to these sins deserve, recall ancient events. One soldier stole part of the sacred spoils, and all began to perish. You no doubt know this history. I am speaking of Achan, who stole part of the spoils of war dedicated to God (Josh 7).
Once the prophet said that their land was filled with divinations, as though it were a foreign land (Is 2:6). But now everything everywhere is filled with evil, and no one is afraid. Yet one ought to be afraid. God punishes the righteous together with the wicked, as happened with Daniel, with the three youths, and with many others. It also happens now in wars.
Through these calamities sent upon them from above, the righteous cast off whatever burden of sins they have. The wicked do not. Because of all this, let us attend to ourselves. Do you not see wars? Do you not hear of disasters? Or does none of this instruct you anymore?
Peoples and whole cities have perished and been destroyed. Thousands have fallen into slavery to barbarians. If Gehenna does not instruct you, be instructed at least by these calamities. Perhaps you think that these are not divine warnings, but simply ordinary events. Those who perished bore great punishment. But we shall bear still greater punishment if we do not come to our senses at the sight of so many calamities.
I know my words are severe. But if you heed them, they will bring benefit. Of course, what has been said does not bestow grace upon you. This can never be expected from it. Yet it can always humble and instruct the soul.
This will serve as a pledge of the blessings to come. May we all be counted worthy of them by the grace and love for mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, dominion, and honor, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.