THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
We have now reached the conclusion of the account of the righteous Noah, so I urge you to focus your thoughts and listen intently to the message being conveyed. From today’s reading, we can derive immense and significant benefit, for the events that unfolded for those ancient individuals can serve as profound lessons if we remain attentive. This is why the holy scriptures recount not only the virtues of the saints but also their shortcomings, allowing us to steer clear of the latter while emulating the former. Furthermore, divine Scripture illustrates how the righteous often stumble and how sinners can experience great repentance, thus providing ample cautionary guidance. The one who stands firm in his goodness should take heed and not grow complacent, knowing that even the righteous have faltered; likewise, the sinful should not succumb to despair, for many have repented and attained the heights of virtue. Therefore, let no one take pride in their good deeds, but rather maintain a watchful spirit, adhering to the counsel of the blessed Apostle Paul, who warns: “Whoever thinks he stands, beware lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). And if one finds themselves in deep sin, let them not lose hope in salvation; rather, let them reflect on the unfathomable mercy of God, who assures through the prophet, “When they fall, do they not get up? And when they turn aside from the way, do they not return?” (Jer. 8:4) Additionally, “I do not desire the death of the wicked, but that he may turn from his ways and live” (Ezek. 18:23). Do you see, beloved, that every detail chronicled in the sacred Scriptures has been preserved for no other reason than for our benefit and the salvation of mankind? Considering this, let each of us take a fitting remedy for ourselves. This is why such healing is offered freely to all; anyone who wishes can derive a cure tailored to their own trials and receive swift restoration, provided they do not reject the healing, but rather accept it with a thankful heart. Indeed, among the various ailments afflicting humanity—whether spiritual or physical—there exists none that the Scriptures cannot address. For instance, if anyone comes here burdened by the weight of troubling life circumstances leading them to despair, they can hear the prophet’s words: “Why are you discouraged, my soul? And why are you troubled? Trust in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God” (Psalm 41:6, 7). They are thus consoled and leave entirely free from discouragement. Another person may be sorrowful and distressed due to severe poverty, witnessing others surrounded by wealth and luxury; yet they too can hear the same prophet say, “Cast your cares upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you” (Psalms 54:23) and, “Do not fear when a man is rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for he who dies shall take nothing” (Psalms 48:17-18).
Someone else may feel disheartened by insults and slanders from others, finding life unbearable without human support; but even they are instructed by the same blessed prophet to not rely on human aid in such situations, hearing him say: “They have me in enmity, but I pray” (Psalm 108:4). Observe where he seeks help: while others engage in schemes and slanders, he turns to an invulnerable fortress, a steadfast anchor, a calm harbor—prayer, which renders all difficult matters manageable and bearable. Another may feel neglected and disrespected by those who once held them dear, abandoned by friends, causing them great distress; but if they choose to come here, they will also hear the words of King David: “My loved ones and my friends stand with all distance from my affliction, and my neighbors stand far away. But those who seek my life lay snares, and those who wish to harm me talk of my destruction, plotting against me every day” (Psalm 37:12-13). You see how David’s enemies conspired against him incessantly, declaring a constant war on him—the phrase “every day” indicates this was true throughout his life. What did David do in the face of such scheming? He stated, “But I like a deaf man do not hear, and I am like a mute man who does not open his mouth; I am like a man who hears not, and in whose mouth are no responses” (Psalms 37:14, 15). Do you see the profound power of his wisdom, how he overcame his adversaries through quietude? His foes plotted with their tongues and unleashed their slanders, yet he silenced their fury by shutting his ears to their words. Why did he react this way? At a time when his enemies were pressing against him from all sides, why did he choose to act as if he were deaf and mute? Listen to his own reasoning: “For in You, O Lord, I trust” (Psalms 37:16). He declares that since he has placed all his hope in God, he is not at all disturbed by the actions of his adversaries, for he believes in God’s power to dispel all threats, thwart all plots, and render their designs futile.
Do you perceive that it is possible to find a remedy in the Scriptures for every affliction that befalls humanity, to dispel every sorrow, and to withstand all circumstances? Therefore, I implore you to come here more frequently, attentively listen to the reading of sacred Scripture, and at home, take up the holy books diligently, deriving benefits for your soul from them. The advantages gained from these readings are indeed substantial: first, as you read, your tongue is formed; second, your soul becomes invigorated and uplifted, illuminated by the radiance of Truth and liberated from the contamination of wicked thoughts, thus enjoying profound peace and quietness. Just as bodily nourishment is essential for the maintenance of our strength, so too is the reading of Scripture vital for the soul. It serves as spiritual sustenance that fortifies the mind, rendering the soul strong, steadfast, and wise, preventing it from being swayed by irrational desires, and instead elevating it, so to speak, to the heights of heaven. Let us not neglect such opportunities for nourishment; both at home and within these walls, let us engage in the attentive reading of sacred Scripture. When we gather here, let us avoid trivial and idle chatter, focusing our attention on what we have come for, and listening to the readings so that we may depart with some benefit. If you arrive yet spend your time in meaningless conversations and return home empty of gain, what purpose does your coming serve? Consider the irony: while those who visit the marketplace of the world strive to procure all that they can, even at a cost, how strange that those who come to this spiritual marketplace scarcely make an effort to bring home anything useful for their souls, especially when no monetary cost is required—only diligence and readiness of heart? Therefore, let us not be less discerning than those who shop in worldly markets. Rather, let us show great care and diligence to leave with a storehouse not only for ourselves but also to share with others—to instruct our spouses, our servants, our neighbors, our friends, and even our adversaries. Such spiritual instruction is universally available to all, offering equal access unless one surpasses their neighbor in earnest attention and fervent zeal. If indeed there is great benefit to be gleaned from the teaching shared here, let us examine today’s reading and learn from it as we return to our homes. “Noah began,” states Scripture, “to cultivate the ground, and he planted a vineyard; and he drank of the wine and became intoxicated.” Observe the insight we may gain even from the beginning of this narration. When we hear that a righteous and blameless man, who had received a divine testimony, drank wine and fell into drunkenness, how can we—who are mired in so many and diverse sins—not strive earnestly to avoid such harmful inebriation? For it is not the same transgression that this righteous man succumbed to, and for us to fall into the same. There are numerous circumstances that would render him worthy of understanding. I mention this not to defend drunkenness, but to clarify that the righteous man fell not due to a lack of self-restraint but out of ignorance. He did not arrive hastily at the use of wine; as the Scripture indicates, “Noah began to cultivate the ground, and he planted a vineyard; and he drank wine and became intoxicated.” The very use of the word “began” suggests that he initiated the practice of wine-drinking without knowing its proper measure or temperance.
We can also consider that in a time of great sorrow, he sought solace in this drink, as the wise one observes: “Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those of heavy hearts” (Proverbs 31:6). This shows that nothing can provide as helpful a remedy against sorrow as the appropriate use of wine, as long as moderation is maintained. Moreover, who could argue against Noah experiencing sorrow and despondency? He witnessed a vast wilderness before him, staring at the remains of human life, animals, and the earth turned into a common grave for all—this is undeniable. The saints and all righteous individuals mourn not only for their close companions but also for the loss of others. Those who remember will know that they have manifested such compassion. Hear Isaiah, saying, “Do not labour to comfort me concerning the ruin of the daughter of my people” (Isaiah 22:4), and Jeremiah lamenting, “Oh, that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears” (Jer. 9:1); Ezekiel, wondering, “O Lord God, will You destroy all the remnant of Israel?” (Ezek. 9:8); Daniel mourning, “You have made us a reproach among all the nations”; Amos declaring, “And the Lord repented of it” (Am. 7:3); Habakkuk asking, “Why do You let me see iniquity and look upon trouble?”; and he also questions, “And leave men as fish in the sea?” (Abb. 1:3, 14); lastly, Moses requesting, “Forgive their sin, and if not, blot me out of Your book” (Ex. 32:32), even when God offered to make him the head of a great nation and said, “Leave Me, that I may destroy this people and create a new nation through you” (Ex. 32:10), he refused, choosing instead to remain the leader of the Israelites. Similarly, the esteemed Paul proclaims, “I wish I could wish myself accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Rom. 9:3).
Do you see how each righteous individual expressed immense compassion for their neighbors? Consider the circumstances of this righteous man, Noah, and assess the profound grief and distress he must have endured while surveying the vast desolation around him, recognizing how the earth, once rich with flora and adorned with beauty, was rendered stripped bare and forsaken. Thus, in the depth of his sorrow, he sought comfort in the cultivation of the soil, as Scripture conveys, “Noah began to cultivate the ground, and he planted a vineyard.” At this point, it is pertinent to ask: did he invent this plant (the grape) or was it created from the outset? We must believe it was established in the very beginning, on the sixth day, when “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31), for it is stated that “God rested on the seventh day from all work which He had done” (Gen. 2:2); yet, the application of this plant had been unknown until now. Had mankind been acquainted with this plant and its fruit from the start, Abel, too, would have offered wine in his sacrifices. However, since the use of this fruit was not known then, it was unutilized. Thus, Noah, having devoted himself with great diligence to agriculture, might have tasted the grapes, pressed the bunches, and made wine, but lacking previous experience or examples, he could not discern the appropriate amount to consume and became intoxicated through ignorance.