We are brothers by nature, but still more brothers according to the spiritual life. We have been born by one grace of the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus from one maternal womb, the holy font. We have been given to drink of the same waters of gracious gifts from one source, Chrismation.
We are washed in one bath, in the tearful waters of the Mystery of Repentance. We are fed with one incorruptible food from one Table, the Mystery of the most pure Body and Blood of the Lord.
Those in whom all this is truly and powerfully accomplished hold themselves in the feelings of the heart as brothers, without special prescriptions and reminders. And yet the Apostle reminds us.
For in life, the continuous flow of varied circumstances, and around the heart, even in the regenerate, an intrusive swarm of alien movements, cloud the bright face of brotherly love and disfigure its features.
The Apostle scatters this cloud, saying firmly to each of us: look, you are brothers. Therefore relate to one another as blood brothers relate.
“Have fervent love toward one another, and an affection fitting for brothers” (blessed Theodoret).
“You are brothers. You have come from one womb, that is, the baptismal font, as Theophylact has it. Therefore by this very fact you are already bound to love one another. Love in you must be not only unfeigned, but strong, ardent, and fiery.
“What benefit is there if you love sincerely, yet without warmth? Therefore the Apostle said: be kindly affectionate to one another, φιλόστοργοι, that is, love ardently. Do not wait for another to show love toward you. Run to him yourself and begin first. Then you will gain a reward also for his love” (St. Chrysostom).
“In honor preferring one another.” Προηγούμενοι αλλήλους means preferring one another, setting the other above oneself, as more worthy, more perfect, more honorable. It means always holding, in relation to others, the lowest and humblest place.
“Having shown the reason why we are bound to love one another, the Apostle explains how our love may become unshakable. Therefore he adds: ‘in honor preferring one another.’ For through this love is born and maintained.
“Nothing gains us friends so much as the effort to surpass our neighbor in courtesy. From this not only love grows, but also honor. As love comes from honor, so likewise honor comes from love” (St. Chrysostom).
There are great Christians who know how to honor everyone above themselves, even despite the manifest shortcomings of some. They do this not merely in appearance, but in the feeling of the heart. Such is the grace of God in them.
There is nothing astonishing in giving honor to perfection. But to prefer someone less perfect, or even one who has manifest shortcomings and dishonorable vices, passes beyond the natural order and is the direct work of God’s grace.
The grace of God does not accomplish such a high disposition all at once. Habit and self-compulsion, with resistance to oneself, are necessary.
At the very beginning of the life of grace there is laid the feeling of contrition and self-abasing humility. As life grows, this feeling also grows. But the more it deepens, the higher all others become in the eyes of the one who advances.
He sees in them the image of God, Christ the Lord dwelling in them, and above their head the crown of the Kingdom prepared for them. Their shortcomings and falls, in his thought, are a step forward, as with the Apostle Peter.
Today they have fallen a little behind. Tomorrow they will overtake everyone, for God is able to grant them this. Great wisdom here is always to keep the countenance of every neighbor unstained, or only accidentally splashed. The experiences of life will teach everything to one who desires and is zealous for perfection.
THEOSIS