He who has chosen the eremitical life ought to regard all things in
this world as strange and as the cross of Christ, denying all things,
‘even his own life also,’ (Luke 14.26). He ought to have his mind
focused on the love of Christ and prefer the Lord to parents, brother,
wife, children, friends, possessions. This the Lord taught, saying:
‘Everyone that has not left father or mother or brothers or wife or
children or lands and does not follow me, is not worthy of me’ (Matthew
10.37). In nothing else is there found salvation for men and rest as we
have heard.
How many kings have appeared from Adam’s race, possessing dominion
over all the earth, thinking great things because of their kingly power!
And yet none of them, for all that they had in their favour, had the
power to know the evil which had infiltrated the soul because of the
first man’s transgression and had darkened it. They did not know the
change that had come over the mind that at first was pure and
contemplated the Master and was held in honor. And now on account of its
fall the mind is clothed with shame and the eyes of the heart are
blinded so as not to see that glory which our father Adam before his
disobedience beheld.
There have been diverse wise men according to the world, among whom
some were noted for their ability in philosophy, others have been
admired for their sophistic abilities, others for their oratorical
skill, still others were men of letters and poets and composed summary
histories. There also were various artisans who practiced the arts
according to the world. Some carved in wood types of birds and fishes
and images of men and in those they diligently sought to display their
talent. Some fashioned by hand bronze statues similar to real humans and
other things. Others build mighty and very beautiful buildings. Others
dug out of the earth silver and gold that perish; others sought precious
stones. Others possessed beauty of body and were pleased with their
comeliness, and, all the more enticed by Satan, they fell into sin. And
all of these artisans, being captured by the serpent dwelling within
them and, not knowing the sin that abode in them, became slaves of the
power of evil. They profited nothing from their knowledge and art.
Therefore, the world, filled with every variety, is likened to a rich
man who possesses splendid and big houses, gold and silver and various
possessions and all kind of service in abundance. But he is still
seriously laden with sicknesses and afflictions and his whole family
stands around, with all his riches, and is unable to relieve him of his
infirmity. Thus no pursuit in this life, no brothers, no wealth, no
courage, none of all the things mentioned above relieve man of sin, man
who has been submerged in sin and cannot see things clearly. Only the
presence of Christ can purify soul and body. Therefore, let us put aside
every care of this life, and, crying out to the Lord night and day, let
us devote ourselves to Him. This visible world and the rest found in it
seem to comfort the body, but they aggravate all the more the passions
of the soul and increase its suffering.
A certain prudent man desired to apply himself diligently. He strove
with care to gain experience of all the things of this world, if he
might be able to find some profit from them. He went to kings,
potentates, rulers, and found no healing cure there to help his soul.
And after spending much time with them, he found no improvement. He went
again to the wise men of this world and the orators. He left them again
in the same way, not having found any help. He toured the rounds of
painters and those who mine gold and silver from the earth, and all the
artisans, and he was unable to find any healing for his own wounds.
Finally, having left them, he sought God for himself, the One who heals
the sufferings and sicknesses of the soul. But as he was pondering about
himself and meditated on these things, his mind was found wandering
distractedly among those things from which he had visibly withdrawn out
of hatred for them.
Take the example of a certain woman in the world who is rich with
much money and a magnificent house, but she lacks any protection. And
those who attack her to injure her and lay her buildings to waste are
many. She, refusing the injury, goes out to seek a powerful husband,
capable and educated in all respects. And after much struggle she finds
such a man. She rejoices in him and has him as a strong wall. In the
same way, the soul after transgression, and for a long time having been
afflicted by the adverse power and having fallen into great devastation,
‘a widow and desolate’ (1 Timothy 5.5), was deserted by her heavenly
Husband because of disobedience of the commandment. She was made fun of
by all the opposing powers (for they drove her out of her mind and
confused her in her heavenly knowledge), so she does not see what they
have done to her, but only things she was born like this from the
beginning. Then, after she had learned through hearing of her solitude
and barrenness, she deplored her desolation before God, the Lover of
mankind, and found life and salvation. Why? Because she went back to her
family. For there is no other family tie and helpfulness like that
between the soul and God and between God and the soul.
God made various kinds of birds. Some to fashion their nests in the
earth and there to have their nourishment and rest. Others he ordained
to build their nests under water and there to have life. He fashioned
two worlds: one above for the ‘ministering spirits’ (Hebrews 1.14), and
he arranged it that they have their communication there; the other world
is below for men under this atmosphere. He created also sky and earth,
sun and moon, waters, fruit-bearing trees, all kinds of animals. But in
none of these did God rest. All creation is ruled by Him, and still He
did not establish His throne in them nor did He enter into fellowship
with them. But it was only with man that He was pleased, fellowshipping
and resting in him. Do you see the relationship of God to man and of man
to God? Therefore, the wise and prudent person, after passing through
all creatures, took no rest in himself, but only in the Lord. And the
Lord was well pleased in nothing except man alone.
If you raise your eyes to the sun, you find its orb in the sky, but
its light and rays stretch to the earth and all the power of its light
and its splendor is aimed at the earth. So also the Lord sits at the
right hand of the Father ‘above all principality and power’ (Ephesians
1.21), but He casts His eye on the hearts of men on earth, in order that
He may raise up to where He is those who accept help from Him. For this
reason He says: ‘Where I am, there shall my servant also be’ (John
12.20). And again Paul says: ‘He has raised us up together with Him and
made us sit together with Him at His right hand in heavenly places’
(Ephesians 2.6). Irrational animals are much more consistent than we.
For they are all joined, each to its own nature, the wild animals to the
wild and sheep to their own species. But you do not rise up toward your
heavenly family with is the Lord, but you give yourself over and
consent in your thoughts to the thoughts of evil. You make yourself a
helper of sin and you wage war with it against yourself. Thus you make
yourself a prey for the enemy, like a bird caught by the eagle and eaten
up, or the sheep by the wolf, or an ignorant child that would be bitten
by it and would be infected. For the parables act as models in the
spiritual life.
As a wealthy maiden, espoused to a fiancé, may receive no matter how
many gifts before the consummation, either ornaments or clothing or
precious vessels, she is not satisfied with these until the time of the
marriage arrives and she arrives at full communion, so the soul,
betrothed as bride to the heavenly Bridegroom, receives as pledge from
the Spirit gifts of healing or of knowledge or of revelation. But it is
not satisfied with these until it reaches the perfect communion, that
is, of love, which is unchangeable and unfailing. It makes those free
from passion and agitation who have desired it. Or as an infant, decked
out with pearls and costly clothing, when it is hungry, thinks nothing
of the things it wears, but ignores them. It cares only for the breast
of its nurse, how it may receive milk. So likewise consider it to be
with the spiritual gifts of God to whom be glory forever. Amen.
St Macarius the Great. Homily 45
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