It is not at
all easy for one to find the highest of all the virtues and to give it
the first place and reward, as precisely it is not easy for one to find
in a fully blossoming and fragrant field the most beautiful and fragrant
flower, as sometimes the one and sometimes the other draws his
attention and causes him to cut the first. So thus, I think that good
virtues are faith, hope and love. And witnesses of faith are Abraham,
who was justified by his faith. Witnesses of hope are Enoch who first
supported his hope in the invocation of the Lord, and all the righteous
ones, who suffer hardships in the hope of salvation. Witnesses of love,
finally, are the Apostle Paul, who reached the point of praying for his
own perdition for the sake of his brother Israelites, and God himself,
who is named love (1 Jn. 4:8).
Hospitality
is good. And witnesses of this are of the righteous Lot, the Sodomite in
residence but not a Sodomite in conduct, and of the sinners Rahab, the
prostitute in body not prostitute in disposition, who was praised and
saved by hospitality (Joshua of Nun 2:1-21).
Longsuffering
is good. And witnesses of this are Christ himself, who did not want to
use the legions of His angels against His torturers and not only scolded
Peter, when he drew his sword, but also the ear, which he had cut, He
placed again in its place. Stephen, the disciple of Christ did the same
thing later on, who was praying for those who were stoning him.
Meekness is
good. And witnesses of this are Moses and David, who above all as meek
were witnessed by the Scripture, as also their Teacher, the God-man
(Theanthropos) Jesus, who neither argued nor cried out nor shouted in
the squares nor resisted those who had captured Him.
Prayer and vigil are good. And a witness of this is the Lord, who before His passion kept vigil and prayed.
Good are
purity and virginity. And witnesses of this are both Paul, who
instituted them, rewarding justly both marriage and celibacy, as well as
Jesus himself, who was born of a Virgin, to honor birth but to prefer
virginity.
Good is
humble-mindedness. And witnesses of this are many, with the main one
again being the Saviour and Lord of all, who was humbled, not only
taking on the form of a servant, handing over His face to shame and to
the spitting and numbering Himself with the transgressors. He, who
cleanses the world of sin, but also washes the feet of His disciples
like a servant. Good is non possessiveness and the scorn of money. And
witnesses of this are both Zacchaeus, who, as soon as Christ entered his
home, distributed almost all his belongings, as well as the Lord
Himself again, who, speaking to that rich youth, limited perfection in
precisely this thing (Matt. 19:21).
In short,
good are vision, good is also action. Vision because it elevates us from
the earthly things and leads to the holy of holies and brings back the
mind to its original natural condition, and action because it welcomes
Christ, serves Him and proves love with the works. Every virtue is also a
path which leads to salvation, to one of the eternal and blessed
places. Because, as there are many ways of life, thus there also exist
many places near God, which are separated and distributed analogous with
each one’s action. And let one exercise the one virtue, another the
other, another many together and another all of them, if of course this
is possible. So long as one proceeds and strives for the highest,
following step by step Him who leads him well and guides him and places
him, from within the narrow path and gate, to the vast heavenly
blessedness.
And
if Paul, who also follows Christ, considers love as the first and
greatest commandment, as the summary of the law and of the prophets, its
better portion I consider to be love for the poor and, in general,
compassion and kindness to fellow humans. Because, nothing else pleases
God so much and nothing else is as beloved to Him as compassion. She,
together with the truth, goes before Him and she must be offered to Him
before the Judgment. But also in nothing else is given as recompense by
Him, who judges with righteousness and weighs with precision the
compassion, as in philanthropy, philanthropy. So to all the poor and to
those who for whatsoever reason suffer hardship, we ought to show
compassion, according to the commandment: “Partake in the joy of whoever
rejoices and in the sadness of whoever is sad” (Rom. 12:15). And we
ought to offer to people, as we are also people, the expression of our
kindness, when they need it, beaten by some misfortune, for example
widowhood or orphanhood or being in a foreign land or harsh bosses or
unjust rulers or uncompassionate tax collectors, or murderous thieves or
insatiable thieves or the taking away of estates or shipwreck. All are
worthy of pity. Everyone sees our hands, as we see God’s hands.
So what will
we do, who have been honoured with the great name “Christians” and we
comprise the chosen and distinct people who ought to be occupied with
good and saving works? What will we disciples of the meek and
philanthropic Jesus do, who carried our sins, humbled, taking on our
human nature, and he became poor, for us to become rich with divinity?
What will we do having before us such a great model of compassion and
kindness? Will we overlook our fellow men? Will we scorn them? Will we
abandon them? Everything else, my brethren. These don’t suit us, who are
nurtured by Christ the good Shepherd, who brings back
the wandering sheep and searches to find the lost one and supports the
weak one. But they don’t suit neither our human nature, which imposes
kindness, since from its weakness itself it learned piety and
philanthropy. Why, with all these things, don’t we help our fellow men,
while it is still time? Why do we live in enjoyment, whereas our
brethren in misfortune? Let me never become rich, if they are deprived!
Let me not have health, if I don’t put balsam on their wounds! Let me
never become filled, let me never get dressed, let me never be calm in a
home, if I don’t give them bread and clothing, as much as I can, and if
I don’t give them rest in my home.
Let us
entrust all in Christ, to follow Him truly, carrying His cross, for us
to ascend to the heavenly world lightly and comfortably, without
anything pulling us downwards, and for us to gain in the place of all
these Christ, lifted up thanks to our humility and enriched thanks to
our poverty. Or, at least, let us share with Christ our belongings, for
them to be sanctified somewhat with their correct possession and the
offering of a portion of them to the poor.
Won’t we
recover, even if late? Won’t we defeat our senselessness, so that I
don’t say our stinginess? Won’t we think as humans? Won’t we put
mentally in the place of foreign misfortunes our possible misfortunes?
Because, truly, none of the human things are certain, nothing is firm,
nothing is independent of other factors, and nothing is based on
unchangeable presuppositions. Our life turns in a circle, a circle,
which brings many changes, often in one day, sometimes in one hour. It
is more certain for one to entrust the wind, which moves ceaselessly, it
is safer for one to entrust the line, which a seafaring ship leaves on
the waters, it is more certain for one to entrust the deceptive dreams
of one night, whose enjoyment lasts so little, it is more certain for
one to entrust whatever the children trace on the sand, when they play
than human happiness.
So they are
prudent, who, not having trust in the present things, strive to secure
themselves for the future. Because human prosperity is unstable and
changing, they love kindness, which is not lost, to gain at least the
one of the three: Either the compassion of God, who always benefactors
in heaven the pious people for their earthly good works. Or boldness
before God because they suffered hardship not for some evil, but for
some good purpose. Or, finally, God’s philanthropy, as they first showed
philanthropy to the poor, benefiting smartly.
Let the wise
person not boast of his wisdom, says the Lord, nor the mighty person
for his might. Nor he rich person for his wealth” (Jer.9:23), even if
they have reached the highest point of wisdom, might, or wealth. I,
though, will add those things also which follow: neither the notable
person for his glory nor the strong person for his health nor the
handsome person for his beauty nor the young person for his youth nor,
in short, no one else for whatsoever else of what is praised in this
world and causes pride. But, whoever boasts, only for this let him
boast, in that he knows and seeks God, he suffers together with those
who are suffering and entrusts his hopes for good things in the future.
Because the present goods are passing and temporal. They constantly move
and go from the one to the other, like the soccer ball. And there is
nothing more certain for the person who possesses them, than that he
will lose them in time or out of envy. On the contrary, the future goods
are firm and permanent. They are never lost, they never go from the one
to the other, they never betray the hopes of whoever trusts in them.
“Who is
wise, to understand these things?” (Hos.14:10). Who will be indifferent
of ephemeral things and will pay attention to the permanent things? Who
will ponder that the present things will pass? Who will consider that
the awaited things will remain? Who will distinguish the real from the
seeming ones, to follow the former and scorn the latter? Who will
distinguish earthly residence from the heavenly lifestyle, the
sojourning dwelling from the habitation, the darkness from the light,
the mud of the depth from the holy lands, the flesh from the spirit, God
from the ruler of the world devil, the shadow of death from eternal
life? Who will expiate with the present things the future things, with
the corrupt wealth the incorrupt wealth, with the visible the invisible
things? So blessed is he who distinguishes these things, separates with
the sword of the Word the better from the worse, is elevated with his
heart, as the sacred David says somewhere
(Psalm 83:6), he leaves with all his strength far from this valley of
pain, pursues the goods which are in heaven, is crucified for the world
together with Christ, is resurrected together with Christ, ascends to
the heavenly habitations together with Christ and becomes an inheritor
of true life, which is never altered any more.
Let us
follow the Word, let us strive for the heavenly enjoyment, let us be
delivered from the earthly estate. Let us hold from the earthly things
only whatever is good, let us save our souls with charities, let us give
of our belongings to the poor, to become rich in eternal goods. Give
something to the soul also, not to the flesh only. Give something to God
also, not to the world only. Take something from the belly and give it
to the spirit. Take something from the fire, which burns up the earthly
things, and take it away from the flame. Grab something from the tyrant
and entrust it to the Lord. Give a little to Him, who has offered you
the much. Give all of them even to Him who has granted you everything.
You will never surpass the generosity of God, even if you give all your
belongings, even if you add to these even your own self. Because even
the offering of your own self to God is equal with obtaining. No matter
how many things you offer, those which remain are more. And you will not
give something your own, because you have taken everything from God.
Let us not
become, my beloved friends and brethren, evil stewards of the goods
which were given us. Let us not strive to treasure and store up things,
while others are suffering from hunger. Let us imitate the highest and
chief law of God, who sends rain to the just and the unjust and dawns
the sun also for everyone. He made the
land spacious for all the land animals, He created springs, rivers,
forests, air for the birds and waters for the animals which live in the
sea, and He gave to all the beings the necessary elements for their
life, without limiting them in any authority, without any written law
defining them, without borders preventing them. And these elements He
gave them common and richly, without distinguishing and being cut off,
honoring the similarity of nature with the equality of the gift and
showing the wealth of His goodness. People however once they took out
from land gold, silver and the precious stones, once they made soft
clothes and superfluous and once they obtained other similar things,
which comprise causes of wars and revolutions and tyrannical states,
were overcome by irrational haughtiness. Thus, they don’t show
compassion to their unfortunate fellow humans and don’t want even with
their excess to give the necessary things to the others. What vulgarity!
What harshness! They don’t think, if not anything else, that poverty
and wealth, freedom and slavery and the other similar things appeared in
the human race after the fall of the first created beings, like
illnesses which appear together with the evil and which are its own
inventions. Initially however, things did not happen thus, says the
Scripture (Matt. 19:8), but He who created man in the beginning, left
him free, with free will restrained only from the law of the command –
and rich in the paradise of delight. This freedom and this wealth God
wanted to grant -and granted- through the first man, and to the
remaining human race. Freedom and wealth were only the keeping of the
commandment. True poverty and slavery were its transgression. So after
the transgression envies and arguments and the sly tyranny of the devil
appeared, which sways everything with the gluttony of pleasure and stirs
up the more daring people against the weaker ones. After the
transgression, the human race was separated into various races with
various names and avarice cut up the nobility of nature, after it also
took the law as its helper. You however look at the original unity and
equality, not the final division. Not the law which prevailed, but the
law of the Creator. Help, as much as you can, nature, honor the former
freedom, show respect to yourself, cover the dishonour of your race,
assist in illness, help in one’s need.
Let
the healthy person console the sick person, the rich person, the poor
person, the upright person the fallen person, the joyous person the sad
one, the happy one the unfortunate one. Give something to God as a
pleasant gift, for that you are one of those who can benefactor and not
one of those who has need to be benefacted, for that you are not
awaiting help from the hands of others, but of your own hands others are
awaiting help. Become rich not
only in estate, but also in piety, not only in gold, but also in virtue,
or rather only in virtue. Become more honourable than the neighbour by
showing more kindness. Become a god for the unfortunate person by
imitating God’s compassion. Give something, even slight, to him who has
need. Because even the slightest thing is not unimportant for the person
who is deprived of everything, but neither also
for God, since it is analogous with your capabilities. Instead of a
great offering, give your eagerness. And if you don’t have anything,
shed tears. Kindness with one’s whole soul is a great medicine for him
who is in misfortune. True compassion comforts very much in one’s
misfortune. Man doesn’t have less value, than the animal, who, if he is
lost or falls in a pit, the law commands you to lift it up and to gather
it up (Deut. 22:1-4). How much compassion, consequently, ought we to
show to our fellow man, when furthermore even with the irrational
animals we ought to be kind? “The Scripture says “Whoever gives charity
to a poor person lends to God” (Prov. 19:17). Who won’t accept such a
debtor, who, aside from the loan, will also give interest, when the time
comes? And elsewhere again he says: “With the charities and with
honesty sins are cleansed” (Prov.15:27a).
So
let us cleanse ourselves with charity, let us wash with the good herb
the filth and our stains, let us become white, others like cotton and
others like snow, each one analogous with his compassion. “Blessed”, he
says, “whoever shows mercy to others, because God will show them His
mercy” (Matt. 5:7). Mercy is underlined in the beatitudes. And
elsewhere: “Blessed is he who has compassion on the poor 8 and the
deprived person” (Psalm 40:2). And: “A good person is he who has
compassion on others and lends to them” (Psalm 111:5). And: “The
righteous person always gives charity and lends” (Psalm 36:26). Let us
grab the beatitude, let us understand it, let us respond to its calling,
let us become good people. Neither let night interrupt your charity.
“Don’t say, “Leave now and come again tomorrow for me to give you help”
(Prov. 3:28), because from today to tomorrow something may happen, which
will put to naught the benefaction. Philanthropy is the only thing
which doesn’t take a delay. “Distribute your bread to those who are
hungry and put in your home the
poor, who don’t have a roof” (Is. 58:7). And do these things with
eagerness “Whoever gives charity”, says the apostle, “let us do it with
pleasure and sweetness” (Rom. 12:8). With eagerness, your good is
considered as double. The charity which happens with distress or by
force is ungraceful and tasteless. We should celebrate and not mourn,
when we do kindnesses. Maybe you think that philanthropy is not
necessary, but voluntary? Maybe you think that it does not comprise a
law, but a counsel and urging? I would very much like it if it were
thus. And thus I thought of it. But whatever the Scripture says about
those who, on the day of Judgment, the Just Judge will place on His
left, as a habitation, and He condemns them, scares me (Matt. 25:31-46).
They are not condemned because they stole or robbed or were lewd or did
whatsoever else of whatever God forbids, but because they didn’t show
care for Christ through the unfortunate man.
So while it
is time let us visit Christ, let us take care of Him, let us feed Him,
let us dress Him, let us gather Him in, let us honor Him. Not only with
a meal, like some, not only with myrrh, like Maria, not only with the
tomb, like Joseph of Arimathea, not only with burial, like the
Christ-loving Nicodemus, not only with gold, incense and myrrh, like the
Magi earlier on. But because the Lord of all wants mercy and not
sacrifice and because compassion is better than the sacrifice of myriads
of well fed lambs, let us offer Him through those who have need,
through those who are today in a harsh position, so that they welcome us
in the heavenly kingdom, when we leave from this world and go near our
Lord, Christ, to whom is due glory unto the ages. Amen.
St. Gregory the Theologian
