On the back of our Parish Bulletin today was one in a series of "Reflections from the Fathers of the Church." Certain of their homilies are chosen for instruction and enlightenment.
Today St. John Chrysostom was featured. He was Patriarch of Constantinople and received the surname "Chrysostom" (golden-mouth) because of his eloquence and because he was the most prolific writer of the Greek Church. He was persecuted by the empress Eudoxia and died in exile in 407 A.D.
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That you may learn of the penalties attached to words, listen to what Christ says: But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgement. For by thy words thou shalt be justified; and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (Matt. 12:36, 37). Not alone shall we render an account of our own words, but also of those we hear; as should you accept a false accusation criminally made against a brother: Thou shalt not receive the word of a lie (Ex. 23:1).
And if they who receive a lying report will not receive pardon, what excuse will slanderers and betrayers have?
And why speak of words and of things heard when we must also render an account of our very thoughts? Paul himself declaring this says: Therefore judge not before time; until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the heart (1 Cor. 4:15). And the singer of the Psalms says: For the thought of man shall give praise to Thee (Ps. 75:11). What does this mean, the thought of man shall give praise to Thee? It is as when you speak with guile and with an evil mind to a brother; praising him with the mouth and tongue, while in your mind you think evil of him and envy him. And Christ, implying this truth, declares that we shall be punished, not only for our deeds, but also for our thoughts: Whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her hath already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matt. 5:28). And this sin has not burst into act, but is so far in the mind only. But not for long can he remain blameless, who so looks upon the shape of a woman that the desire of fornication arises within him.
When therefore you hear that the Lord would take an account of His servants, do not lightly pass over these words, but understand them as spoken of every degree of mankind, of every age, of every nature, of men and women. Think of the majesty of the judgement seat. Think upon all the sins you have committed. For though you may have forgotten what you have done, God will never forget, and shall bring them before our eyes, unless we now in this present time make peace with Him through repentance and full confession of our sins and the wiping away of all of our offences against God.
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And that concludes the sermon for this Sunday. Century after century, from BC to AD, mankind has the same faults and failings and needs to be reminded. This fourth century servant of God could be speaking today.
11/6/11
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