Homilies on the Gospel of John

“Master, when did You come here?”

2. Unless any one affirm that the “when” is here used by them in the sense of “how.” But it is worth while also to notice here the fickleness of their impulses For they who said, “This is that Prophet”; they who were anxious to “take Him and make Him a king,” now when they have found Him take no such counsel, but having cast out their astonishment, they no longer admire Him for His former deeds. They sought Him, desiring again to enjoy a table like the first.

The Jews under the guidance of Moses passed over the Red Sea, but that case is widely different from this. He did all with prayer and as a servant, but Christ with absolute power. There when the south wind blew, the water yielded so as to make them pass over on dry land, but here the miracle was greater. For the sea retaining its proper nature so bare its Lord upon its surface, thus testifying to the Scripture which says, “Who walks upon the sea as upon a pavement.”

And with reason, when He was about to enter into stubborn and disobedient Capernaum, did He work the miracle of the loaves, as desiring not only by what took place within, but also by the miracles which were wrought without the city, to soften its disobedience. For was it not enough to soften even any stone, that such multitudes should come with great eagerness to that city? Yet they had no such feeling, but again desired food for the body; for which also they are reproached by Jesus.

Let us then, beloved, knowing these things, give thanks to God for things of sense, but much more for things spiritual; for such is His will, and it is on account of the latter that He gives the former, leading in, as it were, by these the more imperfect sort, and giving them previous teaching, because they are yet gaping upon the world. But when such persons having received these worldly things, rest in them, then are they upbraided and rebuked. For in the case of him that had the palsy, Christ wished first to give that which was spiritual, but they that were present endured it not; for when He said, “Your sins be forgiven you,” they exclaimed, “This man blasphemes.” Let us not, I entreat you, be so affected, but let us make more account of those (spiritual) things. Wherefore? Because when spiritual things are present with us, no harm arises from the absence of fleshly things; but when they are not, what hope, what comfort, shall then remain to us? Wherefore it is for these we ought always to call upon God, and entreat Him for them. And for such has Christ also taught us to pray; for if we unfold that Prayer, we shall find that there is nothing carnal in it, but all spiritual, and that even the small portion which seems to relate to sense, becomes by the manner spiritual. For to bid us ask no more than our “successive,” that is, our “daily,” bread, would mark a mind spiritual and truly wise. And consider what goes before that, “Hallowed be Your Name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done as in heaven so on earth”; then, after naming that temporal (need), He quickly leaves it, and brings us again to the spiritual doctrine, saying, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Nowhere has He put in the Prayer riches or glory or dominion, but all things contributing to the benefit of the soul; nothing earthly, but all things heavenly. If then we are bidden to refrain from the things of this present life, how could we help being wretched and miserable, asking from God those things which even having He bids us cast away, to free us from care about them, and for which He bids us take no pains. This is the “using vain repetition”; and this is why we effect nothing by our prayers. “How then,” says some one, “do the wicked grow rich, how the unjust and impure, plunderers and covetous?” Not by God's giving; (away with the thought!) but by plundering, and taking more than their due. “And how does God allow them?” As He allowed that rich man, reserving him for greater punishment. Hear what (Abraham) says to him; “Son, thou in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted, and you are tormented.” Therefore that we also come not to hear that voice, by living softly and idly, and gathering together for ourselves many sins, let us choose the true riches and right wisdom, that we may obtain the promised good things; to which may we all arrive, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom and with whom, to the Father and the Holy Ghost, be glory, now and ever and world without end. Amen.