Sunday of the Last Judgement - Meatfare Sunday

[Грешник]

The Meeting of Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ

VESPERS

Exodus 12:51-13:3, 10-12, 14-16; 22:29; Leviticus 12:1-4, 6-8; Numbers 8:16-17

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 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year. And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD's. And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem. And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt. Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean. For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me. For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.

Isaiah 6:1-12

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 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

Isaiah 19:1-5, 12, 16, 19-21

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 The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts. And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up. Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it. In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it.

MATINS

Luke 2:25-32

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 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

LITURGY

Hebrews 7:7-17

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 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Luke 2:22-40

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 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

For Meat-fare Sunday

MATINS (II)

Mark 16:1-8

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 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

LITURGY

1 Corinthians 8:8-9:2

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 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your's become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

Matthew 25:31-46

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 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

[Mary Kissel]

Commentaries for Meatfare Sunday:

Matins:

Luke 2:25-32

2:28 Saint Epharim the Syrian: "Symeon, the priest, when he took Him up in his arms to present Him before God, understood as he saw Him that he was not presenting Him, but was being himself presented. For the Son was not presented by the servant to His Father, but the servant was presented by the Son to his Lord. For it is not possible that He, by Whom every offering is presented, should be presented by another. So that He Who receives offerings gave Himself to be offered by another, that those who presented Him, might themselves be presented by Him." [Homily on Our Lord, in Nicene, § 48, 2nd Ser., XIII:327.] (Ibid.)

2:29 Saint Epharim: "He who was priest said and testified that he was offered as an offering, that from the midst of the perishing world he should go and be stored up in the treasure house which is kept safe." [Ib.] (Ibid.)

2:32 Saint Kyril: "Christ therefore became the Gentiles' light for revelation, but also for the glory of Israel. For even granting that some of them proved insolent, and disobedient, and with minds void of understanding, yet is there a remnant saved, and admitted unto glory through Christ. And the firstfruits of these were the disciples, the brightness of whose renown lightens the whole world. And in another sense Christ is the glory of Israel, for He came of them according to the flesh, though He be God over all." [Hom. 4 Commentary, Ch. 2, 60, 61.] (Ibid.)

Liturgy:

Luke 2:22-40

2:22 Saint Bede: "Now the law commanded that a woman who had conceived and brought forth a male child shall be unclean for seven days, and on the eighth day the infant was to be circumcised [Lev. 12:2,3]. And for another thirty-three days she was to abstain from entry into the temple [Lev. 12:4] and marital relations, until, on the fortieth day after the birth, she was to bring her son with sacrificial offerings to the temple of the Lord [Lev. 12:6]. The firstborn of all the male sex was to be called holy to the Lord. The Virgin did not receive seed, but even as our Lord willed to be under the law, so that He might redeem us [Gal. 4:4,5], so too did the blessed Mother, who by a singular privilege was above the law, nevertheless she did not shun being made subject to the principles of the law for the sake of showing us an example of humility." ["Homily I.18, Feast of the Purification," Homilies on the Gospels, Bk. One, 179, 180.] (ONT. p. 304)

2:24 Saint Kyril: "What does the turtledove signify? And what, too, the other, the dove? The one is the most noisy of the birds of the birds of the field, but the other is a mild and gentle creature. And such did the Savior of all become towards us, showing the most perfect gentleness, and like a turtledove, moreover, soothing the world, and filling His own vineyard, even us who believe in Him, with the sweet sound of His voice. For it is written in the Song of Songs, 'The voice of the turtledove hath been heard in our land [Song 2:12].' For Christ has spoken to us the divine message of the Gospel, which is for the salvation of the whole world." [Hom. 3, Commentary, Ch. 2, 58.]
Saint Bede: "A pigeon indicates simplicity, and a turtledove indicates chasity, so that if by chance one loses its mate it will not subsequently seek another. Both of the birds are mentioned because they are wont to bring forth a moaning sound in place of a song, which indicates the lamentation of the saints in this world." [Ib., 181, 182.] (Ibid.)

2:28 Saint Epharim the Syrian: "Symeon, the priest, when he took Him up in his arms to present Him before God, understood as he saw Him that he was not presenting Him, but was being himself presented. For the Son was not presented by the servant to His Father, but the servant was presented by the Son to his Lord. For it is not possible that He, by Whom every offering is presented, should be presented by another. So that He Who receives offerings gave Himself to be offered by another, that those who presented Him, might themselves be presented by Him." [Homily on Our Lord, in Nicene, § 48, 2nd Ser., XIII:327.] (Ibid.)

2:29 Saint Epharim: "He who was priest said and testified that he was offered as an offering, that from the midst of the perishing world he should go and be stored up in the treasure house which is kept safe." [Ib.] (Ibid.)

2:32 Saint Kyril: "Christ therefore became the Gentiles' light for revelation, but also for the glory of Israel. For even granting that some of them proved insolent, and disobedient, and with minds void of understanding, yet is there a remnant saved, and admitted unto glory through Christ. And the firstfruits of these were the disciples, the brightness of whose renown lightens the whole world. And in another sense Christ is the glory of Israel, for He came of them according to the flesh, though He be God over all." [Hom. 4 Commentary, Ch. 2, 60, 61.] (Ibid.)

2:34 Saint Kyril: "Emmanuel is set by God the Father for the foundations of Sion, being a stone elect, chief of the corner, and honorable. Those then that trusted in Him were not ashamed; but those who were unbelieving and ignorant, and unable to perceive the mystery regarding Him, fell, and were broken in pieces....Israel did not sanctify Emmanuel Who is Lord and God, nor was she willing to trust in Him, having stumbled as upon a stone because of unbelief and was broken in pieces and fell [Is. 8:14, 28:16]. But many rose again, those, namely, who embraced faith in Him, for they changed from a legal to a spiritual service....Now, by the sign that is spoken against, he means the precious Cross [1Cor. 1:18, 23]." [Ib., 61.] (Ibid., p. 305)

2:35a Saint Bede: "Symeon uses the word 'sword' for the effect of the Lord's Passion and death on the Cross; and this sword will pierce Mary's soul, for she could not without painful sorrow see Him crucified and dying." [Ib., 184.]
Saint Kyril: "He means by the sword the pain which she suffered for Christ, in seeing Him, Whom she brought forth, crucified." [Ib.] (Ibid.)

2:35b Saint Bede: "Before the Lord's Incarnation the thoughts of many were concealed, and it was not fully evident who was on fire with the love of eternal things, and who in his mind preferred temporal things to heavenly goods." [Ib.] (Ibid.)

2:38 Saint Amphilochios: "Who indeed is to be esteemed above others, but she who has attained to the gift of prophecy, who was a vessel of the Holy Spirit, who pointed out the signs of His coming to all who awaited the advent of Christ in the flesh? She acted as a protectress of the Lord, and in His presence spoke in His behalf. O new and unheard thing! She was but a poor widow, uplifting the hearts of those who heard her with fervent hope." [Ib., 5, I:176.]
Saint Bede: "In a mystical sense Anna stands for the Church which, in this present world as it were, is widowed by the death of her Spouse. Even the number of the years of her widowhood designates the time in which the Church, continuing on in the body, sojourns far from her Lord. Seven times twelve makes fourscore and four. And seven relates to the full course of this world, which was wrought in seven days. But twelve belongs to the completeness of the apostolic teachings. Whoever devotes the whole course of life to apostolic labors is praised as serving the Lord for fourscore and four years. The period of seven years during which she lived with her husband is in accord with the time of the Lord's Incarnation....It also favors the mysteries of the Church that Anna is interpreted as the Lord's 'grace', that she is the daughter of Phanuel, who is called 'the face of the Lord,' and descended from the tribe of Aser, that is 'blessed with children [Deut. 33:24].'" [In Luke 2, P.L. 92:347, in Total, I:168.] (Ibid.)

2:40 Saint Kyril: "To say that 'the little Child was growing and showing Himself strong in the spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him,' are things spoken of concerning His humanity....He is said also to have advanced in wisdom, not as receiving added wisdom,...but because God the Logos gradually manifested His wisdom proportionably to the age which the body had attained. The body then advances in stature, and the soul in wisdom; for the divine nature is capable of increase in neither one nor the other, seeing that the Logos of God is all perfect." [Commentary, P.G. 72:136D-137C (cols. 505, 508).] (Ibid., p. 306)

2:42 Saint Bed: "The Lord's coming yearly to Jerusalem for the Passover with His parents is an indication of His condescension. It is characteristic of humans to gather to offer God the votive offerings of spiritual sacrifices....Therefore the Lord, born a human among humans, did what God, by divine inspiration through His angels, prescribed for humans to do. He Himself kept the law which He gave in order to show us,...that whatever God orders is to be observed in everything." ["Homily I.19, After Epiphany," Homilies on the Gospels, Bk. One, 188.] (Ibid.)

Meatfare Matins:

Mk. 16:1-8

16:2 Saint Bede: "After our Lord had been buried on Friday, the women went away from the tomb and prepared spices and ointments for as long as it was permitted them to work. They refrained from activity on the sabbath, in accord with the commandment; but when the sabbath was over, as evening was coming on, the time for working had returned. Being resolute in their devotion, they bought the spices which they had not prepared earlier, so that they might come and annoint Him." ["Hom. II.7 on the Pascha Vigil," Homilies on the Gospels, Bk. Two, 59.]
Saint Gregory Palamas: "They prepared the myrrh and spices and rested on the sabbath according to the commandment. They had not yet experienced the true Sabbath, nor did they yet understand that exceedingly blessed Sabbath that transports us from the confines of Hades to the perfection of the bright and divine heights of heaven." ["Homily on the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women," P.G. 151, 240C.] (ONT. p. 207)

16:5a Saint Gregory the Great: "The women who came with spices saw angels, since those who advance toward God through their holy desires, accompanied by the sweet smell of the virtues, behold the citizens from on high. We should note, however, what it means that they observed the angel seated on the right side. What does the left side mean except this present life, and what does the right side mean except eternal life? Hence it is written: 'His left hand shall be under my head, and His right hand shall embrace me [Song 2:6].' Since our Redeemer had already passed beyond the corruption of the present life, it was right that the angel who had come to proclaim His everlasting life should be seated on the right side." ["Homily 21, The Mystery of the Resurrection, A Sermon for Pascha," Forty Gospel Homilies, 158; P.L. 76 (col. 1169).] (Ibid.)

16:5b Saint Gregory the Great: "The angel appeared clothed in a white robe to proclaim the joy of our festival day, since the whiteness of the garment declared the splendor of the solemnity. Should I say our solemnity and the angel's? To speak truly I must say that it belongs to both. Our Redeemer's resurrection was our festival day because it led us back to immortality, and also a festival day of the angels, because by recalling us to the things of heaven it completed their number. Therefore on our festival day, and theirs, and angel appeared in white garments, because our restoration to the things on high by the Lord's resurrection makes up for the losses of the country of heaven." [Ib., 158, 159.] (Ibid.)

16:7a Saint Gregory the Great: "We ask ourselves: Why did he, speaking of the disciple, single out Peter by name? But, had the angel not referred to him in this way, Peter would never have dared to appear again among the apostles. He is bidden then by name to come, so that he will not despair because of his denial of Christ." ["Sermon 21, The Mystery of the Resurrection," P.L. 76 (col. 1169), in Total, II:243.] (Ibid.)

16:7b Saint Gregory the Great: "Galilee is interpreted, 'the passing has been completed.' In truth our Redeemer had now passed from His Passion to His resurrection, from His death to life, from punishment to glory, from corruption to incorruption. After His resurrection He was first seen by His disciples in Galilee, because we will happily see the glory of His resurrection later if we now pass from vices to the height of virtue." [Ib., 160; Blessed Jerome, Interpretation of Hebrew Names, Corpus Christianorum 72:131,2.] (Ibid.)

16:8 Saint Gregory Palamas: "I am of the opinion that Mary Magdalene and the other women who had come up to that point were still frightened. They did not yet understand the meaning of the angel's powerful words, nor did they contain to the end the power of the light so as to see and understand with great exactitude. But I think that the Mother of God made this great joy her own, since she comprehended the words of the angel. Her whole person radiated from the light, for she was all-pure and full of divine grace. She finally appropriated all these signs as the truth. She believed the Archangel Gabriel, since, previously, he showed himself worthy of trust. The Virgin was an eyewitness to these events; therefore, why should she not comprehend what had occured with divine wisdom? She beheld the earthquake and the great angel descending from the heights like lightning. She held the guards fall as dead men, the rolling away of the huge stone and the empty tomb. She also was an eyewitness to the great miracle concerning her Son's burial garments in that they were kept in place by myrrh and aloes, though they contained no body. Together with all these signs, she beheld the joyous countenance of the angel and heard his joyful message." [P.G. 151, 244AB.] "Some of the women left the tomb frightened and ecstatic without saying anything....Other women followed the Mother of the Lord and because they happened to be with her they saw and heard the Lord too. Now Mary Magdalene had earlier parted their company, hastening to Peter,...but then she reunited with the women." [P.G. 151, 241, 244C.] (Ibid., p. 208.)

[Justin Kissel]

Some information (including Patristics) that was posted last year.

Patristics For…

Matt. 25:31-46
Saint John Chrysostom, Homily 79 on Matthew

Saint Cyprian of Carthage, On Works and Alms, 23

We, too, are first-born sons, who are reared by God, who are the genuine friends of the First-born, who first of all other men attained to the knowledge of God, who first were wrenched away from our sins, first severed from the devil. And now the more benevolent God is, the more impious men are; for He desires us from slaves to become sons, while they scorn to become sons. O the prodigious folly of being ashamed of the Lord! He offers freedom, you flee into bondage; He bestows salvation, you sink down into destruction; He confers everlasting life, you wait for punishment, and prefer the fire which the Lord "has prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt. 25:41, 46) – Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Greeks, 9

Here again arise the cavaliers, who say that joy and pain are passions of the soul: for they define joy as a rational elevation and exultation, as rejoicing on account of what is good; and pity as pain for one who suffers undeservedly; and that such affections are moods and passions of the soul. But we, as would appear, do not cease in such matters to understand the Scriptures carnally; and starting from our own affections, interpret the will of the impassible Deity similarly to our perturbations; and as we are capable of hearing; so, supposing the same to be the case with the Omnipotent, err impiously. For the Divine Being cannot be declared as it exists: but as we who are lettered in the flesh were able to listen, so the prophets spake to us; the Lord savingly accommodating Himself to the weakness of men. Since, then, it is the will of God that he, who is obedient to the commands and repents of his sins should be saved, and we rejoice on account of our salvation, the Lord, speaking by the prophets, appropriated our joy to Himself; as speaking lovingly in the Gospel He says, "I was hungry, and ye gave Me to eat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me to drink. For in as much as ye did it to one of the least of these, ye did it to Me.” (Matt. 25:35, 40) – Clement of Alexandria, Stromata, 2, 16

Luke 2:25-32 (And Luke 2:22-40)
And still further does Luke say in reference to the Lord: "When the days of purification were accomplished, they brought Him up to Jerusalem, to present Him before the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord, That every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord; and that they should offer a sacrifice, as it is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons:" (Luke 2:22) in his own person most clearly calling Him Lord, who appointed the legal dispensation. But "Simeon," he also says, "blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light for the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel." (Luke 2:29) and "Anna" (Luke 2:38) so, "the prophetess," he says, in like manner glorified God when she saw Christ, "and spake of Him to all them who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Now by all these one God is shown forth, revealing to men the new dispensation of liberty, the covenant, through the new advent of His Son. – Saint Ireneaus of Lyons, Against Heresies, 3, 10, 3

For it is written that the just lives by faith. If you are just, and live by faith, if you truly believe in Christ, why, since you are about to be with Christ, and are secure of the Lord's promise, do you not embrace the assurance that you are called to Christ, and rejoice that you are freed from the devil? Certainly Simeon, that just man, who was truly just, who kept God's commands with a full faith, when it had been pledged him from heaven that he should not die before he had seen the Christ, and Christ had come an infant into the temple with His mother, acknowledged in spirit that Christ was now born, concerning whom it had before been foretold to him; and when he had seen Him, he knew that he should soon die. Therefore, rejoicing concerning his now approaching death, and secure of his immediate summons, he received the child into his arms, and blessing the Lord, he exclaimed, and said, "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation; " (Luke 2:29) assuredly proving and bearing witness that the servants of God then had peace, then free, then tranquil repose, when, withdrawn from these whirlwinds of the world, we attain the harbour of our home and eternal security, when having accomplished this death we come to immortality. For that is our peace, that our faithful tranquillity, that our stedfast, and abiding, and perpetual security. – Saint Cyprian of Carthage, On the Mortality, 3

1 Cor. 8:8-9:2
Saint John Chrysostom, Homilies on First Corinthians, (Homily 20) (Homily 21)

Clement of Alexandria, Paedagogus, 2, 1

In the first place, therefore, dearest brother, both by overseers and people nothing is to be more eagerly sought after, than that we who fear God should keep the divine precepts with every observation of discipline, and should not suffer our brethren to stray, and to live according to their own fancy and lust; but that we should faithfully consult for the life of each one, and not stiffer virgins to dwell with men,-I do not say to sleep together, but to live together--since both their weak sex and their age, still critical, ought to be bridled in all things and ruled by us, lest an occasion should be given to the devil who ensnares us, and desires to rage over us, to hurt them, since the apostle also says, "Do not give place to the devil." (Eph. 4:27) The ship is watchfully to be delivered from perilous places, that it may not be broken among the rocks and cliffs; the baggage must swiftly be taken out of the fire, before it is burnt up by the flames reaching it. No one who is near to danger is long safe, nor will the servant of God be able to escape the devil if he has entangled himself in the devil's nets. We must interfere at once with such as these, that they may be separated while yet they can be separated in innocence; because by and by they will not be able to be separated by our interference, after they have become joined together by a very guilty conscience. Moreover, what a number of serious mischiefs we see to have arisen hence; and what a multitude of virgins we behold corrupted by unlawful and dangerous conjunctions of this kind, to our great grief of mind! But if they have faithfully dedicated themselves to Christ, let them persevere in modesty and chastity, without incurring any evil report, and so in courage and steadiness await the reward of virginity. But if they are unwilling or unable to persevere, it is better that they should marry, than that by their crimes they should fall into the fire. Certainly let them not cause a scandal to the brethren or sisters, since it is written, "If meat cause my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." (1 Cor. 8:13) - Saint Cyprian of Carthage, Epistle 61, 2

Heb. 7:7-17
Saint John Chrysostom, Homilies on Hebrews, (Homily 12) (Homily 13)

Is. 6:1-12
The good servant receives the bread of his labour with confidence; the lazy and slothful cannot look his employer in the face. It is requisite, therefore, that we be prompt in the practice of well-doing; for of Him are all things. And thus He forewarns us: "Behold, the Lord [cometh], and His reward is before His face, to render to every man according to his work." (Is. 40:10; 42:11; Rev. 22:12) He exhorts us, therefore, with our whole heart to attend to this, that we be not lazy or slothful in any good work. Let our boasting and our confidence be in Him. Let us submit ourselves to His will. Let us consider the whole multitude of His angels, how they stand ever ready to minister to His will. For the Scripture saith, "Ten thousand times ten thousand stood around Him, and thousands of thousands ministered unto Him, (Dan. 7:10) and cried, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the Lord of Sabaoth; the whole creation is full of His glory." (Is. 6:3) And let us therefore, conscientiously gathering together in harmony, cry to Him earnestly, as with one mouth, that we may be made partakers of His great and glorious promises. For [the Scripture] saith, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which He hath prepared for them that wait for Him." – Saint Clement of Rome, Epistle to the Corinthians, 34

"I will take away," says He, "the wisdom of their wise men; and the understanding of their prudent men will I hide; " (Is. 29:14) and again: "With your ear ye shall hear, and not understand; and with your eyes ye shall see, but not perceive: for the heart of this people hath growth fat, and with their ears they hear heavily, and their eyes have they shut; lest they hear with their ears, and see with their eyes, and understand with the heart, and be converted, and I heal them." (Is. 6:9-10)Now this blunting of their sound senses they had brought on themselves, loving God with their lips, but keeping far away from Him in their heart. Since, then, Christ was announced by the Creator, "who formeth the lightning, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man His Christ," as the prophet Joel says, (cf Amos 4:13)since the entire hope of the Jews, not to say of the Gentiles too, was fixed on the manifestation of Christ,-it was demonstrated that they, by their being deprived of those powers of knowledge and understanding-wisdom and prudence, would fail to know and understand that which was predicted, even Christ; when the chief of their wise men should be in error respecting Him-that is to say, their scribes and prudent ones, or Pharisees; and when the people, like them, should hear with their ears and not understand Christ while teaching them, and see with their eyes and not perceive Christ, although giving them signs. Similarly it is said elsewhere: "Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, but he who ruleth over them? “ (cf Is. 42:19) – Tertullian, Against Marcion, 3, 6

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Matthew 25:31-46
From The Explanation of the Gospel of St. Matthew
by Blessed Theophylact, Archbishop of Ochrid and Bulgaria

31-33. Since the first coming of the Lord was not with glory but with dishonor and indignity, He says, When He shall come in His glory. For at the second coming He will come with glory, escorted by angels. First He will divide the saints from the sinners, delivering them from tribulations, and set them on His right, and then speak to them. He calls the saints sheep on account of their gentleness, and because they yield fruit and useful things for us, as do sheep, providing wool, which is divine and spiritual protection, and milk, which is the sustenance that is needed. The goats are the sinners, for they walk along the precipices and are unruly and fruitless.

34-40. He does not give honor or punishment until He has first judged. For He loves mankind and teaches us to do the same as well, not to punish until we have made a careful examination. In this way those blessed as they have been accepted by the Father. He considers them to be inheritors of the kingdom to show that God makes them participants in His own glory as His sons. For He did not say, "receive", but rather inherit, as a man would say of his father's estate. By the least brethren He means either His own disciples or, simply, all the poor. For every poor man is Christ's brother for the very reason that Christ, too, spent His life in poverty. See also God's righteousness, how He acclaims the saints; and see the good disposition of their mind, how they deny, with befitting modesty, that they have cared for Him. But the Lord accepts as for Himself the things that were done for the poor.

41-46. He sends those on the left into the fire which had been prepared for the devil. For as the demons are without compassion and are cruelly and maliciously disposed towards us, it is fitting that those who are of like mind with them, and who have been cursed by their own deeds, should merit the same punishment. See that God did not prepare the fire for men, nor did He make hell for us, but for the devil--I make myself liable to hell. Tremble, then, O man, and understand from this that these men were not punished as fornicators, or robbers, or perpetrators of any other vice, but for not having done good. For indeed, if you consider things well, the robber is he who has much and does not give alms, even if he does no obvious injury. For whatever he has in excess of his needs, he has stolen from those who are in need and who have not received anything from him. For if he had shared these things with them, they would not be in need. Now that he has locked these things up and kept them for himself, for this very reason they are in need. So he who does not give alms is a robber, doing injustice to all those whom he could have helped but did not, and for this reason he and those like him shall go away into eternal punishment which never ends; but the righteous shall enter into eternal life. Just as the saints have unceasing joy, so too the unjust have unceasing punishment, despite the gibberish of Origen who says that there is an end to hell and that sinners will not be punished for ever, but that there will be a time when they enter the place of the righteous because they have been purified by suffering in hell. (1) Origen is clearly refuted here, both when the Lord speaks of everlasting punishment, that is, never ending, and when He likens the righteous to sheep and the sinners to goats. For just as a goat can never become a sheep, neither can a sinner ever be cleansed and become righteous after the Judgement. Outer darkness [mentioned in the preceding parable of the talents] is that which is furthest from the light of God and for that reason renders the punishment more harsh. There is another reason that could be mentioned, and that is that the sinner is in darkness even in this life, as he has fallen away from the Sun of Righteousness, but as there is still hope of conversion, this is not yet the outer darkness. But when he has died and an examination has been made of the things he has done, then the outer darkness in its turn receives him. For there is no longer any hope of conversion, but he undergoes a complete deprivation of the good things of God. While he is here in this life he enjoys to some degree the good things of God, I mean, the tangible things of creation, and he believes that he is in some manner a servant of God, living out his life in God's house, which is this creation, being fed by Him and provided with the necessities of life. But then he will be altogether cut off from God, having no share at all in the good things of God. This is that darkness which is called outer by comparison to the darkness here, which is not outer because the sinner is not yet completely cut off from this time onward. You, then, O reader, flee from this absence of compassion, and practice almsgiving, both tangible and spiritual. Feed Christ Who hungers for our salvation. If you give food and drink to him who hungers and thirsts for teaching, you have given food and drink to Christ. For within the Christian there is Christ, and faith is nourished and increased by teaching. If you should see someone who has become a stranger to his heavenly fatherland, take him in with you. While you yourself are entering into the heavens, lead him in as well, lest while you preach to others, you yourself be rejected. If a man should cast off the garment of incorruption which he had at his baptism, so that he is naked, clothe him; and if one should be infirm in faith, as Paul says, help him; and visit him who is shut up in the dark prison of this body and give him counsel which is as a light to him. Perform, then, all of these six types of love, both bodily and also spiritually, for we consist of both soul and body, and these acts of love are to be accomplished by both.

1. Origen's false teaching of apokatastasis, the restoration of all things, was condemned as a heresy at the Fifth Ecumenical Council held at Constantinople in 553 A.D.

[Грешник]

This weeks Sermon can be found here.

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