HOPE FOR THE DIVINE MEDIATOR ‘Job’ continues his talk, showing that no one stands by him; as his friends see him like a horrible dragon! An upright man marvels when he sees the wicked in prosperity; yet he fears, lest he may go astray from the way of righteousness, to partake of their prosperity (8- 9). ‘Job’ also thinks that his friends might have gone too far in their hope to correct the situation, as far as he is concerned, saying to him; “The light is near in the face of darkness” (10-12). All what he sees now, is death, and the complete loss of hope in this world (13-16). Anticipating his near departure from this world; and seeing how his friends have done him wrong, he resorts to God, with great hope that He will stand by him, bring him justice, and reveal his innocence. 1- The graves are ready for me 1 2- A cry for help from the Lord 2 – 7 3- Righteousness will prevail 8 – 9 4- There is no hope in this world 10 – 16 1- THE GRAVES ARE READY FOR ME: “My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished, The graves are ready for me” (Job 17: 1). Reaching such a bitter condition, ‘Job’ counts himself as good as dead. He could have entertained the thought that eventually, he will cross over from this world with no return. But here, amid his bitterness, he sees his spirit broken, the light of his days extinguished; and lying on such a heap of trash, he is as though dwelling already in the grave. Instead of saying ‘The (grave) is ready for me’, he says “The (graves) are …” As though the graves of his ancestors are getting ready to take him in as well. As long as this is the case, it is befitting for the believer, to be prepared to enter into them as a conqueror and a victor. Nobody can go there, unless he is called by God. If it is God, who connected the soul to the body; It is not up to man to loosen their bond by any means. ‘Job’ says this, not on account that the common enemy is threatening him with death; but, because of the painful condition of his body, he prays to God to release him from the world. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem When the elect feel that their departure from this world is near, and that the day of ultimate judgment is drawing closer; And they see in themselves any trace of carnal thought; Their minds tremble with fear, and their souls become crushed with the contrition of remorse. Anticipating the coming of the firm divine Judge, they tend to judge and to chasten themselves more strictly. The lost, on the other hand, who assume that they will live forever, keep on practicing their wickedness. 2 While the spirit of the righteous would be crushed by contrition; that of the wicked would swell up with haughtiness1. The righteous realizes the perfect life by thinking about death; and does his best to avoid falling in the net of sin; according to the wise words: “In all you do, remember the end of your life, and then you will never sin” (Sirach 7: 36). Pope Gregory the Great Whenever you go to sleep, say to your bed: [This very night, you probably will be my grave; for I do not know whether, instead of the temporary sleep, this would be my ultimate one!]. As long as you still have two legs, hasten to work, before they get tied by the shackle which, once put, it will never get loose! As long as you still have two hands, stretch them in prayer, before the two arms fall down from their sockets, and you become unable any more to draw them up! As long as you still have fingers, let them make on yourself the sign of the cross; before death comes, and deprives them of their ability to do it! As long as you still have two eyes, fill them with tears, before the time comes, when dust cover your black clothes; and your eyes become fixed on one direction, with a stir that you cannot recognize nor apprehend. Fill your eyes with tears, as long as your heart has the ability to discern; before your soul depart, and leave your heart like a house deserted by its tenants! Be wise, and do not get deceived by expecting a long-lasting life2! Once a trader finishes his day’s work, he hastens to go home. A man (a monk), who has not yet consummated his role in the strife of righteousness, would feel bitter, when he thinks of his departure from his body. But when he realizes in his depths, that “he has redeemed his time” (Ephesians 5: 16), and has gained his ‘advance payment’; he would be longing to see the anticipated life. Like a merchant sailing on the sea, who would always be dreading that waves may suddenly get violent, and shatter the hope of his work; Man (or monk), as long as he is still in this world, would always dread that a sudden and an unexpected unfavorable situation may destroy the achievements he strived to accomplish since his childhood. As a merchant always concentrates his sight on the shore; a monk always concentrates his sight on the moment of his death3. St. (Mar) Isaac the Syrian A monk was praying fervently; while another was busy ministering, with tears constantly filling his eyes. When the former asked the later the reason behind his bitter crying, he answered him, saying: [While working, I always imagine myself standing before the divine Judge; and finding nothing to justify me, I get so terrified that I end up forgetting one or more verses of the psalms. That is why I feel guilty and cry. Forgive me, brother, for disturbing your prayer; Let each of us minister on his own]. The other one said: [No, my brother! As I live with no remorse; when I see you crying, I get ashamed]. When God saw his humility, He granted him the remorse like his brother4. 1 قمت بترجمة النص كما ورد في نص الأب نفسه. 2 Ascetical Homilies 64. 3 Ascetical Homilies, 48. 4 The Armenian version of Apophthegmata, L. Lelorr, ed. Paterica Armenica, Corpus Scriptorum Christianprum Orientalium, Louvain, 1974 -, 1, p. 547. 3 From the sayings of the fathers of the wilderness 2- A CRY FOR HELP FROM THE LORD: “There are mockers with me? And my eye dwells on their provocation?” (Job 17: 2). While seeing before him the graves prepares to receive him, he also sees his friends as ‘mockers’ who ridicule and insult him in his face. Instead of giving him comfort, they turned the sessions into provocations. Saying “My eye dwells on their provocations”, reveals that they spent the whole day in provocations; and when they leave him at its end, there would be nothing in his mind, but the memory of those provocations, to dwell on all the night. The text here, translated from the Hebrew, came different from the one in the Septuagint version, as well as in the Volgata. In the Septuagint version, it came: “With anxiety, I beseech: What should I do? The strangers are robbing my goods”. Before such a flaring battle, ‘Job’ gets overwhelmed with anxiety; Before such friends, who turned into strangers, carrying the spirit of animosity against him for no apparent reason, He sees behind them the devil with all his hosts opposing him! Those who are strangers to the human race, preoccupied only with robbing man of the divine blessings he enjoys, and the heavenly glories that are set for him. They are adversaries, longing for humiliating humanity, to let it partake of their cursed eternal destiny in hell. Why was ‘Job’ suffering anxiety? Being disturbed by temptations, the secret of which he has no knowledge, he was praying for death, and asking God: “what should I do?”. “Strangers are robbing my goods!”. Here, ‘Job’ calls the devils ‘strangers’, because they are deceitful, and enemies of our race. As to robbing his goods, he does not mean, robbing his possessions; But because they lied to God, as though they (robbed the words), when their head said to God: “But now, stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face” (Job 1: 11). … God, being aware of how Satan has (robbed the words), allowed him to tempt ‘Job’, to prepare him to be crowned with the glittering sign of conquest; and to dare, as a truly victorious, to proclaim: “Who is he who will shake hands with me?” (Job 17: 3 LXX). “I have not sinned, and my eye dwells in bitterness”. As though he says: ‘Although I did not sin, yet I am being scourged’. In several other situations, ‘Job’ admitted that he is a sinner, why is he now denying it?! … He quickly explains it, by saying that he did not commit such sins that make him worthy of being struck with the rod; besides, he cannot be without sin! He was actually struck, but not as punishment for committing sin, as much as to make him worthy of enjoying more grace. The divine Judge Himself testifies to him; While He strikes, he commends! We can understand it better, if we take our Redeemer into consideration; Although He did not commit any sin, Yet He endured bitterness for the sake of our sin. Pope Gregory the Great ‘Ernest Latko’, commenting on the term ‘saints’ – as the congregation of God are often called – says: [The scholar Origen believes that even the saints, have their own sins. In one of his homilies on the book of Numbers, he said that, being ‘saints’ does not mean that they are exempted of having committed sin. Their holiness is not 4 absolute, but is rather relative, shown by dedicating their life to the Lord, who – by His goodness – keeps them from committing the more serious kinds of sins1]. Those who are not ‘saints’ die in their sins; Whereas the ‘saints’ repent their sins, endure their wounds, recognize their faults, then go for healing to a priest, or seek purification through the bishop2. “Be holy; for I am the Lord your God (is Holy)” (Leviticus 20: 7). By saying “… For I am Holy”? He means, as I separate myself, and keep away from any thing worshipped on earth or in heaven. As I am exalted above every creature, and above anything my hands have created; You as well, should reject anything not sanctified or dedicated to God. Moreover, this word, translated in Greek as ‘hagios’, means (something away from earth)3. The Holy Book, however, says “There is not a just man on earth who does well” (Ecclesiastes 7: 20). The Lord Christ alone “Committed no sin” (1 Peter 2; 22); namely, the works of His hands are perfect4. The scholar Origen We can say that, although ‘Job’ has not committed a sin for death; yet, as he he admits, “No man is without sin, even if he is only one day on earth”. “Now, put down a pledge for me with Yourself, Who is he who will shake hands with me?” (Job 17: 3). Despite saying that he did not commit a sin that warrants all those strikes, ‘Job’ still admits that he is in need of someone to put a pledge for him, to pay a bond on his behalf. The Holy Book often refers to the role of the guarantor (or surety), saying: “A good person will be surety for his neighbor, but the one who has lost all sense of shame will fail him. Do not forget the kindness of your guarantor, for he has given his life for you” (Sirach 29: 14, 15). ‘Job’ did not find any man on earth, even among his close friends, to testify to his innocence, nor to surety for him, but all have turned into opponents against him. He found no one to resort to, but God Himself, who is aware of the secrets of his heart, intentions, and his hidden and apparent actions. In the name of all humanity, he cries out to God, asking him to put down a pledge for him, for no one is capable of paying back our debts, and to represent us before the divine presence, except the incarnate divine Word; as expressed by St. Augustine: [There is no resort from God, except to God Himself]. It is the Lord Christ, although He never sinned by thought nor through deeds, Yet He became in bitterness by His passion; Who, set free by resurrection; became, by His ascension to heaven, on the right side of the Father, as our Guarantor. Pope Gregory the Great Before the coming of our Lord and Savior, the devils have reigned upon the minds and bodies of men, and settled down in their bodies. Then the grace of the Lord Savior, and His mercy, came on earth, to instruct us how the soul of everyone 1 Ernest Latko: Origen’s Concept of penance, Laval 1949, p. 82. 2 In Num. hom. 10:1 PG 12:638. 3 Homilies On Leviticus 11:1. 4 Homilies On Leviticus 12:3. 5 should regain her freedom, and the image of God, according to which she was created … Who is He, but the Lord Jesus Christ, by whose scourges we, His believers, were healed; “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them on the cross” (Colossians 2: 15) 1. We have fallen under the authority of our enemy; namely, the ‘ruler of this age’, and his evil hosts; And because there was need for redemption through Him, who can purchase us, to bring us back from the state of sojourn from Him; Our Savior shed His blood as a surety on our behalf. And as “the forgiveness of sins”, that follows the redemption, is not possible, before man is liberated; It was imperative for us, to be liberated from the authority of him, who captivated us, and kept us under his authority; and to be taken away from his hand, in order to be able to enjoy the forgiveness of our sins, and the healing from their wounds; in order to perform the works of piety and other virtues2. “To have peace with God” (Romans 5: 1), by our Lord Jesus Christ who reconciled us with God through the sacrifice of His blood …, Christ came to destroy the enemies, to make peace, and to reconcile us with God, from whom we were separated by the wall of wickedness, we set by our sins3. The scholar Origen “For You have hidden their hearts from understanding; Therefore, You will not exalt them” (Job 17: 4). As for Job’s friends, according to their intentions, God took away from them the wisdom and discernment that He has previously granted them, as they are unworthy of them. God takes away the understanding from the hearts of those who have no compassion on those who suffer; He deprives them of dignity, and brings shame on them, to be in a state of collapse, and not in exaltation or glory. They, accordingly, would not have the ability to realize the mercy of God, nor the discernment to understand His dealings; especially when He happens to allow for affliction to dwell over His believers. It is of benefit to us when our enemies lack wisdom or are deprived of it; for which Paul says: “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew, for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2: 7-8). “Therefore, You will not exalt them” (4). … Why? For the sake of our benefit. The knowledge of truth is hidden from them (the devils); who, wishing us evil, they intend for us to be ignorant, and to blaspheme the Creator. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem It came in the writings of Pope Gregory the Great as: “Their hearts were hidden from chastisement”; and in the Septuagint version as: “Their hearts were hidden from wisdom”. Depriving Job’s friends of the understanding or wisdom, He deprived them of the knowledge of God’s wisdom concerning chastisement; As He chastens through afflictions, to edify, to justify; and not to destroy! Those who accept the divine chastisement with wisdom and understanding, will have their hearts contrite with repentance; “For whom the Lord loves, He 1 Contra Celsus 1:54f. 2 Comm. on Eph. 4 on 1. 3 Comm. on Rom. 4:8. 6 chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there, whom a father does not chasten?” (Hebrews 12: 6, 7). Therefore rejoice while under scourges, as the inheritance is kept for you; He never drives His people away; He may chasten for sometime; but would never judge forever1. St. Augustine “You have hidden their hearts from chastisement” (4). As, if they realize the goal of chastisement, and would never despise the commandments of our Redeemer; their mortal bodies (under chastisement) would be provoked toward the eternal life. Now, some may endure the scourges; Yet they do not conform their life to become renewed in the fear of God who scourges them; About whom it is truly said: “Their hearts are hidden away from chastisement”; Namely, although the body is under chastisement, Yet the hearts are not; As long as the person under the scourges of the rod, has not returned to the humility of the mind. . He does not say this, as though the Almighty, and the merciful God, has hidden man’s heart away from chastisement, But, after falling through his own will, God allows for him to stay fallen down. “Therefore, they will not be exalted”; As, if the heart of man is under chastisement, he would seek the higher things, and not the temporal ones … Whereas those who set forth toward the lowly pleasures, would always long toward the earthly goods, and not towards the heavenly joys; If they raise their minds toward hope in the heavenly city, they would be glorified. Pope Gregory the Great “He who denounces friends for reward, even the eyes of his children will fall” (Job 17: 5). The mockers will not only be deprived of the understanding; namely the inner insight to know the wisdom of God; But they will also do harm to their children, when they see their fathers do their friends wrong. In the writings of Pope Gregory the Great, it came as: “The devil promises spoil to his friends, and the eyes of his children will fall”. It is as though ‘Job’, comparing the children of God to those of the devil, says: The former fall under chastisement for the sake of their exaltation, their glory, and their eternal inheritance; Whereas the later are given by the devil, false promises of getting spoils, which are only temporary gifts, while they would eternally perish. Pope Gregory the Great notices that ‘Job’, spoke first about the wicked in the pleural tense, then started to speak about their head, the devil, in the singular tense. Being the head, the devil sometimes speaks for him, and other times, he can speak in the name of his followers, the wicked; as what is for the head is for the whole body, and what is for the whole body is referred to the head. Pope Gregory the Great also says that the devil, the head of all the wicked, promises his fellow devils, and the evil spirits, to give them a spoil, which is nothing but the children of men who became his captives. “The devil promises to give his friends a spoil and the eyes of his children fall”. After uttering a statement that concerns the wicked congregation; namely the body of the ancient enemy, the blessed ‘Job’ instantly moves to another statement 1 On Ps. 94 (93). 7 concerning their leader himself (the devil), the head of all the children of perdition. He moves on from the pleural to the singular tense. As the devil and the whole evil people are one body, It often happens that the body takes the name of the head; or the head is called by that of the body. The head takes the name of the body; as it was said about the apostate angel himself: “An enemy has done this” (Matthew 13: 28). The head of all the wicked, has some followers as fellows, and some as children: Who are his fellows, but the apostate angels, who have fallen together with him from their positions in the heavenly city? And who are his children, but his wicked followers, whom he gains through his evil provocations. So it is also said by the voice of the divine Truth to the non-believers: “You are of your father the devil” (John 8: 44). That evil head, promises his fellow devils, the evil spirits, to give them, as a spoil, the souls of the wicked people, to hold till the end. And “the eyes of his children fall”; when he makes people look forward to the earthly things as their goals; and when he makes them love what they cannot hold on to for long; As the tendency of the wrongly directed love, cannot hold for long, when it becomes apparent that those who love, together with what they love, would soon end up to naught! Pope Gregory the Great “But He has made me a byword of the people, And I have become one in whose face, men spit” (Job 17: 6). Job’s friends who used to seek his company and his favor, and to commend him, started to mock him in his affliction, and to count him as an example and a lesson of every evil hypocrite, for people not to follow his lead! ’Job’ became a living portrait of those who live in the Lord, for the world to mock, and even to spit on the face; And also became a symbol of the Lord Christ, whom the wicked ridiculed, mocked, and spat on His blessed face! “Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorn of those who are at ease; with the contempt of the proud” (Psalm 123: 4). “I have become the ridicule of all my people; and their taunting song all the day” (Lamentation 3: 14). “I gave My back to those who struck Me; and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting” (Isaiah 50: 6). “Then they spat in His face and beat Him, and others struck Him with the palms of their hands” (Matthew 26: 67). “Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head” (Matthew 27: 30). “Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, ‘Prophesy!’. And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands” (Mark 14: 65). “Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing their knee, they worshipped Him” (Mark 15: 19). “Still others had trial of mocking and scourging, yes, and of chains and imprisonment” (Hebrew 11: 36). “We are exceedingly filled with contempt” (Psalm 123: 3). “Yes, All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3: 12). They would be despised by those who do not choose to live in piety; on account that they seek 8 happiness, they cannot see by their eyes; by those who say to them: [In what do you believe, O foolish man? Has anyone come back from the underworld, and reported to you what goes on there? Look! We see and enjoy what we see; and you are despised, for you hope for what you do not actually see!] “Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorn of those who are at ease (the rich); with the contempt of the proud” (Psalm 123: 4). Scorn and contempt are the same thing; the way the rich and the proud are the same thing. Why would the rich be proud? Because they intend to be happy here in this world … Being puffed up by their haughtiness and their vain dignity, they scorn us, saying: [Look! We would rather enjoy the good things before us1! … Away with those who promise what they are unable to produce! We hold fast to, and enjoy what we actually see! Let us be successful in this life; As for you; Go on believing as you wish in Christ who, as you claim, died and was risen again, and in the other life He promised you; But you better make sure that you are going to have it!]. St. Augustine The Lord of glory was humiliated and rejected by all How painful for the heart to read how He was treated by the scribes, the Pharisees and by everyone; How He gave His back to those who struck Him; and His cheek to those who plucked out the beard; and did not hide His face from shame and spitting! (Isaiah 50: 6). Now, if the Lord humbled Himself, and endured all that passion, scorn, and shame; You should be ashamed to care, to what extent you, mortal, do; You, whose nature is of dust and mire! For there is no comparison between you and your Lord! He came to give you comfort; and still you are not ready to endure a little bit of what you call sufferings, by which your wounds could be healed2! St. Makarios of Alexandria “My eye has also grown dim because of sorrow, and all my members are like shadows” (Job 17: 7). ‘Job’ became a man of sorrow and tears, that his eyes grew dim; and a man of grief, that his body dissolved to be like a skeleton, or a shadow, with nothing but skin and bones. His eyes grew dim and unable to see the light of the divine Truth, which has almost disappeared. His friends turned into enemies; their strong opposition supported by their possibilities; and their behavior justified by what dwelt upon ‘Job’ himself, who became like a shadow without being, and with no possessions. On another aspect, this portrays the condition, not only of the believer or of the church, suffering from the bitter persecution of the wicked, but also the great grief of the believer and of the church as a whole, for the sake of every single soul that goes astray from the way of the truth, and loses the true knowledge. That is why the apostle Paul cries out, saying: “Who is weak and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? (2 Corinthians 11: 29). These used to be the feelings of the men of God in both the Old and the New Testaments; who experiencing the sweetness of intimate fellowship with God, could not stand to see anyone deprived of it. The Psalmist says: “Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law” (Psalm 119: 53); And the prophet Jeremiah says: “Oh, that my 1 On Ps. 123 (122). 2 The First Epistle of St. Makarios of Alexandria on the Discipline. 9 head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night, for the slain of the daughter of my people” (Jeremiah 9: 1). “My eyes grew dim because of indignation; And all my members became like nothing” (7). The eyes of those who are granted the light of the Truth grow dim with indignation, when they see themselves scorned by the wicked for an extended time. They marvel, become confused, and fail to understand the secret of the will of God: Why He allows the wicked to prevail on the innocence of the good? Who would not marvel to see Hero Dias, through a dance by her daughter, gain from the hand of the drunk king, the head of the ‘friend of the Groom’, a prophet, and greater than a prophet, given before his guests on a platter?! Pope Gregory the Great When the righteous see one of the children of the law, not keeping it, they would be grieved and would be grown by indignation; for the pain of one member would be shared by all the other members. Onesimus, Bishop of Jerusalem Among sinners, some sinned without the law (Romans 2: 12); for they did not know the law. And others sinned in the law; by not keeping it, or not caring for it. “Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked who have forsaken Your law” (Psalm 119: 53). Indeed “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1Corinthians 12: 26).. Therefore, it is befitting for us to follow the lead of that saint, and feel sorrow for our brethren when they sin. St. Dedymus, the blind Whoever sheds hot tears for the sins of his neighbor would be healed by his grief on his brother1. St. Basil the Great Let us weep for them, not one day or two days, but all the days of our life2. (St. John Chrysostom) Beloved brethren! If we are to acquire comfort from sorrow, rest from labor, wellbeing from sickness, and eternity after death; we should then not be grieved by the ailments that dwell upon humanity, nor be worried by the temptations that dwell upon us. We should not dread, in case those who fight Christ (the followers of Arius) plot against His good believers; who would rather, by these things, bring pleasure to God, through getting more prepared and trained on the life of virtue. As, how would we gain perseverance, unless we go through troubles and sorrows?! How would our perseverance be put to test, if there is no attack by such and other enemies?! How would our longsuffering be justified, if there are no afflictions by the anti-christs?! And how can man realize the virtue, unless the wickedness of the wicked first appears?! 1 PG 31:257 D. 2 In Epis, ad Phil. 3:4. 10 In all that, our Lord has already demonstrated to us how perseverance should be “When He gave His back to those who struck Him, His cheeks to those who plucked out the beard, and when He did not hide His face from shame and spitting” (1 Peter 2: 23; Isaiah 50: 6). He finally chose, by His own free will, to be led to death; that we can see in Him a portrait of all the virtues and eternity; That we may follow His footsteps, and with the truth, tread upon the serpents, the scorpions, and every power of the enemy (the sin) 1. St. Athanasius the Apostolic Let us consider the, the captivity of our brethren as our own captivity; and the sorrow of those in danger as our own sorrow. Becoming sure that there is only one body; It is not only the love, but also the piety, that should motivate and encourage us to save the members of our family2 (our body). St. Cyprian In 2 Corinthians 11: 29, Paul does not mean to pretend to be as weak, but that he sympathizes with their weakness3. (St. Augustine) What an amazing compassion in the great Shepherd, Paul, to say that the offenses of others would flare the fire of his own sufferings. I wish all those who are entrusted with shepherding the rational flock, would follow his lead; and would prove that they are not less caring than the common shepherd who cares for a long time for his irrational herd. In our case, if a single rational sheep goes astray, or falls a prey, the loss would be greatly enormous, the damage, and the punishment would be unutterable! If our Lord has taken upon Himself to shed His own blood for his sake, What would be the excuse of him, who chooses to become slothful for the one so much considered by the Lord?! And does not give all effort to care for him4?! St. Augustine 3- RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL PREVAIL: “Upright men are astonished at this, and the innocent stirs himself up against the hypocrite” (Job 17: 8). Hearing about what has dwelt upon ‘Job’ of successive tribulations, and about his friends’ stand against him, the righteous get astonished at this, thinking that God must have forgotten the earth, and forsaken His believers. The innocent would then, stir himself up against the hypocrite; namely, not feeling comfortable to hear that, he starts to question the secret of God’s care that may seem vague to him; and would stir himself up against the hypocrite, defending the Truth, or rejecting every erroneous interpretation. “The righteous men are astonished at this, and the innocent stirs himself up against the hypocrite” (18). The ‘innocent’ here, may mean the (righteous), who is not yet perfect; who, having just started the good ways; even if he does not think of doing harm to anyone, he is not yet able to practice the perfect things, and could 1 Paschal Epistles,10. 2 Letters, 62:1. 3 Letter 40 to Jerome. 4 Homilies on Genesis, 57. 11 not help feeling envy toward the prosperity and glory of the wicked hypocrite in this world. Or the ‘innocent’ may mean the (righteous), perfect in goodness, who stirs himself up against the hypocrite, when he sees him prosperous, but despises him and his prosperity. He would then preach the true things, and says that such a wicked man should be despised for desiring things that he cannot keep for long. Pope Gregory the Great “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb” (Psalm 37: 1-2). What may seem to you as a long time is actually ‘soon’ in the sight of God? Once you submit yourself to God, you will feel the same thing, and things would become in your sight of no value, like grass that appear green on the surface of the earth at winter time; yet, having no deep roots, would dry up once burned by the hot rays of the summer sun. Now, is the winter time of your glory; If your love has a deep root like trees, the cold winter will pass by, and the summer (the time of judgment) will come with its heat, when the green grass will dry up, but the glory of the mighty trees will prevail1. When I saw the wicked, I noticed that they seem as though in peace! But what kind of peace? It is a temporary, changeable, passing by, and an earthly kind of peace! And yet, I also seek it from God! When I, who minister to God, saw those who do not minister to God, getting what I long for; “My feet had almost stumbled, and my steps had nearly slipped” (Psalm 73: 2). But now, I know why they have peace and prosperity on earth it is because their punishment will not be temporary, but will hold on forever2. St. Augustine “Yet the righteous will hold to his way; and he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger” (Job 17: 9). When the righteous sees how the wicked prosper, while tribulations and afflictions dwell upon the upright men; he does not retreat from the way of fellowship with God, but would hold to it more strongly; Because he knows for sure that the troubles that come upon the righteous would lead to their growth and to their enjoyment of more strength. The spiritual man experiencing the down payment of heavenly life, would not be shaken before the temporary success of the wicked, nor be disturbed before the tribulations and afflictions that come upon the righteous; But he would find pleasure in being persistent on the Spirit of God, who grants great sweetness to the fellowship with the Lord Christ in His cross, and perpetually flares the depths of the believer to seek the heaven lies, disregarding any temporal gift. A true believer would never stop being persistent on standing against sin, and on enjoying the holy life, for the sake of his enjoyment of the fellowship with the Lord. The hypocrite, through his evil will, gets the things of this world; whereas the righteous would always be bound more strongly to the love of the heaven lies. Pope Gregory the Great 1 On Ps 37 (36). 2 On Ps. 73. 12 When we observe the law of persistence, and practice the knowledgeable discernment, where the fruit of life is harvested; then there would be the struggle against the attacks of desires that would never be able, in any way, of approaching our minds1. St. (Mar) Isaac the Syrian We, who are given the eternal life, do the good works, not for the sake of a reward, but to keep the purity given to us2. St. Mark the hermit Reading in the Holy Book is highly recommended, because it gives wisdom to the soul, directs the Spirit toward heaven, moves man toward thanksgiving, destroys the desire in earthly things, and makes our minds perpetually concentrate on the other world3. St. John Chrysostom “The judgments of the Lord are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19: 10). When the soul is committed to being like pure honey, free of the mortal bonds of this life, simply anticipating the blessings of the divine banquet; Or when it becomes, like in a disc of honeycomb, clothed with this life , like in the cells of the honey wax, filling them, yet without becoming wax; In all that, she needs the help of God’s hand, which presses, not to destroy, but to squeeze the honey. The judgments of God, for such a soul, would become sweeter than homey and honeycomb. St. Augustine Contemplate in the Orthodox ways and values in the spiritual battles; in how the Christian fighter, having overcome his rebelling body, and having treaded upon it underneath his feet, would be carried victorious up high. He thus runs, but not as though without being sure that he will enter into the holy city – the heavenly Jerusalem4. St. John Cassian 4- THERE IS NO HOPE IN THIS WORLD: “But you, come back now, all of you, and I shall not find a sensible person among you” (Job 17: 10). ‘Job’ asks them to forsake their thoughts, and to realize that there is no sensible person among them; Because they request from him to repent, for the sake of returning to his past prosperity in this world; assuming that this is the real comfort for those suffering. They are not wise because they turned their eyes away from the comfort of heaven, to the prosperity of the world; not realizing that the happiness of the righteous is in their hope for eternity, and not in the foolishness of hoping for temporal blessings. “Well, come back now, all of you, I find no truth in you” (Jon 17: 10 LXX). As though he says to them: Come, all of you together, to enter into a hot debate with me. 1 Ascetical Homilies, 62. . 2 للمؤلف: الفیلوكالیا، 1966 ، ص 136 . 3 د. عدنان ط ا ربلسي: شرح إنجیل متى للقدیس یوحنا الذهبي الفم، 1996 ، ص 5 . 4 القدیس یوحنا كاسیان: المؤسسات لنظام الشركة، 5، النهم 18 13 ‘Job’ knows well, “how could one rout a thousand, and two put a myriad to flight” (Deuteronomy 32: 30); knows that, there is no need for a great number of wrestlers, especially when they are armed with lies. “Because I definitely see that there is no truth in you, I provoke you to come to battle!” It is befitting for us to notice the daring spirit in Job’s words; How, even after his friends treaded upon him with their feet, he is still persistent on debating with them; has not forsaken his perseverance, that made him such a terror to his enemies. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem It came in the writings of Pope Gregory the Great as: [As for you all, Change your ways, then come to me] (10). It is as though he says to them: [If you are asking me to repent on sins that I have not done; you are falling into the sin of revile and unjust accusation. Therefore I advise you to reconsider your ways evil ways; then you may come to me, to have a reasonable conversation!] In this, the Pope believes that ‘Job’ is asking them to do two things: the first is negative, which is to stop doing a sin; and the second is positive, which is to do the right thing. He means to say: [Change your evil ways, then come to me carrying the good works]. St. Paul asks us to die for the world; as that would be of more benefit to us, being the beginning of a new life. He also instructs us to be ignorant for this world, to enter into the true wisdom. We shall be ignorant for this world, when we despise the earthly wisdom; and become sure that it does not contribute to our realization of faith1. St. John Chrysostom The wisdom of this world which lacks the grace of God is utterly human in its features2. Father Theodoret They have to change their ways, then to come. The change is done by faith; while coming is done by practice. Namely, they have to change themselves through forsaking the evil works; then they may come through practicing the good works; As it is written: “depart from evil, and do good” (Psalm 37: 27). “I will probably not find a single wise person among you” (10). What does it mean, to ask them to acquire wisdom; and, at the same time, to (wish) to find no single person wise among them?! But, that they cannot reach the true wisdom, as long as they go on deceiving themselves by completely trusting their vain self-wisdom! About this, it is written: “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes” (Isaiah 5: 21); and, “Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Romans 12: 16). In this concern, the great preacher, St. Paul, gives his counsel to those, he finds humanly wise; Which is that, In order to gain the true wisdom, they have to be first ‘fools’! Saying: “If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools, so that you may become wise” (1 Corinthians 3: 18); And the Truth Himself says: “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and have revealed them to babes” (Matthew 11: 25) Because those who are wise in their own eyes, cannot reach the true wisdom; the righteous ‘Job’, longing to change his listeners, wishes to find no single person 1 Homilies on Epistles to the Corinthians, Homily 10:2. 2 Commentary on 1 Cor. 3:19. 14 wise among them; As though he is saying to them: [Learn how to be fools in yours elves, to become truly wise in God]. Pope Gregory the Great Do not let much wisdom become a rock of offense to you, and a snare in your way; But holding fast to trusting God, would become for you, the beginning of the way filled with blood (the way of spiritual strife against sin); So as not to become perpetually lacking, and bare of the knowledge of God; As he who is always afraid of the wind, would never sow his land1! St. (Mar) Isaac the Syrian “My days are past; my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart” (Job 17: 11). They ask ‘Job’ to repent his evil ways and hypocrisy, in order to regain what he has lost; While, as far as ‘Job’ is concerned, these things have no more place in his heart; His days are past, or are hastening to their ultimate end; And his old purposes of good works and care for the poor, are all broken off him; Starting to see death not far away from him, he cannot think of what he is not able to do. Pope Gregory the Great believes that ‘Job’ in this symbolizes the persecuted church; The more the affliction on her becomes, the higher her thoughts rise toward heaven, and the less would be her preoccupation with the earthly things, not even with the simple social services; to concentrate only on the eternal glory. What we say about the church as a holy congregation, is realized as well, in the life of every one of her members. “My days are past” (11). The holy church believes that her life passes through periods of day and night: night during periods of affliction; and day during days of peace, when she can afford to care for temporal preoccupations. “My thoughts are scattered and hurt my heart” (11). When the temporary glory passes by from the minds of the righteous; so also their commitment for the earthly things would be taken away from them; those commitments which make them suffer inside themselves for having to go down to caring for lowly things. It happens that the same works of persecution against them would then turn into a great cause of rejoicing, because of the peace of heart they gain through them. Pope Gregory the Great “My soul is in my hand” … Any man’s soul becomes in his hands when he is in danger … That is why, it is as though, the righteous ‘Job’ says to God: [As for me, Although I die every day; and am continuously in danger because of my commitment to Your words, and for the sake of the truth … Yet, the danger of death would never make me forget Your law]. We can also understand this phrase in another way: That my soul is always in my palm; namely, always does good things; as the ‘hand’ or the ‘palm’ are the tools for doing the work2. The scholar Origen You may be granted a world of light, for every one day of bitter pain you endure. If you persevere on hunger for the sake of His love, your desire to see His face would flare inside you. 1 Ascetical Homilies, 6. . 2 القمص تادرس یعقوب ملطي: المزمور المائة والتاسع عشر ( 118 ) غنى كلمة الله ولذتها، 1996 15 If your countenances appear dark, as a result of working for His sake, He will beautify you with His glory forever. If you are bared of your possessions, He will clothe you with His light. If you forsake what is yours, you will acquire Him eternally in yourself1. The spiritual elder, John El-Deliaty The labor of long years during this present life would disappear when we anticipate the eternity of the glory to come. All our sorrows would disappear when we think of that great blessing; they would vanish like vapor, or like lightening, as though they were never there2. St. John Cassian The martyrs have lost interest in everything on earth, once they, by the eyes of faith, looked at the King of heaven, with the hosts of angels standing before Him, … Once, by their minds, they saw heaven and its unutterable blessings. …. Once they moved their thoughts to heaven, they no more cared for anything they see by their physical eyes…. They no more saw the tools of torture; … They passed by, counting them as mere dreams and shadows; …Because of their desire for the coming things, their minds got wings3! Knowing that we are on our way to a better life, not prone to death or destruction, and free of any oppression; we no more dread poverty, sickness, or any affliction4. St. John Chrysostom “They make night into day;’ The light’, they say ‘is near to darkness’” (Job 17: 12). Job’s friends tell him about the night, which is about to pass, and would turn into day; albeit not as bright with daylight, but with light which is more like darkness; They concentrate their talk on the prosperity in this world as a reward from the Lord to the righteous; and portray it in their minds as a cause for comfort; Yet, expecting no more on this earth; and seeing death before his eyes; ‘Job’ has no more hope in temporal things; He welcomes death, as a home to settle down, and the grave to set a bed for himself. “If I wait for the grave as my house, if I make my bed in the darkness: If I say to corruption, ‘You are my father’, and to the worm, ‘You are my mother and my sister …’” (Job 17: 13). With bitterness, ‘Job’ looks forward to exchange his friends in this world with the grave, which would become for him ‘a father’, being more merciful than them; And instead of their promises of temporal blessings, he finds in the worms, ‘a mother and a sister’. Complaining that his relatives are far removed from him, and that his acquaintances are completely estranged from him (Job 19: 13, 14); He would rather exchange them here with relatives who would never desert or deny him – the grave and the worms! Father Hesychius of Jerusalem believes that ‘Job’ called corruption as ‘a mother’ and ‘a sister’; because sin has brought upon man the verdict to dissolve, corrupt, and return to his dust. 1 رسالة 15:19 ا رجع ترجمة الأب سلیم دكاش الیسوعي. . 2 القدیس یوحنا كاسیان: المؤسسات لنظام الشركة، 12 في روح الكبریاء، 12 3 Baptismal Instructions, 7:18, 19. 4 Baptismal Instructions, 12: 12. 16 To understand this spiritually, It is not strange for us to call nature ‘our mother’, and the habit ‘our sister’; being born from one, and grown up with the other. The same way, we may say that the corrupt nature, and the evil habits or thoughts, are some kind of worms that devour the mind, and bring forth unbecoming cares in the weakness of our hearts. Pope Gregory the Great I wish we can get rid of the filth of sin; so that the previous beauty of virtue would re-appear; Let us be purified, that the image of God in us would be revealed. That is what God desires from us, to be free of defilement, defect, or blemish1. Father Dorotheos All saints grieve daily, and sigh because of their weakness; And throughout their changing thoughts, the secrets of their consciences, and their deep retreats, they cry out in supplication: “Do not enter into judgment with your servants, For in your sight no one living is righteous” (Psalm 143: 2) There you see, that, although all saints truly confess that all men including themselves are sinners; Yet, they never despair of having salvation, but seek a complete purification through God’s grace and mercy. No one, however holy he may be, is without sin in this life, as we are also instructed by the Savior in the model of perfect prayer He taught to His disciples; to say: “… And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6: 12). Having delivered this as a true prayer to be practiced by all saints; who could then remain on his stubbornness, arrogance, foolishness, haughtiness, and vain pride, thinking that he is without sin2?! The way a saint is the temple of God; the sinner sets a grave out of himself3! St. Jerome “Where then is my hope? Who will see my hope?!” (Job 17: 15). “Job’, believing that all his previous hopes would go together with him down to the grave, he laments them. Indeed, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Corinthians 15: 19). Nobody can see the hopes that would comfort us; As we hope, not for the temporary things that are seen, but for the eternity that is not seen (2 Corinthians 4: 18) Being mortal, Job’s friends offer him what is mortal; They offer him hopes that would go down together with him to the grave. “What is then my hope?” (15) Where is man’s hope, in which such way of weakness is realized?! “Where shall I see my goods?” when I depart from this world? Father Hesychius of Jerusalem “Now, where is my expectation?” (15). what would be the expectation of the righteous, but God who justifies the righteous; He, who condescended by His free will to human punishment; and, by His righteousness, He liberated the captives of death? They would never stop having those expectations, filled with hope; … They know that they will come; But they seek their swift coming. That is why, ‘Job’ 1 تأملات في مدیح للقدیس غریغوریوس النزینزي. 2 Cassian: Conf., 23: 16–18. 3 On Psalms, Homily 7. 17 adds to “Where is my expectation?”, the word “Now”; revealing that he seeks its swift coming without delay. “Who can appreciate my perseverance?” (15) The Truth testifies, saying: “Many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it” (Luke 10: 24). Job’s words reveal his hot desire! What God counts as a short time, is seen by man as a long time! Pope Gregory the Great We should deposit in heaven what we lose now on earth; for the enemy who can break into our houses, Can he manage to break through the gate of heaven?! He, who can kill the door man here, can he manage to kill God who watches over the gates of heaven?! If an architect tells you that your house will soon collapse; will you not escape as quickly as you can, instead of lingering to mourn it?! Behold, the Founder of the world tells us that the devastation of the world is close! Should we not believe Him?! … Hear the voice of His prophecy: “Heaven and earth will pass away” (Matthew 24: 35)… Listen attentively to His counsel1! St. Augustine “Will they go down to the gates of Sheol? Shall we have rest together in the dust?” (Job 17: 16). “Will they go down with me to hell; Or shall we go down together to the dust?” (16). If that is the case; Why do we erect buildings? … Why do we care for expensive bed covers and clothes? … Why do we “add field to field” (Isaiah 5; 8)? … Why do we seek riches that would not go with us? Why do we not believe the ordinance of the divine Judge, or listen to Him, saying: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6: 19, 20). There, the angels and the Lord of angel guard our treasures. Father Hesychius of Jerusalem “Do not you think that I shall find comfort for myself there?” … “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4: 18). Although the blessed ‘Job’ knows that he will find comfort after the tribulations he has endured; Yet he brings fear to our hearts, when, by saying the words: “Do not you think?”, he seems as though in doubt concerning the reward of eternal comfort. Pope Gregory the Great Some people believe their homes to be their kingdoms. Although they know for sure that death is imperative, and that, one day, they will have to leave them, yet, in their hearts they feel that they are staying there forever! They boast the huge size of their houses, the expensive material with which they are built, and the beautiful furniture they contain … They believe that the sturdier their houses are the more security and peace they will find in them for many generations to come. As far as we are concerned, On the contrary, we know for sure that we are just guests, who live temporary on earth; that the houses we live in are not more than 1 Sermon On the N.T. 10. 18 hotels along the road to eternity; We do not seek security or peace in the walls around us, or the roofs above our heads, but we rather seek to surround our selves by walls of the divine grace; and we look at heaven high above, as our roofs. As for the furniture in our life, they should be the good deeds we do with the spirit of love. St. John Chrysostom 19 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF ‘JOB’ 17 I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR ENCOUNTER Whenever I remember the day of my departure, when I am going to encounter You, My soul is crushed within me. It moans because of my weaknesses. Behold, how the wicked grow fat. They assume they will live forever. As for me, the day of your ultimate coming is inscribed on my heart. It never departs from my memory. How can I be justified before you? Yet amid my grief because of my weaknesses, My heart rejoices within me. Yes, I long to return to my eternal home. My eyes look toward you. When shall I encounter you, face to face? My God; I am surrounded by those who wish to debate against me! They spoil my repentance, and my looking forward to encounter you. The evil one; foreign to me, and to all humans, Is only preoccupied with how to take away my enjoyment of contemplating in You, And my preparations for the fellowship of the eternal glory. He is a consistent adversary! He would not despair before he manages to take me down, together with him, to his eternal dwelling place. By this, I am not justifying myself. You know how sinner I am. How wounded by my sins! But, I find in You, the healing Physician. I am a sinner! I find in You the Holy One, who sanctifies all my being. I am in debt; And You are my Guarantor. Your blood tears up the bond written against me. Your cross liberates me from my captivity. When You deprive the rulers and the principalities of their authority; And by Your cross, You publicly make them of no reputation; I can slip away from their hands, and bow before their authority no more; I can set forth from my submission to the prince of this age; To be protected under Your wings, O the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. The evil one assumed that, by his wisdom, he managed to captivate and humiliate me. But his wisdom turned proved to be just craftiness and deceit! Having separated himself from the wisdom of God, My Lord has taken the true wisdom away from him. And the deceitful became ignorant, and lost his possibilities. In my ignorance, I cry out, longing to get united with You, O Wisdom of God! When I acquire You, I become by You, truly wise. And be qualified to dwell in heaven, the place of the wise! It grieves my soul to see the evil one captivating so many! I count myself going into darkness, together with every soul that loses Your light. 20 I count myself going into perdition, together with every soul that despises her salvation. I count myself going into captivity, together with every soul captivated by the enemy. Why do my soul moan, whenever I see the wicked and the opponents of the Truth living in prosperity? Yet however long they may live, They eventually will pass by, And like the weeds, they will dry up. Your children are like a tree in the winter season. That seems as though dead with no leaves and fruits. But, once the spring of your days come, And the snow of this world passes by, Your trees become glorified by their amazing fruits. However heavy the snow of this world and whatever are its tribulation, The world will soon pass by. And what your children have of eternal glory will be revealed. The advance payment of heaven fills me with joy; And the fellowship with You, even in your passion, fills me with peace. As my days will soon pass by. Grant me the grace to acquire the wisdom and the divine Truth; To deny the haughtily vain human wisdom; And to enjoy You, O the wholly humble One! My soul is on my hands, while I walk in the midst of danger. With joy, I anticipate my departure from the world at any moment. I will never stop consummating Your work with my hands, for I am Your ambassador. So that, when I depart, I would be with You, enjoying Your splendor. Finally, Let all my hope be in You. Let my treasure be in Your heavens. For there is no place more secure.
Welcome