THE WORSHIP BY THE BLESSED FAMILY In the last psalm, looking at the house of the Lord, the psalmist was dawn to the Lord, the Builder of His holy house, the Guardian of His holy city, and the Grantor of the true comfort for His beloved, together with exalted fruits. Now the psalmist looks at the worshippers of the Lord themselves, to see them as one family with special features, practicing a blessed life, namely, of a heavenly feature. In the present psalm, the soul of the believer exults, praising the Lord, who made a family with such an almost heavenly portrait; and at the same time let the believer himself enjoy having a family holy in the Lord. Here, the psalmist presents a magnificent description for the happy family, based upon the fear of God; and consequently walk properly along the way of the Lord. Here, the believer enjoys the fruit of the labor of his own hands, to become, like His Lord and Savior, the Head of an exultant family, while he, himself is blessed and happy. The believer becomes, like the Lord Christ, honored by His bride, the church, while bearing fruitful branches (namely her children); The believers: men and women, all become a small holy church filled with the fruits of the Holy Spirit. 1- Members of the blessed family 1 2- A working family 2 3- A fruitful family 3 – 4 4- A heavenly church life 5 5- An extended life filled with peace 6 1- MEMBERS OF THE BLESSED FAMILY: A song of ascents “Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways” (1) https://coptic-treasures.com/ 131 It is difficult to give a proper translation of the word “blessed”; as it does not mean just (happy), but implies tasting the deposit of the blessed heavenly life, that provides an inner joy and an exalted peace; which do not depend upon temporal gifts or possibilities, but upon an entrance into the eternal circle. According to St. John Chrysostom, the word “blessed” covers enough of everything. It represents a well-established state; while all the other gifts, whether riches, honor, many children, etc. could all eventually come to an end. … On another aspect, the young Joseph has been blessed under all situations: He was sold, became a foreigner, a slave, then a prisoner; Yet all those situations did not make him lose the feature of blessing, having been fearing the Lord, and walking in His ways. Faith is therefore, not enough for man, without the fear of God, and keeping His commandments. The main feature of such a blessed family is the fear of God, which we call (piety), a feature that touches the inner depths, which makes the believer, realizing his sonhood to God, bears a kind of the fear of a son toward his very beloved father; This fear is translated through his practical behavior, and his obedience of the divine commandment. A sign of the fear of God is that the believer walks in the way of the Lord; according to what is written: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it” (Jeremiah 6: 16). Because, with the diversity of ways and the upright paths, all bear one spirit; to be called “the one good way”; namely, it is a union with Christ “the One Way”. But, the One Christ, our Way to enter into the bosom of the Father, has presented many ways for a life with Him: for the pious married man to enjoy; and for the virgin as well. Every believer has a certain talent: this in teaching, that in giving, and a third in continuous praying, etc. By saying: “every one” he opens the door before all men, whatever is the position, possibilities, age, or social circumstances. God, the Lover of all mankind, wishes to include everyone in this family, extending from Adam to the end of ages. He who fears God is free of the attacks of great waves, rests in peace in a secure harbor, and reaps the rewards of the true blessing. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 132 That is why the author, by a divine inspiration, disregards all the other things, and only proclaims that he is blessed. Notice that he starts here where he ended in the last psalm; proclaiming that they are blessed and will not be ashamed, for God is their ally. Here he starts, as well, by saying: “Blessed is every one who fears the Lord”. Again he puts his remarks to practical application, starting by saying “Blessed is every one”; whether you are a slave, master, poor, or crippled; whatever your condition is; Nothing of these circumstances will deny you the blessing referred to1. Many may have true faith, yet their life is corrupt, and they are more miserable than anyone else2! “… walks in His ways” … By doing that, he actually can rise up to heaven, acquire the mother city, and see God Himself, as much as man can see Him. These are called the ways of God, for through them, God could be reached. He did not say “the way”, but “the ways”, referring to the fact that they are many and diverse ways. The Lord intended for them to be many, to make our approach to Him easy and through many great ways; … Namely, some are prominent in virginity, others in exalted married life, others endure widowhood as an adornment, others bare themselves off everything, others off half the things, others live a blameless life, and others are repentant. By so many ways He made travel easy. Endure all that with thanksgiving, to reap a great reward3. (St. John Chrysostom) The Holy Book sums our free desires in different degrees of perfection, according to the state and measure of each mind; as not all are crowned with a unified crown of perfection; for not all have the same virtue, nor the same goal, or zeal. So the divine Word referred in some way, to the different degrees of perfection, and to its diverse measures. According to this principle, the Holy Book commends them who fear God, saying: “Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who 1 On Ps. 128. 2 On Ps. 128. 3 On Ps. 128. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 133 walks in His ways” (1), promising them a heavenly happiness. Nevertheless, it goes back to say: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love” (1 John 4: 18). Again, Despite the fact that worshipping God with fear is a great thing, and it is written: “Serve the Lord with fear” (Psalm 2: 11), ; and, “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes will find him so doing” (Matthew 24: 46); Yet the Lord said to the apostles: “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15: 15); and again He said: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15: 14). So you see that that there are different levels of perfection; and that the Lord exhorts us to seek the more exalted levels, in a way that makes him who became blessed and perfect in the fear of God, walk, as is written, “from strength to strength” (Psalm 84: 7); namely, from perfection to perfection. It implies, that he rises by the zeal of the Spirit, from fear to hope, and finally to love, which is the highest level. That is why “the faithful and wise servant” (Matthew 24: 45), will reach up to the level of friendship, then to that of the adoption as a son. Accordingly, our talk could be understood in the following way: We are not saying that the fear of punishment, or the hope for the blessed reward promised to the saints, are things of no value; Yet, although of benefit, motivating those who follow them to make a blessed step; Yet, in love, there is a complete trust and perpetual joy, that would take them away from the fear of the servants, and the hope of the hired hand, to the love of God, make them sons, and move them from perfection to a greater perfection1. (Father Sherimon) St. Augustine, in his interpretation of the book of psalms, and in particular the psalms of Ascents, often repeats that the psalmist sometimes, uses the plural tense, and other times he uses the singular tense; and in either case he talks about the church that, although it embraces many, yet at the same time is one body of one Head, our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cassia, Conferences 11: 12. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 134 When I talk about the Christians in the pleural tense, I confirm that they are one in the One Christ. You are many, yet you are one. We are many, yet we are one … Because we attach to the One as His members; and as our Head is in heaven, His members could follow Him…. I wish we all, who are attached to the body of Christ, walk in the ways of the Lord1. (St. Augustine) As a lamp lightens a dark room, So the fear of God pierces the heart of man to lighten it, teaching it all the virtues and the commandments of God. (One of the fathers of the wilderness) The fear of God exhorts the soul to keep the commandments, and through keeping them we build the house of the soul. I wish we fear the Lord, and build a house for ourselves, so that we find a refuge in winter amid the rain and thunder, because without a house in the tough winter, one could face great dangers. (Father Dorotheos) 2- A WORKING FAMILY: “When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you” (2) In the Septuagint version it came as: “When you eat the fruits of your labor”. The word “labor” here means man’s works; as “whatever man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6: 7). In the present time we have labors, but the fruits will come later on. And as the labors, themselves, are not without joy, for the sake of the hope about which is said: “Rejoicing in hope” (Romans 12: 12); These labors themselves bring us joy now, and make us rejoice with hope … There is a difference between hope and its realization. If hope is of such sweetness, how much more will be its realization2?! (St. Augustine) Why does he double the blessing? For he knows its greatness3! 1 On Ps. 128 (127). 2 On Ps. 128 (127). 3 On Ps. 128. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 135 “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6: 8). He who sows to the flesh: fornication, drunkenness, and lust without control, will reap the fruit of these things: Punishment, scoffing, and destruction … Whereas the fruits of the Spirit are utterly contradictory to this. Meditate! … Have you sown alms? The treasures of heaven and an eternal glory are waiting for you!... Have you sown uprightness? You may expect honor, reward, exultation of the angels, and a crown from the divine Judge1. (St. John Chrysostom) Meditate in the Orthodox style in the battle, and in the achievements of the spiritual battles;… Meditate in how the Christian warrior, having conquered his rebellious body, and having put it under the soles of his feet, is borne ahead as a victor in the highest. Hence, he does not run as though without surety, but he trusts in his entrance into the holy city, the heavenly Jerusalem2. (St. John Cassian) We, to whom the eternal life is granted, do good works; not for the sake of a reward, but for the sake of keeping the purity granted to us3. 3- A FRUITFUL FAMIY: “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants all around your table” (3) The psalmist likens the believer in his holy family, to little olive offshoots all around the mother tree. The olive tree gives fruits all along about fifty years; and produces from its root what are like offshoots all around it, to increase its production. In the time of flowering, the mother tree becomes loaded with white flowers, and looks like a white-haired man, with his little offspring all around him – an attractive portrait of the believer, surrounded by his children, 1 In Galat., Chapter 6. . 2القدیس یوحنا كاسیان: المؤسسات لنظام الشركة، 5، النهم 18 . 3 للمؤلف/ الفیلوكالیا، 1966 ، ص 136 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 136 supporting him, working together with him, and helping their parents in their advanced age1. According to St. Jerome, we should understand the wife and the children in a spiritual way; lest we would imagine that the angels do not enjoy such blessings, having no wives nor children. Who is the spiritual wife? … Solomon longed to have the wisdom as his wife (Proverbs 4: 6, 8). Let us, as well, take the wisdom as our wife, and embrace her (Ecclesiastes 8: 2). … Let us not let her forsake our bosoms, nor flee away from our arms. … Let us have children from her … I mean what he says here: “Your children like olive plants all around your table”; … As he, who takes wisdom as his wife, will have children from her. Like a vine that carries a multitude of clusters, has one root, and its branches extend wide all around it; … So is the wisdom, our wife, if we do not let her forsake us; she will produce for us many clusters, namely, many virtues, a strong and holy will, and a multitude of honorable works2. The olive oil naturally preserves food, flares the flame, flourishes the body, renews it after a long and exhaustive journey, and repairs what got corrupt, to restore it to what it used to be3. (St. Jerome) “His wife” here, concerning Christ, refers to the church, His bride, which is us, “like a fruitful vine” 4. (St. Augustine) In the divine teachings, women are referred to, on a positive aspect as: “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine, in the very heart of your house; Your children like olive plants all around your table” (3); … While on a negative aspect, it is written: “The lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood” (Proverbs 5: 3, 4) 5. (St. Dedymus the blind) 1 Boyd's Bible Handbook, 241.homily 42 on Ps. 2 Homily 42 on Ps. 3 Homily 42 on Ps. 4 On Ps. 128 (127). 5 Commentary on Ecclesiastes 227: 7. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 137 Let us now listen to what the fruitful vine says about its fruits; the vine, put in the very heart of the house of God, said by the prophet to be fruitful (3). The pure divine life mixes with love: “My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blooms in the vineyard of En-Gedi” (Songs 1: 14). Who is this blessed? … Or rather, Who is he, who so exalts above every blessing, that in his vine, namely, in his inner soul. He sees the Lord of the vine? … Notice how the bride grew until the fragrance of her Nardine spread around -- the fragrance of her Groom. She made out of it a pure myrrh, put it in a bag, and hid it in her heart, so as not to part with his sweetness, nor lose it forever. So, the bride became a mother of a holy cluster of grapes who gave flowers, flourished at the time of the Lord’s passion, and poured its juice, wine that makes the heart glad; called as the blood of grapes, after the Lord’s passions1. The vine dresser listened to the divine commands, like the woman about whom David says: Your wife shall be like fruitful vine: (3); who, seeing herself away from the destructive force of those beasts, by the power of Him who commanded her; she instantly gave herself up to her care-Giver, who removed the dividing wall of the commandments, so that they would not take away the union between her and the One she desires; While saying: “My beloved is mine, and I am His; He feeds His flocks among the lilies, until the day breaks, and the shadows flee away, Turn my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the rugged hills” Songs 2: 16, 17). Namely, she recognized Him face to face, the One who lives from eternity, who, for the sake of my salvation, came in the likeness of man; I dwell in Him and find comfort, for He is the good Shepherd who feeds His flock, not on weeds, but on pure lilies. Man indeed, does not feed on weeds, the food for irrational animals; Being rational, he should feed on the true Word. If he becomes satisfied with the weeds, as long as he is flesh, he will, himself turn into weeds; according to the words: “All flesh is grass; and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field” (Isaiah 40: 6),. But, if he turns to a Spirit, and is born of a Spirit, he will no longer feed on weeds, but on the Spirit, symbolized by the purity of lilies and 1عظة 3 على نشید الأناشید ترجمة الدكتور جورج نوّار. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 138 its sweet fragrance, and will turn into a pure and fragrant lily; Namely, he will change according to the material on which he feeds… The day in which the Lord sent His rays on the world; And by His light all the shadows of life disappear; Those, who were fed on the weeds, the eyes of whose souls were not lightened by the light of the truth, will hasten after the shadows, assuming that the vain shadows are, as though true, while looking at the truth as though not existent. Those, on the other hand, who were fed on the lilies, namely, those whose souls flourished on pure and fragrant food, have got rid of all the appearances of shadows and deceptions, which men seek during this life; having become the children of light and day; and will recognize the true nature of things1. (St. Gregory, bishop of Nyssa) The field is full of flowers; and of diverse fruits. Plow your field, if you wish to be sent to the kingdom of God. Let your field flower, and give fruits of good rewards, to have a fruittful vine in the very heart of your house, and olive plants all around your table (3). To guarantee its fertility, let it be planted by the Word of God, and guarded by the Spiritual divine Farmer. Say to Christ: “Come, my beloved, let us go forth to the field” (Songs 7: 11); To which He would answer: “I have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrh” (Songs 5: 1). What could be better than plucking the faith, by which the fruit of resurrection is stored, and by which the fountain of the eternal joy flows2?! (St. Ambrose) The newly baptized is anointed by the holy ointment of ‘Meron’. It is not only the right of the infant in the Christian family, to be joined to the body of Christ, the crucified, and to be presented to the whole humanity, but it is the right of the church, as well, to embrace the children in her fellowship in the Lord, as a living and essential part of the congregation; so that the words of the psalmist would be realized, saying: “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house; Your children like olive plants around your table” (3). 1 عظة 5 على نشید الأناشید ترجمة الدكتور جورج نوّار. 2 Exposition of Luke 8: 43. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 139 If we rejoice in their physical birth, and offer the Lord a praise of thanksgiving for the sake of His gift, How much more should the catholic church, and the church of the house, exult on having them as new members through their spiritual birth?! “Behold, thus shall the man be blessed, who fears the Lord” (4) The virtue will live together with the wise man in a legitimate union, to have from her holy offspring; as actually: “Wisdom will give birth to a man of understanding” (Proverbs 10: 23). To the pious and holy man, the Holy Book says: “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine; Your children like olive plants all around your table; Behold, thus shall the man be blessed, who fears the Lord” (3, 4) 1. (St. Dedymus the blind) 4- A HEAVENLY CHURCH LIFE: “The Lord blesses you out of Zion; And may you see the good of Jerusalem” (5) Experiencing his membership in the heavenly household, the world with all its sorrows and troubles would not be able to take away from the believer, the blessings and goodness of the Lord; but His mercies will endure every morning. 5- AN EXTENDED LIFE, FILLED WITH PEACE: “Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel” (6) In case you have learned something from my sermon, I would be taking care of my children; and teaching others as well. Let us pray to the Lord ,to let us have children and grandchildren; and to grant us a multitude of seed. Let us then hasten to give birth to these children; It is a holy union; and what is amazing is that these children are born without a wife2. (St. Jerome) 1 On Genesis 235. 2 Homily 42 on Ps. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 140 AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 128 YOUR LOVE FOR HUMANITY IS AMAZING Humanity has given you its back; And has borne in itself the spirit of animosity toward You; Counting Your commandment as a chain; And life with You as a deprivation. While we are enemies, You came down, O my Savior, to reconcile us; You carried us in You, in an amazing way, to heaven; You turned us into an exultant family, practicing the heavenly life; Instead of the curse that dwelt on us; by you, we became blessed. You turned the toil of labor into sweetness; And presented to us goods from Your treasures, O my God; You presented to us the heavenly wisdom as our companion; You filled the corners of our house with the amazing fruits of the Spirit. You granted us children, not born of the flesh; By the Spirit, they became planted in Your house; You granted us children of the children; So that the family will extend until the day of Your coming; Glory be to You, who set out of the believers a blessed family.
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