THE PROVERB OF THE BETRAYER BRIDE Having spoken of the personal responsibility of every man for his own sins; both on the level of prophets, and on that of the people, He presented us in this chapter a portrait of the corrupt life of the people - which also applies to the human soul; God’s work with them, selecting them as His bride; and paying back the divine love with treason and adultery. Origen1 says that we are like slaves under one master. We learn a lesson, when we see another slave who has preceded us in our master’s service, punished for his mistakes, or rewarded for his good work. Likewise the Holy Bible here, presents to us Jerusalem as an example by which the Church of the New Testament should benefit, to avoid doing its mistakes, and falling in its abominations. 1- Jerusalem, the despised girl 1-6. 2- God betroths her as His bride 7-14. 3- Her betrayal of Him 15-34. 4- The punishment for betraying 35-51. 5- The way to reform: Shame! 52-58. 6- A promise to accept her anew 50-63. 1- JERUSALEM, THE DESPISED GIRL As this chapter actually represents the song of free salvation, that God offered us, despite our abominations and the defilement of our heart; and keeps on offering it all along the days of our sojourn, until He brings us as a holy bride to the Lord Christ; this song begins by recognizing our abominations; in order to receive His work in us. God’s words starts as follows: “Son of Adam, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations” (Ez 16:2). This is the way that St. John the Baptist prepared for the Lord Christ, when he came to expose human weaknesses, to make the sinners accept the atoning sacrifice of Christ. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in us, to expose our weaknesses before our insight, in order that we confess them. And as St. Anthony the Great says: [If the soul surrenders itself to the Lord with all its strength, the good Lord would reveal to it these abominations and faults, one by one, in order to avoid them.] And St. Ephraim the Syrian says: [You cannot listen to His words, as long as you have not yet known yourself2.] What were her abominations? “Say, ‘Thus says the Lord God to Jerusalem: Your birth and your nativity are from the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite’” (Ez 16:3). Judah and also Israel were boasting that they came from the seed of Abraham - as an elected race. But the Lord here proclaims to Jerusalem that it did not spiritually come from the seed of Abraham nor born from him; but from the land of Canaan; her father was an Amorite, and her mother was a Hittite. They have fallen to the abominations of the Amorites and the Hittites, and were bound to them through evil; Thus they were deprived of their sonhood to Abraham, the father of believers; as well as of their 1 In Ezek. hom. 7:1. . 2 المؤلف: تلمیذتي لأب اعت ا رفي، 1974 ، ص 63 5 reference to God; and became in truth as children of those two peoples. And as Tertullian says: [They are not descendants of those two peoples; but called their children, because they followed their evil ways; those whom He called on the mouth of the prophet Isaiah; saying: “I have nourished and brought up children” (Is 1:2)1.] And St. Augustine says: [As the Jews followed the wicked lead of the Amorites and the Hittites, they found parents among them; not because they were born by them, but because they shared their judgment, having walked in their ways2.] And Origen says: [As Jerusalem committed such sins (idolatry), it is no more worthy of attain the promises of God3.] It became a Canaanite, from an Amorite father and a Hittite mother, outside the circle of divine promises. So would be whoever accepts the teachings and false philosophies of the world, away from the Spirit of the Holy Bible; He would stay outside; not counted as a holy Jerusalem, but a Canaanite, Amorite or a Hittite! Origen noticed that God in rebuking Jerusalem, said that its father is of a certain race (an Amorite), and its mother is of another (a Hittite). As wherever sin exists, there would be schism, dissension, and segregation; and wherever virtue is, there would be unity. He says: [Wherever sins are, there would be offense, dissension, heresies and disunion; and wherever virtue is, there would be unity and union; where believers are with one heart and one spirit. Let us frankly say, that the origin of evil is in multitude, and the beginning of reform is to live in unity... to become as one body and one spirit. But if we are not united, and say: “I am of Paul, I am of Apollo,, or I am of Cephas;” We are divided, segregated, and would never reach up to the level of those whom unity gathered together. The same way the Father and the Son are One; so will be all those who have one spirit4.] As to how Jerusalem started committing abominations; He says: “As for your nativity, on the day you were born, your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt, nor swathed in swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you, to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you; but you were thrown out into the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born” (Ez 16:4, 5). The newly born baby, according to the customs of the old days, used to be lightly rubbed with salt, and his hands and legs are left swathed for several days, assuming that this would make him stronger and immune against germs. That is why we hear that the Virgin St. Mary rapped Baby Jesus in swaddling cloth (Luke 2:12). Not swathing a baby or rubbing him with salt, implies that he is undesired5. It is a painful portrait of the whole mankind; as man is born with abominations working in him. No human is capable of cleansing him of his defilement, or cover him with a swaddle, or to carry him away from his shame! That is why the Psalmist cries out saying: “I was brought forth by in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Ps 51:5); And the prophet Jeremiah says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from God” (Jer 17:5). Thus man feels completely helpless and unable to be sanctified when nobody helps or supports him, then God Himself, has to 1 An Answer to the Jews, 9 2 In Ioan, tractate 53:9. 3 In Ezek. hom. 7:1. 4 In Ezek. Hom. 9:1. 5 Boyd's Bible Handbook, p. 302. 6 interfere. Some Church Fathers believe that his saying. ”Your navel cord was not cut” refers to the initial sin, when Eve fell into greed and then seduced her man; and also refers to the sin of preoccupation with eating and drinking in which the children of Israel fell (Exod 32:6). The apostle Paul says: “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play” (1 Cor. 10:7). St. John Chrysostom says: [Indeed, Adam, through not controlling his belly, was cast out from Paradise; and for the same reason, the great flood in the days of Noah occurred1.] And he also says: [Neither the flesh nor the food are from the devil, but only exceeding their limits is, because through it, the crafty devil provides his victims with several evils2.] St. Moses the Black says: [You should know for sure, that when man excessively eats and drinks, and loves the vanities of this world, he would be deceiving himself if he thinks he is able to gain any goodness3.] St. Isaac the Syrian says: [It would be safer to sit with a hyena, than to sit with a greedy man, who is never satisfied4.] 2- GOD BETROTHS HER AS HIS BRIDE God confirms to the human soul: “And I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood... I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love” (Ez 16:6, 8). When the Lord passed by and found her naked with nobody to cover her nakedness, He approached and betrothed her as His bride: “‘I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became mine,’” says the Lord God”(Ez 16:8). The Holy One had the compassion to descend to us in the land of affliction, stretched his hand to our weakness, granted us union with him, and offered Himself a Groom to us. Concerning this St. John Chrysostom says: [As I already said, that He, the great and mighty, was ready to have a harlot - the human nature - as His bride! Man would be condemned, if he covets a harlot. So, how could God chose a harlot to be His bride?! What did he do?! He did not send her an archangel, an angel, a cherub, or a seraph, but He descended Himself to approach to the one He loved... Because she was unable to ascend up to Him, He Himself came down to the harlot, and did not hesitate to hold her hand, drunk as she is... How did He come? He did not come, proclaiming the essence of His nature, but truly became like that harlot (except for sin), not merely according to intentions but truly He became like her, to spare her getting terrified and fleeing away when she sees Him! He came to the harlot like a man5.] What did God offer her? “‘Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing were of fine linen, silk, and embroidered 1 In Matt. , hom. 13:2. 2 In Cor., hom. 39:17. . 3 بستان الرهبان (طبعة بني سویف 1976 ) ص 164 . 4 المرجع السابق، ص 165 .54 ، 5 الكنیسة تحبك (طبعة 1966 ) ص 53 7 cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty. Your fame went among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,’ says the Lord God” (Ez 16:9-14). It is a magnificent portrait of the work of the Lord Christ with us; especially through the holy water of Baptism, the anointment of ‘Mayron,’ and the sacrament of the Eucharist. We have previously interpreted this text in our book ‘The Holy Spirit between the New Birth and the Continuous Renewal.’ He brought her into the holy water of Baptism to wash off her blood of sin (Ez 16:9). And as St. Augustine says: [By our birth from water and the Holy Spirit, we are purified from every sin; either from Adam, through whom all sinned, or by our own action and words; as we are washed from it in the water of Baptism1.] By the oil of the holy anointment, He anointed her. By His Holy Spirit, He brought her into His possession. He gave her the seal of the Spirit; clothed her by the clothes of righteousness; provided her with footwear, to walk in God’s way; clothed her with linen, a sign of purity, and with silk, a sign of righteousness. He provided her with jewelry, not of this world, yet as an pledge of the spirit that bestows beauty on the soul; He put a bracelet on her wrist, a chain on her neck, a jewel in her nose, earrings in her ears, and a beautiful crown on her head. These are all the works of the Holy Spirit in our inner life; to sanctify all its senses and energies on the account of the kingdom; to have her hands stretched to work without slothfulness; her neck bowed to joyfully carry the burdens of others; her nose opened to smell the fragrance of heaven; and her ears to be adorned by hearing the divine commandments. As to the crown of her beauty, it is the Lord Christ Himself, who fills her mind and guides her behavior. This is the work of God in us! He provides us with gold and silver; namely, offers to us the ‘heavenly life,’ referred to as gold; and the word of God, that is seven times purified as silver; fulfills our souls with the Holy Body, not to be hungry for anything else! By that the soul becomes exceedingly beautiful, worthy of entering the kingdom of her Groom, as a queen adorned by the perfect splendor that her Groom bestows upon her; and acquires a name, that of her Holy Christ. 3- HER BETRAYAL OF HIM After providing her with all these possibilities, she dared to betray Him: “You trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame, and poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by who would have it” (Ez 16:15). Here He talks about the spiritual harlotry, which is the diversion of the soul after someone other than her Groom; binding with temporal things, at the expense of her relationship with God. Concerning this Origen says: [Harlotry in its wider sense, includes every form of sin. There is harlotry, when the soul enters into a mutual relationship with God the Word, and unite with Him in a kind of marriage, then become corrupted and defile herself with someone else, an enemy of Him who reigned on her with faith - the Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Groom and husband of the chaste and pure soul. And as the apostle Paul says: “For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (1 Cor 11:2, 3). Therefore, as long as the soul unites with her 1 Epistle, 178 :28. 8 Groom, listens to His words, and clings to Him, she would gain from Him the fruit of the word... If the soul conceives by the works of Christ, she would give birth to children, for whose sake she was told: “She will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control” (1 Tim 2:15)... Indeed, blessed is that fertile soul that partook of begetting the Word of God, became harmonious with Him in His bosom thus give birth to genuine descendants that produce purity, righteousness, patience, meekness, love, and every honorable descent. But if the soul miserably forsakes the holy sanctuary of the Word of God, enters into the bosom of corruption, and gets deceived by the vanity of the devil; it will surely give birth, but to children, of whom it is written, that they are corrupt and imperfect1.] Origen2 believes that harlotry here means forsaking the marital home, or deserting the holy household. Such are the sinners, by whose spiritual harlotry, they are cast outside the tabernacle of God; while the saints stay inside. Whoever binds himself to the Word of God, and walks in His obedience, will live as though in the spiritual marital home; while he who binds himself to false philosophies will deny himself the heavenly wedding, and will be considered a harlot. This is the spiritual harlotry, committed by the soul, by forsaking God her Groom, and resorting to the devil and his ways. As to the features of this spiritual harlotry, these are: a- Pride: “You trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame, and poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by who would have it” (Ez 16:15). The beginning of fall is pride. When man trusts in his human arm, and thinks high of himself; then the grace of God will forsake him, and will become a toy for every sin. St. Isaac the Syrian says: [Who loves dignity, will not be able to escape the causes of abasement3.] St. Moses the Black says: [Whoever thinks that he is blameless, contains in himself all defects4.] And Pope Gregory (the Great) says: [Indeed, the soul that trusts in its beauty, and thinks of itself as righteous, plays the role of a harlot for her fame; as whatever it does, is not to proclaim the glory of its Creator, but to seek its personal glory.] b- Defiling the body: “You took some of your garments and adorned multicolored high places for yourself, and played the harlot on them” (Ez 16:16). If the garments in the Holy Bible refer to the body, God will punish him, who makes out of his body ‘high places,’ namely places for evil; on which to offer sacrifices to the idols. The devil would find in the body several places for himself, through the eye, the ear, the hand, the belly etc. Our good body would turn into instruments of unrighteousness for death. That is why the apostle Paul says: “Do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom 6:13). “For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness” (Rom 6:19). “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom 12:1). 1 In Num. hom 20:2. 2 In Ezek. hom. 7:1. . 3 بستان الرهبان، ص 318 . 4 المرجع السابق، ص 325 9 c- Defiling the sanctities of God: “You have also taken your beautiful jewelry from My gold and My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images, and played the harlot with them” (Ez 16:17). So God punishes His bride, not only because she is a traitor, but also because she had taken His treasures and sanctities, and used them in betraying Him. Origen says that she took the things, from which are made what is for her glory and pride, about which Moses wrote in the book of Numbers: golden censors, cups, and lamp stands... had them all melted, and made for herself male images for corruption and adultery, so became herself an adulteress. This is the literal interpretation. But symbolically, Origen believes that the soul is replacing the concepts of the word of God by false concepts; the wicked melt the divine word presented to them for their glory, and replace the truth by vanity, and God by other images. God presented us with the Law and the prophets, for our inner glory; but we abuse them1. The soul abuses His gold and silver (Ez 16:17); His oil and incense (Ez 16:18); the food that He gave her - the pastry of fine flour, oil, and honey (Ez 16:19)! The denying soul takes the gold and silver of Christ, to make for herself images; namely, uses those heavenly things (gold), and His gospel word (silver), not to lift herself up to the divine life, but for the service of temporal thoughts. Thus faith, according to her, would become, not as union with God, but a mean for earthly goals. As an example we mention the motive of love, that God grants to humanity, and cause to grow in the believer’s life. Some transfer it into carnal lusts; namely, use the gift of God on the account of the kingdom of darkness. What is said about love applies to anger; it is also a gift, a feeling by which man should direct toward himself against sin; yet some use it against other fellow men. “You took your embroidered garments and covered them” (Ez 16:18). What are these beautifully embroidered colorful garments, but the qualities of mercy, humility, patience, and forbearance. This is the adornment that beautifies and covers the believer. Origen says that the heretic covers his killing philosophy with deceptive outer adorned garments; bearing the image of purity, chastity, and meekness, in order to catch the simple and to lead them to perdition of their whole life; he would be like someone who covers up the pagan idols with beautiful adornments. [Let us beware of the heretics, who adopt the appearance of a perfect life... For Satan, is like the catcher of sparrows, who offers delicious food that would help him to catch them. The devil has some kind of false purity and meekness... to seduce the human soul; by false talk, he can entrap it in his net and various snares; He strives to deprive man of everything2.] Again, he says that the devil does everything that looks good... mixes and distorts things, to lead the human nature to perdition. Whoever is keen for the salvation of his soul, would never go after these deceits3. “You set My oil and My incense before them” (Ez 16:18). The literal meaning is: Instead of using the oil and incense, for the golden light stand and the golden altar of incense, they are used in pagan worship. The oil refers to the anointment of the Spirit, and the incense to the prayers of the Saints. It is as though, instead of enjoying the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and lifting the heart up in prayer, so that the believer would enjoy a 1 Cf. In Ezek. hom. 7:2. 2 In Ezek. hom. 7:3. 3 In Ezek. hom. 7:3. 10 fellowship with God, in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit, his worship would turn into how to please others thus becomes their slave; a kind of worship, through which he loses the most holy and precious things through this servitude... A servitude to vain glory, and seeking the compliments of others. As to the oil and incense of the Lord, refer to the worship that, instead of becoming a spiritual ladder to rise up to eternity, it would be replaced by formalities serving personal desires. As to the kinds of food, these are divine gifts presented by God that are diverted from their spiritual goal. “Also My food which I gave you - the pastry of fine flour, oil, and honey which I fed you - you set before them as sweet incense” (Ez 16:19). What is this food, presented by the Lord, but His word in the two Testaments; the Law and the prophets are the pastry of fine flour; and the New Testament is the honey. The word of God in the Old Testament is the food on which we subsist; without which, we could not have recognized our Christ in the New Testament - the “Desire of nations;’ the delicious honey in the depths of the soul! Yet the heretics use even the word of God, the spiritual food, to corrupt the minds of the simple! Indeed, how hard it is for God to see the means of salvation, of spiritual growth, and union with Him, become the very ones for destroying the relationship with Him; and even used on the account of His enemy! d- Destruction of the energies of both the body and the soul: “Moreover you took your sons and your daughters, whom you bore to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured..., that you have slain my children and offered them up to them by causing them to pass through the fire” (Ez 16:20, 21). The people literally did that, when they offered their children, who are God’s children, sacrificed them, and caused them to pass through fire, in pagan worship. Women used to offer their newly born babies as sacrifices to the god ‘Moloch;’ deliver them to the priests, who, amid the thundering noise of drums, place them on the bronze arms of the god, red hot with fire. No one could hear the screams of the babies, but all joyfully danced and committed adultery... as rites of worship to the god! The children who should have been brought up as children of God, sanctified in the truth, were sacrificed to the devil! Symbolically, the boys and girls, whom we bear to the Lord, then we sacrifice them on account of the devil, these are the energies of the soul and body, sanctified by the Holy Spirit; then we defile in evil abominations. The believer, receiving love from the hand of God, who is Love, to make his heart big enough to accommodate love for God and people; sometimes diverts it to become a carnal lust, at the service of his own desires, on account of the devil. Thus. All the motives, tendencies, and energies of the soul, flared up by the Holy Spirit, to become like sons and daughters to God, working in the heart on His account, if diverted, would come to be at the service of the kingdom of darkness. e- Turning into pagan temples: “You also built for yourself a shrine, and made a high place for yourself in every street. You built your high places at the head of every road, and made your beauty to be abhorred” (Ez 16:24, 25). The soul, instead of being a holy temple for the dwelling of God, it becomes a shrine for the devil, and sets for him a high place in every street. Wherever it goes, it harbors no thought other than carnal lust and world love. At the head of every road it builds a high place: in its family life, in work, and in its social relationships. It does not think of what concerns God, but of what concerns sin. It abhorred its beauty created by God; and as Origen says: [The human soul is 11 very beautiful; because God created it... saying:“ Let us create man in Our image and according to Our likeness” (Gen 1:26). Are there a more beautiful image and likeness? Yet some worthless adulterers attracted to its beauty, tend to corrupt it. That is why the apostle Paul says: “But I fear lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor 11:3)1.] He also says that the heretics corrupt the beauty of the soul and the mind by their wrong thoughts, causing the soul to be corrupted by falling in spiritual adultery2. f- Committing sin and never be satisfied: “You also committed harlotry with the Egyptians, your very fleshy neighbors, and increased your acts of harlotry to provoke me to anger... You also played the harlot with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; Indeed you played the harlot with them and still was not satisfied. Moreover you multiplied your acts of harlotry as far as the land of the trader, Chaldea; and even then you were not satisfied” (Ez 16:26-29). Although Egypt and Assyria were adversaries, yet the Jews were then insatiable, accepting the gods of Egypt and, at the same time, the gods of Assyria. Just like someone in whom sin turns into a sickness; he sins right and left with no goal nor satisfaction; commits sins opposing to each other at the same time: fall into the sin of pride and self-esteem; and at the same time, has his heart flare with evil lusts. “How degenerate is your heart?!, says the Lord God “ (Ez 16:30). g- Shamelessly committing sin: God likens her to ‘a brazen harlot’ (Ez 16:30), who shamelessly commits sin. She invites strangers, and instead of asking for payment, she offers presents and bribe: “Men make payment to all harlots, but you made your payment to all your lovers, and hired them to come to you from all around for your harlotry (Ez 16:33). Man may refer to need, to poverty, or to certain material or social situation, as excuses for committing sin. But getting used to sin, man may commit it at the expense of his health, or his material or social advantage! When St. John Chrysostom3 wrote to a friend who fell into adultery, and broke the vow of ‘Theodore;’ intending to rescue him from despair, he found in this chapter a living portrait of God’s love, that calls those who fell in such horrible level of adultery, to return to Him. St. Jerome, in one of his letters, sees in this description, a symbolic portrait of an idle soul, that leaves itself prone to every kind of evil everywhere. That is why he warns us against idle life, saying: [In Egypt, monasteries set a by-law, to accept no one who is not ready to work; considering work, not only a necessity for body needs, but for the salvation of the soul as well. Do not let your mind wander in vain thoughts; to become like Jerusalem in its harlotry, which offered herself to everyone who passed by (Ez 16:25) 4.] Origen5 presents to us a symbolic interpretation of the brazen harlot who shamelessly commits harlotry... that she likens a religious person who sins, yet keeps on his religious appearance. The sinner would spiritually play the harlot, and confesses his sin with humiliation; while that religious person would play the harlot; and shamelessly keep pretending to be religious. What are the presents that the harlot gives to her lovers? She takes what is her 1 In Ezek. hom. 7:6. 2 In Ezek. hom. 7:6. 3 Letters to the Fallen Theodore 1:13. 4 Epist 125:11. 5 In Ezek. hom.8. 12 husband’s and gives it to them. That is what the heretics do, when they misunderstand the word of God and His gifts, then use them on behalf of the devil’s kingdom. 4- PUNISHMENT OF BETRAYAL a- Chastening in public: We have previously dealt with how God covers our iniquities. He advises us in private, hoping for our repentance. But if we persist on sinning, He allows for our public chastening; yet not for the sake of defamation (Chapter 5). Here, as she became in her harlotry “a brazen harlot” (Ez 16:30); and entered into a sick situation of insatiable desire for sin, committing it with everyone passing by, God had to deal firmly with her, to chasten her, for the sake of her salvation; saying: “Surely, therefore, I will gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, all those you loved, and all those you hated; I will gather them from all around against you, and will uncover your nakedness...” (Ez 16:37). b- Corruption left to destroy itself by itself. Those with whom she took pleasure, will be the ones who destroy her life: “I will give you into their hands, and they shall throw down your shrines and break down your high places. They shall also strip you of your clothes, take your beautiful jewelry, and leave you naked and bare” (Ez 16:39). Things that man thinks are the subject of his happiness, turn themselves, to be the source of his misery; and what he assumes to be the source of his satisfaction, he will finally find them to be the cause of his hunger, thirst, nakedness, and disgrace! c- God’s anger against her: By rushing to evil, evil in itself will not only be man’s punishment; but, deprived of being with God, he would then fall under the fury of God. Yet the bitter most, and the most severe level of God’s fury, is for God to “be angry no more” (Ez 16:42); namely to disregard him altogether. If God gets angry with us, it is because he loves us and wishes us to unite with Him; but persisting on rejecting Him, He will be angry no more, and we would lose His divine love: “I will lay to rest My fury toward you, and My jealousy shall depart from you. I will be quiet, and be angry no more” (Ez 16:42). Concerning this, St. Jerome says: [The harshest level of God’ anger toward sinners, is when He is angry no more... As “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives” (Heb 12:6). A father advises his son; and a teacher would not correct the ways of his student if he does not love him and finds him promising. And when a physician stops caring for a patient, this would be a sign of his despair of him1.] And he says: [In other words, when you were just a harlot, I jealously loved you; but having many lovers, made me despise you, and I would be angry any more. In the same way, man becomes jealous about his wife when he loves her, but when he is jealous no more, that would mean that he loves her no more. As though he would not be saying God’s words, “I will visit their transgression with the rod” (Ps 89:32); but he would be saying His words, “I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry” (Hos 4:14)2.] d- Proverbs would be quoted against her: “Indeed everyone who quotes proverbs will use this proverb against you: ‘Like mother, like daughter’” (Ez 16:44). When a believer falls in sin, he would most probably be worse than a non-believer; 1 Epistle 68:1. 2 On Ps., hom 51, 13 because he takes what is God’s, through the strong possibilities granted to him, and uses them for evil; so he becomes like a proverb before many. Here, God admonishes the people, because they have forsaken Him as their father; “Their mother became a Hittite, and their father an Amorite,” being referred to them through sharing their abominations; Their older sister became ‘Samaria’ (Israel or the northern kingdom), that for a long time walked in the way of evil; and their younger sister became ‘Sodom,’ that became worthy of being burned with fire. She even became more evil than all these; saying: “You did not walk in their ways nor act according to their abominations; but, as if that were too little, you became more corrupt than they in all your ways” (Ez 16:47). He concentrates on the following sins (Ez 16:49): I- Pride (Ez 16:49, 50): That motivates to rebellion against and muting God. Its end will be fall. Origen says: [Which is then the greatest of all sins? Surely it is that which led to the fall of Satan. What is the sin that caused the collapse of such greatness? The apostle Paul says: “Being puffed up with pride he fell into the same condemnation as the devil” (1 Tim 3:6). Pride and arrogance are the sins of the devil; because of which he fell from heaven to earth; that is why, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (Jam 4:6). What causes man, who is made from dust and ashes, to be proud; forgetting his destiny; forgetting how he is but a fragile vessel; disregarding the dirt in which he sinks, and the wastes that come out of his body?1] Origen rebukes the proud priests; saying: [How do they forget humility once they became priests?! It is as though they were ordained to stop being humble! The Holy Bible says: “The higher you are, the more humble you should become” (Ben Sirach). The congregation has chosen you, as you were bowing your head! They made you a ruler; so do not get arrogant. Be like anyone of them. Be humble, and humiliated; Escape from pride, as it is the source of evil.] II- Fullness of food (Ez 16:49): That is when man seeks material fullness, and leans upon the temporaries; disregarding all spiritual values. III- Unconcern (Ez 16:49): Namely putting the conscience to rest. Instead of confessing sin and presenting repentance, man says to himself, “Peace”… namely he chooses for himself the wide way and the spoiled life, instead that of repentance and of bearing the cross. 5- THE WAY OF REFORM “You who judged your sisters, bear your own shame also; because the sins you committed were more abominable than theirs; They are more righteous than you..... When I bring back their captives, the captives of Sodom and her daughters, and the captives of Samaria and her daughters, then I will also bring back the captives of your captivity among them.... When your sisters and their daughters return to their former state; then you and your daughters return to your former state” (Ez 16:52-55). Origen noticed that the way of return to the former state; namely to the state that was before captivity, necessitates bearing a feeling of shame, for the sins and abominations that man committed. Commenting on the previous statements he says: [Man should not practice something shameful; but everything good by nature should be directed to God in true confidence. Yet, as we, as humans, often commit sin, we should feel shame; we should humbly look down with our eyes, because of our 1 In Ezek. hom 9:2. 14 abominations; and should not proceed with such a bold face, as though we would do nothing wrong. It is better for man to feel shame after committing sin; especially that the deceiver, the evildoer, often makes man behave as if he is doing the right thing, instead of remembering the due punishment. From our daily life, we see and learn, how often men, after committing sins, do not regret what they did, but vainly defend their corruption... That is why it is said: “Bear your own shame also” (Ez 16:52). Do not think that this phrase was said to Jerusalem alone, but is said to everyone of us we who pretend to do no wrong... who is worthy of shame before the righteous God who tests the hearts and minds (Ps 7:9). Then one feels shameful when he discovers precisely the thoughts, acts and words… he hears the prophet saying: Bear your own shame. When one does something shameful, God makes him feel shame1.] If God commands Jerusalem to bear her own shame, it is to provoke her to confess the abominations she committed; and by repentance He would get her back from the state of shame to that of dignity; get her back home from her captivity; saying: “They will return to their former state.” Origen comments on this saying: [It is a disgrace for a citizen to be exiled from his country... The just Lord acknowledging this says to him who commits abominations: You who is worthy of punishment, Do not receive your exile with grief; as murmuring against punishment makes you unworthy of mercy. You should rather admit that you are worthy of the punishment you suffer. When you humbly acknowledge the justice of the verdict issued against you, you would then be worthy to get mercy from the One who is capable, after condemning you, of returning you to your former state. As it is possible for a great ruler to release those who are in prison or exile; it is more so for the Lord of the universe, to give back the former dignity to him who lost it, provided that he confesses his sin, and admits his worthiness of the pains he suffers2.] Origen presents a practical example, in case someone is excommunicated from the Church - either of the clergy or of the congregation; If they murmur and provoke the people to follow their lead, “they would treasure up for themselves wrath in the day of wrath” (Rom 2:5). But if they receive this verdict in complete humility and with patience; whether their excommunication is just or not; leaving the decision on that to God; they will gain mercy from Him; and would most probably be returned to their former state (Church membership), with more glory and dignity. When we bear the shame here, we provoke, in the coming age “the tender mercy of God” (Luke 1:78), to take away this disgrace. While he, who murmurs here, would fall into eternal shame. Origen also noticed that returning from captivity to the former state, would depend on the state of man... He started with ‘Sodom’ and her daughters, then Samaria’ and her daughters, and finally ‘Jerusalem’ and her daughters (Ez 16:55). Who knows more, will get more strokes: The knowledge of the Gentile Sodom is less than Samaria (the heretics); and knowledge of Samaria is less than that of Jerusalem. [The closer we are to God... the farthest we would be from Him if we sin, and the more severe and horrible would be our punishment; God’s judgment is just, ‘The lowly humble will be forgiven through mercy; while the mighty would be severely punished’ 1 In Ezek. hom 9:1. 2 In Ezek. hom. 10:1. 15 (Wisd. 6:7). Whoever is the least of all (1 Cor 15:9), would be worthy of swift mercy1.] Origen comments on the words of the Holy Bible: “Your elder sister, is Samaria, who dwells with her daughters to the north of you; and your younger sister, who dwells in the south of you, is Sodom and her daughters” (Ez 16:46). [As the virtue makes me a brother of the Lord Christ; craftiness (evil), would get me several sisters, all sinners. When Jerusalem started tending toward sin, she did not yet have Samaria nor Sodom as sisters; but as she sank deep in wickedness... she became in the middle of her two sisters, the elder Samaria, and the younger Sodom2.] To demonstrate the extent of Jerusalem’s abominations, He said that, by all the abominations she has done, she has justified her sisters like Samaria, as He says: “Samaria did not commit half of your sins; but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, and have justified your sisters by all the abominations, which you have done... They are more righteous than you” (Ez 16:51, 52). Origen says: [Actually, Samaria and Sodom were justified by the abominations of Jerusalem... Let us beware that, on Judgment day, those of less abominations shall judge us; and we, in our turn will judge others. Only One will be justified before all; and before whom no one will be justified. Sodom is justified by Jerusalem who committed more abominations; and Jerusalem may be justified by another city worse than she is... Who would justify the antichrist that will appear having more abominations than all others?!... No one will be justified before God: Abraham was righteous. So was Moses and others. Yet if compared to Christ, they would not be considered righteous. When they come close to His light, their light will be counted as darkness, as a lamp look dark in sunlight. The light of the righteous would shine before men, but would not shine before Christ. As He did not just say, “Let your light shine;” but said, “Let your light shine before people;” as the light of the righteous could never shine before Christ3.] 6- A PROMISE TO ACCEPT HER ANEW After proclaiming this horrible portrait of Judah, in her brazen public harlotry, that surpassed the evil of the Gentiles; and presenting her chastisement, He opened before her the door of hope by returning to Him through the New Testament, in which she enters into our Lord Jesus Christ: “‘I will establish an everlasting covenant with you;... Then you shall know that I am the Lord; that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done,’ says the Lord God” (Ez 16:60-63). This is the everlasting covenant, in which we shall never remember our sins anymore; but will find in it atonement for all we have done; then our heart will find peace forever. 1 In Ezek. hom. 10:2. 2 In Ezek. hom. 9:3. 3 In Ezek. hom. 9:3. 16 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF E ZEKIEL 16 I AM NOT JUST ONE AMONG BILLIONS Now, I realize that I am not just one among billions! I am the object of Your love and personal care! My sin cast me on the road, like a discarded trash! No one to look at me; or ask about me! No one to carry me out of the mud of the road, and away of its risks! You passed by me, and looked at me with Your divine eyes! I felt the warmth of love; I heard You whispering in my ears: “Your time is the time of love.” You carried me on Your divine arms; You cleansed me in the water of Baptism; You anointed me with the oil of Mayron; You became my garment, in which I hide! You became my food and my drink! my wealth and riches! My joy and the joy of my heart! You shone with Your splendor on me! Then my depths became exceedingly beautiful and glorified! You counted me as Your son; A holy bride for You, O King of Kings! You made me a queen; To sit in the heavenly places! You made me a member in Your Holy Body! And set me a second heaven for your joyful kingdom! Who can care for me as You do? Who else is for me on earth and in heaven? I yearn for You, O the Groom of my soul!
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