THE WORD OF GOD, THE HEALER This psalm presents to us a living portrait of the incarnate Word of God, the Forgiver of sins, who gathers His church from the ends of the earth; the divine Physician, the Healer of both the soul and the body. 1- A call to confession and thanksgiving 1 - 3 2- Salvation from getting lost in the midst of the wilderness4 - 9 3- Salvation from bondage 10 - 16 4- Salvation from sickness 17 - 22 5- Salvation from the dangers of sailing in the great waters of the world 23 - 32 6- The divine care 33 – 43 The title: Thanksgiving to the Lord for His great works of deliverance. “Alleluia”: Although we sing it in certain days, but, in truth, we think of it every day. By this word we mean to praise God, if not by the physical mouth, but surely by that of the heart: “I will praise the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth1” (Psalm 34: 1). (St. Augustine) 1- A CALL TO CONFESSION AND THANKSGIVING: The psalmist calls the holy congregation to present a confession of their sins, and a thanksgiving on the faithfulness of God in His promises to them; confirming His goodness and love for those He redeemed, whose debts He paid back by His precious blood, whom He set free from the bondage of the devil, and gathered from the whole world, as a holy people for Himself. “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His mercy endures forever” (1) The words “Give thanks” here, came to mean “Confess”. For, according to many fathers, like St. Augustine, St. John Chrysostom, and others, we are committed to confess to the Lord: first, for the sake of His good works with us, especially His grace working in us; by practicing goodness as a gift from Him; And secondly, by confessing 1 On Ps. 107 (106). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 110 our sins, to be forgiven. The two aspects are integral; interpreted by St. Augustine as: “Confess to the Lord, for He is sweet, For His mercy endures forever”; And says that he who does not taste the sweetness of God, would not be able to confess. Because His mercy is not just for some time, as though it does not endure forever; His mercy on men, is to let them live together with the angels forever1. (St. Augustine) Confess your sins to Him, for He is Compassionate, and the Forgiver of sins. If He is not good, the prophet David would not counsel you to confess, and to give Him thanks. His compassion is eternal: In This world, He is wholly merciful; and in the world to come, He is Just … As long as you are in this world, confess to Him, and give Him thanks2. (St. Jerome) There are two kinds of confession: Admitting our transgressions, and giving thanks for His goodness; We are committed to present both to the Lord, for His is good, and His mercy endures forever. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (2) The redeemed of the Lord” has been a favorite expression to the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 35: 9-10; 62: 12; 63: 4). The secret of the cross was so reveled to Isaiah, that he anticipated the church of the new covenant, gathered by the Lord from all the Gentiles, as a church redeemed by His precious blood, and set free from the bondage of the devil. Hence he says: “No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35: 9- 10). “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so”. Here, the prophet directly refers to the call to the Gentiles, which represents the main issue of this psalm. 1 On Ps. 107 (106). 2 Homily 33 On Ps. 106 (107). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 111 Having been captives in the hands of the devil, the Lord came and redeemed us from his hands. The enemy held us in his hands, not on account of that he loves us, but because he hates us1. How great is the power of the blood of the Lord, to liberate us from the hand of the devil … The Lord poured His blood like the oil of mercy to set us free2. (St. Jerome) What came in the verses 2 to 5, concern us ‘Christians’, whom the Lord, glory be to Him, gathered in one church from all the nations of the world, binding us by one faith. Before we believe, we were away from God, lost in a barren way of life, devoid of virtues, and of the water of baptism, short-sighted toward God; And with no way to lead us to the dwelling place of the righteous, namely, the kingdom of heaven. Our souls were miserable; hungry for the bread that strengthens the heart of man, namely, the divine teaching; and thirsty for the water, for the sake of which, our Lord, Glory be to Him, said: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water “ (John 7: 38). (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “And gathered us out of the lands, from the east and from the west; from the north and from the south” (3) According to the Arabic version, it came as: “… from the east, from the west, from the north, and from the sea”. (The sea is to the west of Jerusalem). The redeemed of the Lord, who came from the east, the west, and the north, are the Gentiles who received faith in the Lord Christ. The prophet Isaiah says: “Surely these shall come from afar, Look! Those from the north and the west, and those from the land of Sinim” (Isaiah 49: 12). And the Evangelist Luke says: “They will come from the east and the west, from the north and south, and sit down in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13: 29). According to St. Jerome, the prophet does not mention the south, which represent the land where Christ was born “God came from Taman; The Holy One from Mount Paran” (Habakkuk 3: 3). “Many will come from the east, the west to the bosoms of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out” (Matthew 8: 10-12); The Gentiles came from the east, the west, and 1 Homily 33 On Ps. 106 (107). 2 Homily 33 On Ps. 106 (107). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 112 the north, but the Jews (in the south) have rejected the faith in the Lord Christ. From the text, it is obvious that this psalm does not concern the people of Israel, but it is the song of the (catholic) church all over the world1. We understand that “the redeemed of the Lord” refer to the people of God, who are liberated from the land of bondage, all over the wide earth, and are led through the Red Sea; namely through the holy sacrament of baptism, in which their sins are utterly cleansed; … “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10: 11) 2. (St. Augustine) The Gentiles were honored, much more than the Jewish flock, who were condemned of rebellion, and of crucifying the Lord; Whereas the Gentiles received faith in Christ, by whom, and to whom, together with the Father, be the praise and the dominion , together with the holy Spirit, Amen3. (St. Cyril the Great) 2- SALVATION FROM GETTING LOST IN THE MIDST OF THE WILDERNESS: Losing the way in the wilderness is very dangerous, leading mostly to death of travelers through loss of the secure way, hunger, thirst, and utter exhaustion. As there is no city secure from danger, the travelers are exposed to the wild beasts, and to the robbers. That is why the Lord presents Himself to His people, being the Way, in whom He carries them forth to the bosom of the Father; the heavenly Bread, the living Water, the Grantor of rest, the Satisfier of all needs, and the secure Refuge. “They wondered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in” (4) This applies to the Jews who lost the way in the wilderness for forty years, and did not cross over to the promised land, with the exception of Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh. … And it also applies to all humanity, that lived as though in a maze, since 1 On Ps. 107 (106). 2 On Ps. 107 (106). تفسیر إنجیل لوقا، عظة 3 .99 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 113 the time of the falling of Adam, until the Word of God came incarnate, to bring them forth into the bosom of the Father, to enjoy the heavenly Jerusalem, as their home in which to settle down forever. According to St. Jerome, the Gentiles, as well, have lost their way in the wilderness, and found no city to dwell in. The great philosophers Sucrates, Plato, and others, searched for such a city, but lost the way, as though in a barren wilderness; forthe teachings of Philosophy without seeking the grace and help of God, do not provide the true food, nor the living water. They were like the woman who had a flow of blood, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any (Luke 8: 43-49; Mark 5: 25-35; Matthew 9: 20-23); But, once she cried out to the Lord, and touched the border of His garment, she was healed. Out of the system of monastic fellowship (Koinonia), emerged some other kind of the seekers of perfection, called the ‘Hermits’,namely, those who live in seclusion; who, not being satisfied by their conquest, having trampled upon the hidden tricks of the devil under their feet, while living among people, they longed to enter into an open war and an exposed battle against the enemy. They did not fear going deep into the wilderness, following the lead of St. John the Baptist, who spent his whole life in the desert; and the prophets Elijah and Elisha, about whom the apostle say: “They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented – of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth” (Hebrew 11: 37, 38). About them, the Lord talked to the righteous ‘Job’, saying: “Who set the wild donkey free? Who loosed the bonds of the onager, whose home I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwelling? He scorns the tumult of the city, he does not heed the shouts of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searches after every green thing” (Job 39: 5-8). The prophet Jeremiah describes them, saying: “It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone and keep silent, because God has laid it on him” (Lamentations 3: 27-28). And the book of psalms also says: “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (2) ; Then he goes on to say: “They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses” (4-6). And from the heart, the words come https://coptic-treasures.com/ 114 out of the psalmist’s mouth, saying: “I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert” (Psalm 102: 6-7) 1. (Father Beamon) “Hungry and thirsty, their souls fainted in them” (5) God proclaims His care for His believers in the wilderness of this world. The prophet Isaiah says: “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongues fail for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the Lord of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry lands springs of water” (Isaiah 41:17-18). If the Gentiles came to be like wilderness with no water, having not enjoyed the law, the fathers, or the prophets; Yet the God of all mankind, has opened in those wilderness the springs of faith in Christ Jesus; and the wilderness turned into a fruitful paradise of God. “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses” (6) According to father Onesimus of Jerusalem, the pagan nations, called “the Greeks” in the New Testament; … While being in the old covenant, having not perceived the extent of misery which they have reached, they did not cry out to God to seek deliverance from it. Yet, the prophets and the righteous cried out to God on their behalf, with bitterness and sighs. It so happened, when the Lord Christ came, and those with spirits of mental weakness did not come to Him for help, nor sought salvation, but it was their close rational relatives who came to ask Him on their behalf. It is therefore, befitting of the pious people not to cease asking and supplicating, and even wrestling for the sake of those prone to perdition, for the Lord to work in them. The pious men of God were always longing with compassion for the sake of the salvation of their brethren; crying out, seeking the coming of the Son of God to the world, as inspired to them. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for habitation” (7) Having not found the way to a city of habitation, the Lord led them forth by the right way; He revealed the way for them, for they they have previously found all the ways perverted and not straight. The 1 Cassian, Conferences 18: 6. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 115 Way led them to the right way; The Lord Himself, the Savior, the Way, and the Leader at the same time, led them to the way, and let them walk along it, to enter into the church, He established upon Himself, He, the Rock, the Way, and the Guide1. (St. Jerome) “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works for the children of men” (8) According to the Septuagint and the Coptic versions, it came as: “Let us give the Lord thanks for His mercies and wonders for the children of men”. Man may marvel how the prophet – in the old covenant – could offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God for the sake of His wonders to thechildren of men; namely, for to Gentiles; unless he is swallowed into the love of God, proclaimed on the cross; and saw how the Word of God stretches His hands to all mankind in the east, west, north, and south; an expression that came four times in the same psalm (verses 8, 15, 22, and 31 The psalmist repeated the expression: “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for the wonderful works for the children of men”, three times in verses 8, 15, and 31; by which, according to St. Jerome, he gives honor to the Holy Trinity, as proclaimed by the gospel. Confession of praise, and thanksgiving is presented to the evangelic Truth, who “satisfied the longing soul, and filled the hungry soul with goodness” (9), and heavenly bread. For “He has broken the gates of the pit, and set us free of hell (16); And for He, as well, has granted us the spirit of praise in an exultant church atmosphere (32). About our Lord Himself, it is said that He is the Way; for He leads those who follow Him to the knowledge of His Father, and to a city of habitation, namely, to His kingdom, the dwelling place of His saints. To that city, arrive those who come out of the temporal disturbances and confusions .And like the Jews, intending to come to the city of God, walked through a barren, rough, and tiresome way; So it is for us;we are committed to walk along a narrow way, in order to reach the city of God – the heavenly Jerusalem. We therefore offer Him thanks for His mercies and wonders for mankind; We do that to let the others follow suit; learn His wonders from us, and put their ways right. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) 1 Homily 33 On Ps. 106 (107). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 116 He promises the wine of joy for the Gentiles; using the shadow to refer to thesecret of the new covenant of Christ, open now before the Gentiles to celebrate1. (Eusabius of Caesarea) “For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with good things (bread)” (9) God cares to provide His believers with all their needs, to satisfy their hunger, and quench their thirst; And according to the prophet Jeremiah: “I shall satiate the soul of the priest with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 31: 14). And, according to the psalmist: “They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures” (Psalm 36: 8). About him, who lacks goodness, and is empty of righteousness, it is said that his soul is desolate and hungry. So were the Greeks (the Gentiles) before they believe in Christ, who satiated them with His abundance, when He taught them the work of righteousness. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) 3- SALVATION FROM BONDAGE: Sin humiliates man and deprives him of freedom, to live, as though in a dark prison, with bronze gates, that no on can destroy, and iron bars, that nobody can break; where man is shackled with chains, heavy on the body and soul. “Those who sat in the darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons …” (10) In his previous talk, the psalmist likened men to nomads traveling in the midst of a barren wilderness, with neither food nor drink, whom the Lord, Himself sustains. Now he talks of them as captives and prisoners who live in humiliation, shackled with iron, cast in darkness, and in need of the Lord to enlighten their darkness (Psalm 18: 28). God longs to liberate the captives, and to set the prisoners free from prison; For freedom is the greatest gift given to man; “For the Lord hears the poor, and does not despise His prisoners (Psalm 69: 33); “Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You” (Psalm 79: 11). 1 Proof of Gospel, 1: 10. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 117 The Greeks (the Gentiles), by their natural wisdom, should have perceived the Maker of such beautiful creation; according to the words of the apostle, saying: “For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1: 20, etc.). But our Lord Jesus Christ, for the abundance of His mercy, has satiated them with goodness, saved them from the vanity of death, and loosed their chains, saying to the captives: “Get out”, and to those in darkness: “Be seen”. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “Because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High” (11) There is no darkness to prevail on man, like that of sin and rebellion against God; And there is no way to captivity and deprivation from freedom, like despising His counsel. For whoever breaks the commandments of the divine Liberator, will cast himself in the bitterness of humiliation, and deprive himself of the inner freedom and the peace of heart. “Therefore, He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help” (12) A heart, proud and disobedient to his God, cannot receive peace inside it; but would live in inexpressible labor; he would fall down, and there would be none to help; For God of the humble, alone, can help and lift up to perfection. Strive against lust; for in case God ceases to support you in your strife, you will not be able to overcome. And when the pressure of your evil increases on you, your hearts will be brought down with labor. That is why, learn to cry-out with a humble heart, saying: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver mefrom this body of death?!” (Romans 7: 24) 1. (St. Augustine) “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses” (13) Once the fallen turns his face toward God, he will find Him waiting to save him from his distresses, to shine on him with His light, and to take the darkness away from him. 1 On Ps. 107 (106). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 118 “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces” (14) “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men” (15) “For He has broken the gates, and cut out the bars of iron in two” (16) If sin and rebellion would bring man or the congregation forth, as though into a prison with bronze gates and iron bar; God, the Philanthropic, counts Himself as though a fellow prisoner, intends to give them back their freedom, and to bring them back to Himself; as expressed by the prophet Micah, saying: “They will break out, pass through the gate, and go out by it. Their king will pass before them, with the Lord at their head” (Micah 2: 13).; and by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “I, the Lord, has called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand … to bring out prisonersfrom the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house” (Isaiah 42: 6-7); And by the prophet Zechariah, saying: “Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope” (Zechariah 9: 12). How were the gates of bronze broken, and how were the bars of iron cut? … by His body; … He appeared the first time as a body to be eternized, and to destroy the dominion of death1. Those who have been under the old ordinance, when death not yet put to death, the bronze gates were not yet broken, nor the iron bars were cut; If their body has met their end; What would be our need, if we, having got such a great grace, and to us, death came to be just a name, without actuality, no more than a sleep, a comfort, a journey, a calm port, an escape from labor, and a liberation from the present troublesome life2. (St. John Chrysostom) The prophet says bronze gates and iron bars about the entrances to death, from which it is impossible to exit. Yet, even those were broken and cut by our Lord, when he came down to Hades, and set the captives free. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) 4- SALVATION FROM SICKNESS: 1 On St. Matt. Homily 36. 2 Concerning the Staues, homily 7: 1. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 119 Those who disobey the divine commandment, and rebel against God, are ignorant and fools; or let us say they are sick and in need of the heavenly Physician to heal their souls; that no one can do except the incarnate Word of God. “Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted” (17) The rebellious sinners are often called ignorant, and the righteous are often called wise; For the righteousness of God is bound to the divine wisdom; and the rebellion to ignorance. The psalmist calls us to look attentively into our depths; to realize that what dwells upon us of affliction, is mostly because of our sins. Having given honor to themselves and not to God, and having established their own righteousness, and did not know the righteousness of God, they became afflicted, and found themselves with no help; because they lean upon their strength alone1. (St. Augustine) “Their soul abhorred all manner of food; and they drew near to the gates of death” (18) Man, in his sins, often gets bored of life, and no more enjoys the taste of food, as he loses his inner goal. In such a case, being denied good health, man’s body and soul wither. On the contrary, by returning to God, man’s soul exults, and his body rejoices. According to St. Augustine, they ate with no limits, even against their own discretion, when their soul abhorred food, with the wrong assumption that overfeeding would not kill them. They suffer from overfeeding, they are sick and in danger because of it. They assumed that hunger may kill them, but not overfeeding2. (St. Augustine) “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses” (19) Their transgression afflicted them, brought them down into lowliness instead of up to honor; and made their soul abhor all manner of food; namely every teaching that would edify the soul. … The Greeks (the Gentiles) used to reject any counsel, not even from their own savants 1 On Ps. 107 (106). 2 On Ps. 107 (106). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 120 They condemned Socrates to horrible death; persecuted the followers of Phithagorus, ground Anacsarchus in a crucible; and tormented and killed many others who intended to keep them away from their addictions of horrible ungodliness. The prophet says that to show the power of our Lord; For those who used to reject even the teachings of their savants, have miraculously and readily received the preaching of the illiterate apostles; undoubtedly through the might of God, who responded to the cry-outs of His pious for their sake. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them of their destruction” (20) The Word of God, who created everything from nothingness, is the divine Physician capable of bringing both the body and soul forth to health. He is the only heavenly Instructor and Physician who can heal our spirits from the darkness of ignorance and corruption; delivering Himself to us, being the Truth, the Medication, and the Righteousness. The Word of God incarnated and took over a body, so that by His blood, shed on the cross, He would give us back the lost image, and grant us His goodness and righteousness. If sin is a sickness that afflicts and corrupts the soul; the Word of God is the Physician, capable of uprooting the sickness; and, instead of the sin, of granting His righteousness working in the believer. Salvation from sin is a complete healing on the hand of the true Physician, who, at the same time, is the medication. Christ heals the sinners1. By so saying, the prophet openly prophesied the incarnation of the Word of God, and His coming to the world in flesh; As the ‘uttered word’ would not be said to be “sent”, It is therefore His “essential Word”….. He is called the “Word”, for He is born from God the Father, without pain nor corruption. The way the ’uttered word’ is born from the mind, and is not separated from it at the same time; the Son is sent to the world, and, at the same time, is still in the bosom of the Father. By His coming, He healed us from our deadly sicknesses, and saved us from our corruption. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) Once the Physician came, He gave support to man, who got tired of his long search for healing, and of the pains of treatment. So knew the 1 Origin: Comm. On Matt. 11: 18; Contra Contra Celsus 8: 72; 3: 60. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 121 centurion when he said to the Lord: “Only speak a word, and my servant will be healed” (Matthew 8: 8) 1. (Father Peter Christologos) Within the Godhead of the Word, there is power, not only to help and heal the sick, but to reveal the secrets to the pious in body and mind. The Word was sent as a Physician to the sinners, and as a Teacher to those who, already, are pious and without sin2. There is no way before those who seek healing other than to follow Jesus3. Come now to Jesus, the heavenly Physician. Enter into this clinic, which is His church. There, you will see a multitude of weak patients. You will see a woman seeking purification (Mark 5: 25; Leviticus 12); and a leper, isolated “outside the camp” because of his uncleanness (Mark 1: 40; Leviticus 13: 46). They seek to be healed by the divine Physician...Jesus, Himself being the Word of God, prepares the medications for His patients, not out of herbs, but of the holiness of His words. Looking into these uttered medications scattered in the holy books, without knowing the power of the individual words, one may disregard them as cheap and lacking eloquence; But he who knows that the medication of souls lies in Christ, will certainly understand from those books, read in the church, how everyone is committed to collect useful herbs from the fields and mountains; for him whose soul is tired to be healed, not by the power of the outer branches (the medical herbs), and the outer cover, but rather from the activity of the inner sap4. There are, as well, things that are hidden from us, not known except to the Physician of our souls. As far as our physical health is concerned, we sometimes have to take bitter and abhorrent medications to cure ailments, we have brought upon ourselves through our wrong practices of eating and drinking. … And it so happen that the nature of our ailment necessitates burning with fire, or even an invasive painful treatment of cutting by the scalpel of a surgeon. … How could we perceive then, that God, our Physician, intending to cleanse the ailments of our souls, brought on us by the 1 Peier Chrostologus; Selected Sermous. 112. 2 Contra Celsus 3: 61, 62. 3 Commentary on Matthew, Book 13: 2 (Cf. ANF). 4 HOMILIES ON Leviticus 8: 1 (See Frs. Of the Church). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 122 multitudes of sins and crimes, may resort to similar ways of treatment, that may reach to the extent of condemning those who lost the wellbeing of their souls to be cast in the fire1. (The scholar Origen) “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (21) “Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing”.(22) It is befitting of the believers, not only to give thanks to the Lord, but to offer it as a sacrifice to Him, with rejoicing, praise, and joy. The prophet teaches us to thank God for such an amazing salvation, and to offer to Him, not the types of animals mentioned in the Mosaic law, but the sacrifices of praise, pure of blood; called by ‘Aquila’ as “the sacrifice of Eucharist”, namely, (of thanksgiving). As we call the divine Liturgy in Greek “the Eucharist”, during which we read the holy gospel that proclaims His works with rejoicing. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) 5- SALVATION FROM THE DANGERS OF SAILING IN THE GREAT WATERS OF THE WORLD: Our life in the world is a risky journey on board a ship sailing in the sea, exposed to dangerous tempests and mighty waves. But the Lord Christ alone has the authority, being the King of peace, the Creator of the universe, and the Savior of mankind, to guide the ship of our life, through an exultant journey, full of praise. “Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters” (23) Indeed, faith started to stagger, and the body began to drown; It is not wrong to say that the body is the ship of the soul; as it is written: “Those who go down to the sea in ships2” (23). (St. Ambrose) Our present life is said to be like a sea; the ships are said to be the churches of Christians; And those who do much business on great waters, are said to be the apostles who performed works of salvation among the multitudes of people. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) 1 De Principiis 2: 10: 6 (Cf. Butterworth). 2 The Payer of Job and David, 5: 15. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 123 Why would we be so preoccupied with those who have fallen down, and those who despaired? … We should look instead to those who managed to complete their journey with daring, confidence, and success…. As for you, sail in the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit; and let Christ lead you in glory to the good portion. For “those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters”, would not let the sea sickness that affects others, keep them from reaching the good portion, but would rather support their hearts by succeeding in their fabulous work. The most ridiculous thing in this life, is for you to follow the lead of those who failed, and have gone astray from a system that needs accuracy1. (St. Gregory of Nyssa) “They see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep” (24) .” For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea” (25) The depths of the seas and oceans testify to the limitless works and wonders of God. By His word, He commands the air, which is lighter than water, to create wind that lifts up the heavier waves of the sea, with mighty power. “They mount up to the heavens. They go down again to the depths. Their souls melt because of trouble” (26) Here he talks about the sailors whose souls melt when they see how the mighty waves mount them up to the heavens, then bring them down again to the depths of the sea or the ocean. No one can sail through the evil sea, the sea of the hosts of darkness, and the waves of bitter temptations; according to what is written: “They mount up to the heavens; they go down again to the depths” (26), without the Lord Christ, as a capable Skipper, who has perfect knowledge of the wars and temptations, to bring the soul forth through the evil waves; for: “In that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrew 2: 18) 2. (St. Maccarius the Great) “They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man; and are at their wits’ end” (27) 1 .151- دیر السریان: البتولیة، 1966 ، ص 150 2.44 : عظة 7 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 124 Before the violence of the waves, all their experience would flee away, and they would become overwhelmed with fear. “Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses” (28) Feeling that they have lost every knowledge, and their control of their ship, the sailors’ souls melt with fear; and would have no other refuge but the Lord Himself, who alone is capable of saving them. “He calms the storm, so that its waves are still (29) “Then they are glad because they are quiet; So, He guides them to their desired haven” (30) There is no greater joy for man, than to see calm after a strong storm; when there is no more danger; and they are finally heading to the desired haven. If the sailors exult in the calm that follows the storm, through the divine intervention, How much more it is befitting of us to praise God for granting our souls calm and peace after the multitude of disturbances dwelling on them. “Oh, that man would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men” (31) Everywhere, with no exception, I wish we confess to the Lord for His mercies, not on account of our worthiness, nor of our strength, or our wisdom. Let Him be beloved by us in every salvation we get, He who cares for us in every affliction1. (St. Augustine) “Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders” (32) Let the peoples exalt and praise him; Let the elders, the traders, and the sailors exalt Him. In such a congregation, “God resists the proud, He gives grace to the humble” (James 4: 6)… The proud are the Jewish people, who glorified themselves, leaning on being the descendants of Abraham, “to whom is committed the oracles of God” (Romans 3: 1). Yet that did not prepare them for the sound things, but, in the pride of their hearts, they became, not great, but arrogant. What then has God done; He who “resist the proud, but gives grace 1 On Ps. 107 (106). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 125 to the humble”? He cut the natural branches, because of their pride, and grafted the wild olive branches, because of their humility1. (St. Augustine) By saying “Let them exalt Him”, he means (Let them proclaim His greatness and majesty). (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) 6- THE DIVINE CARE: The authority of the Mighty Savior is limitless, He works to the account of His believers. It is in His hand to change, even the laws of nature, if necessary. “He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the water springs into dry ground” (33) It is in God’s authority to command the rain to cease; then the rivers would dry up, and the water springs would turn into dry ground. … Without the grace of God, He sends upon us like rain, we would not bear the fruits of the Spirit; and our depths would dry up. According to St. Augustine, the rivers refer to the Jews who used to have the waters of prophecies; But now, they have no more prophets; the rivers are dried up. The water springs turned into salty marshes; where you search for faith in Christ, for a prophet, a sacrifice, or a temple, and you find nothing. Why?! “For the wickedness of those who dwell in it” (34). “A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it” (34) The wickedness would take away the blessing of the Lord, even from the land where we live. “He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and dry lands into water springs” (35) If God allows for the rivers to turn into a wilderness, He may, as well, allow for a wilderness to turn into pools of water, and fruitful lands. At the beginning, the church were without much water, But now, rivers of the divine teachings, and sound dogmas, gushed in it; and whatever is planted on them, would become like a tree that gives its fruits in due season, and its leaves would never scatter. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) 1 On Ps. 107 (106). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 126 “There He makes the hungry dwell, that they may establish a city for habitation” (36) “And sow fields and plant vineyards, that they may yield a fruitful harvest” (37) Our Vinedresser seeks fruit. If He has cut off the natural branches, for they were barren, we shall be treated likewise if we are not fruitful. The fruits are not only those of the body, but of the soul as well, for both of them minister to the Lord1. (St. Jerome) “He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly, and He does not let their cattle decrease” (39) God gave men blessings with abundance, to grow and multiply greatly; But, instead of giving Him sacrifices of thanks, they, unfortunately, got more preoccupied with the blessings, plunged in the pleasures, and disregarded the One who gave them. That applies both to the Jews and to the Gentiles, who resisted the apostles and their followers, and persisted on destroying the faith in Christ. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) “He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way” (40) Knowing that, by striking the Shepherd, the herd will be scattered, the devil does his best to lead the princes and leaders astray. The psalmist says: “He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way” (40). People of authority, sometimes assume that they are above the divine justice. “King Herod killed the apostle James with the sword; Then he seized the apostle Peter to kill him” (Acts 12: 2). “On a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne, and the people shouted: ‘It is the voice of a god, and not of a man’; Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12: 22). In the present days, prevailed by the oppression of the wicked, when men fight each other, and love is no more among the majority; the word “priest” became an empty term; according to what is written: “He pours contempt on princes” (40); Their awe is no more in the souls; … We have opened before all, not the gates of righteousness, 1 Homily 33 On Ps. 106 (107). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 127 but those of reproach; … We gave the first place, not to him who fears the Lord, and who utters no vain word, but gave it to him who can oppress his brother by the eloquence of his tongue, hiding behind it the venom of serpents. (St. Gregory the Nezianzen) “Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like flocks of sheep” (41) That means, O brethren, that the rulers will be reproached, and the poor will be helped; … the proud will be driven out, and the humble will be supported; … The poor will have many houses, and will become a multitude of nations; … At the same time many churches will become one church, one nation, one house, and one flock1. (St. Augustine) “The righteous see it and rejoice; and all iniquity stops its mouth” (42) The children of God will exult for the divine work that mutes the mouths of the haughty, blesses, and supports the humble. The upright, seeing what the prophets and the righteous, before Christ, longed to see, they rejoice for God’s works of mercy and justice. Whereas those of iniquity, namely, the devil and his followers, will have their mouths shut (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) The Groom commends his bride, saying to her: “You have dove’s eyes” (Songs 1: 15). “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5: 28). He who looks at a woman, and does not have the dove’s eyes, is an adulterer. He who lacks the simple eye, and enters into his brother’s house, would be breaking the commandment written in the book of proverbs: “Do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity”(Proverb 27: 10). Whereas he who has the dove’s eyes, would see the truth and deserves the mercy; “The righteous see it and rejoice” (42) – He who sees the truth, is he who has the chaste and pure eye! … Do not apply this only to the physical eye, but go deep into your heart, and search with your spirit for the other eyes that draw their light from the commandments of God; Then strive to acquire what you are told. He who has the simple eye can perceive the Spirit coming down from heaven in the image of a dove … If you 1 On Ps. 107 (106). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 128 understand the law spiritually. You would have the dove’s eyes; and the same if you understand the gospel according to the spirit of the gospel, and preached it. Meditate in the gospel, and you will find Jesus healing every weakness, and all kinds of disease” (Matthew 4: 23); not only in the days of His incarnation, but even today; You will find Him come to men, not only in those days, but even today; For He is present among us, according to His words: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mathew 28: 20). (The scholar Origen) “Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the loving kindness of the Lord” (43) It is befitting of the believer to be reasonable and wise, to be able to perceive God’s plan, recognize His mercies with understanding, and meditate in His works. As these oracles include a prophecy, the prophet says that understanding them needs a wise man to understand and to keep.. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) He, who is wise, takes these things into consideration, and understands the mercies of the Lord … He will understand, not his own worthiness, nor his own strength or authority, but the mercies of God1. (St. Augustine) 1 On Ps. 107 (106). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 129 AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 107 GLORY BE TO YOU, O MIGHTY SAVIOR Together with my brethren I praise You for Your exalted mercy; I confess my sins, and expose myself before You; You are the Forgiver of sins, and the Saver of souls from perdition; On the cross, You shed Your precious blood, a propitiation for my sins; You paid my debt back on my behalf; Together with my brethren from the whole universe; You gathered us together as one holy church, to enjoy the eternal wedding. My life in this world is like being lost in the wilderness; You have presented Yourself to me, a Way, You carry me in You, to present me as a son to Your Father; I shall have no fear of hunger nor thirst in the wilderness; For You have given me Your body and blood to partake for the eternal life; I shall not fear of labor of the wilderness, as Your yoke is sweet, and Your burden is light; Instead of being exhausted in the wilderness, I enjoy comfort in You; Instead of the dangers of the wilderness, I find You a Refuge full of compassion; How would I fear the humiliation of bondage, when you opened before me the gates of baptism? And granted me the spirit of sonhood to God Your Father? Life is no more a dark prison; But an enjoyable journey in Your company, O the true Life; The gates of Hades cannot lock me in; For You, O the Resurrection, have destroyed the gates of the pit; and, by Your death, You have put death to death. The heavy burden of the bronze chains, weighs no more on my body; Nor of worries that may destroy my soul; My soul, together with my body, set forth by your Holy Spirit; They cross over from glory to glory. I confess to You that, foolishly, I have disobeyed Your commandment; In ignorance, I rebelled against You, O Whole Love; Sin has afflicted me as a deadly sickness; https://coptic-treasures.com/ 130 You are the heavenly Physician; You are the Medication that grants health; For my sake, You were incarnated, crucified, and risen; Resurrect me from the death of sin; Heal me of the wounds of disobedience. My life has become like a ship, sailing in the seas of this world; Behold, the violent waves mount me up, then brings me down again to the depths; Behold, the storms are never still; Who has the authority over the storms and waves, but You? Say a word, O King of peace, Creator of nature, and Savior of humanity; Say a word, to make the ship of my life sail by Your word; Say a word, to turn my journey into unceasing praise; Say a word; to let me have fellowship with the heavenly creatures. Your care is exalted. O Good Shepherd; By Your word, You turn the wilderness into pools of the water of the spirit; By Your word, You move nature to the account of the salvation of Your people. By Your word, You set the poor on high far from affliction; And out of the weak, You set holy nations; O Lord, grant me wisdom and understanding; That my soul would be filled with joy in You; That my whole being would never stop praising You.
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