I WAS CRUCIFIED TOGETHER WITH CHRIST The fourth group of the Songs of Ascents begins; corresponding to the Book of Numbers, when the people of Israel set forth in the wilderness toward the land of Canaan. The camp was committed to march in the form of a cross where the tribes were divided, every three together in the direction to the East, the West, the North, and the South; while Moses, Aaron, and the families of the Levites march in the middle, also in the form of a cross. It is as though there is no crossing over to the promised land without being crucified together with the Lord Christ. 1- The crucified church 1 – 2 2- The crucified Christ 3 3- The grass on the housetops 4 – 8 1- THE CRUCIFIED CHURCH: A Song of Ascents “’Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth’, let Israel now say” (1) Since the beginning of the church, she suffered affliction; or more accurately, was granted affliction, without which she would not be able to enjoy the joy of resurrection, and of reaching the eternal glory. To tell us how the church has endured affliction from her youth, St. Augustine presents to us living examples like Abel, Noah, and the people of the old. The prophets saw in the people coming out from the land of Egypt, the church in her youth, as it came in Jeremiah and Ezekiel: “I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown” (Jeremiah 2: 2); “As for your nativity, on the day you were born, your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you, you were not rubbed with salt, nor swathed in swaddling cloths” (Ezekiel 16: 4-5). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 142 The church talks about those she endured; as though she was asked: ‘Does this happen now?’. SThe church suffered since she was born in the old days, since she was called; since she was on earth. In a certain time, the church has been in Abel alone, who was persecuted by his evil lost brother Cain (Genesis 4: 8). And in another time, she has been in Enoch alone, who was no more for God took him, because of his righteousness (Genesis 5: 24). An in certain time, the church has been in the household of Noah alone, who endured all those who perished in the great flood; while he and his household were saved by the arc which floated on water, and landed after the water receded (Genesis 6). Then the church started to exist in the people of Israel, who endured the Pharaoh and the Egyptians. At the end of time, we came to our Lord Jesus Christ, and the gospel was preached in the holy gospel. (Psalm 40) For this reason, and lest someone may have doubt in the church, he who intends to be a good member in her; let him listen to what the church, his mother, says to him: Do not marvel to hear these things, O my son, “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth” 1 In the present time, as the church has reached such an advanced age, and is still resisting; I wish she does not fear! She has reached this advanced age, in spite of the fact that they did not cease to afflict her from her youth. I wish (the new) Israel, itself, has comfort by the old examples2. (St. Augustine) “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me” (2) If the affliction has accompanied the church from her youth, when she was formed of only one person, or just a few. And in every era, she was expected to be completely destroyed; Yet history confirms the failure of her adversaries despite their great numbers, violence, and possibilities. History remains opening the door of hope before the church, and confirming to her that her victory from the Lord, surpasses all human expectations. 1 On Ps. 129 (128). 2 On Ps. 129 (128). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 143 As a practical example for that, St. John Chrysostom says:[ God allowed for the Babylonian captivity of the people of Israel, which lasted for seventy years. There were no indications whatsoever of any possibility of the return of the people, the rebuilding of the temple, and the restoration of Jerusalem. But the mighty state of Babylon came to an end, and the people of Israel returned home. Babylon thought that her gods are greater than the living true God; But the Babylonian did not understand that what happened was not because of their power or their military might, but was allowed by God for the chastisement of Israel, who diverted from worshipping the living God]. Although the enemies often on the attack, yet they were not strong enough to overcome, and have never achieved an ultimate victory over Israel. They might have won many battles, have taken them captives, and transferred them to far away lands, … But their conquest was not because of their power at that time, but because of the sin of Israel. They did not prevail up to the end, for they did not actually have the power to wipe out the Jewish race, and destroy the city altogether; but, by God’s allowance, they conquered for some time, then were defeated. How were they defeated?! By the return of the people of Israel to their past prosperity1. (St. John Chrysostom) 2- THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST: “They plowed on my back; They made their furrows long” (3) A horrible portrait of the wicked, as they plow on the back of the righteous, and make their furrows long; telling us about the violent practices in scourging the slaves and the criminals, with whips with pieces of iron at their ends, that cause deep and painful wounds on their backs. The secret of this bitter treatment against the righteous, is that the wicked does not endure to see someone who does not get along with him in his evil; even if he does not cause him any harm; counting his righteousness as a bitter testimony against himself. 1 On Ps. 129. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 144 On another aspect, the psalmist uses this analogy, because, although the wicked gets pleasure from afflicting the righteous; yet all the evil He does against him will be like the furrows made by the plow in the soil, which make it more prepared for producing a better crop. The affliction makes the righteous more perseverant through the grace of God, justifies, and glorifies him. That is why the psalmist precedes to say: “Yet they have not prevailed against me” (3). The troubles they do have turned into heavenly glories. The wicked persecutes the righteous because the later does not conform his ways to his evil ways1. (St. Augustine) He shows how they, not only charge with violence, but also with persistence; they spend much time, and dedicate themselves to plan their evil plots. Yet this does not benefit them, not for the sake of our own strength, but for that of God2. (St. John Chrysostom) If the wicked do not cease to afflict the righteous, Yet, according to Father Gregory (the Great), in his talk about shepherding, [It is befitting of the shepherd to endure the labor of shepherding, to present his back to carry their burdens of his flock, saying: “They plow on my back”]. It is a test of the perseverance of the shepherd in enduring the troubles of his flock, during his endeavor to reform them. Saying: “They plow on my back”, It is as though David wants to say that those whom he fails to reform, he carries as a heavy burden. Yet there are certain hidden things which the shepherd should carefully examine, so that he can discover what goes on in the minds of his flock; and by rebuking in the proper time, he can manage to draw from the seemingly unimportant things, some important issues. That is why it was said to Ezekiel: “’Son of man, dig into the wall’, and when I dug into the wall, there was a door. And He said to me: ‘Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there’. So I went in and saw, and there – every sort of creeping 1 On Ps. 129 (128). 2 On Ps. 129. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 145 thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel portrayed all around on the walls” (Ezekiel 8: 8-10) 1. (Father Gregory the Great) 3- THE GRASS ON THE HOUSETOPS: “The Lord is righteous; He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked” (4) What does he mean by cutting the cords of the wicked? 1- He may be referring to the cords that bind the oxen to the plow; without which the plower may exert a great effort to move the plow, with no avail. It is as though all the oppositions and afflictions of the wicked will turn back on them. 2- He may be referring to the cords or the stripes of the whip, without which the wicked cannot strike someone who did him no harm. 3- He may be referring to the chains by which the captives were shackled to herd them out of their country to foreign lands. In the Septuagint version it came as: “The righteous Lord cuts the neck of the wicked”. According to St. Augustine, the psalmist did not say: “The Lord cuts the hands (or the feet) of the wicked”, but “their neck”; … Justifying himself before God with pride and haughtiness, God will cut off the arrogant neck of the wicked, to make him follow the example of the tax collector who did not dare to raise his eyes toward heaven (Luke 18: 13), and was justified before God. The efforts of the enemies go to no avail; whereas the church will flourish2. (St. John Chrysostom) “Let all those who hate Zion, be put to shame, and turned back” (5) Here, the psalmist presents a prayer or a prophecy about those who intend to destroy the church of God, and drive her to shame and disgrace; as all what they do will turn back on them. 1 Pastoral Care, 2: 10. 2 On Ps. 129. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 146 The psalmist ends his advice by a prayer that gives the listener confidence through the story of the past events, and the prayer; and shows that envy and hate are the cause of the animosities. Saying: “Let all those who hate Zion, be put to shame, and be turned back”, tells the listener that, they, will not only fail to have victory, but will be put to shame and despise1. (St. John Chrysostom) Those who enter the church with hypocrisy, hate her; And those who refuse to keep the word of God, hate the church … What would the church do, but endure carrying the burden till the end2. (St. Augustine) According to the scholar Origen, this prayer, presented by the psalmist, is not against the wicked, as much as it is a prayer for the sake of their salvation; As the idol worshippers were known to boast their evils and were not ashamed of their abominations. Now, the psalmist seeks from God to grant them the spirit of repentance, to feel shame for what they do, and to return to God with the spirit of contrition. Confessing the sins in which we lived, together with our fathers, by our worship of idols, we shall say: [Shame has (eaten up) the labor of our fathers since our youth: their sheep, cows, sons, and daughters]; There must be shame to (eat up) the vain labor and the false works of our fathers; As without shame, these vain and false labors will not come to an end. Concerning this, let us parade some of the differences among the sinners: There are sinners who have lost every sense of shame, and have delivered themselves to every abomination. You actually see how the Gentiles sometimes proudly, and with no shame, parade a list of their abominations and fornications, as though they are great conquests and achievements; not calling them sins. And, as long as they have no shame, their sins (will not be eaten up), will not be wiped out. The beginning of reform is to feel shame of doing the things about which we did not feel shame before. I therefore do not 1 On Ps. 129. 2 On Ps. 129 (128). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 147 think that the psalmist means to curse, by saying his words: “Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back” (5) 1. (The scholar Origen) “Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up” (6) As the housetops in the Near East are mostly flat, when a thin layer of dirt accumulates on them; with rain or dew, some grass will grow, Which, having no roots, will soon wither before they grow up. It is a portrait of the ministry of haughty appearances, which, as soon as it flowers, it will wither and be uprooted. That is actually the nature of abundance (prosperity) of those who live in evil; The appeal of the things of this life appear and disappear from time to time; yet they lack the true existence. That is why man is committed not to care for the things that do not last long, but to long for eternal things that will not perish or change2. (St. John Chrysostom) These things may probably appear of little value to some, and not worthy of attention; but, if man concentrates the eyes of his mind on them, he will learn what faults he should avoid, and what good ordinance he should care for. Running after honors is something unbefitting of us, on account of that it makes us appear stupid, violent, and haughty; seeking what does not suit us, but suit those greater and more exalted than us. He, who so does will become hated, and most probably a subject of scoffing, when he would have, against his will, to give back to others, the honor that is not his … which undeservingly took for himself. Whereas the meek, and who is worthy of commendation, who, without fear of being blamed, although worthy of sitting among the elite; yet he does not seek that for himself, but leave for others what suits him; Such a man is counted victorious over the vain glory, and will receive the honor that is his right, when he is told: “Friend, go up higher” (see Luke 14: 10).. . 1 عظات للعلامة أوریجینوس على سفر إرمیا ترجمة جاكلین سمیر كوستى 5 :5 2 On Ps. 129. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 148 A humble mind is therefore great, and exceptionally good, saves man from rebuke and blame; and from seeking the vain glory. If you seek this mortal human glory, you will lose the way to truth, by which you can be truly famous, and gain honor that would crush the competitors! It is written: “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass” (1 Peter 1: 24). And the prophet David, rebuking the lovers of temporal honors, says to them: “Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up” (Psalm 129: 6). Like the grass that grows on the rooftops has no deep root, will soon wither, So he will be, who cares for worldly honors; who, after being prominent for a short time, will fall and become nothing. In case someone wishes to go ahead of others, let him do it according to the law of heaven, let him be crowned by the honors granted by God; and let him exalt over others by the testimony of the glorious virtues. The law of virtue is the humble mind that does not seek pride, but humility! That is what the blessed Paul counted as being better than everything; writing to those who wish to walk in holiness, saying: “have the humbleness of mind” (Colossians 3: 12). And, commending this, James, the disciple of Christ, says: “Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because, as a flower of the field he will pass away” (James 1: 9-10). The humble mind under control, will be exalted by God; “A broken and a contrite heart, these, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51: 17). He, who thinks of himself as someone great and exalted, who becomes haughty in his mind, and puffed up, will be despised and under curse; as he walks contrary to Christ who says: “Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11: 29); and as is written: “For God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5: 5). As security dwells upon the humble mind; “Do not exalt yourself, or you may fall” (Ben Sirach 1: 30); And the wise Solomon, in a form of analogy, says: “He who builds a high threshold invites broken bones” (Proverbs 17: 19). … Such a man, erring to himself, through unconsciously intending to surpass the limit of his nature, is justly hated by God, Let me ask you: on what basis does one think of himself as something great?! https://coptic-treasures.com/ 149 I wish everyone looks at himself like Abraham who, realizing his true human nature, wisely called himself: dust and ashes (Genesis 18: 27) 1. (St. Cyril the Great) 2 “With which the reaper does not fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his arms” (7) The psalm starts with the ministry of the cross, where the true believers are crucified together with the Lord Christ, endure the sufferings, and the plowing on their backs; to become like a fruitful paradise that bears the fruits of the Spirit. And ends with the ministry of the appearances, that flee away from the cross, and seek the temporal glories, to be like the grass on the housetops that appears for one day and withers before it grows up. The ministry of the cross may seem a failure; as almost all people have forsaken the Crucified on the day of His Crucifixion; even His disciples fled away; And the voice of those who enjoyed the works of His love was not heard; and some of them might probably be among those who cried out: “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!”…. The ministry of appearances, on the other hand is shiny, and seems successful, flourishing, and attractive to souls. … But let us wait to see the glory of the former ministry, and the collapse of the later! The grass of the housetops grow on the bricks; although seen upwards, yet are rootless, and it would have been better for it to grow downwards instead; for then it would have flowered and caused great joy. Having grown upward without deep roots, it was not plucked out, but withered before it grows. … Without any verdict against it by God, yet it lost its vitality … . The reapers will come, but they will not fill their arms of its sheaves; … They will gather the wheat in the threshing floor; and bind the tares together, and cast them in the fire; They will do the same to the grass of the housetop, take it away and cast it in the fire, because it withered before it grows up…. The reapers are the angels as the Lord says (Matthew 13: 39) 3. (St. Augustine) 1 In Luc. Ser 102. 2 In Luc. Ser 102. 3 On Ps. 129 (128). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 150 How grim is the unfruitful season, with a loss in crops … when the farmers, with heavy hearts, sit beside the grave of their crops, which was initially revived by a light rain, then rooted out by storms; “with which the reaper does not fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves his arms” (7). They do not get the blessing of the passersby. It is depressive indeed to look at a barren land, deprived of its adornment, on which the prophet Joel wails, as a portrait of the immense ruin of the earth and the famine (Joel 1: 10). And comparing its past beauty with its miserable present; another prophet has in mind the wrath of the Lord when He cursed the earth1. (St. Gregory the Nezianzen) “Neither let those who pass by them say: ‘The blessing of the Lord be upon you; We bless you in the name of the Lord’” (8) The book of Ruth tells us about a beautiful custom that prevailed at that time; which is, When the owner of the field passes by the reapers working in his field, he greets them by saying: “The Lord be with you”, To which they answer: “The Lord bless you” (Ruth 2: 4). In the Jewish nation of the old days, it was not befitting of someone to pass by someone or some people working in a field, vineyard, or reaping, without blessing them … Who are the passersby? Those who have already passed through this way or this life; namely, the apostles and the prophets…. And who are they whom they bless? Those in whom they saw the roots of love? (St. Augustine) If it is befitting of people to greet one another by saying that the Lord is among them; It would also be befitting of the believer not be preoccupied with his ast sins, lest remembering them would corrupt the purity of his heart. That is what Father Pavnotius talked about in his debate with St. John Cassian. Concerning what you have already said, that because of a goal set before your eyes, you would rather not remember again your past sins; You surely should not remember them, unless they take you by surprise; in which case, you have to drive them right away; as 1 In His Father's Silence, oration 16: 6. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 151 remembering them would deprive the spirit of the pure meditation, especially with a solitary monk; They make him trample into the abominations of this world, and drowns him in the filthy sins. … Even if remembering the things you used to do in your young irresponsible youth; would not anymore give you pleasure, yet their rotten smell would surely corrupt your soul, and wipe out the sweet fragrance of your present good life. If your past sins come to your memory, flee from them, the way the righteous flee from a whore who happen to confront him on the public road, and compromise his integrity and purity by her talk or action, For if he lingers a little while, even if he rejects her propositions, yet he would be despised by the passersby. … if you fall in such deadly remembrance, you are committed not to hold fast to them, obeying the advice of Solomon, saying: Do not go there, do not linger, and do not concentrate your eyes on her, lest if the angels who pass by see us preoccupied with abominable thoughts, they would not say to us: “The blessing of the Lord be on you” (8). It is not possible for the mind to be preoccupied with good thoughts, if its greatest portion of the heart drowns in its evil earthly ones. He would be realizing the saying of Solomon: “Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things. Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, or like one who lies on the top of the mast, saying: ‘They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it” (Proverbs 23: 33-35). We are committed to forsake, not only the evil thoughts, but those of temporal things as well; raising the longings of our souls up toward the heavenly things, according to the words of our Savior: “Where I am, there My servant will also be” (John 12: 26). For it so happens that, even as a way of sympathy, we think of the falls of others or their faults; and be affected by some kind of pleasure or enjoyment, and so fall ourselves in what the others did. It would end up that what we have begun well, will end by perdition; as “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14: 12) 1. (Father Pavnotius – Fr. Pavnotius XL) 1 Cassia: Conferences, 20: 9. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 152 AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 129 I WAS CRUCIFIED TOGETHER WITH CHRIST The door is narrow, and the way is difficult; But, what I tasted in Your company is sweet and nice; Grant me to hide in You; To find sweet, everything that dwell on me. You cut in pieces the cords of the wicked; All their opposition and afflictions become vain; They intend to destroy my life; But You are my eternal life; Who can destroy my life with You?! The wicked intend to bring me forth into shame and disgrace; Expose their evil, and let them become ashamed of what they do; That they would return to You, and be sanctified. Grant me to find it sweet to be crucified together with You; To carry the labors of others with joy; And my soul would be glad by the power of Your resurrection working in me; I do not seek the quick fruit; But I seek to rejoice in Your divine presence in the midst of my sufferings. Draw me to You; so as not to be preoccupied with the outer appearances; So as not to become like the grass on the housetops, seen by many; But to be planted by the spirit of humility; So as to get the blessing of Your cross.
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