Homilies on Philippians 9 part 2/2

For tell me, could He not have fed them Himself? If He gave to thee who hadst offended, would He not much more have given to Paul? He who gave to the Israelites — the murmurers, the fornicators, the idolaters — would He not much more have granted it to Peter, who left all for His sake? He who suffered vile men to have it, would He not much more have shown favor to John, who left even his father for His sake? But He would not;

but through thee He feeds them, that thou mayest be sanctified.

And behold with me the surpassing greatness of His love toward mankind.

He chose that His own disciples should be brought low, that thou mightest have a little respite.

But if He had made them free from want, one says, they would have been far more admirable, far more glorious.

But then thy salvation would have been cut off.

He chose not, therefore, that they should become admirable, but rather that they should be brought low, that thou mightest be saved;

and He permitted them to be brought low, that thou mightest be able to be saved.

For a teacher who receives is not equally reverenced, but he is most honored who does not receive;

but the disciple is not benefited — rather, he is cut off from the fruit.

Dost thou see the wisdom of the God who loveth mankind? For just as He Himself sought not His own glory, nor regarded what was His own, but, being in glory, chose to be dishonored for thy sake, so also it is with the teachers;

though able to make them reverenced, He chose that they should be lightly esteemed for thy sake, that thou mightest have wherewithal to gain, that thou mightest have wherewithal to be enriched.

For that thou mightest abound in things spiritual, therefore he lacks in things of this life.

That He was able, then, to make them free from want, He showed by many things;

and that for thy sake He suffers them to be in want, this too is shown in like manner.

Knowing these things, then, let us turn not to accusations, but to good deeds;

let us not busy ourselves with the evils of others, but reckon up our own;

let us consider the good deeds of others, but reckon up our own sins;

and so shall we be well-pleasing to God.

For he who sees the sins of others and his own good deeds is doubly harmed;

for by the former he is lifted up into arrogance, and by the latter he falls into slothfulness.

For when he considers that so-and-so has sinned, he too will easily sin;

when he considers that he himself has done well, he easily grows arrogant.

But he who consigns his own good deeds to forgetfulness, and looks upon his sins alone, and busies himself not with the sins of others but with their good deeds, will gain much.

When he sees that so-and-so has done well, he is roused to the like zeal;

when he sees that he himself has sinned, he will be humble-minded and moderate.

If we do thus, and thus order our own affairs, we shall be able to attain the good things which have been promised, by the grace and love toward mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, might, and honor, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.