Aug 10 2008
Show Me The Object Of Your Labor In Life
Is not it with justice, then, that He turns away from us and chastises us, since in everything He is offering us Himself, and we are resisting Him? This is clear to all. “for,” He says, “if you wish to adorn yourself you have My adornment, or ro arm yourself you have My arms, or to dress yourself You have My clothing, or to eat you have My table, or to walk you have My road, or to inherit you have My inheritance, or to go into your own country you have that city of which I am the Builder and the Architect, or to build a house you have My tools. I do not demand of you a reward for the things which I give, but I owe interest to you besides for that reward if you are willing to make use of all that is Mine.” What, I ask, could equal this munificence of His? Again, he says “I am father, I am brother, I am bridegroom, I am dwelling-place; I am food, I am clothing, I am root and foundation; I am all things whatsoever you desire: stand in need of no man. I will also be a slave, for I came to minister, not to be ministered to. I am a friend too; I am member and head, and brother, and sister, and mother; I am all things; only hold Me for your own. I am poor for you, and a wanderer for you; I was on the cross for you, and in the tomb for you; I intercede with the Father for you up above, and I came down to earth as a messenger to you from the Father. You are all things to Me-brother and co-heir, and friend and member.” What more do you ask? Why do you turn away from Him, your lover? Why do you labor for the world? Why do you pour water into a broken pitcher? For this is to toil for the life that now is. Why do you spin a web for burning? Why beat the air? Why run a random? Has not every art an object? This is clear to everyone. Show me, then, you also, the object of your labor in life. You have none.-St John Chrysostom Homily 76 on Matthew
