Homily 25 Monday of Third Week of Great Lent RULE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE St John Chrysostom

Описание: Whoever is merciful and gives alms from his own honest labor is pleasing to the Lord. But whoever lives by injustice and takes profit from the poor and from orphans, and from these gives alms, wishing by this to please God — such a person is hateful to God. Such people are like a dead dog that stinks, whose stench people cannot endure or even smell; they turn away their faces and go elsewhere, unable even to look upon it with their eyes.
So also God abhors that person who, taking unjustly, gives alms. He does not endure this, as an evil stench, but turning His face away from him, He does not look upon him.
After this a demon approaches him even more, whispering to him and giving him insatiable greed, teaching him to plunder the possessions of others and leading him to every evil, so that by this he might gather for himself unjust wealth.
But it is better, brethren, to give alms from righteous possessions, even if it is something small; for this will be great and pleasing to God.
Further I say to you, brethren: love one another and judge no one. Do not envy, do not blaspheme, do not reproach, do not bear false witness, but in righteousness and humility greet everyone — if not with giving, then at least with good words.
Do not be ashamed to bow before an elder, and do not grow weary of standing before those more honorable. For in all these things you give honor to God, as the Apostle says:
“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Understand this also: if a person lifts a stone beyond his strength, or something else, he harms his life. Likewise a little food and drink brings health to the body, but much food and drink produces illness, and brings sin and destruction to the soul.
Above all, have equal love toward everyone, toward the rich and toward the poor; for that love is hypocritical which loves the rich but mistreats the poor.
Do not reproach the weak, the orphaned, or the poor, brethren, for God has chosen them; but the wise, the strong, and the rich He puts to shame.
Pay attention, brethren: how small the spider is, yet stretching out its webs it catches flies in them. And many times a sparrow and other birds come and take food from this small catch.
Likewise we also, from the small catches of these weak, orphaned, lowly, and poor ones, are nourished and satisfied — both soul and body — with God's food.
Listen to the Apostle Paul speaking to Timothy:
“In a great house there are many vessels: some of gold and some of silver, others of wood and others of clay; some for honor, and some for dishonor.”
Likewise all people, rich and poor, are necessary in the world.
Therefore do not despise nor reproach God's creation, but let each of you pay attention to himself.
For how do you see the speck in another’s eye, yet do not sense the beam in your own? First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

If anyone among you knows how to read, let him fulfill the prescribed rule. But if anyone does not know how to read, let him go to the holy Church of God and listen attentively to the holy singing and reading, speaking with no one.
For whoever reads books, or listens to someone reading, converses with God.
But if someone knows how to read and yet does not sing for himself matins, nor the hours, nor vespers, nor compline, he deprives himself of the light of God.
It is fitting even for those who do not know how to read to sing matins, the hours, vespers, and compline.
But you will say: “How shall I sing if I do not know how to read?”
Sing Psalm 50:
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy…”
If you do not know that, then say the Trisagion and the Lord’s Prayer:
“Our Father, Who are in the heavens…”
If you do not know that either, then bow as much as you are able, saying the prayer:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Do this for matins, for the hours, for vespers, and for compline. For thus it is appointed for one who does not know how to read — and even for the lazy one — to pray.
Doing this every day, glorify your Creator, and you will receive from Him an eternal reward.But if someone has not fasted on Wednesday and Friday — even if he has been virtuous — when the angel leads that soul toward heaven and the angels of Wednesday and Friday meet it, they will say:
“O poor soul, why did you not fast on Wednesday and Friday — on bread, water, and vegetables of the earth, once a day? For on Wednesday the Jews made counsel against Christ, and on Friday they crucified Him.”
Therefore it is not fitting for any Christian to eat oil or milk on Wednesday and Friday, except on the days permitted by the Church.
To our God be glory, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen