True heroes and lions running about the earth
Saturday of the Seventh Week of Matthew
The Lord said, He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. - Matthew 10:37 - 11:1
St. John Chrysostom asks, "Why, upon hearing these hard words about denying father and mother and children for Christ's sake, did the apostles not flee away?" Here is his answer:
Is there not, therefore, cause for amazement, how on their hearing these things, [they] did not flee away? Great was both the power of the speaker, and the love of the hearers. Wherefore though hearing things far more intolerable and galling than those great men, Moses and Jeremiah, they continued to obey, and to say nothing against it.
"Great was the power of the speaker, and the love of the hearers." God, Who is love, stood before them in the flesh, and their hearts warmed to His love. This openness of the apostles' hearts to His love is the criterion upon which the Lord chose them: He foresaw that these particular men, so lowly in the eyes of the world, would be the very ones that would be pre-eminent in the love of the Master, placing their love for Him above all earthly loves.
“He that finds his life,” says He, “shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake, shall find it.” Do you see how great the damage to such as love [their own life] unduly? How great the gain to them that hate it? I mean, because the injunctions were disagreeable, when He was bidding them set themselves against parents, and children, and nature, and kindred, and the world, and their very soul, He sets forth the profit also, being very great. Thus, “These things,” says He, “so far from harming, will very greatly profit; and their opposites will injure;” urging them, as He ever does, by the very things which they desire. For why are you willing to despise your life? Because you love it? Then for that very reason despise it, and so you will advantage it in the highest degree, and do the part of one that loves it.
The Lord, then, is not commanding us not to love at all our relatives, or even our own lives, but rather to avoid the damage that occurs to our souls when we love our relatives and our own lives unduly, that is, out of proper order in relation to our love for God. When we place these loves in their right order, we will find a great reward: paradoxically, when we despise our very life for His sake, we are showing the highest love towards our life, and, furthermore, as the saint explains in the following passage, when we place the love of God above love of relatives, we are showing to our relatives that true love which is to their and our greatest advantage.
And mark an instance of unspeakable consideration. For not in respect of our parents only does He practice this reasoning, nor of our children, but with regard to our life, which is nearer than all; that the other point may thenceforth become unquestionable, and they may learn that they will in this way profit those of their kindred likewise, as much as may be; since so it is in the case even of our life, which is more essential to us than all.
This complete denial of their very lives is what will recommend the apostles to the nations to whom the Lord will send them after Pentecost, to preach the Gospel and bring them to salvation. Those of a good disposition will not hesitate to heed the words of a man who so sacrifices himself for love of God and neighbor. Indeed, such men are the true heroes and lions of the spirit:
Now these things were enough to recommend men to receive them, their appointed healers. Yea, who would choose but to receive with all readiness them that were so noble, such true heroes, and as lions running about the earth, and despising all that pertained to themselves, so that others might be saved? - St. John Chrysostom, Homily 35 on Matthew
O most gracious Lord, give us Thy grace in abundance, that we may love Thee above all, and raise up for us, unworthy as we are, true pastors and teachers who imitate Thy Holy Apostles in their lives and deeds, true heroes and lions running about the earth, despising all that pertain to themselves. Amen.
