How do you bear witness to the Lord? (*)

Your testimony to the Lord, my dear, is not as difficult as you might think, because your preaching “Not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ be hindered“(1 Corinthians 1:17), but rather by declaring the work of the cross in your practical life.

Through the cross, you trample on the power of sin, bearing witness to the Lord in your inner life and outer behavior, in your hidden thoughts and apparent actions, in your emotions and feelings.

Through the cross you accept the difficult commandments of our Lord Jesus, and you will see.”Her burden is light and her yoke is easy“And especially that commandment by which all the law and the prophets were fulfilled.”To love God with all the heart...and your neighbor as yourself“. You love your neighbor no matter how much he annoys you, plots against you, and tries to harm you.

This is how you attract souls with the practical commandments by which they live, because “The law of the Lord restores souls without blemish... The commandments of the Lord are luminous, illuminating the eyes from afar” (Psalm 18). Without speaking, you restore tired souls and enlighten dark eyes. Because you are the light of the world that shines with action, not with words, and the living leaven that ferments the whole dough in silence, and the spiritual salt that corrects what is hidden.

“You may not utter a word, but your life will be a powerful sermon.”No words, no words. You don't hear their voices. Their reason has spread throughout the earth, and their words have reached the ends of the earth“(Psalm 18).

In short, as a living member of the Lord’s mystical body - the true church - you must be like your true head - the Lord Jesus - walking in His expansive spirit of love for all.

This is your testimony to Him...to be an ambassador for the Lord, exuding the sweet scent of love toward all of humanity. Your heart has room for those who abuse you and deniers of the faith, even blasphemers as well. “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not the tax collectors? And if you only salute your brothers, what good will you do? Be perfect like your heavenly Father“(Matthew 5:46-48).

The Lord has sent you as a lamb among wolves (1) (Matthew 10:16), they devour you and devour you, but - as Saint Augustine says, wolves quickly turn into lambs.

O living seed, do not fear the ground in which you are buried, but love it, for if you do not die, you will not bear much fruit.

You resemble your master because “The student is not better than the teacher, nor is the servant better than his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher and the servant like his master“(Matthew 10:24) In this way you proclaim the light of the Lord to everyone.

This is the topic of the sermon delivered by Saint John Chrysostom to the group of believers who frequent the church.

This book is translated by the Coptic Church: This means that we do not agree with everything that was stated in the comments of the translator or preparer, and sometimes we disagree with it. Please alert us if there is something like this or something that is not understood... To read the text in English, please click here

I want your work, not your praise

It seems that my last long article to ignite your zeal for these meetings was of no use, because our Church is still deserted of its members. Therefore, I find myself obliged to be annoyed and upset, rebuking those present and faulting those who fail to attend. Those are because they did not rise up due to their laziness, and you are because you did not provide a helping hand in saving your sisters.

Indeed, those who seek to trouble me in a wrong way call me a fool. But this does not prevent me from arousing his spirit for the same purpose (i.e. concern for the salvation of his brothers), because I have nothing better than this kind of (pressure).

Let whatever happens happen, as long as in the end you become ashamed and take care of your brothers because of my constant assertiveness.

Because what good is your praise for me unless I see you progressing in virtue?! What harm does the silence of the listeners (about my praise) harm me if I see your progress?!

The speaker's praise does not lie in the words of praise of the listeners, but rather in the burning of their zeal toward righteousness. It does not lie in the sound they make while hearing it, but in the remaining (working) jealousy. Because the words of praise coming from the lips quickly spread in the air and dissipate. As for the progress of the listeners in virtue, it grants an eternal, non-corruptible reward to both the speaker and those who obey him.

Your praise brings fame to the speaker here. As for the piety of your souls, he will be more pure before the throne of grace. Whoever loves the teacher should yearn to benefit his listeners, not to praise him with words.

Our neglect of our brothers is not an easy mistake, but rather brings upon us great punishment and merciless discipline.

They traded in talents

The man who buried the talent was rebuked, because he did not strive to change an evil person... and in this way he became evil, because he did not double what he had entrusted to him, and for this reason he deserved to be punished. It is not enough for our salvation to be zealous and eager to hear the Holy Scriptures. Rather, we must double the deposit. While we are concerned for our own salvation, we also undertake to do what is for the good of others.

The man mentioned in the proverb said “Here is yours” (Matthew 25:25), but this defense was not accepted, when it was said to him “You should have placed my money with the money changers.”

Please notice how easy the Master’s commandments are. Humans ask lenders to repay the debt (and they do not care about the person of the borrower)... But God does not do this. Rather, He commands us to take the deposit and does not hold us accountable for it with the intention of recovering it... Rather, He questions us about it without asking us for it.

Anything easier than this?! Yet his meek and merciful master is called cruel. Because this is the habit of the ungrateful, lazy person who hides his shame over his mistakes by attributing them to his master. That is why he was cast out into the outer chains of darkness.

In order not to fall under punishment, we must entrust our teachings to our brothers, whether they accept or reject them. If they accept it, they will benefit, and we will benefit with them. If they reject it, they fall under intolerable punishment without any harm to us. We have done what we should in terms of providing advice. But I fear that they will remain as they are because of your indolence and neglect.

Do not despair of anyone's salvation

Continuing advice and education makes a person diligent and brings him to a better state. In this, I quote the general proverb that confirms this fact, which is that “frequent drops of water crack rocks.” Anything softer than water?! And what is harder than rock?! However, continuous work prevails over nature. If this is true for nature, is it not more appropriate for human nature to prevail?!…

You are the light of the world

 How distressed I am, as on holidays I see the crowds gathered together like a vast sea, and now I cannot find even a small number of crowds to gather here.

Where did those people who crowd us with their presence on holidays go?!

I look to them with sorrow, sad for the multitudes who are perishing away from the path of salvation (2).

What a great loss of brotherhood! Few people care about matters of salvation.

What a large part of the church body resembles a dead, motionless person!!

You say: What concerns us in this?

You have great potential regarding your brothers. For you are responsible if you do not advise them, prevent evil from them, attract them here forcefully, and withdraw them from their extreme laxity. Because what is appropriate for a person to be useful to himself alone, but also to many? Jesus Christ made this clear when He called us “Urgent.”“(Matthew 5:13), and"yeast" (Matthew 13:33), and "Nura" (Matthew 5:14), because these things are beneficial to others and beneficial to them.

The lamp does not shine for itself, but for those sitting in the darkness. You are a lamp, not to enjoy the light alone, but to restore a person who has gone astray. Because what benefit does a Christian have that does not benefit others?! And does not return anyone to virtue?!

Again, salt does not repair itself, but rather repairs the flesh so that it does not spoil and perish... This is how God made spiritual salt, to bind the corrupt members, that is, the lazy and lax brothers, and to strengthen them and save them from laziness as well as from corruption, and to connect them with the rest of the body of the church.

This is why the Lord called us “yeast”, Because yeast also does not ferment itself, but despite its small size, it ferments the entire dough, regardless of its size. So do you too. For even though you are few in number, be many and strong in faith and zeal toward God. Just as yeast is not weak due to its smallness, as it has strength and potential in terms of its nature... so you can, if you want, attract more numbers than you and have the same level of jealousy.

But they may apologize that it is summer, as I hear such words as saying that the heat is excessive, that the heat of the sun is unbearable, and that we cannot tolerate crowding (these are examples of the arguments we hear from some Christians).

Believe me, I am ashamed of them. Such considerations are full of pampering (3), which is not appropriate for even those with delicate bodies and weak natures to use as evidence, as it does not justify them.

If they offer such excuses without shame, we should not be ashamed of their response.

What do I say to those who make such excuses? I want to remind them of the three young men in the fiery furnace, who, as the flames surrounded them on all sides, engulfing their mouths, eyes, and breathing, did not stop singing the sacred, secret praise of God.

I think it is appropriate for us to add to them the lions that were in Babylon and Daniel in the pit (Daniel 4:24).

And not this one alone, but in another pit the Prophet Jeremiah was, where the mud was near his neck (Jeremiah 38:5).

Is it not truly astonishing that those saints who were in the furnace of fire, or in the pit, or among the beasts, and in the mire, and in prison, and under blows, lashes, and unbearable sufferings, do not complain, but rather sing holy praises with vigor and ardent zeal, while we who have not fallen under them - no. In much or in little - we neglect our salvation, protesting the heat of the sun, a little heat in the air, and some fatigue, abandoning our meeting, spoiling ourselves by going to completely destructive meetings?!

It is clear, then, that these unreasonable excuses are the result of laziness and indolence, lacking the fire of the Holy Spirit.

To invite everyone

These remarks of mine are not directed at them, but rather at you, who come before them, raise them up from their laziness, and bring them to this table of salvation.

Indeed, when slaves perform some public service, they summon their fellow slaves, but when you go to gather for spiritual service, you deprive your colleagues of its blessings because of your negligence.

You say, “What do we do if they don’t want to come?”

Make them desire your constant persistence, and when they see you insisting on this, they will desire it as well.

They are just excuses you make. How many parents are sitting here without their children accompanying them? Is it also difficult to bring some of your children?!

Let each one encourage others and urge them to attend. The father encourages his son, the son his father, husbands their wives, wives their husbands, the master his servant, the friend his friend, and rather not only his friends but also his enemies... calling on them to take advantage of the treasure offered for the good of all. If the enemy sees your concern for what is good for him, he will remove his hatred for you (4).

Don't come empty

 I say that those who abandon this concern (for the brothers) receive a blow in their most vital parts, enduring a loss worse than that which occurs for any other reason, because those who bring someone with them acquire greater profit than they acquire anything else, as the Bible declares... “Never appear before me empty.” (Exodus 23:5), meaning that they should not enter the temple without sacrifices. If it is not permissible for us to enter the temple without sacrifices, how much more be it for us not to come without our brothers accompanying us, because this offering is better than that one.

I wish we could imitate some irrational creatures, as they hunt prey for those of their own kind. What excuse do we have, who have been blessed with reason and such wisdom, if we do not do the same?

I advised you in the previous sermon and said to you: “Go every one to the houses of his relatives, and wait for them until they come out, and seize them and take them to their mother’s public house. They are made up of lunatics who meet each other early in order to be led to evil scenes.

And here I am repeating the call, and I will not stop until I find you to work.

Attract them by action, not by words

 Hearing is of no use unless accompanied by implementation. Rather, it makes our judgment more severe.

I hear what Jesus says “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. As for the prophets, they have no excuse for their sin.” (John 15:22) The Apostle says “For not those who hear the law are righteous in the sight of God.” (Romans 12:13).

This was said for the sake of the listeners, but the Lord wanted the teachers to know that they will not benefit from teaching anything unless their teachings apply to their behavior, and their words to their lives... as the Prophet says “And to the wicked God said, ‘Why should you speak my statutes and carry my covenant in your mouth, since you have hated (the teaching)?’” (Psalm 49: 16-17) And the Messenger says “And you are confident that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those in darkness, a trainer of the foolish, a teacher of little ones, and you have an image of knowledge and truth in the law. So you are the one who teaches others, do you not teach yourself?!” (Romans 2:19-21)…

Therefore, I wish our passion does not increase to merely listening. Indeed, it is very good to always spend our time listening to divine teachings, but they do not benefit us at all if they are not linked to the desire to benefit from them.

For this reason, do not gather here in vain. Rather, I do not stop beseeching you with all zeal, as I did before, saying: “Bring your brothers here. Guide here. Guide the lost. Teach them by action, not just by words.”

This is authoritative teaching, which comes through our behavior and actions. Even though you do not utter a word, after you leave here you announce to the people who have stayed behind the profit that you have acquired here, through your appearance, your looks, your voice, and all your actions. This is sufficient for guidance and advice.

We must come out of this place as befits a holy place, as people descending from the eyes of heaven, reverent and wise, speaking and doing all things appropriately.

When a wife sees her husband coming from a meeting, a father his son, a friend his friend, and an enemy his enemy, they see in them traces of the blessings they have enjoyed. They will realize that you have become gentler, wiser, and more balanced.

Consider what privileges you enjoy during the holy sacraments?! Teach those who are “outside” that you are in the company of the seraphim, counted among the heavenly ones, and numbered among the ranks of angels, where you speak with the Lord and are in the company of Jesus Christ.

If your souls are prepared like this, then there is no need for what we say to those who remained behind in attendance, because they see what we have received, and feel their loss, so they rush to attend to enjoy the same way as us.

They are motivated by the beauty of your sparkling souls, their hearts are inflamed by our good appearance, no matter how stupid they are, because if the beauty of the body tempts its beholder, how much more will the beauty and harmony of the soul excite its beholder and attract him to have the same jealousy?!

So let us decorate our inner man, and think about what is said here when we go out... Because even if the wrestler wrestles according to what he was trained to do in wrestling schools, in our dealings with the world we do not use what we hear here!!

Attract them with love

Remember what you are told, so that when you go out and Satan gets his hands on you through anger, vain glory, or any other lust, by remembering what you have learned here, you will be able to easily escape his evil grip.

Don’t you see how the trainees, after practicing wrestling for a long time and having become exempt from it due to their old age, sit outside the ring and call out to those who teach them, saying thus: “I hold his hand, pull his leg, press his back, and other instructions”…

Aren't they providing a great service to their students?! You also look to your coach - the blessed Paul - who, after obtaining many victories, sits outside the boundaries - that is, this temporal life - and cries out to us with his messages. When he sees us angry or dissatisfied with the harm we suffer, he says: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” (Romans 12:20).

A beautiful will about spiritual wisdom, beneficial to the one who did it and to those who benefit from it! But the rest of the text raises great confusion and seems to be inconsistent with the intention of the speaker of the previous words... as he says: “Because if you do this, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

With these last words evil befalls both the doer and the beneficiary. The last is because coals of fire are placed on his head. What is the benefit to him in terms of food and drink if he piles coals of fire on his head?!.. As for the provider of the benefit, he also harms him in another way, because what benefit does he gain from doing good for his enemy if he does this with the intention of collecting coals? Fire on his head?! Thus, he is not merciful and gentle, but rather cruel and brutal.

So what is the solution?

This great and wise man (Paul) was fully aware of this fact, which is that reconciling the enemy quickly is dangerous and difficult, not according to nature, but because of human laxity. He not only commands us to reconcile with our enemy, but also to obey him, which is more difficult because if some cannot even see those who are harassing them, how can they want to provide food to them when they are hungry?!

Why do I say that looking at them excites them? Rather, just mentioning their name brings back their memories of their wounds and ignites the flames of their anger.

 Paul knew this, and he wanted what was harsh and difficult to be easy and simple. He wants to convince those who cannot bear to see his enemy to do good for him, so he added his words “He collects coals of fire”So that the lover of revenge will hasten to do good to his enemy.

Just as the fisherman surrounds the hook with bait on all sides, and a fish rushes to eat from it as usual (in eating small fish). The fisherman immediately captures it and holds it easily. This is what Paul does, who wants to lead a person to do good for his adversaries. He does not present the hook of spiritual wisdom naked, but rather covers it. With such a taste, that is “Embers of fire“They call on the humiliated person who desires revenge to provide goodness to his oppressor.

When a person commits this act, the Messenger hunts him down and does not let him escape.

It is as if the Messenger was saying to the one who loves revenge “If you do not offer food to someone who wronged you out of pity, serve it out of your desire for revenge.”. The Messenger knows that when a person begins this work, this will be the beginning of reconciliation between them (and the person will experience the sweetness of the virtue of loving enemies).

In this way, he refers to the person who became angry, but notice how he connects the two.

Firstly: By doing good (because no matter how low and insensitive a person is, after he accepts food and drink, he becomes a servant and friend to the one who gave them to him).

secondly: Through fear of revenge. Because the phrase: “Because if you do this, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” It sounds like it's directed at the food provider, but it's more about the harasser. Because of his fear of punishment, he stops hostility, because he knows that taking food and drink will increase his crime if he remains in hostility. That is why he immediately turns away his anger, extinguishing the embers of the fire.

The proposed punishment and declared revenge convince both parties: the one who was insulted in order to offer good to his harasser, and the one who caused the anger, we repel him and force him to reconcile with the one who provided him with food and drink.

Thus Paul connects the two with a double bond. The first depends on providing benefit to those who harass him, and the second is the fear of punishment. Because the difficulty lies in one of them starting and opening the door to reconciliation, and then the rest will be easy and simple.

Defeat your trap, not your brother

That is why Paul did not stop at this point in his advice, but when both of them had finished with anger, he presented the correct situation, saying: “Do not be overcome by evil.” It's as if he's saying, "If you're holding on to anger and looking for revenge, it really feels like you're defeating your enemy." But in reality, you are defeated by evil, that is, by anger.”

If you want to prevail, come to an agreement and do not attack your opponent. It is a great victory to overcome evil and expel anger and rage, by doing good, that is, enduring.

So, did you realize the wisdom of the legislator?! And so that you may learn that he came with this commandment in this way because of the weakness of those who are not convinced to come to terms... Listen to what Jesus Christ says when he legislates a commandment regarding the same matter without setting the same penalty, but rather he said: “Love your enemies...do good to those who hate you(Matthew 5:22) That is, they provided them with food and drink... “So that you may be children of your Father in heaven“(Matthew 5:45) explaining this punishment to them because he was speaking to Peter, James, John, and the rest of the apostles...

Practical example

The Messenger quoted the same words of Solomon (Proverbs 25: 21-22) to convince the listener, who had reached a high spiritual level, to thus observe what was stated in the Old Law as a command carried out by men of the Old Testament.

Many people carried out this commandment, including David, who carried it out in a sublime way. In fact, he not only provided his enemy with food and drink, but also saved him many times from death. When he was in Gibeah and could have killed, he did not do this once or twice... yes, but many times.

As much as Saul hated and harassed him, he provided him with great goodness and righteousness. After he won a brilliant victory before David...Saul could not bear to mention his name, but rather called him by his father’s name. After preparing the banquet, planning to kill him, and executing the plan, Saul said: “Why didn’t the son of Jesse come?” (1 Samuel 20:27), as he could not bear to pronounce his real name... and he also wanted to destroy the position of this distinguished man by mentioning his origin.

What a miserable and contemptible thought, because if the father had faults, this would not offend David, because every person is asked about his own deeds, and for them he is praised or criticized.

He invited him “Son of Jesse” (to belittle), as for David, when he found Saul sleeping in the cave, he did not call him “Ibn Qais,” but rather honored him, saying: “The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed“(1 Samuel 26:11). Thus was David in purity, free from anger or resentment over harms, called the one who committed many evils against him, and was thirsty to shed his blood, and tried to destroy him. “The Lord’s anointed.”

He did not care about what Saul deserved, but rather thought about what was appropriate for him to do as wisdom dictated to him.

He did not look at the circumstances as making it easier for him to kill Saul, but rather his observation was accurate in terms of his wisdom.

Was the leader’s advice to him able to encourage him to commit the crime, and was his memory of the past able to console him for the murder?!

None of this could excite him. But the opportunity to kill him easily prevented him from committing the act, as he thought that God had put Saul under his hand to test his wisdom.

Perhaps he was surprised by David because he did not think of anything before, but what amazes me is that he did not harden his hand against Saul for fear of the coming circumstances. Because he knew full well that if Saul escaped from his hands, he would later be his enemy...but he preferred to expose himself to danger, forgiving those who wronged him, rather than guaranteeing himself safety by using violence against his enemy.

How great this man is! What a sublime soul! This is what the law demanded “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth“(Deuteronomy 19:22) Not only did he reach this level, but he also attained a high degree of wisdom.

His wisdom did not stop at killing Saul, the violent opponent, and he did not utter an inappropriate word against him, even though if he had spoken, Saul would not have heard him. As for us, we often speak evil, even against our friends, when they are absent.

Oh the tenderness of his soul! He was truly justified, as stated in the saying: “Remember, O Lord, David and all his supplications” (Psalm 132:1).

Let us imitate him. We do not utter a word against our enemy, nor do we do evil to him. Rather, we do good to him as much as possible. In this way, we do more good with ourselves than we do with them. We are commanded to forgive our enemies and our sins will be forgiven (Matthew 6:14).

May we passionately long to be reconciled with those who harass us, whether they do so justly or unjustly. If we reconcile here, we will be saved from judgment in the world to come... But if death comes during the period in which hatred exists, and it carries with it enmity, then the issue will be considered in the age to come.

Also, when many people are in a dispute with others, they meet each other in a spirit of friendship outside the court, thus saving themselves from the loss, danger, and trouble that befall both parties. However, if the matter is left before the judge, both will suffer a financial loss, and they may also be punished, and the enmity between them will remain permanent.

Likewise, if we remain in enmity, we will depart to the majestic court in the world to come and inevitably pay the penalty according to the command of the Judge. Both the one who was unjustly angry because he did this, and the one who is still angry because he maintained the anger are subject to possible punishment.

Therefore, if we are treated unjustly poorly, we must forgive those who wrong us.

Notice how he encourages those who suffer unjustly to reconcile with those who have wronged them “If you offer your offering on the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, then leave your offering in front of the altar and go. First, be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your offering.” (Matthew 5:23-24)

He did not say: “Gather with him and offer your offering.” Rather, he reconciled and offered your offering.

See also how He prompts you again to go to your molestation, by saying “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (Matthew 5:14), offering a great and not insignificant reward.

Consider all these things, and calculate the magnitude of the great reward, and remember that the washing away of sins depends on our forgiveness of those who wronged us...

May the God of peace and love, who removes from our souls all anger, bitterness, and anger, condescend to grant us - by relating to one another in complete unity as members are connected to one another (Ephesians 4:16) - to offer Him in one accord, with one mouth and with one spirit, the praises of thanksgiving due to Him. . For to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

(*) The translation was made by Father Tadros Yacoub Malti, under the title “Your Message in Life.” Therefore, the name itself was preserved as stated in the Arabic translation, but the name as stated in the English version is “If Your Enemy Hunger, Feed Him” and the subtitle is “To those who had not attended the assembly,” according to what was stated in the Catholic Encyclopedia. The translator's introduction has been shortened by the network... (the network)

(1) These wolves contain all your adversaries, among whom are many Christians in name who do not live according to the living faith.

(2) The Greek word means “members of the church” as a talent for salvation.

(3) Chrysostom calls them “Womanish excuses.”

(4) The saint then went on at length to urge us to strive, reminding us of how the Jews, whose rituals were invalidated and whose worship ended with the coming of the Lord Jesus and the completion of redemption, so they walk in the Spirit... are still meticulous in many physical matters and acts of worship... while we, who enjoyed salvation, neglect our worship of the Lord, our testimony to Him, and our preaching of Him.