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| To those who are to be Enlightened, delivered extempore at Jerusalem, as an Introductory Lecture to those who had come forward for Baptism.
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FIRST CATECHETICAL LECTURE
of
Our Holy Father Cyril,
Archbishop of Jerusalem,
To those who are to be Enlightened,
delivered extempore at Jerusalem, as an Introductory Lecture to those
who had come forward for Baptism458
| 458 The title prefixed to
this Lecture is given in full. In the following Lectures the form
will be abbreviated. See Index, ἀνάγνωσις and
σχεδιασθεῖσα. | :
With a reading from
Isaiah
Wash you, make you clean; put away your iniquities
from your souls, from before mine eyes, and the rest459
.
1. Disciples of the
New Testament and partakers of the mysteries of Christ, as yet by
calling only, but ere long by grace also, make you a new heart and a
new spirit460
, that there may be
gladness among the inhabitants of heaven: for if over one
sinner that repenteth there is joy, according to the
Gospel461
, how much more shall the salvation of so many
souls move the inhabitants of heaven to gladness. As ye have
entered upon a good and most glorious path, run with reverence the race
of godliness. For the Only-begotten Son of God is present here
most ready to redeem you, saying, Come unto Me all that labour and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest462
. Ye that are clothed with the rough
garment463
of your offences, who are holden with the
cords of your own sins, hear the voice of the Prophet saying,
Wash you, make you clean, put away your iniquities from before Mine
eyes464
: that the choir
of Angels may chant over you, Blessed are they whose iniquities are
forgiven, and whose sins are covered465
. Ye who have just lighted the torches
of faith466
, guard them carefully
in your hands unquenched; that He, who erewhile on this all-holy
Golgotha opened Paradise to the robber on account of his faith, may
grant to you to sing the bridal song.
2. If any here is a slave of sin, let him
promptly prepare himself through faith for the new birth into freedom
and adoption; and having put off the miserable bondage of his sins, and
taken on him the most blessed bondage of the Lord, so may he be counted
worthy to inherit the kingdom of heaven. Put off, by
confession467
| 467 See Index,
“Confession.” | , the old man,
which waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit, that ye may put
on the new man, which is renewed according to knowledge of Him that
created him468
. Get you the
earnest of the Holy Spirit469
through faith, that
ye may be able to be received into the everlasting
habitations470
. Come for the
mystical Seal, that ye may be easily recognised by the Master; be ye
numbered among the holy and spiritual flock of Christ, to be set apart
on His right hand, and inherit the life prepared for you. For
they to whom the rough garment471
of their sins still
clings are found on the left hand, because they came not to the grace
of God which is given through Christ at the new birth of Baptism:
new birth I mean not of bodies, but the spiritual new birth of the
soul. For our bodies are begotten by parents who are seen, but
our souls are begotten anew through faith: for the Spirit
bloweth where it listeth472
: and then, if
thou be found worthy, thou mayest hear, Well done, good and faithful
servant473
, when thou art found
to have no defilement of hypocrisy in thy conscience.
3. For if any of those who are present
should think to tempt God’s grace, he deceives himself, and knows
not its power. Keep thy soul free from hypocrisy, O man, because
of Him who searcheth hearts and reins474
. For as those who are going to make a
levy for war examine the ages and the bodies of those who are taking service, so also
the Lord in enlisting souls examines their purpose: and if any
has a secret hypocrisy, He rejects the man as unfit for His true
service; but if He finds one worthy, to him He readily gives His
grace. He gives not holy things to the dogs475
;
but where He discerns the good conscience, there He gives the Seal of
salvation, that wondrous Seal, which devils tremble at, and Angels
recognise; that the one may be driven to flight, and the others may
watch around it as kindred to themselves. Those therefore who
receive this spiritual and saving Seal, have need also of the
disposition akin to it. For as a writing-reed or a dart has need
of one to use it, so grace also has need of believing minds.
4. Thou art receiving not a perishable but a
spiritual shield. Henceforth thou art planted in the
invisible476
Paradise. Thou
receivest a new name, which thou hadst not before. Heretofore
thou wast a Catechumen, but now thou wilt be called a Believer.
Thou art transplanted henceforth among the spiritual477
olive-trees, being grafted from the wild into the good
olive-tree478
, from sins into
righteousness, from pollutions into purity. Thou art made
partaker of the Holy Vine479
. Well then, if
thou abide in the Vine, thou growest as a fruitful branch; but if thou
abide not, thou wilt be consumed by the fire. Let us therefore
bear fruit worthily. God forbid that in us should be done what
befell that barren fig-tree480
, that Jesus come not
even now and curse us for our barrenness. But may all be able to
use that other saying, But I am like a fruitful olive-tree in the
house of God: I have trusted in the mercy of God for
ever481
,—an olive-tree
not to be perceived by sense, but by the mind482
| 482 νοητή, see note 1, above. | , and
full of light. As then it is His part to plant and to
water483
, so it is thine to bear fruit: it is
God’s to grant grace, but thine to receive and guard it.
Despise not the grace because it is freely given, but receive and
treasure it devoutly.
5. The present is the season of
confession: confess what thou hast done in word or in deed, by
night or by day; confess in an acceptable time, and in the day of
salvation484
receive the heavenly
treasure. Devote thy time to the Exorcisms: be assiduous at
the Catechisings, and remember the things that shall be spoken, for
they are spoken not for thine ears only, but that by faith thou mayest
seal them up in the memory. Blot out from thy mind all
earthly485
care: for thou art running for thy
soul. Thou art utterly forsaking the things of the world:
little are the things which thou art forsaking, great what the Lord is
giving. Forsake things present, and put thy trust in things to
come. Hast thou run so many circles of the years busied in vain
about the world, and hast thou not forty days to be free (for
prayer486
| 486 Some mss. omit τῇ
προσευχῇ after
σχολάζεις. | ), for thine own soul’s sake?
Be still487
, and know that I
am God, saith the Scripture. Excuse thyself from talking many
idle words: neither backbite, nor lend a willing ear to
backbiters; but rather be prompt to prayer. Shew in ascetic
exercise that thy heart is nerved488
| 488 Compare Procat.
17: xviii. 1. | . Cleanse
thy vessel, that thou mayest receive grace more abundantly. For
though remission of sins is given equally to all, the communion of the
Holy Ghost is bestowed in proportion to each man’s faith.
If thou hast laboured little, thou receivest little; but if thou hast
wrought much, the reward is great. Thou art running for thyself,
see to thine own interest.
6. If thou hast aught against any man,
forgive it: thou comest here to receive forgiveness of sins, and
thou also must forgive him that hath sinned against thee. Else
with what face wilt thou say to the Lord, Forgive me my many sins, if
thou hast not thyself forgiven thy fellow-servant even his little
sins. Attend diligently the Church assemblies489
;
not only now when diligent attendance is required of thee by the
Clergy, but also after thou hast received the grace. For if,
before thou hast received it, the practice is good, is it not also good
after the bestowal? If before thou be grafted in, it is a safe
course to be watered and tended, is it not far better after the
planting? Wrestle for thine own soul, especially in such days as
these. Nourish thy soul with sacred readings; for the Lord hath
prepared for thee a spiritual table; therefore say thou also after the
Psalmist, The Lord is my shepherd, and I shall lack nothing:
in a place of grass, there hath He made me rest; He hath fed me beside
the waters of comfort, He hath converted my soul490
:—that Angels also may share your joy,
and Christ Himself the great High Priest, having accepted your resolve,
may present you all to the Father, saying, Behold, I and the
children whom God hath given Me491
. May He
keep you all well-pleasing in His sight! To whom be the glory,
and the power unto the endless ages of eternity.
Amen.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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