May 20

Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.—Matthew 18:19, 20.

SEEST thou how by another motive he puts down our enmities, and takes away our petty dissensions, and draws us one to another, and this not from the punishment only which had been mentioned, but also from the good things which spring from charity? For having denounced those threats against contentiousness, he puts here the great rewards of concord, if at least they who are of one accord do even prevail with the Father, as touching the things they ask, and have Christ in the midst of them.

"Are there then indeed nowhere two of one accord?" Nay, in many places, perchance even everywhere. "How then do they not obtain all things?" Because many are the causes of their failing. For either they often ask things inexpedient. And why marvellet thou, if this is the case with some others, whereas it was so even with Paul, when he heard, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is perfected in weakness. Or they are unworthy to be reckoned with them that heard these words, and contribute not their own part, but he seeks for such as are like them; therefore he saith of you, of the virtuous, of them that show forth an angelic rule of life. Or they pray against them that have aggrieved them, seeking for redress and vengeance; and this kind of thing is forbidden, for, Pray, saith he, for your enemies. Or having sins unrepented they ask mercy, which thing it is impossible to receive, not only if themselves ask it, but although others having much confidence towards God entreat for them, like as even Jeremiah praying for the Jews did hear, Pray not thou for this people, because I will not hear thee.

But if all things are there, and thou ask things expedient, and contribute all thine own part, and exhibit an apostolical life, and have concord and love towards thy neighbor, thou wilt obtain on thy entreaty; for the Lord is loving towards man.

Then because he has said, Of my Father, in order that he might show that it is himself that giveth, and not he who begat him only, he added, For wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

What then? are there not two or three gathered together in his name? There are indeed, but rarely. For not merely of the assembling doth he speak, neither this doth he require only; but most surely, as I said before also, the rest of virtue too together with this, and besides, even this itself he requires with great strictness. For what he saith is like this, "If any holds me the principal ground of his love to his neighbor, I will be with him, if he be a virtuous man in other respects."

But now we see the more part having other motives of friendship. For one loves, because he is loved, another because he has been honored, a third because such a one has been useful to him in some other worldly matter, a fourth for some other like cause; but for Christ's sake it is a difficult thing to find any one loving his neighbor sincerely, and as he ought to love him. For the more part are bound one to another by their worldly affairs. But Paul did not love thus, but for Christ's sake; wherefore even when not loved in such wise as he loved, he did not cease his love, because he had planted a strong root of his affection; but not so our present state, but on inquiry we shall find with most men any thing likely to produce friendship rather than this. And if any one bestowed on me power in so great a multitude to make this inquiry, I would show the more part bound one to another by worldly motives.

And this is evident from the causes that work enmity. For because they are bound one to another by these temporal motives, therefore they are neither fervent towards one another, nor constant, but insult, and loss of money, and envy, and love of vainglory, and every such thing coming upon them, severs the love-tie. For it finds not the root spiritual. Since, if indeed it were such, no worldly things would dissolve things spiritual. For love for Christ's sake is firm, and not to be broken, and impregnable, and nothing can tear it asunder; not calumnies, not dangers, not death, no other thing of this kind. For though he suffer ten thousand things, who thus loves; looking to the ground of his love, he will not desist. For he who loves because of being loved, should he meet with any thing painful, puts an end to his love; but he who is bound by this, will never desist.

Wherefore Paul also said, Charity never failsth. For what hast thou to say? That when honored he insults? that receiving benefits he was minded to slay thee? But even this works upon thee to love more, if thou lovest for Christ's sake. For what things are in the rest subversive of love, these here become apt to produce it. How? First, because such a one is to thee cause of rewards; secondly, because he that is so disposed stands in need of more succor, and much attention. Therefore I say, he who thus loves inquires not about race, nor country, nor wealth, nor his love to himself, nor any other such matter; but though he be hated, though he be insulted, though he be slain, continues to love, having as a sufficient ground for love, Christ; wherefore also he stands steadfast, firm, not to be overthrown, looking unto him.

For Christ so loved his enemies, having loved the obstinate, the injurious, the blasphemers, them that hated him, them that would not so much as see him; them that were preferring wood and stones to him, and with the highest love, beyond which one can not find another. For greater love hath no man than this, he saith, that one lay down his life for his friends.

And those even that crucified him, and acted in so many instances with contumely against him, see how he continues to treat with kindness. For even to his Father he speaks for them, saying, Forgive them, for they know not what they do. And he sent his disciples, moreover, after these things, unto them.

This love then let us also imitate, unto this let us look, that being followers of Christ, we may attain both unto the good things here, and unto those to come, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and might world without end. Amen.