Departure From Rome
Clement of Rome reflects on his own guilt and heedlessness, and decides to travel to Judaea to spread the news about the appearance of the Son of God in Rome.
Clement of Rome reflects on his own faults while pointing out the hypocrisy of blaming others for the same mistakes. Despite intending to go to Judæa, he faces delays in arranging his worldly affairs, leading him to contemplate the fleeting nature of life and the traps of false hope. Eventually, he ends up in Alexandria due to adverse winds, where he engages with philosophers who are familiar with the Son of God born in Judæa and His miraculous deeds.
Text
While I spoke thus concerning others, I also lectured myself, saying, Why do I blame others, being myself guilty of the very same crime of heedlessness?
But I shall hasten into Judæa, having first arranged my affairs. And when I had thus made up my mind, there occurred a long time of delay, my worldly affairs being difficult to arrange. Therefore, meditating further on the nature of life, that by involving men in hope it lays snares for those who are making haste, yea, and how much time I had been robbed of while tossed by hopes, and that we men die while thus occupied, I left all my affairs as they were, and sped to Portus; and coming to the harbour, and being taken on board a ship, I was borne by adverse winds to Alexandria instead of Judæa; and being detained there by stress of weather, I consorted with the philosophers, and told them about the rumour and the sayings of him who had appeared in Rome.
And they answered that indeed they knew nothing of him who had appeared in Rome; but concerning Him who was born in Judæa, and who was said by the report to be the Son of God, they had heard from many who had come from thence, and had learned respecting all the wonderful things that He did with a word.
Sermon Outline
- The speaker's self-reflection and accountability
- Recognizing personal guilt and heedlessness
- The importance of self-examination and personal responsibility
Key Quotes
“Why do I blame others, being myself guilty of the very same crime of heedlessness?” — Clement of Rome
“And how much time I had been robbed of while tossed by hopes, and that we men die while thus occupied,” — Clement of Rome
Application Points
- We must examine our own lives and take responsibility for our actions before judging others.
- Our worldly affairs can delay us from fulfilling our spiritual purposes.
- We should not be distracted by hopes and worldly concerns, but focus on our spiritual journey.