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HOMILIES: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
St Macarius the Great Resources Online and in Print
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33 Pages
Page 29
4. The good shepherd therefore healeth the sheep. But the sheep itself can never heal the sheep. And unless man be healed, there is no entrance for him into the congregation of the Lord in heaven. Thus also was it said in the law through a shadow; "A leper shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord." But he commanded the leper to go to the priest, who was to bring him into the house of his tabernacle, put his hands upon the leprosy, the place marked with the infection, and heal it. After the same manner, CHRIST, the true high-priest of good things to come, in condescension to leprous souls, enters into the tabernacle of their body, takes care of their disorders, and healeth them. And thus will the soul be able to enter into the heavenly church of the saints of the true Israel. But every soul that bears the leprosy of sin in her affections, and will not come to the true high-priest, and be taken care of now, finds no admission into the camp of the saints.
It behooveth- therefore the soul that truly beii- eth in CHRIST, to be changed from her present nature into another nature, which is Divine, and to be wrought new herself through the power of the Holy Spirit. And to obtain this, will be allowed to us who believe and love him in truth, and walk in all his holy commandments.
5. No man can of himself go over the sea, unless he have a vessel, which is able to go upon the waters; after the same manner is it impossible for the soul to pass over the sea of sin, and the abyss of the powers of darkness; unless it receive the Spirit of CHRIST that walks, and makes its way over all wickedness, -by means of which he will arrive by a quick and straight passage at the heavenly port of rest.
6. But as a ship stands in need of a pilot, in order to sail well; the Lord himself is a pilot to the faithful soul, and conveys it through all the waves of wickedness, and the strong winds of sin. without CHRIST, it is impossible for any one to get over the wicked sea of the powers, of darkness. "They mount up, (says the Psalmist,) to the heavens, and go down again to the depths." But he is well acquainted with the whole art of a pilot, and tramples upon their fierce waves. For he, says the apostle, "Having himself been tempted, is able to succor them that are tempted." 7. We ought therefore to believe faith our whole heart his unspeakable promises, to love - the Lord, and to be industrious in all virtues, and to beg continually, that we may receive the promise of his Spirit entirely and perfectly; that so our souls might be quickened whilst we are yet in the flesh. For unless the soul shall in this world receive the sanctification of the Spirit through much faith and prayer, and be made partaker of the Divine nature, (through which it will be able without blame and in purity to per form every commandmentj it is unfit for the kingdom of heaven. For whatever good a man has possessed in this world, the same shall in that day be his life, through the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost for ever! Amen.
Reference address : https://elpenor.org/macarius/homilies.asp?pg=29
