Lessons 4-6 from the Divine Office for the Twenty-Fourth and Last Sunday after Pentecost: From a Sermon on the Thirty-Third Psalm by St. Basil the Great: Whenever the desire to sin cometh over thee, I would that thou couldest think on certain things. Gods mind concerning sin and its consequences is set forth under dread and mysterious symbols, that on these we may reflect, and become possessed by a consuming desire for holiness. Think then of the awful and overwhelming judgment seat of Christ. There the Judge shall sit upon a throne high and lifted up. Every creature shall stand before him, quaking because of the glory of his presence. Unto that bar of judgment are we to be led up, one by one, to give account for those things which we have done in life. Presently, there will be found, standing by the sides of those who have in life wrought much evil, dreadful and hideous angels with faces of fire, and burning breath, appointed thereto, and shewing their evil will, in appearance like the night, in their despair and hatred of mankind. Think again of the bottomless pit, the impenetrable darkness, the fire without brightness, burning but not giving light; the poisonous mass of worms, preying upon humanity, ever feeding insatiably and never satisfied, causing by their gnawing intolerable remorse; lastly, the greatest punishment of all, shame and confusion for ever. Have a dread of these things, and let that dread correct thee, and be as a curb to thy mind to hold it in from the hankering after sin. This fear of the Lord the Psalmist Prophet hath promised to teach. But he hath not promised to teach it to all, but only to such as will hear him; not to such as have fallen far away but to such as run to him, hungry for salvation; not to such as have no part in the promises, but to such as by Baptism are born children of adoption, set at peace and oneness with the Word. Saith he: Come, ye children, that is to say, Draw nigh unto me by good works, all ye who by the new birth have become the worthy children of light. And he continueth: Hearken unto me: that is, all ye who have the ears of your heart opened. Then saith he: I will teach you the fear of the Lord: that is, even the holy fear, and reverence of that Being of whom we have just been speaking.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 07:08:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015