Pseudo-Clementine Homilies: Homily 13

And when we came to the place where she was staying, my mother was asking me about my father, where he was. And I said to her, "Your husband went out and was not found again." But she, when she heard, was grieved alone, for many breaths and the joy that she had were taken from her. On the next day, however, she sat with another woman and thus came with us. From there we came to Balaneas, and there we remained three days. And afterwards to Gabala. And after that we arrived at Laodicea. And there Nicetas and Aquila pastured before her gates, and when they entered the house of the chief, they were bringing us to him. But Peter, when he saw the great and beautiful city, said that it was fitting for a man to remain here ten days or more. Nicetas and Aquila, however, were inquiring about the woman, what her condition was. And I said that she is my mother, whom, through my lord Peter, God wished to be recognized. But when I said this, then each one of them was asking how she came to Aradus, and how she found a way to go around by sea. And when he asked why she went around, he learned from her her lineage and all her life, and how she came to this whole lowliness. And from there recognition occurred. And while Peter was saying these things one by one, he was asking how the marriage took place, and again also the names of the two twin sons, which he had not yet spoken. Then Nicetas and Aquila were astonished and encouraged, and when he was silent they were saying, "Is this truly our mother, or is it a dream?" And Peter said, "If you are silent, our mother is truly she." And they, when the hour was silent, were washing their faces.

And when Victor said, "Brother, brother, Paul and Faustus, whom I mentioned, even from the beginning, for when I began to speak of them, they seemed to be not far from those things that were being said with you. For because this matter, which happens to many in the world, resembles one another, it was not, at the end of the matter, we were looking. And then it became clear about itself." And when Victor said this, both of them, weeping, went up to their mother and found her sleeping. And they wanted to embrace her, but Peter stopped them and said, "Let me, quietly, bring you to your mother, lest with great joy, which comes from rest, she be disturbed. Especially since she is sleeping and her memory is troubled at the hour." When, however, she awoke from her sleep, Peter said to her, "Do you wish to know, O woman, the ways of the fear of the one God, whom we fear, who is invisible, who is the one who made this world that you see, and to whom alone it is fitting that before everything he commanded that he alone be feared, and that his name be glorified, and that a man honor his fellow men, and that he be chaste, and that he live purely, and again, that we not partake of the tables of the Gentiles, but if they begin to practice chastity, when they are baptized in the name of the Trinity, which is glorious, then we share bread with them. But if not, not even if his father, or his mother, or his brother, or his wife, or his son, who would partake with him, are able to do so. For therefore, do not think that the law of fear is a small thing for you, that I do not partake with your son in bread until his mind is changed." And she, when she heard, said,

And when the whole day had passed, that same day which I had seen before, concerning those who are called gods, it was thus. For even when they had sacrificed much, they did not increase anything. But concerning the man, when he said that which Paul first intended to do, he did not even attempt any deception, nor did he require poverty, nor wealth. And while these words were being spoken, and the brothers Victor and Aquila were no longer able to bear it, they stood up and were turning away, weeping bitterly. And that woman said, "What is this?" And Peter said, "Raise your mind, or endure firmly, so that you may be comforted by your sons." These are Faustinianus and Faustus, your sons, of whom I said that they died at sea. How then do they stand? And now one is named Nicetas and the other Aquila. They have now been changed for you." And when Peter said this, with great joy her soul was comforted. And to her amazement, she found her strength. So then, when she came to herself, she sat down and said, "I ask you, my compassionate brothers, tell me something of what happened to you after that bitter night." And Victor began to speak: "On that very night, I say, when the ship was wrecked, each of those who were at sea, the pirates, plundered us and set us on the ship, and brought us to Caesarea of Strato, and there they sold us. With blows and terrible beatings they were afflicting us, so that nothing was hidden from them. Moreover, they even changed our names, and then sold us. And one Jewish woman of high standing, whose name was Justa, bought us, and in place of sons she held us, both me and her husband. And she raised us in all the instruction of the Jews. So then, when we were in need of teachers, she loved this fear.

And also concerning the rebellion of the Jews, to teach that when they were with the rest of the nations, the leaders of their error were found to be refuted. But even the night of the philosopher passed quietly, especially the examples of the wicked. The teaching of Epicurus and of those who were refuted was to destroy the teaching. Another, however, the companion of my lord Peter, whose name was Zacchaeus, approached him and was teaching him. And when Peter came, he approached him and taught him the truth. As for Simon, he was like one of the children of instruction, and for the sake of love, to deceive, he made a certain Quadratus. There is again another good thing concerning a certain man, the one who appeared in the kingdom, and the fears of those who feared God there, that he has a life without death and without affliction. These things, O my mother, in vain time are told to you. Concerning Simon, the companion of my lord Peter, whose name was Zacchaeus, approached him and was teaching him not to err after that magician. When, then, Peter came, he approached him as one who confirms and persuades concerning those who fear God. For this reason, O my mother, we pray that we may be worthy of these good things that are fitting, and that you also may have the power to receive them, so that thus one may be able to participate in the world and at the table. This, then, is the reason, O my mother, on account of which I thought that I was dead that bitter night, when I was separated from the sea by a detail, and I thought that I was lost. Now when these things were said by Postianus, my mother fell, and with Peter she was entreating and persuading that for her and for her reception he should send from his place and bring her and baptize her, so that thus not even for one day would she be with the children, and she received that she would not partake of bread with them. These things, then, O my mother, as my mother, we also entreat.

And Peter said, "I am amazed that you, alone, are without mercy. It is not that I wish to instruct you and then baptize you so that you might partake of the bread with us, but rather that even one day before baptism you should fast. And this is because the Word itself, by its own nature, reveals its faith. Otherwise, many days of purification from sin would be required of you." Clement then said to him, "I recall the word you spoke, which revealed your faith." And Peter said, "It is at her request, for she asked that even her foster-mother dwell with her, since she is on the side of good. But she did not ask this for herself, because she loved her. If not for the great zeal she had to receive baptism first, she would have taken it for this reason: I am for many, but I am flesh. When they are baptized and say they believe, but do not do what is fitting for baptism, nor do they love, I say to their friends or their relatives or their loved ones that they come and are deceived. For if they believed that God gives eternal life to those who are baptized with good works, diligently, they would persuade those they love to be baptized. But now each one of you says, 'Love those who love you,' and they do not care about them. This is foolishness, because when they see them in sickness or being led to death or suffering other evils, they mourn and have pity on them. Thus, if they believed that eternal fire is prepared for those who do not fear God, they would not cease from teaching. Or if they saw them being destroyed like the sons of men, they would mourn like men who, in their folly, are deceived.

And now, after receiving her, he sent and commanded through her, that the one who receives her should take up the law, and then, according to the rite, whatever is proper should be done. But you, because your mind is faithfully set on baptism, you fast one day. But she was a pagan, and these two days that passed, because she was distracted by the woman concerning the matter of knowledge. With many entreaties, the patient one was not able to receive, except that a little water was poured. Only the witness of the death of Peter’s wife, who truly did not lie, remained. But Aquila, who is now Postumianus, said, “Then there is nothing that prevents her from being baptized.” Peter laughed and said, “This is not the fast of baptism, which did not happen because of her.” And Postumianus was amazed. “If then God wills that she not be separated even one day from the table from the day she knew and was known, and He decreed that she fast, where then did you keep the affliction, and without knowledge did you do something fitting for the truth? So also now God wills and decreed that you fast one day before, without knowledge, for the sake of the baptism of truth, to participate.” And Peter said, “Do not be conquered by evil, the pretext that you found from the dispensation of God.

and from the love of your mother, except that this much she did, and I am with you today thus, and tomorrow you will be baptized. For not even that which is today for baptism is sufficient, and thus all together, that this may be her will. But in the evening, in the teaching of Peter, they were being delighted, while he showed them from the will of the mother, that by means of good thoughts, those of chastity are beautiful, but those of evil, because evil is for the whole race. For nature has them for destruction, not only slightly, but even with delay. Now all that is of chastity is beautiful to God. And even for those who are in error, for their sake God gives a small grace in this world. For those lives that are pure only for those who, because of their hope, are baptized and in chastity perform good works, are revealed as you have seen from those who happened to your mother. But the rewards of the future are great. Now if she had died, she would have been killed. But because she remained chaste, God in mercy turned her away from killing. And the children who were to be taken from her, he saved for her. Now if a man says, How many are there who because of chastity have perished? But the reward of this is from the evil of thoughts that happen.

For it is not fitting for a wife, in whom there is a nature that is unclean, to flee from the partnership with her, as from a fire that is kindled, and as from a rabid dog. In this manner your mother acted, because she loved the beauty of the truth of chastity, and for this reason she was adorned, and with you she received the knowledge of the kingdom forever. She is a wife who desired to be in chastity, and indeed she had compassion on you because she was prevented from evil things by the passion of many who were her enemies. But in one steadfast covenant of chastity she was purely preserved, and she took victory over all of them, and guarded her life. For even all good things a man accomplishes are destroyed by one great sin, as the wise one said: A chaste wife is the will of God, and her first creation is a good remembrance. For just as there is one God, so for one man one wife was created. Moreover, especially in chastity she is steadfast, if she does not err from her nature, and if in the marketplace she goes out and looks, and through the loss of eternal good things she perceives, a chaste wife, in those things that she desires to live, rejoices in the garments of purity, in those that are fearful from God.

The law, then, is that of good conduct, the hand of chastity desires the deeds of the righteous. But she, when the deeds were not given, as if by an enemy she was enraged, as if by an enemy, and as by God she was blessed and sought after, the hand of the chaste one to God the Messiah, to God the merciful, to God the joyful, to God the glorious, to the sons of men she gave no cause for reproach. The chaste woman to the church in good honor, she is pleasant, and her chastity is praised. Moreover, also her teachers, it is a praise and a help to them when they are chaste, the hand of the chaste one as to the son of God she is adorned, when the evil one is the light of chastity. She has beauty, good laws of her soul, her pleasantries are delicate. Her good is beautiful, and her sisters are beautiful, modest. Chastity and precious pearls. The words of the chaste one are for the erring, her freedom is white. Moreover, again, when the shepherd was a shepherd, he saw in a good vision, free, when in God he was struck with good fortune. She is adorned in the fear of God, when her soul teaches. A good woman is not the hand that is bought with gold, but the hand that is loosed from the desires of sacrifice. A chaste woman to a great king, desire for her. She is known to him, she is guarded by him, she is pitied, the hand of the chaste one gives no cause for lust, but to her husband with all her heart she loves and kisses and is agitated and is wanton and is subjugated in everything, she obeys, except that which is against God she does not wish. For the hand that is against God is condemned, that she not be guarded and that she not be chaste in herself and be purified in her body. Therefore, not every man is a shepherd who separates his wife from the fear of God, because she does not fear God.

She does not even fear her husband. For if she does not fear God, who sees the hidden things, how will she be ashamed of her secret thought? How, then, will she again be chaste, when she does not come to listen to the words of those who are chaste? How, then, will she receive instruction? How, then, will she be chaste without guardians, she who is in the secret of God, which is to come, and will not perceive, and through the lack of eternal goods, which on account of a small cause that occurs, will not be established? For this reason, instead of this, when she does not wish to be with the words of the chaste, that she might come to her shame and disturbance, it is much better if she is obedient to him, and her coming is thus. Also you, if you are chaste, you will wish to be chaste. If you know what is the end of a chaste marriage, and you do not defile, do not grieve him who loves you. Say, then, that the father is to be of your sons, that you may love your own sons. And by your sons you will be loved. Which woman who wishes to be chaste, to remain, and he also is chaste, and the debt which is owed by him is paid, with him it is sweetened; he is chaste, and the debt which is owed by him is paid, with him it is sweetened; with him, to the word of chastity, she comes, and does not oppress her. And not in vain does he afflict himself, a helper who does not do good to those whom he is able to help. And those whom he cannot, through disturbance, he fills their lack. A chaste woman who is to be drunk is not free. She knows her husband as a lord, while she is poor, producing poverty. If he is hungry with her, hungry, while on the road he is with her, accompanying her. In his affliction, she afflicts him. Also, great profit will be. As one who has nothing, a slave. Also to the man, also a poor woman will be to him. Great profit, her chastity will be counted to him. A chaste woman is sustained by food and drink that is sufficient for her.

lest when the body is shaken by the weight of the wicked passions, she again gives herself over to the same and consorts with young men without shame and is cut off from old age. A confused laughter is with her, the harlot, while she is alone with God. She is not deceived by words of chastity when she hears a sermon, but only by those things which are not spoken as if for chastity from the side of the harlot. God himself witnesses the many movements of one man. And this is the evil that, when it is with murder, is evil and powerful, and its power and wickedness are not seen. For what is it when the body is cast down, when it dies, and by its bitter trail every man is disturbed? But the pains of the soul which are in a man, when they are with those that are powerful, because the hearts of men are not seen, to those who are arrogant and do not cut off, they give more pain than a man's soul which is in you, so that you may see and not desire to be defiled by it. By lust alone the soul is defiled, and God's name is defiled because of this, even she who defiles him hastens to the fire, for she is in haste to be delivered to the eternal fire. When Peter said these things to the good and chaste Matrodora, he saw that she was weeping and he waited for her, as if because of something that had happened to her she was distressed, and he said, "Take courage, O woman. For while many have endured many evils because of lust, you have suffered because of chastity. And because of this you will not die. And even if you were to die, your soul would be preserved. You left your husband because of chastity. But in this cause you have found the truth. And you have made the crown of the eternal kingdom in the depth of the sea, and you have not died. But even if you had died, that sea, since you died because of chastity, would have been for you instead of baptism for life.

...your soul separated from your house for a short time, because from the pure seed of virtues you were found. From your hunger I turned the old age around, and I did not let your body be shaken in wicked passions, but I revived your soul. I made the fugitive flee from the bed of your husband, so that you would not be defiled, but only by God, who saw your flight, because it was from hunger that he filled the place of a man. In distress, alone, you were for a short time with your husband. And from your house you were separated, but again you are permitted to leave for these things within the boundary of death. But it is good and beautiful that because of hunger your will was separated, or not by your will, after a time with their sins you would have perished with them. So much help from the former things is a cause of distress. For even when you still stand in hope of doing these things, it is not so distressing; but in hope of good things, it also rejoices. Before everything, however, I wish you to know how much beauty and hunger for God there is. The hand of hunger is the soul of God, the chosen of God, the will of God, the praise of God. My daughter, this is all the good of hunger. For if the law had not been established, not even the righteous one without baptism would enter the kingdom of God. Already those from the nations, when they err because of hunger, were able to strike. Therefore, I grieve greatly for those who are hungry in error, because without good hope they chose hunger, and they refuse to come to baptism. For this reason, not even the boundary of life is set by God, so that whoever is not baptized does not enter his kingdom. When he said these things, and many from these things at the hour, then they are silent.