On Repentance and an Admonition

It is said of the blessed Mar Jacob the Teacher, that is, of the holy Mar Jacob. A memra, number 29, on Repentance and Admonition. Very easy is the great path of repentance, and the words of the tempter are arranged in it to lead the wanderers astray in it. But it is not right that the one who walks in it should be like a traveller, for the cause ran towards forgiveness and was not hindered. But he who sinned, perverted, and turned aside like a robber, and when he set his face towards the race, he became diligent. He considered the cross and began his journey to the house of the kingdom, for all difficulties are easy for repentance. He became naked of thorns, and the path he set out upon did not become obscure, for repentance is not rejected and not by means of boasts. Like a vision, these signs are placed for whoever falls, so that when he sees them, he will be roused and rise from the fall. He strengthens his soul, that if he lives in Christ, (why does the sinner not open? For him, if he is entreated). The tax-collector is near, but far from God, except for the one who cuts off hope, he is lost from his path. The law set a path for the righteous, and it is very harsh for those who walk in it and are not justified by the law. This, however, is the Lord's path for the world from grace, that even sinners are justified in it without the law. He stretched out himself for the tax-collectors who came to repentance, and for the travellers who approached him and were not hindered.

It is said of the blessed Mar Jacob the Teacher, that is, of the holy Mar Jacob. A memra, number 29, on Repentance and Admonition. Very easy is the great path of repentance, and the words of the tempter are arranged in it. For this one, who is evil, evil, and foul, the Lord of sin: that even the sick one was in need of the weak ones. Iniquity had gone forth like a disease in the whole world. And like a fire, the Lord descended to make the sick one healthy. So that the world could not come against God. The Son of God, his error, to approach his begetter. This is the path for those who have not and take, and by it they were coming, those who were weak to the wayfarers. This is the path that was walking from itself. And the bearer of the dead to the place of life shall pass. To the one without feet, the path was taken that it might run. They would not have been able to go, if not for this that brought them near. For if not for this path that fills the ditch, the streams would not run in it towards the holy one. If the Lord had not walked, the coverer would not have come. He would have been shut out from iniquity, and towards the truth he would not have approached. He would not have known the way of repentance, by which the Lord goes to the place that comes towards him. But if he had not come to this path full of good things, that one offers to you that you might direct your path without weariness. The path of the world was blocked from its beginning, and towards God, to silence the truth, they were running in it.

Sinners, then, do not even come into the world by that path. By the law, to diminish life, even the righteous one. But then our Lord came and stretched out His hand before sinners, and there was a path for them to walk upon, without law. And from then on, this path is never closed, for the path of the runner is cut off with the travelers. By this, then, come, sinners, to walk. For it was not Moses who set it forth, but the Son of God. There is no sin that runs with the tax-collector who walks upon it. With the wicked one, the oppressor, behold, the olive-press is pressed for you. Your evil, your merchant, has begun: a path with the robber. It has taken a cause; do not be hindered from discipline. Not with the good does it restrain you, a man of running: your garment. With the evil, the lord of those who walk upon it and are not covered. Do not cease for yourself, all of you, from good deeds, so that you may not be evil even from the evils that have passed. Look at the olive-press and weep with it over your transgressions. If, then, you knock at death, your bond does not know a man. Like a robber, ask for the kingdom, and it will be given to you. And if you wonder, it is not a robber, but a wolf. With a tax-collector of blood and a little expulsion from your assembly. And if with these you do not repent, you are like him. You are corrupt, like the olive-press that was established, or you are a thief, better than the tax-collector who was justified.

Bad is your coming from the tax, by the deed of your hands. And where does your measure reach? Show if you come thus. If from the tax and from the toll and from the tribute, bad is your coming, O man, you denier who stands to use you. The measure of your height is not for you if you are a denier. You resemble Simon again in his ways, and you are received. Simon's denial is a demonstration for you if you wish. That upon that rock you may build your soul in repentance. Upon the foundation, set your building if you are a distinguisher. For who but Simon bears the weight of the house? Upon that rock, except for him, are arranged the examples that overshadow you. Outside the house you come, and where is your desire for the master of the house? Even over this Simon wept bitterly: that whoever sins may be likened to him in repentance. Without repentance, the Church has no hunting for God. For upon it she builds and in it she is. She began from the beginning. With repentance the Church is crowned, for it is her hope. For by it she hunts the children of men for God. The great net that the Son of God cast into the world, which even the dead it catches openly, that they may become alive. This net is seen in the Gospel: in repentance, which also fills the place of the toll of the virgins.

Hear how he placed in her a foundation, and he was a denier: For he who desires to deny his soul, he does not fear. Behold, you know that the son of God, what has he done? He placed a middle wall between himself and the Church, first. He who descended to denial against sinners stood like a companion who led astray against the true one. He descended in denial and stood on the side of the left hand, and he hindered all who came to pass over to the right. By that denial he was mingled with sinners, his measure full, to show them how they might war against God. And when denial was confirmed, and behold, it was lost, the wise one wept and overturned the order of the left hand. He denied and was confirmed, black as he was from the side whence he came. And when they were leading him, he turned his hand and led astray. He was a companion to the evil ones when he denied, and he taught astray those who would strike the good to become penitent. He dug a baptismal font there against the wicked, and filled it with tears of vigil, in which he was hidden while being absolved. This one, in his standing, shows the passage of repentance, that in every opportunity where one sins, he may be likened to him. He wept bitterly over his transgression, and his weeping established his standing in the rank of apostleship. Sin cast him down there like a lion and humbled him, and he cast showers of tears upon it and drove it away, that it might not remain in him.

The sin kindled a flame and set it ablaze in him. And he poured water upon the spark and extinguished it and passed through. A fire passed through him and sat down, his sorrow before the sinners. Behold, look at him, and he was a sorrower of their transgressions. He swallowed the heart with the sword of wickedness and was hidden from pain. And when he lamented there, he loosened the chain from its beginning. He was a warrior of the fire of death for the smiters. For what shall he do who swallows between the ranks? With weeping, he loosened the sword that struck him while he was contending. And for her, the smiting with tears, he sorrowed and quieted her pain. Behold, a spectacle for sinners to look at him and to be comforted by him for their stations beautifully. Lo, upon this he speaks wisely: that repentance will be pleasing every day if it is prayed. The degrees of love God placed one upon the other, by which the world ascends toward him and is filled with him. He was in the height, and our dust upon his cheek, and by the causes that he mounted, he ascended that he might be with him. By his birth, the son subdued the earth when it descended, that it might be easy when they ascend by it to his sender. Between the world and the father, the son stood as a mediator, and placed Simon between himself and the church again as a mediator. He subdued the ascent so that no one would stumble who runs upon it, by the degrees that he arranged and descended toward humanity.

At the head of the road the denier stood and behold, he calls to you: Come, pursue repentance toward God. And when you press him, you can find him weeping on the Sabbath. And when you draw near, you can find him, the great apostle. In that very desert he presents to you again, that you may see the son. And he appears to you like a man full of sorrows. And when you press him, as a companion that you may pursue with him, you can find that even God is like his begetter. Little by little the sinner ascended from within the depth with God, to be in the height. By the pressing of Simon, he has a face toward sinners. Go to the heart upon the forgiveness that is from God. Even our Lord again, by that which was healed, it is written that he helps those who are healed when he is called in their distress. The heart of the sinner, when it walks with the denier, learns from him about the act of repentance. He is strengthened again when he sees the Messiah crucified, and the wicked one is confounded and suffers pains in place of the wicked. For the weak of the simple orders, the sinner arranged a ladder, that they might not stumble when they ascend to repentance. He made the apostle a pursuer toward sinners, that in his standing he might show the work of repentance. To that one again who pressed, like a foundation of a house he placed him, upon whom all the repentant go in their requests.

Hear, Simon the denier, persecutor of the Lord and the crucified. These are all of them evil for repentance. Behold, the heralds: one a denier and one a persecutor. And with these, the one who fears the threshing-floor flees toward God. The son of the midst again endured sufferings for your sake. And your great iniquity took up its stand that you might be pardoned. Wisely he hunted the world, teaching life. And the portions that are needful for repentance he placed in the marketplace. In the order of the evil ones the denier who led the way mingled, as with companions, and came and wept before the multitude. The weeping of Simon is a great fullness in the house of the penitents, for the sound of his groanings awakened them to repentance. And as these things Simon says to the sinners: that there is hope for the evil one, that he turns from his errors. Also to me, my iniquity sold and cast down my brokenness, and tears were given as payment to the physician, and he healed my affliction. I was a denier and a fool, and I fled to the wilderness before his crucifiers. And what sin is greater than this in the whole world? Before you I am; come, be ashamed before the forgiveness. Be amazed at me, that you may show mercy in the suffering that stands before me. Weep as I wept, and be pardoned; you also, as I was pardoned. Groan in the festival, and quickly your transgressions will pass away. Also to me, the snare of wickedness caught me in one of my times, and repentance broke its snare, and I came out.

He struck at sin and uprooted it from its foundations. And I cast down tears and wept at my standing-place, which was overturned. It was also for me, this pain that makes you suffer. And as soon as I wept, I was relieved from distress. I was afflicted by this sickness of evil pains. And if weeping had not helped me, I would not have been able to stand. Listen, my friends, I will show you what I did. I was weeping and I was healed quickly. With weeping, sin fled, which was killing me. I gave tears and received mercy from the sinner. Do thus and be healed, you also, as I was healed. At my standing-place, do not be divided over forgiveness. These words speak through the weeping of Simon, the hunter of sinners. That in the threshing-floor you may be stirred to tears. For they were hastening in evils and rejoicing in their sins. Wail, O Rock, and hasten to repentance. In the breaking of hope, as in a good nature, they were. And the voice of weeping cast upon them, that they might be awakened. He cast the call of their wakefulness after him, all sinners. That in the end, hope is great for the one who sings of it. He wrote a new book with his tears, the chief of the disciples. And to sinners he gives it with love, that they might be guided by it.

Call out here until you learn righteousness: Evening and morning with tears, practice repentance. When sin presses the soul, it is with weeping that it is uprooted; for it does not depart except with sharp tears. Behold, he has laid a firm foundation for penitents, and taught you how you should stand before your own foundations. A great work did Simon accomplish in the Church by his weeping, for from eternity there has been no other like him. By these tears which he shed, he left a great hollow in his repentance for the Church to be amazed at. He knew what to do when he sinned, and he knew that when he wept he was helped. What image of a king without likeness, or the greatness of the soul hidden without revelation, can sin corrupt? And he knew in what manner it is dissolved; and if Simon had not wept and taught concerning its nature, the man would not have been worthy, nor would he have shown the way to his teaching. By him he teaches you, not by another, what you should do. When the soul is baptized in the waters of baptism, there is no other sacrifice to wash it but tears. Only once did the Son of God die for sinners, and he does not die again for you if you sin. Another sacrifice is not given in exchange for your salvation; from your own give something that can wash away your iniquity.

Guide your steps like Abraham, the father of the faithful. And raise your voice like the Only-begotten in the house of mercy. Torture your soul with blood, greatly and mightily. With tears of repentance, let there be an offering without blemish. You are not sparing in pain when your soul weeps, you. Do not again call out to your Lord with hair and lamentation. Today weep bitterly over your evil deeds, when you have exchanged the good for the evil from the beginnings. Today love repentance, for it has a reward. When you have served iniquity with a swift return, righteousness will preserve it for tomorrow with a near hope. And today, when you have ceased from iniquity, give it up and use it. Sin is near, and righteousness is outside the door. Here you sin, and there you are not justified. Behold, how for tomorrow and for the future you do not prepare. Every day you return to repentance, and again it is far away. Every confession is easy for you only over good things. But evil is daily strengthened mightily. Day by day you set your return to repentance, and there is none who comes tomorrow to benefit from it. You pass over from the beautiful things with the days, so that the whole span of life passes without repentance. Where is today that promise of yesterday, which postponed until tomorrow to be cleansed from evil?

Stand up for your deed as if you were a deceiver. Sin stands before you; stand and fight with your slayer. Do not give all your days to iniquity from you. Take a sacrifice for righteousness while you still have power. Your sins are full; weep today over your transgressions. Do not let your heart be sin; woe and sigh for it. In iniquity you have grown old; be youths in repentance. For the kingdom, as if one were a youth and thus, enters it. The youth took by the hand the Lord who was to show himself. How beautiful is creation in its order, to adorn itself. Look at the apostles, to whom he showed himself when he said: This is like that (which is the measure of perfection). My Lord, how can an old man become a youth? For the majority of his days he spent in vanity. There is no addition in his creation, for he is a sinner. And that which is his own adds something to his stature. How pure is the youth preserved in his creation every day. The sinner who has grown old in iniquity is destined for destruction. These examples of the soul, when they are purified, will turn and be restored from its stature through repentance. Bear, you, and bring forth the inheritances that are upon your nature. And give me a pure nature, only as your creation. Do not be justified, you, from your own, not even a little. Keep nature for me, without blemishes and very beautiful.

If something more is added to the debt, do not think that it will be cancelled by repentance. Turn your soul and become a youth, as at your beginning, so that the kingdom may be your inheritance, as at your calling. Take what is yours that is in you, and cast it from you. And what is mine, leave it without change, and come, son of my kingdom. When sin seeks your soul, uproot it from there. My creation is beautiful; do not confuse it with disturbances. Because of this, turn your soul and become a youth, so that you may be the boundary of perfection and righteousness. Behold, what does a penitent do if he is restored? For even an old man can make his soul a youth. Concerning this, the old man did and made his soul a youth at the head of the disciples, so that by repentance he turned his soul and became a youth. See the sinner upon whom old age came like gray hair, and when he lamented, he removed it from himself, for it did not please him. The soul is swift and its understanding is higher than that of creatures, and it has the power to do whatever deed it desires. And what is hidden concerning the request of good things: the roots of evil, the root that meets from its dwellings, like a great house that enters its standing and sees that it is mixed, and fills the face of disturbances.

Place iniquity in the great body that is over against evil. And arrange in it further sins like burdens. Fill it with evils and close its door against aids. And there is no place for goodness to enter through any of the openings. Through repentance, the soul shines so that it may see these things. And it falls to labor so that it may bear and endure every evil. But when it sees that this work is difficult for it, it calls upon mercy that it may help it in its deeds. It begins to store up iniquity and to go out from within its house. And it hires with tears the remission that was working with it. It takes to cover the debts that were upon it from its youth. And it washes its standing with the waters of its eyes, distinctly. It blots out sins like stars from its firmament. And it burns with weeping so that the fire of passion may be extinguished, hotly. It pours a stream of water upon them wisely, so that by quenching, the fire may not be kindled again. Hear, O weeping one, do not wail if he is a sinner; over the confessor, do not despair if he is a penitent. Even the confessor was young in that confession, and then he was brought low, so that he might be an heir in that kingdom. With one word, all the mountains of iniquity that were piled up were leveled, so that his faith was merciful. Mercy helped him so that he came to this great work. And to you, if you seek, come to help.

Only a beginning and at once sin runs with you. The cause is stirred up, and your helpers are not delayed. You are the one who stands to call at the door of repentance. Glory to the mercies of the one who rejoices over penitents. The end of repentance.