Demonstration 7: On Penitents

Demonstration on Penitents One alone is victorious, from among all the children who have put on a body, and that is our Lord Jesus the Messiah, as he testified concerning himself. For he said, "I have conquered the world." And the prophet also testified concerning him, that he did no wrong, nor was any deceit found in his mouth. And the blessed apostle said, that he who did not know sin, because sin made him, and how did sin make him? But because he took sin, though he was not its maker, and fixed it on his cross. Again the apostle said, that many run in the stadium, but one takes the crown. Again, there is no other among the sons of Adam who fell into the contest that is not wounded and swallowed, because sin reigned. From when Adam transgressed the commandment, and from many it swallowed, and many it wounded, and many it killed, and some of the many it did not kill, until the Saviour came and took it and fixed it on his cross. And even when fixed on the cross, its sting remains, and it bites many until the end comes, and its sting is broken. For all pains there are medicines and they are healed, when a wise physician finds the remedy. And for those wounded in the contest of the flesh, there is for them the medicine of penitence, which is placed on their wounds and they are healed. Or, O disciples of the wise physician, take this medicine, by which you will heal the wounds of the sick. For the battles that rage in war with the hands of him who fights with them, when the wise physician is found for them, his healing is spread for them, which heals the wounded. And when the physician heals the one who fought in the war, he receives gifts and honour from the king. So also, my beloved, when one who toils in the contest of the flesh, and the adversary comes upon him and wounds him, and he does not take the medicine of penitence, while the soul of that wounded one becomes many.

because God does not reject the penitent. For the prophet Ezekiel said that he does not desire the death of the sinner who dies, but that he repent from his evil way and live. For he is not ashamed who is wounded in battle and gives himself into the hands of a wise physician, because his wound is from battle and he was wounded; and when he is healed, the king does not reject him, but he is counted with his army. So also, it is not shameful for the chief of the army to strike him, that he confess his folly and pass from it, and seek for himself the medicine of repentance. For he who is ashamed to show his wound, it becomes a gangrene, and his whole body is afflicted. And he who is not ashamed, his wound is healed, and he returns again to fall in the line of battle. And a wound that becomes a gangrene cannot be healed again, and armor that is cast off is not put on again. So also, he who is purified in the line of battle of his Lord, has this opportunity to be healed, when he says, "I have sinned," and seeks repentance. And he who is ashamed cannot be healed, because he does not wish to make known his wounds to the physician who takes two didrachmas, that he might heal all those who are wounded. And also to you, and to the medicines, the disciples of the great physician, that you may not withhold healing from him who is in need of being healed. To him who shows you his wound, give him the medicine of repentance. And to him who is ashamed to show his pain, you, the physicians, his wounds are not hidden from you. And when he reveals himself to you, do not expose him, lest on his account even the righteous be considered guilty. For from the ranks and enemies, the line of those who are slain is separated from him; humility is considered among all their enemies. And when those who are wounded are found among them, those who are not wounded heal their pains, and they are not revealed to their enemies. But if they are made known to everyone, the whole camp takes a bad name, and also the king who commands the army.

Anger is kindled against those who spread their camp and swallow the blow of wounds, worse than those who were swallowed up in battle. And as for those who are wounded, they do not wish to reveal their wounds; the chief physicians are not at all guilty because they did not heal the sick who were wounded. And as for those who strike, they wish to conceal their pains; again, they are unable to put on armor, because the wound is fresh in their bodies. And when they have a fresh wound and they hasten to put on armor, while they are eager to make war, their armor becomes hot upon them, and their wounds fester and become infected, and they are killed. And when their corpses are found, those who concealed their wounds, then they laugh at their entire camp, because they hid the pains of their blows, and they do not even give their corpses to the grave, and they are considered fools, evil, and reckless. And also, one who shows his wound and is healed, he is careful of that place where he was healed, so that he does not swallow a second time, because when he swallows a second time, even for a wise physician, his healing is difficult, because every wound that is in a joint is not healed. And even if it is healed well, again he is unable to put on armor. And even if he hastens and puts on armor, he takes upon himself the habit of guilt. Or, O wearers of the armor of Christ, learn the lessons of war, that you may not sin and become lowly in war. The enemy is tall and strong, but his armor is lower than yours, and it is not fitting for you to turn with him and take his armor, for a blow in haste. For he is not seen by you when he fights with you; he flees to one who sees him, that his vanity may be with him. Also to you, O king, I say to those who are wounded: do not be ashamed, do not say that I was lowered in war. Take for yourselves a medicine that has no equal, and repent and live.

until you are killed. For you, however, I recall the medicines, that which is written in the books of the wise physician: that repentance does not cease. For when Adam sinned, repentance called to him, saying to him, "Where are you, Adam?" And he hid his sin from the heart of the field, and took the opportunity in the serpent of his error, and because he did not confess his folly, he decreed death upon him and upon all his children. And also for Cain, who was full of cunning, and did not accept reconciliation from him, repentance was given to him, but he did not accept. For it said to him, "If you are pleasing, your offering is accepted; but if you are not pleasing, your sin is your fullness." And he killed his brother in the cunning of his heart and was cursed, and he became a wanderer and a fugitive on the earth. Also for the generation in the days of Noah, one hundred and twenty years were given to them for repentance, and they did not wish to repent. And for the people of the hundred years, he closed the door. And see, my beloved, how excellent this is: when a man confesses and passes from his iniquity, and God does not reject the penitents. For the children of Nineveh multiplied their sins, and they accepted the proclamation of Jonah when he proclaimed against them in a changed manner, and they repented, and God had mercy on them. And the children of Israel, when their debts multiplied, repentance called to them, but they did not accept. For he called to them through Jeremiah and said, "Repent, repentant children, and heal your repentance." Again he proclaimed in the ears of Jerusalem and said to her, "Return to me, repentant daughter." Again he said to the children of Israel, "Repent and be delivered from your evil ways and from the evil of your deeds." And thus he said to the people, "If you repent to me, I will receive you, and you will stand before me." Again he spoke thus and rebuked them: "I said to you, 'Return to me, dwelling place of Israel,' with all your heart, but you did not repent." Again he took up a parable against them and reminded them of that which is written in the law, and he wished to set aside the law because of their repentance.

For he said that when a man takes a wife, and she goes out from him and becomes another man's wife, and if that other man who took her dies or divorces her, and she returns to her first husband, it is not lawful for her first husband to take her back after she has been defiled. But if he does take her back, behold, the land is defiled and will be defiled. And now, why have you taken me, Jerusalem, and I was yours, and I went out from you, and I went and fornicated with stones and wood? Now, why do you return to me, and I receive you? And by your repentance I annul the law. Do not fear, O penitents, for hope is not cut off, because it is written in the books that it is fitting for the Spirit of God to warn thus. For he placed a warning of fear through the prophet Ezekiel, when he said to him that if all his days he does judgment and righteousness, and at the end of his days he does evil, in that evil he will die. And if he does evil at the beginning of all his days, and then repents and does judgment and righteousness, he will save himself. With this one word he warned the righteous that he should not sin and lose his reward, and he gave hope to the evil that he would pass from his evil and live. Again he said to Ezekiel, "I do not cut off the hope of the evil; you, warn them." Even as I encourage the righteous, I place fear before him that he may beware. When I say to the sinner that he will die, and I did not warn him, the sinner dies in his evil, and his blood is demanded from your hands because you did not warn him. But if you warn the sinner, that sinner lives because you warned him, and you yourself are saved. And when you say to the righteous that he will live, and he relies on this, it is for you and not for you that you warn him not to become proud and sin; and he lives because he is warned, and you yourself are saved. Again, hear, O penitents, the hand of the simple and the call to repentance. For he said also through the prophet Jeremiah.

to enter again to her first husband. And he gave repentance. For he said thus: If he spoke concerning a people and a kingdom, to uproot and to destroy and to overthrow and to annihilate, and then that people turned from its iniquity, he also turned from the evil decree that he had pronounced against it. And if he spoke concerning a people and a kingdom, to build and to plant, and then they rebelled against him in this, and did evil before him, he also turned from the good that he had decreed for them. And their iniquity and their sins destroyed them. Hear also, you who hold the keys of the gates of heaven, and open the gates for the penitents. Be persuaded by what the blessed Apostle said: that if a man among you acts foolishly, you who are spiritual, set him right with a humble spirit, and beware, lest you also be led astray. For the Apostle was afraid and warned you. For he said concerning himself: "Lest I, who preached to others, myself be found wanting when I act foolishly with you." Do not take him as an enemy, but be kings and lords over him, as a brother. For when he separates from you, he is swallowed up by the adversary. Again he said that the physicians who are diligent are worthy to take the sickness of the sick. Again he said that what is withered is not to be uprooted but to be healed. And to you, penitents, I say: do not put a limit on yourselves for this, which is given for healing. For it is said in Scripture: he who confesses his sins and passes over from them, God has mercy on him. See the son who squandered his possessions, and when he returned to his father, his father rejoiced and received him. And the ox that gored and killed him, and his father rejoiced in his repentance, and called his friends to rejoice with him, and his father embraced him and kissed him, and said: "This son of mine was dead and is alive, was lost and is found." And his father did not reproach him for his squandered possessions. And the heart of your Lord is merciful to the penitents, and he said:

their wickedness, and he said, "I have sinned." The prophet said to him, "The Lord will also pass over your folly, because you have confessed." And when he prayed, he said thus: "To you alone I have sinned, and before you I have done evil deeds." And again he besought God and said, "Do not condemn your servant to destruction, because no living thing is innocent before you." And Solomon also said thus: "Who is it that says, 'I am pure and have been cleansed from sins'?" And also in the Law it is written that Moses prayed before God and said, "Forgive the iniquity and sin, for you cannot cleanse." And also when he wished to intercede for his people on account of their sins, Moses spoke thus, when he besought and implored, and said to him, "Forgive your people their folly, as you forgave those from Egypt until this day." And God said to him, "I have forgiven them according to your word." Behold, those who sought repentance for Aaron, the chief of the priests, who when he sinned against the people, immediately confessed his sin, and his Lord forgave him. And also David, the chief of the kings of Israel, confessed his folly and was forgiven. And also Simon, the chief of the disciples.

When he denied Christ, he did not see me. And he excommunicated and swore that he did not know him. And when he repented, he approached him, and he shed many tears in his grief. The Lord accepted him and made him a foundation. And he called him a stone in the building of the Church. Do not be foolish like Adam, who was ashamed to confess his folly. Nor should you imitate Cain, who, when he was convicted of killing his brother, said, "I do not know where Abel is, because I was not his keeper." And do not stand with a haughty mind, like the generation of the destroyers. And do not add iniquity to iniquity, and increase your sins, for you are cleansing yourselves while you are guilty. Listen to our ancient fathers, for even when they were righteous, they humbled themselves. For Abraham said, "I am but dust and ashes," and he placed himself in lowliness. And David said, "I am a worm, and not a man," and his days passed like a shadow. And Solomon said and warned, "If the righteous are to be spared, where will the sinner and the wicked be found?" I ask of you, my beloved, by the mercies of God, that because I have written to you that God does not reject the penitent, you should not become lax in your strictness, and that repentance should become a burden to you. Repentance is given only to the burdened. But this shall be for you: that you should not be burdened by repentance. This is for simple sinners; the righteous do not seek it. For it is fitting that it be given to the needy, and the rich are not burdened by it. To a man who is sent away to the erring, they give a garment to cover his shame. Do not lose what you have, so that you do not again weary yourself in seeking it, whether you find it or not. And even if you find your own again, it is not the same. For he who errs and grieves is not equal to him from whom error is far removed. You have become a high place, O friend, and you have distanced yourself from all lowliness. Be strict in your beautiful zeal.

so that he may not be confounded in battle. He should not be in need of seeking a blind man, nor weary himself to go to a physician. And when he is well healed, the wounds become known. Do not rely on yourself that there is healing, and cast yourself into a lowly name. But be more abundant in repentance than the righteous man whose need came upon him when he was filled. And even when he sinned well, every one separated from him. And when his limit was stirred, he sought him with toil. And even when his request was well, the doors were called. And when his house was chosen, the thieves fought him. From within he is fought, and his fight is known. And with heavy toil he seeks what he lost. And when the tree was cut, its fruits became a burden until it changed and gave fruits. And when its source was opened to the channel, he toiled and labored until he blocked it. And when he blocked it well, he feared from it, lest the waters increase and open it. And when he plucked his vineyard at the time of its pruning, he is deprived of the food of the clusters. And when he chose in his house, his face changed, and until it was restored, he labored and toiled. And when his work in the vineyard was low, he took wages and bowed his head, and cannot seek more. And when he subdued the strength of his youth, he rejoiced with the old days. And when he did not drink strange waters, he rested upon the source of life. But those who were prepared for the contest, hear the voice of the caller and take heart. And to you also I say, my beloved readers, priests and scribes and wise men, read and say to all the people. He who feared, turn him from the contest, lest the heart of his brothers be broken like his heart. And he who planted a vineyard, turn his labor, lest it be ruined and he be guilty in battle. And he who sold his wife and desired to take her back, turn him, and let him rejoice with his wife. And he who sought a house, turn him to it, lest he remember his house and not be fully troubled. For solitaries alone is the contest fitting, because before them their faces are set.

and they do not remember anything that is after them, because their treasures are before them, and everything that is in their time is for themselves, and they take their profit from the surplus. But to you, O readers of the readings, when you have finished the admonition, see those who have turned back and support those who are being tested, and bring down the waters of testing to those who choose themselves for battle. Everyone who is strong in the water is tested, and those who are weak are separated from there. Now hear, my beloved, this mystery: that before Gideon showed his death, when he called the people to battle, the scribes warned with the words of the law and the passages that I wrote to you above. Then many of the people turned back from the army, and when those who had been chosen for battle were tested, the Lord said to Gideon, "Bring down the waters, and test them there." When the water entered his mouth, he was eager and bold to go to battle, but when he fell on his belly to drink water, he was weak and feeble from going to battle. Great, then, is this mystery, my beloved, that before Gideon showed the type of baptism and the mystery of the Eucharist and the likeness of the solitary ones. For before he warned the people, he first tested them with the waters, and even when they were tested in the water, only three hundred and ten thousand men were chosen to make the Eucharist. This is consistent with the word of the Lord who said, "Many are called, but few are chosen." Therefore, it is fitting for the readers of the readings, the heralds of the church, that they honor and warn the whole covenant of God before baptism, for those who have chosen themselves for virginity and holiness—the companies of virgins and holy ones—the heralds should warn them and say that when the heart is set on the state of partnership, they should partner before baptism.

lest he fall in battle and be killed. And because he fears this shame of desertion, he turns back, lest he break the hearts of his brothers like his own heart. And because the coward loves, he turns back from the army, lest when the battle presses him, he remember his cowardice and turn back. And for one who turns back from battle, there is disgrace for him. For one who did not choose himself and has not yet put on armor, if he turns back, he is not blamed. But everyone who chooses himself and puts on armor, if he turns back from battle, there is mockery for him. For one who abandons himself, desertion is fitting, because he does not remember anything that is after him and turns back to it. And when they proclaimed, preached, and warned the whole covenant of God, they brought them to the waters of baptism, to those who had chosen themselves for battle and were left. And after baptism, they saw those who were strong and those who were weak. To the strong and not to the faint-hearted, and to the slack and the weak, they again turned back openly from battle, lest when the cup came to them, they would cast off their armor and flee and be guilty. For he said to the Gadites, "Go down to the waters for those who have chosen themselves." And when he went down with them to the water, the Lord said to the Gadites, "All those who lap the water like a dog laps with his tongue, these have gone with you to battle. And all those who drink the water, they have not gone with you to battle." This is a great mystery, my beloved, which he showed beforehand to the Gadites. For he said that everyone who laps water like a dog, it is not for him to go to battle. And of all the animals that were created with the first man, there is none that loves its master like a dog, and guards his watch by day and by night. And even when his master strikes him, he does not depart from his side. And when he goes out with his master to the hunt, and a mighty lion meets his master, he delivers himself to death for his master.

Thus are the zealous ones who separate themselves from the waters, who go after their Lord like dogs, and deliver their souls to death for his sake, and perform his service valiantly, and keep his watch by day and by night, and bark like dogs, while they meditate on the law by day and night, and love their Lord, and lick his shoes, while they bear his body, and place him upon their eyes, and lick him with their tongues, as a dog licks its master. And those who do not meditate on the law are called barking dogs, who are unable to bark. And all who are not diligent to fast are called dogs of their own will, and do not know how to be satisfied. And those who are diligent to seek mercy bear the bread of the poor and cast it to them. And the Lord said again to the deserters: Those who fall away to drink water did not go with you to battle, lest they fall and be wounded in battle, because they previously showed the secret of their fall, for they drank water in a hidden manner. Therefore, my beloved, it is fitting for the fallen in the contest that they not resemble these sinners, that they not turn back from the service and become a disgrace to all their companions. Hear, then, my beloved, this word: not because I have convinced you from the scriptures that God does not reject the penitent should you rely on yourself and grow bold to sin, nor because I have said these things to you should the one who has swallowed and not sought repentance become lax. For thus it is fitting for him that all his days be in mourning, that he not be raised up and condemned. A servant who errs before his master changes his garment so that his master may have mercy on him, and approaches and darkens himself before him, lest he be struck in the face. And when his master sees that he is humble before him, he forgives his error and has mercy on him. For if he says to his master, "I have erred against you," his master pardons him.

But if, when he is rebuked, he says to his Lord, "I have not sinned," he adds to his Lord's anger. Remember, my beloved, the son who fled and his debts; and when he confessed to his father, his debts were forgiven him. And also many sins are debts. And when she approached her Lord, her many sins and her debt were forgiven her. And also the sinner who was covered became victorious; and he confessed his sins, and his Lord forgave him. And also the Savior speaks thus: "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." For my Lord died for sinners, and his death was not in vain. And also the Apostle said concerning himself: "I was a blasphemer, a persecutor, an oppressor, and God loved me." Again he speaks thus: "Christ died for me." For the lost sheep from the whole flock: his Lord sought him, found him, and rejoiced in him. And there was joy for the watchers of heaven when the sinner repented from his iniquity. For the Father in heaven does not wish that one of these little ones who have sinned and are seeking repentance should be lost. My Lord did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Everything that is afflicted with you, take from its pain; and everything that stumbles, a stumbling block is placed before it. When pain reaches one of your members, it suffers and labors in its heat until it is healed. When one of your members is praised, the whole body is adorned and beautiful. And when pain reaches one of your members, the whole body feels its affliction. Everything that causes one of these little ones to stumble falls into the sea. When the millstone of wine is small, and when one bad deed of his brother quickly becomes his own breaking. And when he tramples with his foot upon his brother, he is not spared. For the blow of the despiser has no cure, and the debts of the mocker are not forgiven. For he who digs a pit falls into it, and he who rolls a stone upon himself turns it over. He who stumbles and falls does not say, "Everyone will be like me." And the rich man who reaches poverty.

Let him not say, "All the rich are like me." For if he is obedient in his prayer, his own loss—what does it fill? All these things I have written to you, my beloved, because of their own generation. There are those who choose themselves, that they might be solitaries, sons of the covenant, and saints, and they commit sin, a rebellion against the Lord of the generation. And the Lord of the generation fights against them, that he might turn the nature that is separate from him in their freedom. And there are those who are condemned and swallowed up, and when they are guilty, they justify themselves, and even their follies they know as sin. These are the ones who stand in that same mind and do not wish to approach repentance. And because of their shame they bring a foolish death, and they do not remember the matter of the gates. And there is also one who confesses his folly, but they do not give him repentance. Or, O Master of the house of the Messiah, give repentance to your church, and remember that your Lord did not forget the penitents. Seeds are sown in the field, and the owner of the seed does not leave his servants to cleanse the seeds from the house of sins until the time of harvest. And a net is spread in the sea, and fish are not gathered until it comes up to the shore. And servants receive money from their master, and the master of a lowly servant, if he has sins and penitents, they are mixed together, and the master of the threshing floor separates and cleanses. Many are those who are invited to a feast, and when he has no brothers, his master puts him out into the darkness. Wise and foolish stand together, and the master of the flock knows what to bring in. Or, the shepherds, the disciples of my Lord, tend the flock and lead it well, strengthen the sick, and support the afflicted, bind up the broken, and heal the maimed, and guard the heard for the Lord of the flock. Do not be like the foolish and stupid shepherd, who in his folly could not tend the flock, and his arm dried up and his eye was blinded, for he said, "Let the dead die, and the lost be lost, and whatever remains, let it eat the flesh of its companions.

And when the time of the great thoughts comes, the foolish and ignorant shepherd is obliged not to prepare his pasture well. But the shepherd who works and manages well is called a good and capable servant, who brings the flock near to the shepherd when it is completed, or who carefully watches the watches and warns the whole people from the sword, lest the sword come and take a soul. For the soul is seized by its own sins, and its blood is demanded from your hands. But if, after the warning, a soul is seized, it is the soul that is seized by its own sins, and you are not held responsible. Or the heavenly flock, do not despise the sick ones lest you be guilty of judgment. With the great shepherd when he comes. Accept this exhortation, my beloved, which brings the penitents near and warns the righteous. This world is one of grace, and as long as it endures, there is repentance in it. When the time of destruction approaches, grace is taken away, and bitter counsel prevails, and there is no repentance at that time. And the peace of sorrow ceases because grace has been overcome by its own strength. And when the time of sorrow approaches, grace does not wish to receive the penitents, because a limit has been set for its departure. After that, there is no more repentance. Read, my beloved, and learn, and know, and see, that concerning this, the contest is difficult, a little from many, because many run in the stadium, and the victorious man takes the crown, and each one receives his reward according to his labor. Completed. The Demonstration on Penitents.