Sermo 10

Of Our Father among the Saints Basil, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, the Ascetical Works. Of Our Father among the Saints Basil, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, the Ascetical Preliminary Outline. The laws of the king for his subjects are good, but the commands for soldiers are greater and more kingly. Therefore, when military commands are proclaimed, let him who desires the higher and great rank pay attention, he who wishes to be a constant attendant of Christ, he who hears that great voice: "If anyone serves me, let him follow me. And where I am, there let my servant be." Where is Christ the king? In heaven, clearly. It is fitting for you, soldier, to direct your course there. Forget every earthly rest. No soldier builds a house, nor acquires fields, nor engages in various profit-making trades. No one serving in the army becomes entangled in the affairs of life, in order to please the one who enlisted him. A soldier has royal provisions; he must not procure food for himself, nor be occupied with this. A house has been opened for him everywhere among the subjects by the king's command. He need not labor over a house; his tent is in the open, his food is for necessity, his drink is water, and he sleeps only as much as nature allows.

Many are the journeys and vigils; endurance against heat, against cold; struggles against adversaries; dangers up to the last; death, if it comes, often; but a glorious death, honors, and royal gifts. Life in war is toilsome, splendid in peace. The reward of valor and a crown for one who has lived well in achievements is to be entrusted with office, to be called a friend of the king, to stand near him, to receive a greeting, to be honored by the king's hand, to be preeminent among subjects, and to intercede for external friends, whomever they wish. Come then, soldier of Christ, having taken small examples from human affairs, take thought of the eternal goods. Let a life without home, without city, and without possessions be set before you. Be free, released from all worldly cares; let not desire for a woman bind you, let not care for a child. For this is impossible in the divine service. For the weapons of our service are not fleshly, but powerful with God. The nature of the body does not conquer you, nor does it constrain you against your will; it does not make you a prisoner instead of free. Do not seek to leave children behind on earth, but to lead them up to heaven; do not cling to bodily marriages, but yearn for spiritual ones, to rule souls and to beget children spiritually. Imitate the heavenly bridegroom; he purges uprisings of invisible enemies; war against powers and authorities, first driving them out of your own soul, so that they have no portion in you, then out of those who flee to you and set you up as leader and champion of those guarded through your word.

Purge the reasonings that rise up against the faith of Christ; wage war through the word of piety against the impious and wicked reasoning. For it is said, "purifying the reasonings, and every height raised up against the knowledge of God." And above all, take courage in the hand of the great king, which frightens and puts to flight the adversaries as soon as it appears; but when through dangers he wishes you to become good, and wishes his own army to engage the opposing army, then be invincible to every toil by your preparation, and unshaken in soul before danger, and readily move from land to land, and from sea to sea. For when they persecute you, it is said, flee from city to city. And when it is necessary to be summoned to court, and to stand before rulers, and to endure uprisings of the people, and to see the fearful gaze of the executioner, and to hear the harsh voice, and to undergo the grievous sight of tortures, and to experience torments, and to struggle up to death, do not disobey in all these things, having before your eyes Christ, who underwent these things for you, knowing that you must undergo these things for Christ, and you will conquer in them. For you follow a victorious king, who wishes you to become a partaker of his victory. For even if you die, you are not defeated, but then indeed you have most perfectly conquered, having kept the truth unshaken for yourself, and having maintained the freedom of speech on behalf of truth immovable.

And from death you will journey to eternal life, from dishonor among men to glory before God, and from the afflictions and punishments in the world to the eternal rests in the company of angels. Earth did not accept you as a citizen, but heaven will receive you; the world persecuted you, but angels will bear you up to present you to Christ. And you will be called friend, and you will hear the most longed-for praise: "Well done, good and faithful servant, noble soldier, and imitator of the Master, follower of the King; I will reward you with my gifts; I will hear your words, since you also heard mine." You will ask for the salvation of your suffering brethren, and for the sharers of the faith and the initiates of sacred love you will obtain from the King participation in the good things. And you will dance the eternal dances, and among the angels you will wear a crown, reigning over creation under the King, and blessed you will co-exist eternally with the choir of blessedness. But if after the contests it should wish to leave you still in the world, so that you may undergo more and varied contests and save many from invisible and visible wars, great will be your glory even on earth, and you will be honored among your friends, who have found in you a protector, a helper, and a good intercessor. They will nourish you as a good soldier; they will honor you as a noble champion; they will welcome you and receive you with joy as receiving an angel of God, just as Paul says, as Christ Jesus. These and such are the examples of the divine service. But the word addresses not only men.

For the female also serves in the army of Christ, being enrolled in the military service by reason of spiritual courage, and not rejected because of the weakness of the body; and many women have distinguished themselves no less than men. There are even those who have won greater renown. Among these are those who fill the chorus of virginity. Among these are those who shine in the contests of confession and the victories of martyrdom. And not only men, but also women followed the Lord himself during his presence, and the service of the Saviour was accomplished through both. Since such and so glorious rewards are laid up for the service according to Christ, let fathers of sons and mothers of daughters desire it. Let them bring forward their own offspring, rejoicing in the eternal hopes which their children will share with them, desiring to have them as advocates before Christ and good intercessors. And let us not be faint-hearted concerning our children, nor fear if they will suffer, but let us rejoice because they will be glorified. Let us present to the Lord what has been given by him, so that we may also become partakers of the good repute of our children, presenting and standing together with them. To those who are thus eager and

Thus to those contending well one might say from the Psalmist: "Blessed are you in the Lord who made the heaven and the earth." And according to Moses, he will pray concerning them: "Bless, Lord, the works of them; bring down the pride of those who oppose them." Act like men of noble birth, run nobly the race for the eternal crowns, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom is the glory unto the ages. Amen.