Homily by St. John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople. 72nd on Matthew.

 

Dominica XVII Post Pentecosten IV. Septembris ~ II. classis

From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

Matt 22:34-46

At that time, the Pharisees came unto Jesus, and one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, saying: Master, which is the great commandment in the Law? And so on.

Homily by St. John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople.

72nd on Matthew.

When the Pharisees had heard that Christ had put the Sadducees to silence, they gathered themselves together for a fresh attack just when it behooved them to be quiet, they willed to contend and so they put forward one of themselves who professed skill in the law, not wishing to learn, but to lay a snare. This person therefore proposed the question: "Which is the great commandment in the law?” The first and great commandment is: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God," but they expected that He would make some exception or addition to this in His Own case, since He made Himself God. John x. 33. With this expectation they asked Him the question, but what said Christ? To show that they had adopted this course, because they were loveless, and sick with envy, He answered: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

Da, quǽsumus, Dómine, pópulo tuo diabólica vitáre contágia: et te solum Deum pura mente sectári.
Per Dóminum

O Lord, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the devil, and with pure hearts to follow thee the only God.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ