I. The Benefits of Abstinence Shown by the Example of the Hebrews.
II. Use Lent to Vanquish the Enemy, and Be Thus Preparing for Eastertide.
III. Fights are Necessary to Prove Our Faith.
IV. The Christian's Armour is Both for Defence and for Attack.
V. Abstinence Not Only from Food But from Other Evil Desires, Especially
from Wrath,
is Required in Lent.
VI. The Right Use of Lent Will Lead to a Happy Participation in Easter.
I. The Benefits of Abstinence Shown by the Example of the Hebrews.
In former days, when the people of the Hebrews and all the tribes of
Israel were oppressed for their scandalous sins by the grievous tyranny
of the Philistines, in order that they might be able to overcome their
enemies, as the sacred story declares, they restored their powers of mind
and body by the injunction of a fast. For they understood that they had
deserved that hard and wretched subjection for their neglect of God's commands,
and evil ways, and that it was in vain for them to strive with arms unless
they had first withstood their sin. Therefore abstaining from food and
drink, they applied the discipline of strict correction to themselves,
and in order to conquer their foes, first conquered the allurements of
the palate in themselves. And thus it came about that their fierce enemies
and cruel taskmasters yielded to them when fasting, whom they had held
in subjection when full. And so we too, dearly beloved, who are set in
the midst of many oppositions and conflicts, may be cured by a little carefulness,
if only we will use the same means. For our case is almost the same as
theirs, seeing that, as they were attacked by foes in the flesh so are
we chiefly by spiritual enemies. And if we can conquer them by God's grace
enabling us to correct our ways, the strength of our bodily enemies also
will give way before us, and by our self-amendment we shall weaken those
who were rendered formidable to us, not by their own merits but by our
shortcomings.
II. Use Lent to Vanquish the Enemy, and Be Thus Preparing for Eastertide.
Accordingly, dearly-beloved, that we may be able to overcome all our
enemies, let us seek Divine aid by the observance of the heavenly bidding,
knowing that we cannot otherwise prevail against our adversaries, unless
we prevail against our own selves. For we have many encounters with our
own selves: the flesh desires one thing against the spirit, and the spirit
another thing against the flesh1 . And in this disagreement, if the desires
of the body be stronger, the mind will disgracefully lose its proper dignity,
and it will be most disastrous for that to serve which ought to have ruled.
But if the mind, being subject to its Ruler, and delighting in gifts from
above, shall have trampled under foot the allurements of earthly pleasure,
and shall not have allowed sin to reign in its mortal body2 , reason will
maintain a well-ordered supremacy, and its strongholds no strategy of spiritual
wickednesses will cast down: because man has then only true peace and true
freedom when the flesh is ruled by the judgment of the mind, and the mind
is directed by the will of God. And although this state of preparedness,
dearly-beloved, should always be maintained that our ever-watchful foes
may be overcome by unceasing diligence, yet now it must be the more anxiously
sought for and the more zealously cultivated when the designs of our subtle
foes themselves are conducted with keener craft than ever. For knowing
that the most hollowed days of Lent are now at hand, in the keeping of
which all past slothfulnesses are chastised, all negligences alerted for,
they direct all the force of their spite on this one thing, that they who
intend to celebrate the Lord's holy Passover may be found unclean in some
matter, and that cause of offence may arise where propitiation ought to
have been obtained.
III. Fights are Necessary to Prove Our Faith.
As we approach then, dearly-beloved, the beginning of Lent, which is
a time for the more careful serving of the Lord, because we are, as it
were, entering on a kind of contest in good works, let us prepare our souls
for fighting with temptations, and understand that the more zealous we
are for our salvation, the more determined must be the assaults of our
opponents. But "stronger is He that is in us than He that is against us3
," and through Him are we powerful in whose strength we rely: because it
was for this that the Lord allowed Himself to be tempted by the tempter,
that we might be taught by His example as well as fortified by His aid.
For He conquered the adversary, as ye have heard4 , by quotations from
the law, not by actual strength, that by this very thing He might do greater
honour to man, and inflict a greater punishment on the adversary by conquering
the enemy of the human race not now as God but as Man. He fought then,
therefore, that we too might fight thereafter: He conquered that we too
might likewise conquer. For there are no works of power, dearly-beloved,
without the trials of temptations, there is no faith without proof, no
contest without a foe, no victory without conflict. This life of ours is
in the midst of snares, in the midst of battles; if we do not wish to be
deceived, we must watch: if we want to overcome, we must fight. And therefore
the most wise Solomon says, "My son in approaching the service of God prepare
thy soul for temptation5 ." For He being a man full of the wisdom of God,
and knowing that the pursuit of religion involves laborious struggles,
foreseeing too the danger of the fight, forewarned the intending combatant;
lest haply, if the tempter came upon him in his ignorance, he might find
him unready and wound him unawares.
IV. The Christian's Armour is Both for Defence and for Attack.
So, dearly-beloved, let us who instructed in Divine learning come wittingly
to the present contest and strife, hear the Apostle when he says, "for
our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities
and powers, against the rulers of this dark world, against spiritual wickedness
in heavenly things6 ," and let us not forget that these our enemies feel
it is against them all is done that we strive to do for our salvation,
and that by the very fact of our seeking after some good thing we are challenging
our foes. For this is an old-standing quarrel between us and them fostered
by the devil's ill-will, so that they are tortured by our being justified,
because they have fallen from those good things to which we, God helping
us, are advancing. If, therefore, we are raised, they are prostrated: if
we are strengthened, they are weakened. Our cures are their blows, because
they are wounded by our wounds' cure. "Stand, therefore," dearly-beloved,
as the Apostle says, "having the loins of your mind girt in truth, and
your feet shod in the preparation of the gospel of peace, in all things
taking the shield of faith in which ye may be able to extinguish all the
fiery darts of the evil one, and put on the helmet of salvation and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God7 ." See, dearly-beloved,
with what mighty weapons, with what impregnable defences we are armed by
our Leader, who is famous for His many triumphs, the unconquered Master
of the Christian warfare. He has girt our loins with the belt of chastity,
He has shod our feet with the bonds of peace: because the unbelted soldier
is quickly vanquished by the suggester of immodesty, and he that is unshod
is easily bitten by the serpent. He has given the shield of faith for the
protection of our whole body; on our head has He set the helmet of salvation;
our right hand has He furnished with a sword, that is with the word of
Truth: that the spiritual warrior may not only be safe from wounds, but
also may have strength to wound his assailant.
V. Abstinence Not Only from Food But from Other Evil Desires, Especially
from Wrath, is Required in Lent.
Relying, therefore, dearly-beloved, on these arms, let us enter actively
and fearlessly on the contest set before us: so that in this fasting struggle
we may not rest satisfied with only this end, that we should think abstinence
from food alone desirable. For it is not enough that the substance of our
flesh should be reduced, if the strength of the soul be not also developed.
When the outer man is somewhat subdued, let the inner man be somewhat refreshed;
and when bodily excess is denied to our flesh, let our mind be invigorated
by spiritual delights. Let every Christian scrutinise himself, and earth
severely into his inmost heart: let him see that no discord cling there,
no wrong desire be harboured. Let chasteness drive incontinence far away;
let the light of truth dispel the shades of deception; let the swellings
of pride subside; let wrath yield to reason; let the darts of ill-treatment
be shattered, and the chidings of the tongue be bridled; let thoughts of
revenge fall through, and injuries be given over to oblivion. In fine,
let "every plant which the heavenly Father hath not planted be removed
by the roots8 ." For then only are the seeds of virtue well nourished in
us, when every foreign germ is uprooted from the field of wheat. If any
one, therefore, has been fired by the desire for vengeance against another,
so that he has given him up to prison or bound him with chains, let him
make haste to forgive not only the innocent, but also one who seems worthy
of punishment, that he may with confidence make use of the clause in the
Lord's prayer and say, "Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors9
." Which petition the Lord marks with peculiar emphasis, as if the efficacy
of the whole rested on this condition, by saying, "For if ye forgive men
their sins, your Father which is in heaven also will forgive you: but if
ye forgive not men, neither will your Father forgive you your Sins10 ."
VI. The Right Use of Lent Will Lead to a Happy Participation in Easter.
Accordingly, dearly-beloved, being mindful of our weakness, because
we easily fall into all kinds of faults, let us by no means neglect this
special remedy and most effectual healing of our wounds. Let us remit,
that we may have remission: let us grant the pardon which we crave: let
us not be eager to be revenged when we pray to be forgiven. Let us not
pass over the groans of the poor with deaf ear, but with prompt kindness
bestow our mercy on the needy, that we may deserve to find mercy in the
judgment. And he that, aided by God's grace, shall strain every nerve after
this perfection, will keep this holy fast faithfully; free from the leaven
of the old wickedness, in the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth11
, he will reach the blessed Passover, and by newness of life will worthily
rejoice in the mystery of man's reformation through Christ our Lord Who
with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.
1 Cf. Gal. v. 17: and below, Rom. vi. 12.
2 Cf. Gal. v. 17: and below, Rom. vi. 12.
3 1 S. John iv. 4.
4 Ut audistis, viz. in the Gospel for Quadragesima, or
the First Sunday in Lent then apparently as now S. Matt. iv. 1-11: cf.
Serm. XL. 3.
5 Ecclus. ii. 1.
6 Eph. vi. 12.
7 Eph. vi. 14-17.
8 S. Matt. xv. 13.
9 S. Matt. vi. 12, 14, 15.
10 S. Matt. vi. 12, 14, 15.
11 Cf. 1 Cor. v. 8.
