ACC ~ Luke 9 v46 - 50

JESUS THE PHYSICIAN OF SOULS AMPUTATES THE PASSION OF VAINGLORY

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The passion and lust of pride attacked some of the holy apostles. The mere argument about who of them was the greatest is the mark of an ambitious person, eager to stand at the head of the rest. Christ, who did not sleep, knows how to deliver. He saw this thought in the disciple’s mind, springing up, in the words of Scripture, [1] like some bitter plant. He saw the weeds, the work of the wicked sower. Before it grew up tall, struck its root down deep, grew strong, and took possession of the heart, he tears up the evil by the very root. …

In what way does the Physician of souls amputate pride’s passion? How does he deliver the beloved disciple from being the prey of the enemy and from a thing hateful to God and man? “He took a child,” it says, “and set it by him.” He made the event a means of benefiting both the holy apostles themselves and us their successors. This illness, as a rule, preys upon all those who are in any respect superior to other people. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 54. [2]

[1] See Heb 12:15.

[2] CGSL 237*.

A PATTERN OF SIMPLICITY AND INNOCENCE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: What kind of type and representation did he make the child he had taken? He made the child a representation of an innocent and humble life. The mind of a child is empty of fraud, and his heart is sincere. His thoughts are simple. He does not covet rank and does not know what is meant by one man being higher than another is. …

Christ brought forward the child as a pattern of simplicity and innocence, and set him by him. He showed him as in an object lesson, that he accepts and loves those who are like the child. He thinks they are worthy of standing at his side, as being like-minded with him and anxious to walk in his steps. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 54. [1]

[1] CGSL 237-38**.

TO BE THE LEAST IS TO BE LIKE CHRIST

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Christ calls him least whom lowly things please and who from modesty does not think highly of himself. This person pleases Christ. It is written that “every one that exalts himself shall be humbled, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.” [1] Christ himself somewhere says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” [2] The ornament of a sanctified soul is a poor and humble mind. … Let the illness of pride be far from those who love Christ. Let us rather consider our companions as better than we are and be anxious to decorate ourselves with the humility of mind that is well pleasing to God. Being simpleminded, as fits saints, we will be with Christ who honors simplicity. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 54. [3]

[1] Lk 14:11.

[2] Mt 5:3.

[3] CGSL 238-39**.

SIGNS OF ENVY AMONG THE DISCIPLES

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: “Teacher, we saw one casting out devils in your name, and we forbade him.” Has the sting of envy troubled the holy disciples? Do they grudge those highly favored? Have even they taken within themselves a passion so abominable and hateful to God? “We saw one casting out devils in your name, and we forbade him.” Tell me, do you forbid one who in Christ’s name troubles Satan and crushes evil demons? Was it not your duty rather to think that he was not the doer of these wonders, but that the grace that was in him performed the miracle by the power of Christ? How do you forbid him who in Christ wins the victory? “Yes,” he says, “for he follows not with us.” O blind speech! “What if he is not numbered among the holy apostles, who are crowned with Christ’s grace, yet he is equally with you adorned with apostolic powers?” There is great diversity in Christ’s gifts. The blessed Paul teaches this, saying, “To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit.” [1] COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 55. [2]

[1] 1 Cor 12:8.

[2] CGSL 240**.

POWER OVER SATAN EXTENDS BEYOND THE APOSTLES

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: What is the meaning of his “not walking with us,” or what is the force of the expression? Listen and I will tell you as well as I can. The Savior gave the holy apostles authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal all disease and all sickness among the people. [1] They did so, and the grace given them was effective. They returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the devils are subject to us in your name.” [2] They imagined that permission to be invested with the authority that he granted them was not given to anyone else but only to them. They came near for this reason. They wanted to learn whether others also might exercise it, although they were not appointed to the office of apostle or even to the office of teacher.

We find something like this also in the ancient, sacred Scriptures. God once said to the priest Moses, “Choose seventy men from the elders of Israel, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and give it to them.” [3] When those who were chosen assembled at the first tabernacle, except for only two men who remained in the camp, the spirit of prophecy descended on them. Not only did those who assembled in the holy tabernacle prophesy but also those who remained in the camp. It says, “Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, ‘My lord Moses, forbid them.’ But Moses said to him, ‘Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!’” [4] Christ at that time made the priest Moses speak by the Holy Spirit. Here also in person he says to the holy apostles, “Do not forbid him who is crushing Satan.” Christ crushes Satan in his name, for he is not against you. He says, “For he who is not against you is on your side.” All who wish to act to his glory are on the side of us who love Christ and are crowned by his grace. This is a law to the churches continuing even to this day. We honor only those who lift up holy hands purely and without fault or blame. In Christ’s name, they rebuke unclean spirits and deliver multitudes from various diseases. We know that it is Christ who works in them. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 55. [5]

[1] Mt 10:1.

[2] Lk 10:17.

[3] Num 11:16.

[4] Num 11:28-29.

[5] CGSL 240-41**.