ACC ~ Luke 9 v57 - 62

THE WOULD-BE DISCIPLE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: A certain man came near to Christ the Savior of us all, saying, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Christ rejected the man, saying that the foxes have holes, and the birds of heaven a place to lodge in; but he had no place to lay his head. … It is easy for anyone that will examine such matters accurately to perceive that in the first place there was great ignorance in his manner of coming near. Second, it was full of excessive presumptuousness. His wish was not simply to follow Christ, as so many others of the Jewish multitude did, but rather to thrust himself into apostolic honors. This was the following that he was seeking, being self-called. The blessed Paul writes that no one takes the honor to himself unless he is called of God, as Aaron also was. [1] Aaron did not enter the priesthood through himself, but on the contrary, God called him. We find none of the holy apostles promoted himself to the office of apostle but rather received the honor from Christ. He said, “Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” [2] This man, as I said, boldly took upon himself honorable gifts, and, although no one called him, thrust himself into what was above his rank. COMMENTARY ON LUKE 57. [3]

[1] Heb 5.4.

[2] Mk 1:17.

[3] CGSL 246-47**.

SATAN MUST BE CAST OUT

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He rebuked him not to reproach him but rather to correct him, so that he might of his own desire grow better and become eager in following the ways of virtue. … The simple meaning of the passage that is at hand follows. The beasts and birds have dens and dwellings, but I have nothing to offer of those things that are the objects of general pursuit. I do not have a place where to dwell, rest and lay my head. Profounder thoughts achieve the inner and secret symbolism of the passage. He seems to mean by the foxes and birds of heaven those wicked, cunning and impure powers, the herds of demons. … We affirm that he did not say this about the material and visible birds. He said this about those impure and wicked spirits that often remove the heavenly seed that fell on the hearts of people and carry it away, so that they may not bring forth any fruit. As long as the foxes and birds have holes and dens in us, how can Christ enter? Where can he rest? COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 57. [1]

[1] CGSL 247-48**.

HUMAN OBLIGATION GIVES WAY TO CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

BASIL THE GREAT: The man said, “Allow me first to go and bury my father.” The Lord replied, “Let the dead bury their dead; but go and preach the kingdom of God.” Another man said, “Let me first arrange my affairs at home.” He rebuked him with a stern threat, saying, “No man, putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” A person who wishes to become the Lord’s disciple must repudiate a human obligation, however honorable it may appear, if it slows us ever so slightly in giving the wholehearted obedience we owe to God. CONCERNING BAPTISM 1.1. [1]

[1] FC 9:345**.

LOVE GOD MORE THAN YOUR FATHER OR MOTHER

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: “Leave the dead burying their dead, but go, preach the kingdom of God.” There were, no doubt, other guardians and relatives of his father. I consider them dead, because they had not yet believed in Christ nor been able to receive the new birth by holy baptism to incorruptible life. “Let them,” he says, “bury their dead, because they also have within them a dead mind and still have not been numbered among those who possess the life that is in Christ.” We learn from this that the fear of God is to be set even above the reverence and love due to parents. The law of Moses, in the first place, commanded that you shall love the Lord God with all your soul, all your might and all your heart. [1] It put as second to it the honor due to parents, saying, “Honor your father and your mother.” COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 58. [2]

[1] Deut 6:5.

[2] CGSL 250**.

DO NOT RETURN TO THE WORLD

CYPRIAN: The Lord warns us of this in his gospel lest we return to the devil again and to the world, which we have renounced and from which we have escaped. He says, “No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Again he says, “And let him who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife.” [1] Lest anyone, either because of some desire for wealth or by his own charm be persuaded from following Christ, he added, “He that does not renounce all that he possesses, cannot be my disciple.” EXHORTATION TO MARTYRDOM 5.13.7. [2]

[1] Lk 17:31-32.

[2] FC 36:325-26*.