ACC ~ Matthew 20 v22

THE CUP IS SUFFERING

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: The cup and baptism [1] are not one. For the cup is suffering, but baptism is death itself. Moreover, baptism is said to closely resemble dyed wool. For just as wool, having a natural color, is dipped so that it be colored purple or some other color, so we also descend into death as corporeal beings and rise again as spiritual beings. As the apostle said, “We are sown in infirmity; we rise in strength; we are sown in baseness, we rise in glory; it is sown an animal body, it will rise a spiritual body.” [2] Indeed, every death contains in itself suffering, but every suffering does not also contain in itself death. For there were many who suffered and were not killed; such are the confessors. They all indeed drank the cup of the Lord but were not baptized by his baptism. HOMILY 35. [3]

[1] It is Mark’s Gospel that mentions baptism: “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” (Mk 10:38).

[2] 1 Cor 15:43.

[3] PG 56:828.

WE ARE ABLE

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: They say, “We are able.” They say this not so much by the boldness of their own hearts as by the ignorance of the trial. For to the unknowing, war is a desirable thing, just as to the inexperienced, the trial of suffering and death seems to be a light thing. For if the Lord, when he had entered into the trial of his suffering, was saying, “Father, if it can be done, let this cup pass from me,” [1] by how much more would the disciples not have said “we are able” if they had known what the trial of death was like? Great indeed is the grief that suffering holds, but death holds even greater fear. HOMILY 35. [2]

[1] Mt 26:39.

[2] PG 56:828.