ACC ~ Matthew 24 v7

FAMINES, PLAGUES AND TREMORS

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: “And there will be famines and plagues and tremors throughout the land.” Anyone who reads Josephus [1] knows what kind of famines, plagues and tremors afflicted Judea before the fall of Jerusalem. Before the spiritual plundering of the church, however, a spiritual hunger for the Word and spiritual tremors and various plagues of carnal sins will undoubtedly afflict the Christian people. So many schisms would never have arisen among Christians had they not already been famished for the Word, nor would they have suffered so many plagues, that is, diseases of carnal passion, if they had not been stirred up from without. This is what the Lord taught in the parable of the evil one planting weeds: “While the men were sleeping,” that is, when they neglected to guard against sin, “the enemy came and sowed weeds.” [2] HOMILY 48. [3]

[1] The obvious allusion is to Flavius Josephus Jewish Wars.

[2] Mt 13:25.

[3] PG 56:904.

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