ACC ~ Matthew 5 v40

BE REMOVED FROM EVERY LAWSUIT

CHROMATIUS: Beyond the tolerance of physical injury, the Lord wants us also to have contempt for things of this world and to be so far removed from every lawsuit or contest of judgment. If by chance a slanderer or tempter comes forward to initiate a lawsuit for the sake of testing our faith and desires to rob us of the things which are ours, the Lord orders us to offer willingly not only the things that the person goes after unjustly but even those not demanded. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 25.2.1. [1]

[1] CCL 9a:315.

JOSEPH’S FLIGHT

ANONYMOUS: Just as Joseph lost his cloak in the hand of the prostitute and fled dressed with a better cloak, [1] so throw your cloak into the hands of the slanderer and flee with the better covering of justice. If not, while you want to reclaim the clothes of the body, you may squander the most precious clothing of the soul. If the unbelievers see you, a Christian, repay injuries with worse injuries by worldly means and hammer earthly judgments against a lawless plunderer even to the destruction of your soul, how should they believe in reality of the hope of the heavenly kingdom that Christians preach? For they who hope for heavenly things easily spurn earthly things. Yet I doubt that those who strongly embrace worldly things believe firmly in heavenly promises. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 12. [2]

[1] Joseph the patriarch fleeing the immodest wife of Potiphar (Gen 39:6-23).

[2] PG 56:700.