The Fourth Commandment

Homily for the Sunday of Thomas.

So the Feast of Feasts, too, has passed for us: the Royal Doors in the Lord’s churches have been shut, and the services are no longer so solemn as they were during Bright Week. What, then, brethren, has this feast left in our souls? For the Christian feasts do not pass before us in their turn in order to leave our souls idle, but in order to do away with, to set us free from the cares and doings of everyday vanity; in other words, the Lord gives us feasts so that for a time we may put off thinking, caring, rejoicing, or grieving over everyday things, over what is earthly and quickly passing, and instead think, take care, and rejoice over what is heavenly and everlasting. It was precisely for this that the feast just past was given to us as well.

It was precisely so that we might see in it the firstfruits of the common resurrection of all the human race on the last day of the world that the Lord has vouchsafed that we see the all-radiant feast of the Resurrection of Christ: Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of the dead[1], says the Word of God. For it was for us that the Lord suffered, died, was buried and rose again; and His death, burial and resurrection are, as it were, our very own death, burial and resurrection. That is why during Bright Week we sang at matins: Yesterday I was buried together with You, O Christ; today I rise together with You as You rise[2]. Yes, we shall all certainly rise again, and all of us look for—that is, we await—the resurrection of the dead. This is just as certain as that tomorrow will be another day. Did this ever come into your head—did you think about it during the feast? Yet you certainly needed to think about it. All the great feasts of the Church, and the feast of Pascha above all, remind us of our redemption through Jesus Christ from eternal death, and of our resurrection for the life of the age to come.

But whoever believes in his own resurrection from the dead prepares himself here for the life to come; he strives to live by the Lord’s commandments, honors the feasts of the Lord, and takes the utmost care not to offend their holiness by deeds of fleshly impurity. But what went on among us, among us Orthodox Christians, during the bright feast? It is shameful even to speak of it, yet speak of it one must. Out of the bright days of Pascha week Christians have made—to the greatest sorrow of holy Mother Church—dark days, days worthy of tears and lamentation. Very many celebrated not the feast of the Resurrection of Christ and of our own resurrection from dead works, but a feast of demonic resurrection in their own souls. Great Lent was for the devil a defeat, a death, because after heartfelt repentance and the Communion of the holy Mysteries he had fled from many souls and had, as it were, died for them; but on the feast of Pascha he rose again in very many souls. How did he rise? Through overindulgence, drunkenness, wild disorder and other vices to which drunkenness leads, and to which many of the Christians gave themselves over. That is how Christians love Christ; that is how they celebrated the greatest feast of the year! And what use is the name of Christian to such people? Many pagans live better than they, and without doubt are worthier than they in the eyes of God. The people of other faiths and the non-Orthodox who live in our city are astonished at their conduct on so great a feast and say: so this is what the Orthodox are! They celebrate like real pagans—and what a feast it is! Thus do those of other faiths and the non-Orthodox speak of us. But what does the Lord Himself say about our feasts—or, more precisely, about our festal celebration? My soul hates your feasts, and I will not endure the great day, says the Lord, you have become a satiety to Me, and I will bear your sins no longer[3].

Brethren, whom have we come to resemble? How far have we forgotten ourselves? And upon us the word of Scripture is fulfilled in all its force: Man, though he was in honor, did not understand; he was joined to the senseless beasts, and became like them[4]. Christ the Lord honored us with His name, washed us with His blood, made us a chosen people, a holy nation; yet we presumptuously and madly have despised the mercy of God and dishonor ourselves with all manner of unseemly deeds. Do not flatter yourselves, brethren: neither drunkards, nor thieves, nor revilers, nor harlots, nor adulterers will inherit the kingdom of God[5]. Yes, if you do not cease to behave in this way—especially on the feasts, which by the Lord’s commandment must be kept holy—you will not see the kingdom of God.

Brethren, on the Lord’s feasts it is most necessary for us to conduct ourselves more sensibly and with more attention to ourselves. The Lord will exact strict account from us for senseless feasting. We must keep our feasts not according to the flesh, as idol-worshippers do, but according to the spirit; and although bodily festivity, when it goes together with the spiritual, is permitted and not contrary to the Lord, in that case it must never go beyond the bounds of moderation. God is Spirit[6]; our soul, redeemed by the Savior, is a spirit: therefore our feasts too ought to be more spiritual than fleshly. Whoever celebrates only according to the flesh does not celebrate for God, but for his own idol, his belly—or, which comes to the same thing, for the demon of intemperance. God deliver everyone from such feasts! The abundance of fleshly foods is permitted to Christians on feasts for the glory of God, in order that we may eat and drink with moderation, giving thanks to God, who with spiritual joy sends us also bodily comfort in the variety and sweetness of foods and drink, so that our joy may have no lack. But on a feast the spiritual joy must always stand above the bodily one; with us it is just the reverse.

It was said in the commandment of God: Remember the sabbath day, to make it holy[7]; in our New Testament language this means: remember the Sunday, do not forget its holiness, and strive yourself as well to sanctify it by your good deeds.

Lord! Grant us to remember always Your commandment concerning the celebration of the feasts, to keep it in holiness, and to be pleasing to You by celebrating them in spirit. Amen.