Dialogue is a great virtue in
many areas of our lives. It is also important for the greater understanding of
various peoples, countries, churches, traditions etc. Dialogue is the way of
understanding the truth…God…Even God is in a dialogue status with His creation.
St John Chrysostom here points out the important of dialogue and of preaching,
seen as a form of dialogue, of understanding, of spreading the good news. St
John explains:
‘But you will ask me, “How do you
help by preaching?” I help if anyone hears me. I do my duty: he who sows, sows.
The sower went out to sow. Some seeds fell beside the road, some on the rock,
some among thorns, but some on good soil. Three parts perished and one was
saved. He did not stop farming, but since one part survived, he did not cease
from working the soil. Here also, when I have scattered such a quantity of
seed, it is impossible that it should not bring forth some harvest for me. If
not everyone listens, half will listen; if not half, a third; if not a third, a
tenth; if not a tenth, if even a small thing for even one sheep to be saved,
since that shepherd left the ninety-nine sheep and ran after the one which had
strayed. I do not despise anyone; even if he is only one, he is a human being,
the living creature for which God cares. Even if he is a slave, I may not
despise him; I am not interested in his class, but his virtue; not his
condition of master or slave, but his soul. Even if he is only one, he is a
human being, for whom the heaven was stretched out, the sun appears, the moon
changes, the air was poured out, the springs gush forth, the sea was spread
out, the prophets were sent, the law was given-and why should I mention all
these?- for whom the only-begotten Son of God became man. My Master was slain
and poured out His blood for man. Shall I despise him? What pardon would I
have? Do you not hear that the Lord conversed with the Samaritan woman, and
spent many words? He did not despise her because she was a Samaritan, but
because she had a soul, He cared for her. He did not neglect her because she
was a harlot, but because she was going to be saved and had showed faith, she
often benefited from His concern.’[1]
[1]
Behr, John (ed.), St John Chrysostom – On
Wealth and Poverty, (New York, SVSP, 1981), pp.99-100.
No comments:
Post a Comment