They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Acts 14:21-23
“Devote yourself entirely to the Lord: give in your name: be enrolled in the list of the church. The soldier’s name is enrolled: the champion enters on the combat, after his name has been inscribed on the lists: a naturalized citizen is registered on the city books. By all these titles you are bound to give in your name, as a soldier of Christ, a champion of piety, and one who aspires to citizenship in heaven. Have it inscribed on this book, that it may be inscribed above.
Learn, be instructed in the evangelical discipline, restraint of the eyes, government of the tongue, the subduing of the body, lowliness of mind, purity of heart, annihilation of pride. When constrained to do any thing, add cheerfully something to what is exacted: when despoiled of your property, do not have recourse to litigation: repay hatred by love: when persecuted, forbear: when insulted, entreat.
Be dead to sin: be crucified together with Christ: fix your whole affection on the Lord. But these things are difficult: what good thing is easy? Who ever raised a trophy while asleep: who ever, while indulging in luxury and music, was adorned with the crowns of valor? No one, without running, can gain the prize: brave struggles merit glory: combats win crowns. “Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of heaven:” but the beatitude of the heavenly kingdom succeeds these tribulations: while the pain and sorrow of hell follow the labors of sin.
If any one consider it attentively, he will find that not even the works of the devil are performed by the workers of iniquity without toil. What exertion does continence require? The voluptuous man, on the contrary, is exhausted by indulgence. Does continence diminish our strength in a like degree as detestable and unbridled passion wastes it away?
Sleepless nights are, indeed, passed by those who devote themselves to vigils and prayers; but how much more wearisome are the nights of such as are wakeful for iniquity? The fear of detection, and the anxiety for indulgence, utterly take away all rest. If, fleeing the narrow path which leads to salvation, you pursue the broad way of sin, I fear lest continuing on it to the end, you come to an inn suitable to the road.
But you will say: the treasure is hard to be guarded. Be vigilant, then, brother: you have aids, if you will — prayer as a night sentinel — fasting a house guard — psalmody a guide of your soul. Take these along with you: they will keep watch with you, to guard your precious treasures. Tell me, which is it better to be rich, and anxiously to guard our wealth, or not to have any thing to preserve? No one, through fear of being despoiled of his property, abandons it altogether.
If men in each of their pursuits considered the misfortunes that may ensue, all human enterprise would cease. Agriculture is liable to the failure of the crops: shipwreck may defeat commerce: widowhood may soon follow marriage: orphanage may prevent the education of children. We, however, embark in each undertaking, cherishing the fairest hopes, and committing the realizing of them to God, who regulates all things. But you profess to venerate holiness, while in reality you continue among the reprobate.”
Basil the Great (330-379) bishop of Caesarea and doctor of the Eastern Church in “Sermon 13: Exhortation to Baptism” translated by Francis Patrick Kenrick.
As I read the sermon for Easter, Basil got to preaching and I loved it, so I included a large section for today’s post. In the heart of it, he notes that aids for the hard journey of the faith are vigilant prayer, fasting, and the right handing of riches. These disciplines are crucial for life after Lent.
The sad reality is that many will hear the message of the resurrection and respond by professing “to venerate holiness” but in reality continue among the “reprobate”. They will live like the world. They will “anxiously” guard wealth and be “exhausted by indulgence.”
People often ask me why I don’t get weary from all the travel. As today’s Scripture notes, the work of making disciples strengthens both God’s workers and those they serve. The life of sin and self-centeredness is what wearies a person, as Basil notes. It wears them out rather than building them up.
On this Easter Sunday, with Basil I urge you: “Devote yourself entirely to the Lord.” This takes a lot of learning. “Learn, be instructed in the evangelical discipline, restraint of the eyes, government of the tongue, the subduing of the body, lowliness of mind, purity of heart, annihilation of pride.”
With Basil, I conclude: “Be dead to sin: be crucified together with Christ: fix your whole affection on the Lord. But these things are difficult: what good thing is easy?” The saints in the stained glass windows of this church counted the cost and paid the price. They paved the way. Let us join them and take the narrow path.
We abandon all other attachments to follow because that is the only right response to the resurrection. Christ is risen!