Conversation on the words of the Apostle: “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28), about patience and how much benefit there is from tribulation

“A conversation on the words of the Apostle: “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28), about patience and how much benefit comes from sorrows” (4 chapters) was delivered by St. John Chrysostom, probably in Constantinople in 398. St. John calls love a debt that can never be fully repaid: “This one debt has no end, but the more it is paid, the more it increases; and just as in money we praise those who owe nothing, so here we please those who owe a lot.” The saint describes Apostle Paul’s visit to Macedonia, and also answers the question of why he cast out the demon that forced one maid to recognize the highest ministry of the apostles: “This was a matter of apostolic prudence and the grace of the Spirit. In fact, he did not say anything contrary to them, but so that, through this, having become worthy of trust, the demon could not captivate people in other matters..., for this purpose the apostle stopped his mouth and drove him out, not allowing him to say what was above his dignity.” Further mention is made of the presence of the apostles Paul and Silas in prison. At night, when others were asleep, they prayed and sang praises to God, providing the greatest proof of their love for Him. St. John says that grief makes us attentive and vigilant, worthy of help from above, “especially when we show patience and steadfastness in hope of God.” We must rejoice when misfortunes befall us, because they are occasions for our glory. The Lord allows temptations so that through them we acquire spiritual benefits and receive a reward for patience. *The title of the work in Latin is In illud: Diligentibus Deum omnia cooperantur in bonum. The love of a preacher for his listeners. – Love is a debt that can never be fully repaid. – Christians must be patient in persecution. - The effectiveness of the words of the apostle on the ingratitude of the Macedonians towards the apostles. - Why ap. Paul cast out a demon that forced a slave girl to acknowledge the higher ministry of the apostles. – Capture and release of Paul and Silas. – The effectiveness of sacred chants: why Paul and Silas indulged in sacred chants in the middle of the night. – Grief makes us attentive and vigilant. – In the matter of spiritual life one should never become dissipated. – Why God allows temptations. 1. It’s as if I returned to you after a long time—that’s the mood I’m in today. Although I was confined at home due to bodily illness, it was as if I had been separated far from your love, so I felt. Whoever knows how to love sincerely, but cannot be with the one he loves, even if he lived with him in the same city, will feel no better than those living in a foreign country. Those who know love know this. Therefore, forgive us, I ask you: it was not our laziness that caused this separation, but physical illness was the reason for the silence. I know that now you are all rejoicing that we have gotten rid of the disease, and I rejoice not only that I have gotten rid of the disease, but also that I can again see your longed-for faces and be comforted by your love according to God. Just as many people, after being freed from illness, look for vessels, bowls and refreshments, so for me your meeting is more pleasant than any joy; for me it is both the reason for recovery and the source of joy. So, now that by the grace of God we have met each other again, let us pay you the debt of love, if it can ever be paid. This one debt has no end, but the more it is paid, the more it increases; and just as in money we praise those who owe nothing, so here we please those who owe a lot. Therefore, the teacher of the universe Paul in his letter says: “Do not owe anyone anything except mutual love” (Rom. 13:8), wanting us to constantly pay this debt, and constantly remain in debt, and never pay this debt until we finish our present life. Just as being in debt with money is difficult and unpleasant, not being constantly in debt with this debt is worthy of condemnation. And in order for you to be convinced that this is really so, listen to the wisdom of the wondrous teacher, as he offered the admonition. Having said in advance: “Do not owe anyone anything except mutual love,” desiring that every debt of ours here be paid, and that this debt remain constantly unpaid, because this especially supports and strengthens our life. So, when we know how much benefit there is from this debt and that, as it is paid, it increases more, we will now try, as much as possible, to repay the debt that we remain owed to you not due to laziness or some inattention, but due to an illness that has occurred, offering a short conversation to your love and borrowing the subject of conversation from the same wondrous teacher of the universe; what he spoke about today in the Epistle to the Romans, we too, having imagined, will remember, and after a long time (silence) will offer your love a spiritual treat. But it is necessary to say what was read, so that, remembering what was said, you could more easily assimilate our words. “We know,” he says, “that all things work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28). Why is this introduction said? This blessed soul does not say anything in vain or without purpose, but always applies appropriate spiritual remedies to the illnesses that present themselves. What do his words mean? Since many temptations then surrounded those who turned to faith on all sides, and there were continuous tricks on the part of the enemy, incessant intrigues, and the opponents of the sermon did not calm down, throwing some into prison, exiling others, dragging others into many other abysses, then, just as an excellent military leader, seeing an enemy breathing great rage, goes around his people everywhere, encourages them, strengthens them, prepares them, disposes them to courage, makes one ready to raise his hands against the enemy and not be afraid of his attacks, but to stand against him with a strong spirit, to strike him, if possible, in his very face, and not to be afraid of opposing him; - in the same way, this blessed one, this soul reaching to heaven, wanting to encourage the souls of believers and trying to restore their mind, which was lying down, so to speak, began his speech like this: “We know that to those who love God... all things work together for good.” Do you see apostolic prudence? He did not say: I know, but: “we know” - joining them in expressing their consent to the said thought, “that all things work together for good to those who love God.” Notice the precision of the apostolic expressions. He did not say: those who love God avoid disasters and are freed from temptations; but: “we know,” he says, i.e. we are confident, we are convinced, we have received proof from experience, “we know that to those who love God, ... all things work together for good.” 2. What power do you think lies in this short saying? “Everything,” he says, “everything works together for good.” Don’t point out to me the pleasant things here, don’t imagine only peace and security, but also the opposite, prisons, sorrows, intrigues, daily attacks, and then you will see exactly the power of the saying. In order not to distract your love too far, if you like, we will present a little of what happened to this blessed one, and you will see the power of the saying. When he, going everywhere, sowing the word of piety, uprooting the tares and trying to plant the truth in the soul of everyone, was in one city of Macedonia, as blessed Luke, who compiled the book of Acts, tells us, he met a certain servant who had an evil demon and could not remain silent, but who walked and wanted through this demon to make the apostles known everywhere, and, driving him out with great power, with a word and command, like some worthless slave, he delivered her from the evil demon. After this, the inhabitants of that city should look at the apostles as benefactors and saviors and reward them with all kinds of honor for such a good deed, while they reward the opposite. Listen to how they repay them. “Seeing,” says the writer, “that the hope of their income had disappeared, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the square to the leaders, ... and the commanders, tearing off their clothes, ordered them to beat them with sticks and, having given them many blows, threw them into prison, ordering the prison guard to guard them tightly” (Acts 16:19, 22-23). Do you see the extreme wickedness of the inhabitants of that city? Do you see the patience and firmness of the apostles? Wait a little, and you will see God’s love for mankind. He, as the All-Wise and Provident, does not deliver from disasters at the beginning and at the first opportunity, but when all the measures of the enemies are intensified and when the patience of His ascetics is proven by deeds, then He shows His own help, so that no one can say that they decide on danger because they are sure that nothing unpleasant will happen to them. Therefore, He allows some to suffer disasters, according to His ineffable Wisdom, and He delivers some from them, so that from everything you know His excessive love for mankind, and the fact that He, while observing great rewards for them, often allows disasters to intensify. He did the same here. After such a miracle and good deed performed by those who cast out the shameless demon, He allowed them to receive blows and be put in prison, because from here the power of God was especially revealed. That is why blessed Paul said: “Therefore I will boast much more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest in me.” and again: “When I am weak, then I am strong,” calling constant temptations weakness (2 Cor. 12:9-10). But perhaps someone here is wondering why they cast out a demon who did not say anything contrary to them, but also made them known. Because he cried for many days, saying: “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who show us the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17). Do not be surprised, beloved: and this was a matter of apostolic prudence and the grace of the Spirit. In fact, he did not say anything contrary to them, but so that, through this, having become worthy of trust, the demon could not entice simpler people in other matters, for this purpose the apostle stopped his mouth and drove him out, not allowing him to say what was above his dignity. He did this, imitating his Lord, because when they approached Him they said: “I know You, who You are, the Holy One of God” (Luke 4:34); however, He drove out those who spoke thus. And this was done to expose the shameless Jews, who, seeing miracles and countless signs happening every day, did not believe, while the demons recognized and confessed Him as the Son of God. 3. However, let us return to the subject of our speech. In order for you to know how everything works together for good for those who love God, you need to read to you the whole story about this event, so that from here you can see how after the blows, after the prison, the grace of God turned everything for their good. But let's see how blessed Luke puts it. “Having received such an order,” he says, “the jailer threw them into the inner prison and hammered their feet into the stock” (Acts 16:24). Notice how the disasters intensify, so that the patience of the apostles becomes more brilliant and the ineffable power of God becomes obvious to everyone. Listen to what follows. “About midnight,” he continues, “Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God” (Acts 16:25). Look at the exalted soul, look at the waking mind; Let us not, beloved, leave these words unattended. It was not in vain that he indicated the time for us, saying: “about midnight,” but, wanting to show that while a pleasant sleep looms over all others and closes their heads, especially those who are burdened with many sorrows, usually indulge in sleep at this time, while, he says, the power of sleep dominated everywhere, then they, “praying, sang to God,” presenting the greatest proof of their love for Him. Just as we, suffering from bodily illnesses, seek the company of close people in order to quench the strength of pain by talking with them, so these saints, flaming with love for the Lord and lifting up sacred songs, did not even feel their sorrows, but completely indulged in prayer and offered up their wondrous chants, so that the prison became a church, and every place was sanctified by the chants of these saints. And one could see wonderful and wondrous things, how people, tied with a block, did not encounter any obstacle to singing. Thus, nothing can ever prevent a person who is awake, attentive and has a fiery love for God from talking with the Lord. God, He says, “Am I a God only near, says the Lord, and not a God far away?” (Jer.23:23); and in another place: “You will cry, and He will say: “Here I am!” (Isa.58:9). Where the soul is awake, there the mind is inspired and freed, so to speak, from the bonds of the body, flies to the object of love and, despising the earth and becoming above everything visible, strives for Him. It was the same with these saints. Look at the sudden effect of their chants and how they, being in prison, being tied with stocks and placed along with swindlers and criminals, not only did not suffer any harm, but shone even more from this and illuminated everyone who was in prison with the light of their own virtue, because the voice of their sacred songs, entering the soul of each of the prisoners, changed it, so to speak, and transformed it. “Suddenly,” says the writer, “there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of the prison shook; immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosed” (Acts 16:26). Do you see the power of singing songs to God? Not only those who offered up the chants themselves received consolation, but they also did so that the shackles fell off from everyone, so that it could actually be seen how “for those who love God, ... all things work together for good.” Here are the blows, and the prison, and the stocks, and being with criminals - and yet all this became the cause of blessings and the reason for glory, not only for the apostles and the prisoners who were in prison, but also for the prison guard himself. “When the prison guard woke up,” it is said, “and saw that the doors of the prison were open, he drew a sword and wanted to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped” (Acts 16:27). Look here at God’s love for mankind, which surpasses every word. Why does all this happen “around midnight”? For nothing else than so that the matter could be settled quietly and calmly, and so that the salvation of the prison guard would be accomplished. In fact, when the earthquake occurred and the doors opened, the shackles fell off everyone who was there, and none of them was allowed to leave there. Notice here and on the other side the Wisdom of God. Everything else, i.e. the earthquake and the opening of the doors occurred so that everyone would actually know what those in prison were like at that time, that they were not ordinary people, but no one was allowed to leave there, so that this would not give rise to danger for the prison guard. And that this is fair, listen, how the prison guard, as soon as he noticed what had happened and thought that some had fled, did not value his very life. “He pulled out a sword,” they say, “and wanted to kill himself.” But everywhere vigilant and prudent, blessed Paul, with his own voice, snatched the lamb from the mouth of the wild beast. He “cried with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm, for we are all here” (Acts 16:28). Oh, extreme humility! He did not think highly of himself at such an event, did not attack the prison guard, did not allow himself to say anything arrogant, but he put himself among the prisoners, criminals and villains, saying: “we are all here.” Do you see how great he shows humility and does not attribute to himself anything more than the villains who were there? Then look at the prison guard, who approaches him no longer as one of the others. Encouraged, he “called for fire, ran into the prison and fell in trepidation to Paul and Silas, and, leading them out, said: my lords! What should I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:29–30). Do you see how “all things work together for good to those who love God”? Do you see how the devil’s cunning was destroyed, how his wiles turned out to be invalid? When they cast out the demon, he arranged for them to be put in prison, thinking through this to hinder the spread of the sermon. But the prison served as a reason for them to gain spiritual knowledge. 4. So, if we are attentive, we can benefit not only when we are in favorable circumstances, but also in sorrows, and then even more than in prosperity, because prosperity, as happens for the most part, makes people careless, and sorrow, forcing us to be attentive, makes us worthy of the highest help, especially when, in the hope of God, we show patience and firmness in all the sorrows that happen. Let us not complain when disasters befall us, but let us rejoice more, because this can be a reason for our glory. That is why Paul said: “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God.” But let's look at the fiery soul of those saints. When they heard the words of the jailer: “What must I do to be saved?” , then did they hesitate, put off, or neglect the announcement? No; but what did they say to him? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you and all your house will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Look at apostolic care. They are not content with his salvation, but through him they want to entrap all his household with the teaching of piety, inflicting a mortal wound on the devil. “And immediately he and all his household were baptized. And...believed in God” (Acts 16:33–34). From here we learn to never hesitate at all in spiritual matters, but to consider every time that happens convenient. Indeed, if these saints did not want to postpone their work at night, then what excuse will we have for neglecting spiritual benefits at other times? Do you see the prison that has become the church? Do you see the dwelling of criminals, suddenly turned into a house of prayer, and the sacred rites performed there? It is so important to stay awake and never neglect spiritual benefits, but consider every time convenient for such acquisition. Therefore, this blessed one spoke well in his message: “To those who love God, ... all things work together for good.” We too, I exhort you, will have this saying inscribed in our souls and will never complain when in this life we ​​are subjected to some unfortunate circumstances, or bodily illnesses, or any other sad cases; but, guided by great wisdom, we will resist every temptation, knowing that if we are careful, we can benefit from everything, and even more from temptations than from favorable circumstances; Let us never lose heart, imagining how much benefit comes from patience, and we will also not harbor hatred towards those who subject us to temptations, because although they do this with their own goal, the common Master allows this, wanting us to acquire spiritual benefits through this and receive a reward for patience. So, if we are able to gratefully endure the calamities that befall us, we will blot out a considerable part of our sins. If the Lord, seeing such a treasure and the teacher of the universe exposed to danger every day, allowed this, not because He despised His ascetic, but because He was preparing for him the most spacious field in order to bestow on him the most brilliant crowns, then what can we say, filled with countless sins and for this often falling into temptation, so that, having received punishment for them here, we will be rewarded with at least a little mercy and receive on that terrible day unspeakable blessings? Reflecting on this within ourselves, let us courageously accept everything so that we may receive a reward for patience from the Humane-loving Lord, and blot out the multitude of our sins, and be worthy of eternal blessings, by the grace and love for mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father, with the Holy Spirit, be glory, power, honor, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Entering into this conversation is very similar to entering into a conversation about a debtor of ten thousand talents. In both cases, the preacher rejoices that after a long illness, he again, as if returning from a long journey, appears among the congregation that loves him and which is loved by him for his part. Therefore, some scholars deduce from this that if the discourse on the debtor of ten thousand talents was undoubtedly delivered in Antioch in 887, then this one was delivered in Constantinople, since it is difficult to assume that the same introduction was delivered in the same city.