Catechesis III
CATECHESIS III
On Baptism "Do you not know that all we who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death? For we were buried with him by means of Baptism into death,
[in order that, just as Christ has arisen from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life] ."1
(I) "Rejoice, 0 ye heavens, and let the earth be glad,"2 in honor of those who are to be sprinkled with hyssop, and cleansed by the spiritual hyssop and by the power of Him who, in His Passion, was offered drink on a stalk of hyssop.
Let the heavenly powers rejoice, and let the souls who are to be united with their spiritual Spouse prepare themselves. For there is "the voice of one crying in the desert: Make ready the way of the Lord."3 For this is no slight matter, no ordinary or common fleshly union, but the election according to faith by the Spirit who "searches all things."4 For worldly marriages and contracts are not always made with judgment, and the bridegroom is quickly swayed wherever there is wealth or beauty. But here there is concern not for beauty of body, but for the blameless conscience of soul; not. for the accursed
Mammon, but for the wealth of the soul in piety.
(2) Yield then, 0 children of justice, to the urging of John, 1 Rom. 6.3, 4.
2 Cf. Ps. 95.11; Isa. 49.13.
3 Cf. Isa. 40.3.
4 1 Cor. 2.10.
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when he says: "Make ready the way of the Lord."5 Remove all hindrances and stumbling blocks, that you may hold a straight course unto eternal life. Make ready the vessels of the soul, purifying them by sincere faith, for the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Begin to wash your garments through repentance that, when you are called to the bridal chamber, you may be found clean. For the Bridegroom invites all without distinction, for His grace is bountifully bestowed, and the cry of His loud-voiced heralds draws all together; but He Himself thereafter separates those who have come in.6
God forbid that any of those enrolled should now hear those words: "Friend, how didst thou come in here without a wedding garment?"7 Rather, may you all hear: "Well done, good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many: enter into the joy of thy master."8 Up to now you have stood outside the gate, but may all of you be able to say: "The king hath brought me into his storerooms";9 "Let my soul be joyful in the Lord: for he has clothed me with a garment of salvation and a robe of gladness; like a bridegroom he has adorned me with a diadem; like a bride, bedecked me with jewels."lO Thus may the souls of all of you be found "not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing."ll I do not mean before you have received the grace (for how could that be true of you who are called for the remission of sins?) but that, the grace given, your conscience, being found blameless, may be suitable for grace.
(3) This is a truly serious matter, my brethren, and you must approach it with great care. Each of you is to stand before God, in the presence of myriads of the angelic host.
The Holy Spirit is about to imprint a seal upon your souls.
5 John 1.23.
6 Cf. Matt. 22.9, 10.
7 Matt. 22.12.
8 Matt. 25.23.
9 Cf. Cant. 1.3.
10 Isa. 61.10 (Sept.).
11 Eph.5.27.
llD
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You are to be enlisted in the service of the Great King.
Therefore prepare and equip yourselves, not by putting on shining white garments, but piety of soul with a good conscience. Regard not the laver as fresh water, but look to the spiritual grace given with the water. For just as the offerings on the pagan altars, though morally neutral in themselves, become defiled by the invocation of the idols, so contrariwise the plain water, after the invocation of Holy Spirit, and Christ, and Father, acquires a power of sanctification.
(4) For since man's nature is twofold, compounded of soul and body, the purification is also twofold, incorporeal for the incorporeal part, bodily for the body. For as the water purifies the body, so the Spirit seals the soul, that having our hearts sprinkled, and our bodies washed with clean water, we may draw near to God.12 Therefore when about to enter the water, regard it not as mere water, but look for its saving power by the efficacy of the Holy Spirit, for without both you cannot be made perfect. It is not I who say this, but the Lord Jesus, who has the power in this matter, says: "Unless a man be born again, of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."13 Neither does he who is baptized, but has not been deemed worthy of the Spirit, possess perfect grace; nor will a man who acts virtuously, but does not receive the seal by water, enter into the kingdom of heaven. This may appear a bold saying, but it is not mine, for it was Jesus who pronounced it. And here is the proof of the statement from inspired Scripture. Cornelius was a just man, deemed worthy of a vision of angels, a man who had set up his prayers and alms as a fair column in the heavens in the sight of God. Peter came, and the Spirit was poured out upon those that believed, and they spoke with divers tongues and they prophesied.14 And yet after the grace of the Spirit, Scripture says that Peter "ordered them to be
12 Cf. Heb. 10.22.
13 John 3.5.
14 Cf. Acts 10.46.
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baptized in the name of Jesus Christ,"15 that after the soul had been regenerated by faith, the body also, by means of the water, might share the grace.
(5) But if any man wishes to know why the grace is given through water instead of some other element, he will find the answer if he takes up the divine Scriptures. For water is a noble thing and the fairest of the four visible elements of the world. Heaven is the dwelling place of angels, but the heavens are from the waters. Earth is the home of men, and the earth is from the waters. And before the whole six days' formation of created things, "The spirit of God was stirring above the waters."16 With water the world began; the Jordan saw the beginning of the Gospels. The sea was the means of Israel's liberation from Pharao, and freedom for the world from sin comes through the laver of water in the Word of GodP Wherever there is a covenant there also is water. After the deluge, a covenant was made with Noe; it was given from Mount Sinai, but "with water and scarlet wool and hyssOp."18 Elias was taken up, but not without water; for first he crosses the Jordan, and only then mounts to heaven in a chariot. The high priest washes himself, then offers incense; for Aaron was first washed, then became high priest. For how could one who had not yet been cleansed by water pray for others? Further, the laver had been set within the tabernacle, as a symbol of baptism.
(6) Baptism marks the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New. For its author was John, than whom there was no one greater among those born of women.19 He marked the end of the Prophets: "For all the prophets and the Law were until John."20 He likewise marks the beginning
15 Acts 10.48.
16 Gen. 1.2. The opening verses of Genesis seem to refer to water as prime matter. \Vater is mentioned in Scripture more often than the other three elemen ts.
17 Cf. Eph. 5.26.
18 Reb. 9.19.
19 Cf. Matt. 11.11.
20 Cf. Matt. 11.13; Luke 16.16.
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of the things of the Gospel: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ," and what follows: "There came John in the desert, baptizing."21 You may mention Elias, who was taken up to heaven, but he is not greater than John. Enoch was transported, but he is not greater than John. Mightiest was
Moses the lawgiver, and all the Prophets, but they are not greater than John. It is not I who venture to compare
Prophets with Prophets, but their Master and ours who has declared: "Among those born of women, there has not risen a greater than John."22 He does not say, "among those born of virgins," but, "of women." The comparison is between the great servant and his fellow-servants; but the pre-eminence and the grace of the Son over the household is beyond compare. Do you see how great a man God chose to be the first minister of this grace? He was a man who possessed nothing, a lover of solitude, but no hater of mankind; who ate locusts, and fitted wings to his soul, satisfying his hunger with honey, and speaking words sweeter and more wholesome than honey; clad in a garment of camel's hair, and showing in himself the model of the ascetic life; who was sanctified by the Holy
Spirit when still borne in his mother's womb. Jeremia also was sanctified, but he did not prophesy in the womb. Only
John leaped for joy when still being carried in the womb.23
Without seeing Him with the eyes of the body, he recognized his Master by the Spirit. For since the grace of Baptism was a great one, it called for greatness in its author.
(7) John was baptizing in the Jordan and there went out to him all Jerusalem, to have the benefit of the first-fruits of baptism;24 for the prerogative of all good things is in Jerusalem. But notice, 0 people of Jerusalem, how those who went out were baptized by him "confessing their sins."25 First they displayed their wounds; then he applied the remedies,
21 Mark 1.1,4.
22 Matt. lLlI.
23 Cf. Luke 1.44.
24 Cf. Matt. 3.5.
25 Ibid. 6.
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and to those who believed he granted redemption from eternal fire. And if you wish a proof on this point, that the baptism of John was a redemption from the threat of fire, listen to his own words: "Brood of vipers, who has shown you to flee from the wrath to come?"26 Be not, then, henceforth a viper, but though you were once of viper's brood, put off, he says, your former sinful nature. For every snake, retreating into a nook, puts off its age, and sloughing off its skin by constriction, henceforth is rejuvenated; so you, too, enter in through the narrow and straitened gate; constrain yourself by fasting, do violence to what threatens your destruction. "Strip off the old man with his deeds,"27 and say in the words of the Canticles: "I have taken off my robe, how am I then to put it on?"28
But perhaps there is some hypocrite among you, who seeks the favor of men and makes a pretense of piety, but does not believe from the heart, who with the hypocrisy of Simon
Magus approaches not to share in the grace, but out of meddlesome curiosity concerning what is given. Let him listen to John: "For even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree, therefore, that is not bringing forth good fruit is to be cut down, and thrown into the fire."29
The Judge is inexorable, so cast aside your hypocrisy.
(8) What must be done, then, and what are the fruits of repentance? "Let him who has two tunics share with him who has none."30 Now the teacher was one worthy of credence, since he had first put his teaching into practice; he was not ashamed to speak, for his tongue was not checked by a bad conscience. "And let him who has food do likewise."31 While aspiring to the grace of the Holy Spirit for yourself, will you deny bodily food to the poor? Do you seek great things, but share not the small?
26 Ibid. 7.
27 Col. 3.9.
28 Cant. 3.5.
29 Matt. 3.10.
30 Luke 3.11.
31 Ibid.
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Though you be a publican or fornicator, yet hope for salvation. "The publicans and harlots are entering the kingdom of God before yoU."32 Paul testifies to this when he says:
"Neither fornicators nor idolaters," nor the rest, "will possess the kingdom of God. And such were some of you, but you have been washed, and you have been sanctified."33 He did not say, some of you "are," but some of you "were." The sin committed in ignorance is pardoned, but persistent wickedness is condemned.
(9) You have for the glorification of baptism the Onlybegotten Son of God Himself. Why should I speak any further of man? John was great, but what was he compared to the Lord? Loud was his voice, but what compared with the Word? Noble was the herald, but what was he to the King?
Glorious was he who baptized with water, but what in comparison to Him who baptizes "with the Holy Spirit and with fire"?34 The Savior baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire when: "suddenly there was a sound from heaven as of a violent wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as of fire, which settled upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit."35
(10) If a man does not receive baptism he does not attain salvation, excepting only the martyrs, who, even without the water, receive the kingdom. For the Savior who redeemed the world by the Cross, when His side was pierced, poured forth blood and water, that in time of peace men might be baptized in water, but in time of persecution in their own blood. For the Savior could call martyrdom a baptism, saying:
"Can you drink the cup of which I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"36 For the martyrs, indeed, make their confession of faith, when "made a spectacle
32 Matt. 21.31.
33 I Cor. 6.9-11.
34 Matt. 3.11.
35 Acts 2.2-4.
36 Mark 10.38.
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lIS to the world, and to angels, and to men."37 In a little while you too shall make your confession. But it is not yet time for you to hear about this.
(11) Jesus sanctified baptism when He Himself was baptized.
If the Son of God was baptized, can anyone who scorns baptism pretend to piety? Not that He was baptized to receive the remission of sins-for He was without sin-but being sinless, He was nevertheless baptized, that He might impart grace and dignity to those who receive the sacrament.
For, "since the children share in flesh and blood, so he in like manner has shared in these,"38 that we, sharing His incarnate life, might also share His divine grace. So Jesus was baptized that we, in turn, herein also made partakers with Him, might receive not only salvation, but also the dignity.
The dragon, according to Job, was in the water, he who received the Jordan in his maw.39 When, therefore, it was necessary to crush the heads of the dragon,40 descending into the water, He bound the strong one, that we might receive the "power to tread upon serpents and scorpions."41 It was no ordinary beast, but a horrible monster. No fishing ship could last under a single scale of his tail; before him stalked
Destruction, ravaging all in her path.42 But Life came running up, that the maw of Death might be stopped and all we who were saved might say: "0 death, where is thy sting? 0 grave, where is thy victory?"43 Baptism draws death's sting.
(12) For you go down into the water bearing your sins, but the invocation of grace, placing a seal upon your soul, makes you proof against the dragon's maw. Though dead in sin when you went down, you will come up vivified in justice.
For, if you have been planted together in the likeness of the death of the Savior, you shall be counted worthy of His
37 1 Cor. 4.9.
38 Reb. 2.14.
39 Cf. Job 40.18.
40 Cf. Ps. 73.14.
41 Luke 10.19.
42 Cf. Job 40.26 and 41.13 (Sept.).
43 Cf. 1 Cor. 15.55.
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Resurrection also.44 For just as Jesus died, taking upon Himself the sins of the whole world, that by slaying sin He might rise again in righteousness, so you, also, after entering and being as it were buried in the water, as He was in the rock, are raised up again to walk in newness of life.
(13) Then, after you have been vouchsafed the grace, He gives you the strength to struggle with the enemy powers.
For just as He was tried for forty days after His baptismnot that He was unable to conquer sooner, but because He wished to accomplish all things in due order and sequenceso do you also, who before your baptism dared not close with your adversaries, from the moment of receiving the grace, trust henceforth in the armor of justice,45 do battle, and, if you will, preach the Gospel.
(14) Jesus Christ was the Son of God, but before His baptism He did not preach the Gospel. If the Master Himself in all things observed order and due season, can we, His servants, presume to disregard right order? Jesus began to preach from the time when "the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form as a dove."46 (This was not to permit
Jesus to see Him for the first time-for He knew Him even before He came in bodily form-but that John the Baptist might see Him; for he said: "I did not know him. But he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He upon whom thou wilt see the Spirit descending, he it is.' "47) Upon you also, if you possess sincere piety, the Holy Spirit will descend, and from above will be heard over you the voice of the Father, saying not: "This is my Son,"48 but, "This has now become My son." For to Christ alone belongs the "is," since,
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God."49 To Him belongs the word
44 Cf. Rom. 6.5.
45 Cf. 2 Cor. 6.7.
46 Luke 3.22.
47 John 1.33.
48 Matt. 3.17.
49 John 1.1.
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"is," since He is at all times the Son of God. To you belongs "has now become," since you do not possess the sonship by nature, but receive it by adoption. He is Son eternally, but you receive that grace by advancement.
(15) Therefore, prepare the vessel of your soul, that you may become a son of God, and joint heir, indeed, of God, and joint heir with Christ.50 That is, if you are preparing actually to receive; if in faith you are coming forward to be confirmed in faith; if of set purpose you are putting off the old man. For all your sins will be forgiven, whether fornication or adultery or any other licentiousness. What sin is greater than crucifying Christ? But baptism can expiate even this, as Peter told the three thousand who had crucified Christ when they came to him and asked him, saying: "Brethren, what shall we dO?"51 For great is our wound. You advised us of our fall, a Peter, when you said: "The author of life you killed."52
What salve is there for so great a wound? What purification for such foulness? What salvation for such perdition? "Repent," he says, "and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."53 a the ineffable lovingkindness of God! They despair of salvation and yet are deemed worthy of the Holy Spirit. There you see the power of baptism. If any man has crucified Christ by blasphemous words, if any man in ignorance has denied Him before men, if any man by wicked deeds has caused His doctrine to be blasphemed, let him repent and be of good hope. For the same grace is even now at hand.
(16) Take heart, a Jerusalem, the Lord will take away your iniquities.54 The Lord will wash away the filth of His sons and daughters by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning.55 He will pour upon you clean water and you
50 Cf. Rom. 8.17.
51 Acts 2.37.
52 Acts 3.15.
53 Acts 2.38.
54 Cf. Soph. 3.14, 15.
55 Cf. Isa. 4.4.
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shall be cleansed from all your sins.56 Choiring angels shall encircle you, chanting: Who is it that comes up all white and leaning upon her beloved?57 For the soul that was formerly a slave has now accounted her Lord as her kinsman, and He, acknowledging her sincere purpose, will answer: "Ah, you are beautiful my beloved, ah, you are beautiful! ... Your teeth are like a flock of ewes to be shorn"58-a sincere confession is a spiritual shearing; and further: "all of them big with twins,"59 signifying the twofold grace, either that perfected by water and the Spirit, or that announced in the Old and in the New Testament. 6Q God grant that all of you, your course of fasting finished, mindful of the teaching, fruitful in good works, standing blameless before the spiritual
Bridegroom, may obtain the remission of your sins from God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
56 Cf. Ezech. 36.25.
57 Cf. Cant. 8.5.
58 Cant. 4.1, 2.
59 Ibid.
60 Cyril takes every opportunity to stress the agreement of the Old and the New covenants, in opposition to the heretics. particularly
Marcion.