April 1
In short, as the red blight is a common pest to corn, so envy is the plague of friendship.
(Homily “Concerning Envy”, pg. 44 )
April 2
One feature of the vice (envy), however, calls for our approval – the more vigorously it has been aroused, the more troublesome it is to the person afflicted. As arrows shot with great force come back to the archer when they strike a hard and unyielding surface, so also do the movements of envy strike the envious person himself and they harm the object of his spite not at all.
(Homily “Concerning Envy”, pg. 44 )
April 3
But this I do say: the devils, who are enemies of all that is good, use for their own ends such free acts as they find congenial to their wishes. In this way, they make even the eyes of envious persons serviceable to their own purposes.
(Homily “Concerning Envy”, pg. 45 )
April 4
For, we are buried together with Him by baptism unto death; that as Christ is risen from the dead, so we also may walk in newness of life. For if we been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 359 )
April 5
How might we avoid becoming affected by this disease of envy and how, after we have contracted it, might be cured? First, not regarding the good of this world – human prosperity, renown, which fades like a flower, health of body- as either great or admirable. We do not define our highest good in terms of these transitory things but we are called to share in possessions that are real and eternal. Thus, the rich man is not enviable merely because of his wealth,… nor the learned man because of his great power of eloquence. These are instruments for practicing virtue to those who use them well. They do not contain any intrinsic good.
(Homily “Concerning Envy”, pg. 46 )
April 6
Now, a disciple, as we learn from the Lord himself, is one who comes to the Lord for the purpose of following Him, that is, to hear His words, to believe in him, and obey Him as Master, King, Physician and Teacher of Truth, in the hope of gaining eternal life.
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 340)
April 7
Further, he must persevere in these dispositions as it is written: “ then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him: If you continue in my word, you shall be my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”
( John 8: 31-32). That is to say, we shall receive freedom of spirit from the cruel tyranny of the Devil by being delivered from the dominion of the sin; for He says:
“ whosoever commits sin is a servant of sin.” ( John 8: 34) .
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 341 )
April 8
It is impossible, indeed, for one who commits sin or who has entangled himself in the affairs of the world, or who is solicitous even for the necessities of this life to serve – to say nothing of being the disciple of – that Lord who bade the young man sell his goods and give to the poor before to said to him: “ Come, follow me. ” (Matt 19: 21).
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 341 )
April 9
Again the Lord says: “ no man can serve two masters” ( Matt. 19: 24) and so on. Furthermore, He showed by His teachings, both specifically, and by implication, that they who are solicitous in supplying themselves with necessities of life cannot persevere in the service of God, not to speak of being His disciples.
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 342 )
April 10
And after St. Paul has developed more fully the idea that it is impossible for one who is in the power of sin to serve the Lord, he plainly states who it is that redeems us in the words: “ Unhappy man that I am , who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I give thanks to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. ”( Rom. 7: 24 - 25).
(Concerning Baptism pg. 342 )
April 11
St. Paul’s words in still another place clearly set forth the greatness of the benefit we have received through the loving- kindness of God in the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ: “For as by the obedience of one man, many were made sinners; so also by the obedience of one man, many shall be made just. ” ( Rom. 5: 19). In view of this utterance and other similar ones, we are under the strictest obligation, unless we have received in vain the grace of God, first, to free ourselves from the dominion of the Devil who leads a slave of sin into evils even against his will. Secondly, each of us, after denying himself present satisfactions and breaking off his attachment of this life, must become a disciple of the Lord, as He Himself said: “ If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matt. 16: 24).
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 343 )
April 12
But we all escape the condemnation for our sins referred to above, if we believe in the grace of God through His Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who said: “ This is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins. ” ( Matt. 26: 28).
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 344 )
April 13
When pardon for his transgressions is granted, then does man obtain of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, our Lord, deliverance from his sinful state and thereupon is he rendered fit to receive instruction. Not yet, however, is he worthy to follow that Lord who said to the young man: “ Sell what you have and give to the poor ” before He said: “ Come, follow me ”. ( Lk. 18: 22). And He gave him that first injunction only after the young man had affirmed that he was free from the guilt of any sin by saying that he had fulfilled all the commandments mentioned by the Lord.
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 344 )
April 14
Jesus says: “ If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother, and his wife and children and brethren and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. ” ( Lk. 14: 26). That sort of hatred is meant, of course, which inculcates the virtue of piety by withdrawing us from distractions, not the kind which leads us to contrive schemes against another.
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 346 )
April 15
“ And whosoever ” says the Lord: “ does not carry his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. ”( Lk. 14: 27). This indeed is the very agreement we make when, in receiving the baptism of water, we promise to be crucified, to die, to be buried with Him, and so on, as it is written. ( Rom. 6: 4 -11).
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 346 )
April 16
In consideration for our weakness, however, God willed also to establish our hearts in full conviction of the truth by means of parables, and thereby, induce in us, a readier obedience. Jesus said: “that salt is good. But if the salt shall lose its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither profitable for the land nor for the dunghill, but shall be cast out.” ( Lk. 14: 28 – 35). If we have faith in these words, we will, first of all, with the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, free ourselves from the tyranny of the Devil by refraining from every action that is pleasing to the Devil.
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 347 )
April 17
Secondly, we will renounce not only the world and its concupiscences, but also the just claims we have on one another, and even our life itself, whenever any of these things distracts us from the whole-hearted and immediate submersion we owe to God. Then we shall be worthy to become disciples of the Lord.
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 347 )
April 18
By the events recounted in the Holy Scripture, also, we are taught the goodness of God and His severity in much patience, that His justice may be manifested and for our instruction.
(Concerning Baptism pg. 348 )
April 19
In the Gospel according to Luke, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself declared: “ No man putting his hands to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. ” (Lk. 9: 62). Here it must be observed that so dire and irrevocable a judgment is not pronounced upon many sins, but upon one – and this having to do with legitimate acts in which there was a delay ever so slight in giving to God the immediate and whole-hearted obedience we owe Him on many grounds. By this and similar passages we are taught that all things must be perfectly and lawfully accomplished by those who have received the promise of the kingdom of heaven and that, if this perfect accomplishment be lacking, the gift of the kingdom is withheld.
(Concerning Baptism pg. 352 )
April 20
We learn, moreover, that everything which might prevent us from obtaining the kingdom of heaven is to be avoided and by this means we may hope to be accounted worthy of the promise. In our endeavors to become pleasing to the God, we ought not only free ourselves from all iniquity, but we must also be perfect and blameless as regards every word of God. To this achievement the Apostle Paul, contemplating the great and ineffable love of God and His Christ toward us on behalf of our justification and salvation, exhorts us in the words: “ Giving no offence to any man, that our ministry be not blamed; but in all things let us exhibit ourselves as ministers of God.” ( 2 Cor. 6: 3 - 4)
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 353)
April 21
Imagine a statue which has been shattered into fragments and in which the glorious image of the king is no longer discernible. The wise artificer and skilled craftsman, seeking to regain the beauty of his work, shapes it anew and restores it to its former splendor. So it is with us. Afflicted as we are because of our disobedience to the command, as it is written: “ Man, when he was in honor did not understand; he is compared to senseless beasts and is became like to them, ” (Ps.48: 13) we have been recalled to our original glory as the image of God; for the Scripture says: “ God made man to the image and likeness of God.” ( Gen. 1: 27 )
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 358)
April 22
Just as wax applied to a carved mold is shaped exactly according to the form impressed upon the carved surface, so we, when we have submitted ourselves to the mold of doctrine according to the Gospel, are formed as regards the inner man, fulfilling the words of the Apostle Paul which he expresses in the form a precept: “ stripping yourself of the old man with his deeds, and putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge according to the image that created him”. (Col. 3: 9 -10)
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 358 )
April 23
Envious persons are skilled in making what is praiseworthy seem despicable by means of unflattering distortions and in slandering virtue through the vice that is neighbor to it.
(Concerning Envy, pg. 46 )
April 24
There are many passages, such as Rom. 6: 3 -11, which set forth with clarity and splendor the great, ineffable benevolence of God in freely pardoning our sins and granting us the means and the power of performing righteous acts for the glory of God and His Christ in the hope of gaining eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 360)
April 25
The effect of Baptism is, let us say, for the sake of instruction to be derived from the parallel, like the change of color which occurs in wool when it is dipped into dye - or rather, that we may enkindle the light of knowledge unto the comprehension of the great Light, let us take John the Baptist for guide, who prophesied concerning the Lord: “ He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire, ” (Matt. 3:11) and use the comparison of iron dipped in fire whose flames are fanned by the wind. Under such conditions, the iron most readily betrays any dross it may contain and it is easily purified. After the iron is transformed not only in color but also in texture, its hardness and rigidity are rendered pliant, so that it becomes very malleable in the hands of the artisan and wonderfully adapts itself to the will of the master. It’s dull black hue becomes extraordinarily bright, and it not only burns and shines itself, but it illuminates and warms its surroundings.
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 361-362)
April 26
It necessarily follows, then, that he has been baptized in fire, that is, in the word of doctrine which overcomes the malice of sin and makes manifest the grace of justifications, hates and abominates iniquity, as it is written in Heb.1: 9, and desires to receive purification through faith in the power of the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 362)
April 27
A baptized person will not only be cleansed from all iniquity and sin, but also from every stain of the flesh and the spirit (2 Cor. 7:1). Then, at length, baptized in the death of the Lord, he will desire to be conformed to His death, which is to die to sin, to himself and to the world.
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 362)
April 28
But in what way will your newness of life be evident, not only as compared with the pagans and worldly men, but in the more exacting comparison with those who are justified according to the law? For, not only should we not endeavor to increase our possessions and to acquire greater gains, as do men of the world, but we should not even lay claim to the property which has already been acquired and is our own. Let us be zealous in giving to the needy over and above what the law requires.
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 364)
April 29
We obey our Lord Jesus Christ not only by doing good to those who are near and dear to us, but by including hostile and wicked men also in our acts of kindness. Not only are we to refrain from taking revenge for offenses first committed against us, but we should display a forbearance greater than the offence and show in advance our readiness to sustain other wrongs of equal or even greater gravity. Thus do we achieve both aims together: death, in that we are not moved to displeasure against him who inflicted the first blow upon us; newness of life in Christ, by exposing ourselves to a second.
(Concerning Baptism, pg. 364)
April 30
Now if you give heed to yourself, you will discover all this about yourself and still more. You will not be made disconsolate by your deficiencies, but you will take pleasure in what you do possess.
(Homily on the Words: “Give heed to thyself”, pg. 19)
Sources: Saint Basil: The Letters by Roy Deferrari in four volumes
St. Basil: The Fathers of the Church by Sr. Monica Wagner, C.S.C. in six pamphlets
Saint Basil Ascetical Works translated by Sr. Monica Wagner, C.S.C. |
