629 chapter 17: the roof of the mystical temple girded and lamps burning in your hands” (Lk 12:35) [LV]. “For we are girding our loins” (as Gregory very well explains the mind of the heavenly Teacher) “when we restrain the lust of the flesh by continence. But because it is less to do no evil, at once he adds: ‘and lamps burning in your hands.’ Indeed we hold lamps burning in our hands when by our good works we show our neighbors examples of the light. The Lord indeed says of such works: ‘Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven’ (Mt 5:16).”141 This interpretation of the Roman Pontiff is obvious, and none is more suitable to the matter under consideration. Also John the Evangelist had this in mind when he wrote: “If we say, ‘We have fellowship with him,’” (he means God, the eternal Light) “while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of His Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin” (1 Jn 1:6-7). Darkness denotes sin, light denotes holy works. Paul includes both when writing to the Ephesian converts: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” (Eph 5:8). Then truly we are known as true Christians when we are seen to be not in the darkness but in the light, following in the footsteps of Christ, in accordance with His testimony: “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness” (Jn 8:12). And so the mentioned preacher and writer of the Holy Gospel, John, is repeating for us again what was said before: “Who says that he abides in Him,” that is, in Christ, “ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (cf. 1 Jn 2:6). For “no one who remains in Him sins, and no one who sins has seen Him or known Him” (1 Jn 3:6). For “whoever sins belongs to the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. In this way, the children of God and the children of the devil are made plain” (1 Jn 3:8, 10). In what way? The latter by their sins, and the former by their works 141 Gregory, Homilies on the Gospels, Bk. 1, Hom. XIII: PL, nn. 1481-1482.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==