of Israel who could not do them, and yet that people were the people of God. In the Church
itself, hear the Apostle, “Are all prophets? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with
tongues?”3007
6. What is that “wedding garment” then? This is the wedding garment: “Now the end
of the commandment,” says the Apostle, “is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good con-
science, and of faith unfeigned.”3008 This is “the wedding garment.” Not charity of any kind
whatever; for very often they who are partakers together of an evil conscience seem to love
one another. They who commit robberies together, who love the hurtful arts of sorceries,
and the stage together, who join together in the shout of the chariot race, or the wild beast
fight; these very often love one another; but in these there is no “charity out of a pure heart,
and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. The wedding garment” is such charity as
this. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of Angels, and have not charity, I am
become as sounding brass, and a tinkling cymbal.”3009 Tongues have come in alone, and it
is said to them, “How came ye in hither not having a wedding garment?” “Though,” said
he, “I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though
I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” See,
these are the miracles of men who very often have not “the wedding garment.” “Though,”
he says, “I have all these, and have not Christ, I am nothing.” Is then “the gift of prophecy”
nothing? is then “the knowledge of mysteries”3010 nothing? It is not that these are nothing;
but “I,” if I have them, “and have not charity, am nothing.” How many good things profit
nothing without this one good thing! If then I have not charity, though I bestow alms freely
upon the poor, though I have come to the confession of Christ’s Name even unto blood and
fire, these things may be done even through the love of glory, and so are vain. Because then
they may be done even from the love of glory, and so be vain, and not through the rich
charity of a godly affection, he names them all also in express terms, and do thou give ear
to them; “though I distribute all my goods for the use of the poor, and though I give my
body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”3011 This then is “the
wedding garment.” Question yourselves; if ye have it, ye may be without fear in the Feast
of the Lord. In one and the same man there exist two things, charity and desire. Let charity
be born in thee, if it be yet unborn, and if it be born, be it nourished, fostered, increased.
But as to that desire, though in this life it cannot be utterly extinguished; “for if we say that
we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us;” 3012 but in so far as desire
3007 1 Cor. xii. 29, etc.
3008 1 Tim. i. 5.
3009 1 Cor. xiii. 1.
3010 Sacramentorum.
3011 1 Cor. xiii. 3.
3012 1 John i. 8.
822
On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xxii. 2, etc., about the marriage of the…