that this is true ye have to-day heard from Paul, who exhorts us, saying, “Rejoice in the Lord
always, and again I say, rejoice.”1734 I know indeed that to many this saying seems impossible.
“For how is it possible,” says some one, “that he who is but a man, can continually rejoice?
To rejoice is no hard matter, but to rejoice continually, this seems to me to be impossible.”
For many are the causes of sadness, which surround us on all sides. A man has lost either a
son, or a wife, or a beloved friend, more necessary to him than all kindred; or he has to
sustain the loss of wealth; or he has fallen into sickness; or he has to bear some other change
of fortune; or to grieve for contemptuous treatment which he did not deserve; or famine,
or pestilence, or some intolerable exaction, or circumstances in his family trouble him;—nay,
there is no saying how many circumstances of a public or private nature are accustomed to
occasion us grief. How then, he may say, is it possible to “rejoice always?” Yea, O man! it is
possible; and if it were not so, Paul would not have given the exhortation; nor would a man
endowed with spiritual wisdom have offered such counsel; and for this reason I have con-
stantly said to you, and will not cease to say, that what ye could no where have learnt from
any other, that wisdom ye may here meditate. For mankind are universally desirous of
pleasure,1735 and of rejoicing; and for this, they do all, say all, and undertake all things.
Therefore it is, that the merchant goes on a voyage, in order that he may amass wealth; and
he amasses wealth, to the end that he may rejoice over what he has treasured up. The soldier
also for this reason exercises his warfare, and the husbandman his husbandry; for this each
man plies his art. Those also who love dominion, love it for this end, that they may obtain
glory; and they desire to obtain glory, that they may rejoice; and any one may perceive that
each of our undertakings is directed to this point, and that every man looking to this makes
haste to go towards it through a variety of means.
4. For as I said, all love gladness, but all are not able to attain it, since they know not the
way which leads to it; but many suppose that the source of it is in being rich. But if this were
its source, no one possessed of wealth would ever be sad. But in fact many of the rich think
life not worth living, and would infinitely prefer death when they experience any hardship;
and of all men these are the most liable to excessive sadness. For you should not look to
1734 Phil. iv. 4.
1735 See Arist. Eth. 1, ch. 5, and Plat. Phileb., where the general aim of human action is discussed. Speaking
popularly, St. Chrysostom does not enquire by what name it is most correct to call the real object of our desires.
He is satisfied with shewing that the highest pleasure, satisfaction, joy, or whatever it may be called, is found in
God. And this is a better beginning, for practical purposes, than a philosophical definition. But see Hooker, b.
i. c. vii. and Butler, ser. xi. xii. xiii.
677
Homily XVIII