BASIL THE GREAT
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SHUT NO ONE OUT FROM YOUR LOVE |
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Do all you can to love everyone. If you are not yet able to, at the very least do not hate anyone. Yet you would not even manage this if you have not reached detachment from the things of this world. |
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You must love everyone with all your soul, hoping, that according to the commandment to love your neighbour, Jesus has established so close a bond that he takes as done to himself anything done to our brothers or sisters. He says ‘I was thirsty and you gave me drink,’ (Mt. 25, 35) and he adds ‘As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me,’ (Mt 25, 40). |
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The keeping of the first commandment includes the keeping of the second, and in the fulfilment of the second the first is fulfilled. |
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Whoever loves God loves his neighbour. The Lord says, ‘Anyone who loves me will keep my word’ (Jn 14, 23) and ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you,’ (Jn 15, 12). |
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So then, whoever loves his neighbour loves God, and God reckons our unity with our brothers and sisters is unity with Him. |
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One is reminded of Moses. He loved his brothers and sisters so much that he asked to be blotted out of the book of the living if the people did not receive forgiveness of their sins. |
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Basil the Great The Great Rules 3 (PG31, 917) |
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YOU ARE UTTERLY
FAIR, MY LOVE, |
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AND THERE IS NO
FLAW IN YOU |
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You can see that a city is prosperous by the wealth of goods for sale in the market. Land too we call prosperous if it bears rich fruit. And so also the soul may be counted prosperous if it is full of good works of every kind. |
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But first of all it has to be farmed energetically. Then it must be watered by abundant streams of heavenly grace for it to bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, and some a hundredfold. The soul only acquires goodness and the capacity of fulfilling its duties if it has the grace of God. |
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On the other hand, what is uglier or more disgusting than a soul given over to base passions? Look at the hot-headed person: he is like a wild beast. Consider the slave of lust or gluttony: who can bear the sight of him? Pity the victim of melancholy whose spirit is totally prostrated. |
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It is for us to seek to acquire beauty, so that the Bridegroom, the Word, may welcome us into his presence and say, “You are utterly fair, my love, and there is no flaw in you.” Canticle of Canticles 4,7 |
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Basil the Great Commentary
on Psalm 29, 5 (PG29, 316) |
BASIL THE GREAT
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LIFE’S JOURNEY |
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We read in the Book of Psalms: ‘Blessed is the one who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor follows in the way of sinners.’ |
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Life has been called a ‘way’ because everything that has been created is on the way to its end. |
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When people are on a sea voyage, they can sleep while they are being transported without any effort of their own to their port of call. The ship brings them closer to their goal without their even knowing it. So we can be transported nearer to the end of our life without our noticing it, as time flows by unceasingly. Time passes while you are asleep. While you are awake time passes although you may not notice. |
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All of us have a race to run towards our appointed end. So we are all ‘on the way’. |
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This is how you should think of the ‘way’. You are a traveller in this life. Everything goes past you and is left behind. You notice a flower on the way, or some grass, or a stream, or something worth looking at. You enjoy it for a moment, then pass on. Maybe you come on stones or rocks or crags or cliffs or fences, or perhaps you meet wild beasts or reptiles or thorn bushes or some other obstacles. You suffer briefly then escape. That is what life is like. |
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Pleasures do not last but pain is not permanent either. |
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The ‘way’ does not belong to you nor is the present under your control. But as step succeeds step, enjoy each moment as it comes and then continue on your ‘way’. |
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Basil the Great Commentary on Psalm 1, 4 (PG29, 220) |
BASIL THE GREAT
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BEFORE THE SHIP SINKS |
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An illness that has become chronic, like a habit of wrong-doing that has become ingrained, is very hard to heal. If after that, as very often happens, the habit turns into second nature, a cure is out of the question. |
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So the ideal would be to have no contact with evil. But there is another possibility: to distance yourself from evil, to run away from it as if from a poisonous snake once you have experienced it. |
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I have known some unfortunate people who in their youth let themselves slide into evil habits which have held them enslaved all their lives. Like pigs wallowing continually in the mire and becoming increasingly filthy, such sinners as these multiply their shame every day with fresh sins. |
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So, blessed is the one who has never thought of evil. However, if through his wiles the suggestions of the Enemy have found a foothold in your heart, do not remain inactive in the toils of sin. |
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Be careful not to be utterly overcome by it. If the sin is already weighing you down, if the dust of riches has already settled on you, if your soul has been dragged right down by attachment to material things, then before you fall into utter ruin get rid of the heavy burden. Before the ship sinks, follow the example of sailors and cast overboard the possessions you have accumulated overmuch. |
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Basil the Great Commentary
on Psalm 1, 6 (PG29, 224ff.) |