Caput XIX
Despising God Through His Servants
Those who despise Christ's servants and rulers despise Christ himself, who granted them authority to bind and loose, and who commands obedience even when their lives are flawed, as shown by the example of Caiaphas.
But to come to a case very much like this, in which the followers of Cain may be shown all the more clearly to have done a remarkably similar deed — he, as has been said, refused to listen to God warning him: these people despise his servants and rulers, or rather despise him himself through them, just as is shown in his own words when he says: Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me (Luke✦ 10:16). He who also granted to the same rulers the authority to bind and to loose in the person of blessed Peter — an authority he later confirmed so thoroughly that he would say at another time: Whatever matter two of you agree upon on earth will be granted them by my Father (Matt.✦ 18:19). But perhaps it is for this very reason that they despise either the excommunications of pastors — which pastors employ to restrain the malice of the wicked — or their admonitions, because they find fault with their way of life. And indeed this gives enormous scandal to all who are looking for an occasion to mock. But Christ, the shepherd and bishop of our souls, is not to be despised — he who is heard and despised in them — who, foreknowing things to come, counteracts this recklessness of those who despise, saying: Whatever they tell you, observe and do (Matt.✦ 23:3). And to bring this point home — who was worse than Caiaphas, who prophesied about Christ?✦
God Honors the Office Even in the Unworthy
Scripture shows that God works through unworthy officeholders—Caiaphas prophesied by virtue of his high priesthood, God avenged Saul's command even when broken unknowingly, and even Judas cast out demons—so despising shepherds is an act bolder than that of demons.
The holy evangelist, of course, took care to show where the one who prophesied had received the gift of prophecy, saying: "When he was high priest, he prophesied" (John).✦ 11, 51). Saul, that impious and reprobate king, had given orders that no one should eat until the victory was complete; but Jonathan, unaware of the command, tasted a little honey, and at once divine favor was so completely withdrawn that victory was entirely cut off.✦ God made His anger openly known at that time, so that from then on, throughout every age, people might understand just how greatly He is offended by contempt for those He has placed in authority. For even Judas the betrayer, together with the other disciples of Christ, put demons to flight — a fact attested in the book of letters of Saint Gregory and in the sermon on the cross by Saint John Chrysostom. Therefore Caiaphas prophesied by virtue of the honor of his high priesthood; and God so severely avenged Saul's command — even though it was broken by someone who didn't know about it — that Jonathan would have incurred a sentence of death, had he not been freed by the authority of the whole people. Demons were put to flight by that very companion of his — Judas himself — out of reverence for the divine name. Since these things are so, let those who despise their shepherds — even though they live without faith in Christ — consider what they are doing.
Bolder Than Demons
Those who despise their shepherds act with a boldness that surpasses even that of demons, who themselves recognized divine authority.
They are, if I may put it this way, bolder than demons.
Read the original Latin
Ut autem ad aliquid tale veniamus, in quo persimile factum esse Cain sequaces evidentius manifestentur, ille, ut dictum est, monentem Deum audire noluit: isti servos ejus et rectores contemnunt, imo ipsum per ipsos, sicut in ipsius verbis ostenditur, dicentis: Qui vos audit me audit, et qui vos spernit me spernit (Luc. X, 16). Qui etiam ejusdem rectoribus potestatem ligandi atque solvendi in persona beati Petri concessit, quam ita confirmavit ut alias diceret: De omni re quacunque duo ex vobis consenserint super terram, fiet illis a Patre meo (Matth. XVIII, 19). Sed ob hoc forte vel excommunicationes pastorum, quas ad compescendam pravorum malitiam adhibent, vel admonitiones contemnunt, quia vitam illorum reprehendunt: quod equidem ingens scandalum quibusque illusoribus praebet. Sed pastor et episcopus animarum nostrarum Christus non est contemnendus, qui in his auditur, et contemnitur, qui sicut praesciens futurorum huic temeritati contemptorum obviat dicens: Quaecunque dixerint vobis, servate et facite (Matth. XXIII, 3). Et ut hoc inferamus, quis pejor quam Caiphas, qui de Christo prophetavit?
Scilicet qui prophetiam unde meruerit, sanctus evangelista monstrare studuit, dicens: Cum esset pontifex, prophetavit (Joan. XI, 51). Saul rex impius et reprobus, cum praeciperet ne quis donec esset complecta victoria comedisset, Jonathas etiam jussionis nescius paululum mellis gustasset, mox divinus favor ita subtractus est, ut victoria penitus intermitteretur. Quam indignationem suam idcirco Deus tunc palam fecit, ut quantopere in contemptu rectorum offendatur, deinceps per omne saeculum intelligi posset. Nam et Judas proditor cum caeteris Christi discipulis daemonia fugabat, quod in libro epistolarum sancti Gregorii, et in sermone de cruce sancti Joannis Chrysostomi perhibetur. Igitur Caiphas propter pontificatus honorem prophetavit; et illam Saulis jussionem ab ignorante licet contemptam adeo vindicavit, ut Jonathas mortis sententiam incurreret, nisi totius populi auctoritate liberaretur. Daemones ob reverentiam divini nominis ab ipso suo complice fugabantur. Cum vero ista ita sint, viderint quid faciant, qui pastores etiam sine fide Christi viventes despiciunt.
Ut enim ita dixerim, audaciores sunt quam daemones.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Luke.10.16 — The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me; but the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.
- ↩Matt.18.19 — Again, truly I say to you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
- ↩Matt.23.3 — Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and observe; but do not do according to their works, for they say and do not do.
- ↩John.11.51 — Now he did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation—
- ↩John.11.51 — Now he did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation—
- ↩1Sam.14.24-1Sam.14.29 — The men of Israel were pressed hard that day, and Saul made the people take an oath, saying, "Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies." So none of the people tasted any food. 1Sam.14.25 — And all the land came into the forest, and there was honey upon the face of the field. 1Sam.14.26 — And the people came into the forest, and behold, there was honey flowing, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 1Sam.14.27 — But Jonathan had not heard when his father made the people swear, so he reached out with the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, then brought his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened. 1Sam.14.28 — Then one of the people answered and said, 'Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats bread today."' And the people were faint. 1Sam.14.29 — And Jonathan said, 'My father has troubled the land. See now that my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.'
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