I said yesterday that great is the fruit of the earthquake. Do you see the Lord’s love for mankind in shaking the city and making your minds firm?
Sermons from the Life of St John Chrysostom, Translation and Introduction by David C. Ford
John preached this homily after an earthquake in Antioch at the end of 395 or the beginning of 396. It is the second of two “earthquake” sermons we have from John, the first after an earthquake in 388. As you can see from the above quote, John didn’t look at earthquakes the way most people do – not the way I normally do!
John was ill for some time until immediately before this earthquake. He missed that time of teaching, as he sees the teaching necessary for the right ordering of the soul.
Up until yesterday, I was fixed in my bed; but God did not permit that I should be entirely ruined by this famine. For just as it is a famine for you not to hear, so it is a famine for me not to speak.
Those to whom John is preaching did commendable work in the days since the earthquake. They did not know the difference between day and night, keeping vigil over the city in its troubles.
For your yearning for Christ has conquered the weakness of your nature.
They ceased being human in their bodies by imitating the heavenly powers, choosing labor instead of rest. John describes this as the fruit of the earthquake – a benefit that will never be used up, one that makes the poor well-off and enriches the wealthy.
…you accomplished a great all-night vigil, and you purified the entire city with the steps of your holy feet… You sanctified the ground, the marketplace; you made our whole city a church.
Now no one remembers collecting interest, no one speaks of greediness.
By shaking the ground for a little while, the Lord strengthened us constantly. By rocking the foundations, He made us steadfast. By cracking the city, He strengthened our powers of discernment.
How were you harmed by being upset for a little while? You became angels instead of men. You transferred yourselves to Heaven – if not in place, yet in your way of life.
John was anticipating that after a day or two of such effort, sleep would have overcome the bodies of those to whom he is speaking. But what he sees instead is that as the sleeplessness increases, their desire increases.
The heavens were opened, and a judgment was brought down – the sharpened sword. The wrath appeared inevitable, about to knock the city to the ground. Yet we had need of nothing except repentance, tears, and groaning; everything was averted.
God appeared, and we ourselves dissolved His wrath. One would not be mistaken in calling you the caretakers and saviors of the city.
Why was the city shaken?
…because of acts of greediness, and injustice, and lawlessness, and arrogance, and illicit pleasure, and deceit.
And who was responsible for all this? The rich!
And why did the city stand firm?
…this happened because of psalmody, and prayers, and vigils.
It is the poor who are responsible for this.
Conclusion
This is such an interesting sermon. The connection of natural catastrophes tied to the sin of the city. It is a connection I have yet to grow comfortable with.
More importantly, John speaks to the charity of the people in the aftermath of this catastrophe. It is through such acts of charity that early Christianity advanced throughout the empire. It also is a reminder that only through difficulties can we truly grow. This lesson always rings true for me.