Prologue in Sermons: December 29

To Restless People Who Love Quarrels

December 29
 
(The Discourse of Saint Antiochus on Contentiousness)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Unfortunately, there are people who cannot get along with anyone and everywhere bring quarrels and hostility with them. Whatever you speak to them about, they will never agree with anything; for them, everyone is bad, black is always white, and white, on the contrary, seems black to them. These are the most unbearable people. Giving no peace to others, they themselves live as if in hell; and to them one may rightly apply the words of Scripture: “Their tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by Gehenna… It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:6, 8). What can be said to such people, and how can they be corrected?

Saint Antiochus says that contentiousness and shamelessness proceed from malice, and that the contentious person always wants to overcome everyone and often resists the truth, thinking himself wiser than all. He forgets that Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who opposed Moses, were swallowed up by the earth — not only they themselves, but also their counselors. And Elymas the sorcerer, who opposed Paul and Barnabas, was struck with blindness. And the prophet Micah says that all evil comes from those who are contentious, and for this the Lord will send a merciless angel against them. And again: “Wisdom enlightens a man’s face, but the shameless man will be hated.” And “he who speaks lies will always be exposed.” And the wicked, who will find him pleasing? Likewise Solomon said: “The wicked speak of grievances, but the wise keep wisdom within themselves.” Let us fear the Divine Scriptures and not be slanderous or shameless. By silence let us be established in goodness, and let us remain obedient to those in authority, driving slander away from ourselves.

Therefore, brethren, seeing from what has been said what a terrible evil arises from contentiousness and shamelessness, flee from them. For what good, indeed, ever comes from an evil tongue? How many quarrels and disagreements has it sown among people! How many former friends has it made irreconcilable enemies with one another! How many fathers has it separated from their children and children from their fathers! How many husbands from wives and wives from husbands! Truly, "many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not as many as have fallen by the tongue" (Sirach 28:21).

Therefore, fear the dread Judgment of God and restrain your tongue from evil, as the word of God also says: “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good” (Psalm 33[34]:14–15). Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.