Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: September 4

 

The Month of September

Day 4

5. To Schoolchildren: On the Love of God

(From the Life of the Holy Hieromartyr Babylas. September 4, Menaion)

You know, children, that the benefits bestowed upon us by God are great and beyond number. You know that God gives us life; that He sends the holy Angels to guard us; that He gives us the earth as our dwelling place; the sun, moon, and stars to give us light; the air, water, plants, and animals, so that we may have everything necessary and beneficial for life; that He has revealed His will to us, so that we may fulfill it and be pleasing to Him; that He has granted us the saving Mysteries, so that by making use of them we may be cleansed from our sins, draw near to Him, and receive salvation and eternal life in Him. You know that everything good which we possess, beginning with life itself, we have from God, and that, as the word of God says, “in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Thus, you know all these things. But why, I ask, have you been given this knowledge? Do not forget that it has been given so that, seeing and knowing the boundless love of God for you, you yourselves might repay God with love and thanksgiving. Our Savior also calls you to such love. He says: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength—this is the first commandment!” (Mk. 12:30) Yes, do not forget, children, that the first commandment for you, your first duty, must consist in loving God, your Creator and Benefactor; and, as you see, not simply loving Him, but loving Him, according to the word of the Savior, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. But what, you may ask, does this latter mean? What does it mean to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength? The following example will give you the answer.

Saint Babylas, the Hieromartyr and Bishop of Antioch, once, during his lifetime, took pity on three orphaned boys who had lost their father. He took the place of their father for them and raised them in faith and piety. And the children became so attached to him that they did not leave him even when he was handed over by the persecutor Numerian to suffer for Christ, and they followed Babylas even when he was being led through the city in chains and in disgrace. At that time the tyrant-king noticed the children and, calling them to him, asked: “Do you have a mother?” The boys answered: “We do.” Thereupon their mother was immediately brought before the persecutor, and he asked her: “What is your name, and are you the mother of these children?” She answered: “My name is Christodoula, and these boys are my children, whom I entrusted to the care of Babylas, and I hope that his teaching, which he imparted to them, will not be without fruit for them.”

Hearing this, Numerian became enraged and ordered the pious mother to be struck on the cheeks. Then he again turned to the children and asked each of them his name and age. The first said that his name was Urban and that he was twelve years old; the second said that he was called Prilidian and was nine years old; and the third gave his name as Eppolonius and said that he was seven years old. After this, the king began urging the children to renounce Christ and worship idols, and he offered them rich gifts if they would carry out his will. But the boys, filled with love for God, answered with one accord: “It is not right for us to bow down to idols. We have been taught to know the one true God, who created heaven and earth; and to Him alone do we bow down, and not to demons.”

Seeing that the boys remained unyielding, the persecutor ordered them to be beaten, giving each one as many blows as he was years old. And so they laid the first one out upon the ground and gave him twelve cruel blows; then the second, and inflicted upon him nine grievous wounds; and then the third also received seven blows. And the boys, out of their ardent love for God, endured all this courageously; they even regretted that they had not suffered still greater wounds for Christ. And they said: “Even if you should wish to kill us, we still will not bow down to false gods, but will worship the one God, our Lord Jesus Christ.”

After this, Numerian tormented them further and ordered that they be hung together with Babylas upon a tree and burned with fire. And this torture also the blameless boys endured bravely together with their teacher, through the help of the strength of God that strengthened them. Seeing that it was impossible to make them renounce Christ by tortures, the king again resorted to flattery and cunning. He ordered the children to be taken down from the tree and, calling them to him, began in every way to caress them; he called them his own children, beautiful and well-behaved boys, and offered them gold and silver. But the boys remained unshaken even then, like a rock, and, as though with one mouth, answered the king: “Do you really think that you will ever ensnare us by flattery? Know that you will never accomplish anything, even if you were to labor without end.” Then, sighing, they all added: “Even if not only this one king were here, but also a multitude of fiercer kings and persecutors, not one of them would separate us from our God.”

After this the king ordered the children, together with Babylas, to be put to death. And so the boys went with their teacher to their execution. As they were going to the place of execution, the Hieromartyr Babylas sang the words of David: “Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you” (Ps. 114:7). And when they reached the very place of execution, the boys first bowed their heads beneath the sword, and afterward Babylas also had his holy head cut off.

Is it clear to you now, children, what it means to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength? The example of the children, the disciples of Babylas, as you see, tells you that to love God in this way means to be devoted to Him with your whole being and to conduct yourselves in such a way that, when necessary, neither threats, nor enticements, nor even death itself could force you to depart from the laws of the Lord, violate them, or renounce the Lord Himself.

The example shows us that love for the Lord must be limited by nothing, and that our entire life must be devoted to Him. Having learned this, strive also to establish such love for the Lord in your hearts. Remember that He is your only, highest, and essential good; strive toward Him continually with your mind and your heart and with your whole being; do everything for the glory of His name; place the keeping of His law above everything for yourselves; be firm and unshakable on the path of piety and virtue. Remember that you may encounter troubles, sorrows, and other difficulties because of your love for the Lord; but even then do not be troubled. Do not grieve if, for example, you hear an insulting word or a mockery, or if you see some foolish contempt for your complete devotion to the King of Heaven. On the contrary, in all such and similar difficulties, comfort yourselves with the thought that you are enduring them because of your ardent love for God; comfort yourselves with the words of the Lord and Savior: “He who endures to the end will be saved.” Amen.

Questions for Conversation 5

1. How did Saint Babylas, the Hieromartyr, raise the three orphaned boys?

2. According to the boys’ words to the persecutor Numerian, what had they been taught?

3. Why did the boys courageously endure the blows they received from the persecutor according to their age?

4. What does the example of the three boys show us?

5. With what words of the Lord should we comfort ourselves when we encounter difficulties?

 

Source: The Cheti-Minei: Homilies for Every Day of the Year (Book 1: September, October, November) by Archpriest Viktor Guryev. Publication of the Russian Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos, 1896. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.