OT § 56
Holy Saturday Vespers
And the word of the Lord came to Eliu, [saying],
καὶ ἐγένετο ρῆμα Κυρίου πρὸς ᾿Ηλιού·
и҆ бы́сть гл҃ъ гдⷭ҇ень ко и҆лїѝ гл҃ѧ:
And he arose and went to Sarepta, and came to the gate of the city: and, behold, a widow-woman was there gathering sticks; and Eliu cried after her, and said to her, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
καὶ ἀνέστη καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς Σαρεπτὰ καὶ ἧλθεν εἰς τὸν πυλῶνα τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐκεῖ γυνὴ χήρα συνέλεγε ξύλα· καὶ ἐβόησεν ὀπίσω αὐτῆς ᾿Ηλιοὺ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· λαβὲ δή μοι ὀλίγον ὕδωρ εἰς ἄγγος καὶ πίομαι.
И҆ воста̀ и҆ и҆́де въ саре́птꙋ сїдѡ́нскꙋю, и҆ прїи́де ко вратѡ́мъ гра́да: и҆ сѐ, та́мѡ жена̀ вдова̀ собира́ше дрова̀. И҆ возопѝ и҆лїа̀ в̾слѣ́дъ є҆ѧ̀ и҆ речѐ є҆́й: принесѝ нн҃ѣ мѝ ма́лѡ воды̀ въ сосꙋ́дѣ, и҆ и҆спїю̀.
Let us further see where blessed Elijah found that widow, dearly beloved. She had gone out to get water and to pick up sticks of wood. Let us now consider what the water and the wood signify. We know that both are very pleasing and necessary for the church, as it is written: "He is like a tree planted near running water." In the wood is shown the mystery of the cross, in the water the sacrament of baptism. Therefore, she had gone out to gather two sticks of wood, for thus she replied to blessed Elijah when he asked her for food: "As the Lord lives, I have nothing but a handful of meal and a little oil in a cruse; and behold, I am going out to gather two sticks that I may make food for me and my son … and we will eat it and die." The widow typified the church, as I said above; the widow's son prefigured the Christian people. Thus, when Elijah came, the widow went out to gather two sticks of wood. Notice, brothers, that she did not say three or four, nor only one stick; but she wanted to gather two sticks. She was gathering two sticks of wood because she received Christ in the type of Elijah; she wanted to pick up those two pieces because she desired to recognize the mystery of the cross. Truly, the cross of our Lord and Savior was prepared from two pieces of wood, and so that widow was gathering two sticks because the church would believe in him who hung on two pieces of wood. For this reason that widow said, "I am gathering two sticks that I may make food for me and my son, and we will eat it and die." It is true, beloved; no one will merit to believe in Christ crucified unless he dies to this world. For if a person wishes to eat the body of Christ worthily, he must die to the past and live for the future.
SERMON 124.3When Elijah reached the gate of Zarephath, he met a woman and immediately realized, through the Holy Spirit, that she was the widow about whom God had talked to him. She was there and looked at him. It seems to me that Elijah had asked his Lord whether she was the one, as he was afraid that his severity would be weakened if he began to make inquiries about the widows of Zarephath. And, at the same time, the woman had received the order to feed the prophet through revelation, dream or another means. This is, in fact, what the words of God to Elijah indicate: "I have commanded a widow there to feed you."When he found her barefoot and dressed in rags in the act of gathering some wood, wasted by starvation and made miserably thin, he had the impression of seeing a burned stick, and he himself was ashamed of asking her for bread so that he first asked her for water. Later he added the request of bread. He knew for sure that a jug of flour would not have been lacking thanks to the promise of his Lord.
ON THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS 17:2And she went to fetch it; and Eliu cried after her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of the bread that is in thy hand.
καὶ ἐπορεύθη λαβεῖν, καὶ ἐβόησεν ὀπίσω αὐτῆς ᾿Ηλιοὺ καὶ εἶπε· λήψῃ δή μοι ψωμὸν ἄρτου τοῦ ἐν τῇ χειρί σου.
И҆ и҆́де взѧ́ти. И҆ возопѝ в̾слѣ́дъ є҆ѧ̀ и҆лїа̀ и҆ речѐ є҆́й: прїимѝ ᲂу҆̀бо мнѣ̀ и҆ ᲂу҆крꙋ́хъ хлѣ́ба въ рꙋцѣ̀ свое́й, да ꙗ҆́мъ.
And the woman said, [As] the Lord thy God lives, I have not a cake, but only a handful of meal in the pitcher, and a little oil in a cruse, and, behold, I am going to gather two sticks, and I shall go in and dress it for myself and my children, and we shall eat it and die.
καὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνή· ζῇ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, εἰ ἔστι μοι ἐγκρυφίας ἀλλ᾿ ἢ ὅσον δρὰξ ἀλεύρου ἐν τῇ ὑδρίᾳ καὶ ὀλίγον ἔλαιον ἐν τῷ καψάκῃ· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ συλλέξω δύο ξυλάρια καὶ εἰσελεύσομαι καὶ ποιήσω αὐτὸ ἐμαυτῇ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις μου, καὶ φαγόμεθα καὶ ἀποθανούμεθα.
И҆ речѐ жена̀: жи́въ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ тво́й, а҆́ще є҆́сть ᲂу҆ менє̀ ѡ҆прѣсно́къ, но то́кмѡ го́рсть мꙋкѝ въ водоно́сѣ и҆ ма́лѡ є҆ле́а въ чва́нцѣ: и҆ сѐ, а҆́зъ соберꙋ̀ два̀ пѡлѣ́нца, и҆ вни́дꙋ, и҆ сотворю̀ є҆̀ себѣ̀ и҆ дѣ́темъ мои̑мъ, и҆ снѣ́мы є҆̀, и҆ ᲂу҆́мремъ.
Let us further see where blessed Elijah found that widow, dearly beloved. She had gone out to get water and to pick up sticks of wood. Let us now consider what the water and the wood signify. We know that both are very pleasing and necessary for the church, as it is written: "He is like a tree planted near running water." In the wood is shown the mystery of the cross, in the water the sacrament of baptism. Therefore, she had gone out to gather two sticks of wood, for thus she replied to blessed Elijah when he asked her for food: "As the Lord lives, I have nothing but a handful of meal and a little oil in a cruse; and behold, I am going out to gather two sticks that I may make food for me and my son … and we will eat it and die." The widow typified the church, as I said above; the widow's son prefigured the Christian people. Thus, when Elijah came, the widow went out to gather two sticks of wood. Notice, brothers, that she did not say three or four, nor only one stick; but she wanted to gather two sticks. She was gathering two sticks of wood because she received Christ in the type of Elijah; she wanted to pick up those two pieces because she desired to recognize the mystery of the cross. Truly, the cross of our Lord and Savior was prepared from two pieces of wood, and so that widow was gathering two sticks because the church would believe in him who hung on two pieces of wood. For this reason that widow said, "I am gathering two sticks that I may make food for me and my son, and we will eat it and die." It is true, beloved; no one will merit to believe in Christ crucified unless he dies to this world. For if a person wishes to eat the body of Christ worthily, he must die to the past and live for the future. - "Sermon 124.3"
And Eliu said to her, Be of good courage, go in and do according to thy word: but make me thereof a little cake, and thou shalt bring [it] out to me first, and thou shalt make [some] for thyself and thy children last.
καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὴν ᾿Ηλιού· θάρσει, εἴσελθε καὶ ποίησον κατὰ τὸ ρῆμά σου· ἀλλὰ ποίησόν μοι ἐκεῖθεν ἐγκρυφίαν μικρὸν καὶ ἐξοίσεις μοι ἐν πρώτοις, σαυτῇ δὲ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις σου ποιήσεις ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτῳ·
И҆ речѐ къ не́й и҆лїа̀: дерза́й, вни́ди и҆ сотворѝ по глаго́лꙋ твоемꙋ̀: но сотвори́ ми ѿтꙋ́дꙋ ѡ҆прѣсно́къ ма́лъ пре́жде, и҆ принеси́ ми, себѣ́ же и҆ ча́дѡмъ свои̑мъ да сотвори́ши по́слѣжде,
"[First] make me a [little] cake." He certainly did not make this request because he was hungry but to teach the widow that, through the mediation of the priests, some of the first fruits of her crops had to be offered to God. In the same manner Elijah said to the wife of the prophet, "Bring me a full vessel."
BOOKS OF SESSIONS 1 KINGS 17:13For thus saith the Lord, The pitcher of meal shall not fail, and the cruse of oil shall not diminish, until the day that the Lord gives rain upon the earth.
ὅτι τάδε λέγει Κύριος· ἡ ὑδρία τοῦ ἀλεύρου οὐκ ἐκλείψει καὶ ὁ καψάκης τοῦ ἐλαίου οὐκ ἐλαττονήσει ἕως ἡμέρας τοῦ δοῦναι Κύριον τὸν ὑετὸν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
ꙗ҆́кѡ та́кѡ гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ і҆и҃левъ: водоно́съ мꙋкѝ не ѡ҆скꙋдѣ́етъ, и҆ чва́нецъ є҆ле́а не ᲂу҆ма́литсѧ до днѐ, до́ндеже да́стъ гдⷭ҇ь до́ждь на зе́млю.
And the woman went and did [so], and did eat, she, and he, and her children.
καὶ ἐπορεύθη ἡ γυνή, καὶ ἐποίησε· καὶ ἤσθιεν αὐτὴ καὶ αὐτὸς καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς.
И҆ и҆́де жена̀, и҆ сотворѝ по глаго́лꙋ и҆лїинꙋ̀, и҆ дадѐ є҆мꙋ̀, и҆ ꙗ҆дѐ то́й, и҆ та̀, и҆ ча̑да є҆ѧ̀.
"She went and did as Elijah said." Consider the faith of the widow, her obedience and charity, and then meditate on the greatness of the reward that he granted her. Indeed it is written, "The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah," nor did the number of her family members diminish, because, in exchange for the nourishment given to the prophet, her dead child was resurrected.
ON THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS 17:2And the pitcher of meal failed not, and the cruse of oil was not diminished, according to the word of the Lord which he spoke by the hand of Eliu.
καὶ ἡ ὑδρία τοῦ ἀλεύρου οὐκ ἐξέλιπε καὶ ὁ καψάκης τοῦ ἐλαίου οὐκ ἠλαττονήθη κατὰ τὸ ρῆμα Κυρίου, ὃ ἐλάλησεν ἐν χειρὶ ᾿Ηλιού.
И҆ ѿ тогѡ̀ днѐ водоно́съ мꙋкѝ не ѡ҆скꙋдѣ̀, и҆ чва́нецъ є҆ле́а не ᲂу҆ма́лисѧ, по гл҃ꙋ гдⷭ҇ню, є҆го́же гл҃а рꙋко́ю и҆лїино́ю.
And it came to pass afterward, that the son of the woman the mistress of the house was sick; and his sickness was very severe, until there was no breath left in him.
καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἠρρώστησεν ὁ υἱὸς τῆς γυναικὸς τῆς κυρίας τοῦ οἴκου, καὶ ἦν ἡ ἀρρωστία αὐτοῦ κραταιὰ σφόδρα, ἕως οὐχ ὑπελείφθη ἐν αὐτῷ πνεῦμα.
И҆ бы́сть по си́хъ, и҆ разболѣ́сѧ сы́нъ жены̀ госпожѝ до́мꙋ, и҆ бѣ̀ болѣ́знь є҆гѡ̀ крѣпка̀ ѕѣлѡ̀, до́ндеже не ѡ҆ста́сѧ въ не́мъ дꙋ́хъ є҆гѡ̀.
Observe carefully the tears of that woman, and see her humility in her grief, because she does not at all blame the judgment of God or rise against the prophet. In the humility of her intellect, she recognizes that that sentence struck her because of her guilt, and she says to the prophet, "You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance."
ON THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS 17:2And again when he raised the widow's son, he prayed, and prostrated himself, and then raised him. And in this prayer also faith made its appearance. For if he had not believed that he could raise him, he would not have taken the boy from his mother, and have carried him up [to his chamber] and have cast him upon the bed.
13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 2 -- On FaithAnd she said to Eliu, What have I to do with thee, O man of God? hast thou come in to me to bring my sins to remembrance, and to slay my son?
καὶ εἶπε πρὸς ᾿Ηλιού· τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, ἄνθρωπε τοῦ Θεοῦ; εἰσῆλθες πρός με τοῦ ἀναμνῆσαι ἀδικίας μου καὶ θανατῶσαι τὸν υἱόν μου;
И҆ речѐ ко и҆лїѝ: что̀ мнѣ̀ и҆ тебѣ̀, человѣ́че бж҃їй; вше́лъ є҆сѝ ко мнѣ̀ воспомѧнꙋ́ти непра̑вды моѧ̑ и҆ ᲂу҆мори́ти сы́на моего̀.
And Eliu said to the woman, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and took him up to the chamber in which he himself lodged, and laid him on the bed.
καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ηλιοὺ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα· δός μοι τὸν υἱόν σου. καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτὸν ἐκ τοῦ κόλπου αὐτῆς καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ ὑπερῷον, ἐν ᾧ αὐτὸς ἐκάθητο ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἐκοίμισεν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῆς κλίνης.
И҆ речѐ и҆лїа̀ къ женѣ̀: да́ждь мѝ сы́на твоего̀. И҆ взѧ́тъ є҆го̀ ѿ нѣ́дра є҆ѧ̀, и҆ вознесѐ є҆го̀ въ го́рницꙋ, и҆дѣ́же са́мъ почива́ше, и҆ положѝ є҆го̀ на ѻ҆дрѣ̀ свое́мъ.
And Eliu cried aloud, and said, Alas, O Lord, the witness of the widow with whom I sojourn, thou hast wrought evil [for her] in slaying her son.
καὶ ἀνεβόησεν ᾿Ηλιού, καὶ εἶπεν· οἴμοι, Κύριε, ὁ μάρτυς τῆς χήρας, μεθ᾿ ἧς ἐγὼ κατοικῶ μετ᾿ αὐτῆς, σὺ κεκάκωκας τοῦ θανατῶσαι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς.
И҆ возопѝ и҆лїа̀ ко гдⷭ҇ꙋ и҆ речѐ: ᲂу҆вы̀ мнѣ̀, гдⷭ҇и, свидѣ́телю вдовы̀, ᲂу҆ неѧ́же а҆́зъ нн҃ѣ пребыва́ю, ты̀ ѡ҆ѕло́билъ є҆сѝ є҆́же ᲂу҆мори́ти сы́на є҆ѧ̀.
And he breathed on the child thrice, and called on the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, let, I pray thee, the soul of this child return to him.
καὶ ἐνεφύσησε τῷ παιδαρίῳ τρὶς καὶ ἐπεκαλέσατο τὸν Κύριον καὶ εἶπε· Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου, ἐπιστραφήτω δὴ ἡ ψυχὴ τοῦ παιδαρίου τούτου εἰς αὐτόν.
И҆ дꙋ́нꙋ на ѻ҆́трочища три́жды, и҆ призва̀ гдⷭ҇а и҆ речѐ: гдⷭ҇и бж҃е мо́й, да возврати́тсѧ ᲂу҆̀бо дꙋша̀ ѻ҆́трочища сегѡ̀ во́нь. И҆ бы́сть та́кѡ:
As we mentioned, that widow prefigured the church, and her son was a type of the Gentiles. The son of the widow lay dead because the son of the church, that is, the Gentiles, was dead because of many sins and offenses. At the prayer of Elijah, the widow's son was revived; at the coming of Christ, the church's son or the Christian people were brought back from the prison of death. Elijah bent down in prayer, and the widow's son was revived; Christ sank down in his passion, and the Christian people were brought back to life. Why blessed Elijah bent down three times to arouse the boy I believe that the understanding of your charity has grasped even before I say it. In the fact that he bowed three times is shown the mystery of the Trinity. Not only the Father without the Son, nor the Father and Son without the Holy Spirit, but the whole Trinity restored the widow's son or the Gentiles to life. Moreover, this is further demonstrated in the sacrament of baptism, for the old person is plunged in the water three times, in order that the new person may merit to rise.
SERMON 124.4"He stretched himself on the child three times and cried out to the Lord, 'O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again.' " These words contain many symbols. [The Scripture] shows us immediately that through the invocation of the three names a human being will come back to life. If he kills the ancient Adam with the help of the Messiah in the holy baptism. The divine Paul says, "If we have died with the Messiah, we believe that we will also live with him." And what follows agrees precisely with this meaning: "He stretched himself on the child," because in this life, which he will give us after we are dead to that ancient Adam, "he will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory." And here you can also see a symbol of the triple descent of the Son of God to the dead: the first symbol consists here in the fact that he was made flesh and included his infinite nature into the womb of the Virgin; the second, that he stretched his body on the wood and was crucified; the third, that whoever accepts death lies in the grave and goes down to Sheol, so that, in order to vivify humankind, God consented to stretch his majesty on our smallness. "O ineffable miracle," which Isaiah calls "wonder," "his Lord has come down to the man and has assumed the likeness of a slave."
ON THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS 17:2And it was so, and the child cried out,
καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως, καὶ ἀνεβόησε τὸ παιδάριον.
и҆ возопѝ ѻ҆́трочищь, и҆ сведѐ є҆го̀ съ го́рницы въ до́мъ, и҆ дадѐ є҆го̀ ма́тери є҆гѡ̀. И҆ речѐ и҆лїа̀: ви́ждь, жи́въ є҆́сть сы́нъ тво́й.
As we mentioned, that widow prefigured the church, and her son was a type of the Gentiles. The son of the widow lay dead because the son of the church, that is, the Gentiles, was dead because of many sins and offenses. At the prayer of Elijah, the widow's son was revived; at the coming of Christ, the church's son or the Christian people were brought back from the prison of death. Elijah bent down in prayer, and the widow's son was revived; Christ sank down in his passion, and the Christian people were brought back to life. Why blessed Elijah bent down three times to arouse the boy I believe that the understanding of your charity has grasped even before I say it. In the fact that he bowed three times is shown the mystery of the Trinity. Not only the Father without the Son, nor the Father and Son without the Holy Spirit, but the whole Trinity restored the widow's son or the Gentiles to life. Moreover, this is further demonstrated in the sacrament of baptism, for the old person is plunged in the water three times, in order that the new person may merit to rise. - "Sermon 124.4"
and he brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; and Eliu said, See, thy son lives.
καὶ κατήγαγεν αὐτὸ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὑπερῴου εἰς τὸν οἶκον καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὸ τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ· καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ηλιού· βλέπε, ζῇ ὁ υἱός σου.
И҆ речѐ жена̀ ко и҆лїѝ: сѐ, ᲂу҆разꙋмѣ́хъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ человѣ́къ бж҃їй є҆сѝ ты̀, и҆ гл҃ъ гдⷭ҇ень во ᲂу҆стѣ́хъ твои́хъ и҆́стиненъ.
And the woman said to Eliu, Behold, I know that thou [art] a man of God, and the word of the Lord in thy mouth [is] true.
καὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνὴ πρὸς ᾿Ηλιού· ἰδοὺ ἔγνωκα ὅτι σὺ ἄνθρωπος Θεοῦ καὶ ρῆμα Κυρίου ἐν τῷ στόματί σου ἀληθινόν.
Arise, and go to Sarepta of the Sidonian [land]: behold, I have there commanded a widow-woman to maintain thee.
ἀνάστηθι καὶ πορεύου εἰς Σαρεπτὰ τῆς Σιδωνίας· ἰδοὺ ἐντέταλμαι ἐκεῖ γυναικὶ χήρᾳ τοῦ διατρέφειν σε.
воста́ни и҆ и҆дѝ въ саре́птꙋ сїдѡ́нскꙋю, и҆ пребꙋ́ди та́мѡ: се́ бо, заповѣ́дахъ та́мѡ женѣ̀ вдови́цѣ препита́ти тѧ̀.
After this, Elijah was commanded to set out for Zarephath of the Sidonians, in order that he might be fed there by a widow. Thus, the Lord spoke to him, "Go to Zarephath of the Sidonians: I have commanded a widow there to feed you." How and by whom did God command the widow, since there was almost no other prophet at that time except blessed Elijah, with whom God spoke quite plainly? Although the sons of some of the prophets lived at that time, they feared the persecution of Jezebel so much that they could scarcely escape even when hidden. "I have commanded a widow," said the Lord. How does the Lord command, except by inspiring what is good through his grace within a soul? Thus, God speaks within every person who performs a good work, and for this reason no one should glory in himself but in the Lord. Were there not many widows in Judea at that time? Why was it that no Jewish widow merited to offer food to blessed Elijah, and he was sent to a Gentile woman to be fed? That widow to whom the prophet was sent typified the church, just as the ravens that ministered to Elijah prefigured the Gentiles. Thus, Elijah came to the widow because Christ was to come to the church.
SERMON 124.2After this, Elijah was commanded to set out for Zarephath of the Sidonians, in order that he might be fed there by a widow. Thus, the Lord spoke to him, "Go to Zarephath of the Sidonians: I have commanded a widow there to feed you." How and by whom did God command the widow, since there was almost no other prophet at that time except blessed Elijah, with whom God spoke quite plainly? Although the sons of some of the prophets lived at that time, they feared the persecution of Jezebel so much that they could scarcely escape even when hidden. "I have commanded a widow," said the Lord. How does the Lord command, except by inspiring what is good through his grace within a soul? Thus, God speaks within every person who performs a good work, and for this reason no one should glory in himself but in the Lord. Were there not many widows in Judea at that time? Why was it that no Jewish widow merited to offer food to blessed Elijah, and he was sent to a Gentile woman to be fed? That widow to whom the prophet was sent typified the church, just as the ravens that ministered to Elijah prefigured the Gentiles. Thus, Elijah came to the widow because Christ was to come to the church. - "Sermon 124.2"
God sends Elijah to a city of [Gentile] people in order to change his hardness into mercy. He who had given him power over rain and dew did not want to withdraw by force what he had granted him. He wanted, nevertheless, to help the world which was tormented by starvation, but only with the consent of his servant. That is why he sends to the big city of Zarephath Elijah, who had stayed hidden to that time in the valley of Cherith, so that he may see with his own eyes the distress of its inhabitants, even though they had given no cause for that suffering, as they had not participated in the rebellion of Ahab. And even if they did not observe the law of Moses, they did not ridicule it, because they did not know it.
ON THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS 17:2