The Call of Peace

Δεῦτε καὶ ἴδετε τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἂ ἔθετο τέρατα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἀνταναιρῶν πολέμους μέχρι τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς. Τοὺς μακρὰν ὄντας τοῦ λόγου τῆς ἀληθείας εἰς τὴν διὰ τῆς ἐπιγνώσεως ἐγγύτητα προσκαλεῖτα ὁ λόγος λέγων· Δεῖτε καὶ ἴδετε. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐπὶ τῶν σωματικῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αἱ μὲν ἐπὶ πολὺ ἀποστάσεις ἀμυδρὰν ποιῦσι τὴν τῶν ὁρωμένων κατάληψιν, οἱ δὲ προσεγγισμοὶ τῶν θεωρούντων ἐναργῆ παρέχονται τῶν βλεπομένων τὴν ἐπιγνωσιν· οὕτω καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν κατὰ νοῦν θεωρημάτων, ὁ μὴ διὰ τῶν ἔργων οἰκειωθεὶς καὶ πλησιάσας Θεῷ ἰδεῖν τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ καθαροῖς τοῖς διανοίας ὀφθαλμοῖς οὐ δύναται. Διὰ τοῦτο, Δεῦτε, προσεγγίσατε πρότερον, εἶτα ἴδετε τὰ ἔργα Κυρίου τεράστια ὄντα καὶ παράδοξα· ὑφ' ὧν καταπλαγέντα τὰ πρότερον πολέμια καὶ στασιώδη ἔθην πρὸς ἡσυχίαν μετέβαλε. Δεῦτε, τέκνα, ἀκούσατέ μου· καὶ Δεῦτε πάντες οἱ κοπιῶντες, καὶ πεφορτισμένοι. Πατρικὴ ἡ φωνὴ, ἡπλωμέναις ἀγκάλαις πρὸς ἑαυτὸν καλοῦντος τοὺς τέως ἀφνηιάζοντας. Ὁ οὖν ἀκούσας τῆς κλήσεως, καὶ ἐγγίσας, καὶ κολληθεὶς τῷ προστάξαντι, ὄψεται τὸν εἰρηνομοιήσαντα τὰ πάντα διὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ. Ἅγιος Βασίλειος ὁ Μέγας, Ὁμιλία Ἐις Τους Ψαλμούς, Εἰς Τον ΜΕ' Ψαλμον

'Come and see the works of God, which are placed as wonders on the earth, taking away war even to the ends of the earth.' 1 Those who are far from the word of truth, Scripture invites that they come nearer to it through recognition, saying, 'Come and see.' For as to bodily eyes large obstacles produce obscurity of things which by vision are grasped, and observers must drew near for the sight of visible form by which vision supplies knowledge, so even in the contemplating mind, those who are not joined to God by works do not come near, being unable to see the works of that one with the pure eyes of the mind. Therefore first come near and then see the works of the Lord, wondrous and miraculous, by which the Gentiles were overcome, those who were once hostile and traitorous, and have passed over to peace. 'Come, sons, hear me,' 2 and 'Come all you who labour and are burdened,' 3 The voice is paternal, the arms open to those invited who were once rebels. He then who hears this call, and comes near, and adheres to the commands, this one shall see the one who pacified everything through the cross. Saint Basil of Caesarea, Homilies on the Psalms, from Psalm 45 1 Ps 45.7 2 Ps 33.12 3 Mt 11.28