Книга пророка Иеремии, Глава 3, стих 22. Толкования стиха

GOD’S ABIDING, ROBUST MERCY. AUGUSTINE: Through the prophet the Lord speaks and declares with his own gracious words how much mercy and goodness he wishes to bestow on humankind. He says, “But if the wicked do penance for all his sins, which he has committed, and keeps all my commandments and does justice and mercy, living he shall live, and shall not die. I will not remember all his iniquities that he has done. In his justice, which he has done, he shall live.” And, “Is it my will that a sinner should die,” says the Lord God, “and not that he should be converted from his evil ways, and I shall cause him to live?” In another passage we find, “The wickedness of the wicked shall not hurt him on the day that he turns from his wickedness.” And again: “Return, you returning children, and I will heal your sorrow.” THE CHRISTIAN LIFE 2.

WE WILL BE YOURS. ORIGEN: God has then said to us, “Return, you children, and when you return, I will heal your afflictions.” And when we see our afflictions and the promise of healing, we answer and say immediately, “Behold, we will be yours because you are the Lord our God.” So when we obey and say, “We will be yours,” let us remember that we submitted ourselves to God in saying, “We will be yours.” And by saying, “We will be yours,” we belong to no other, not to the spirit of anger, or the spirit of grief or the spirit of desire; let us not belong to the devil or his angels. But after we were called and said, “Behold, we will be yours,” let us show by works that when we have promised to become his, we have devoted ourselves to none other than him. HOMILIES ON JEREMIAH 5.2.4.

ENCOURAGEMENT. HORSIESI: Let us return to the Lord our God, and whenever we pray, he, who daily urges us to pause and get to know him, will hear us. And in another place he says, “Return to me, and I will return to you.” And again, “Return to me, my backsliding children, and I will rule over you.” Ezekiel likewise calls on us, saying, “Why will you die, O house of Israel? I want not the death of the sinner, only that he turn from his evil ways and live.” The most merciful Lord and source of all goodness cries out to us in the Gospel and declares, “Come to me, all you who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Carry my yoke on you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Let us consider that the goodness of God calls us to repentance, and holy people encourage us to salvation. Let us not harden our hearts and collect against ourselves a store of divine anger for the day of wrath. Then, on that day, shall be revealed the just judgment of God, who will repay each one according to his deeds. But let us return to the Lord with our whole heart. According to the words of Moses, who reminds us, “If you return to the Lord with your whole heart, he will purify your heart and the heart of your descendants.” THE TESTAMENT OF HORSIESI 33.