Do we use the language of “the heavenly bride”?

An ecclesiastical person is not only the person who is familiar with the Church’s communal prayers, law, and history, but also knows and practices the Church’s heavenly language as well as her life and gospel. Love is heaven’s language as St. John Chrysostom says; the love of God and of the neighbor are the passports by which one can cross the gates of heaven without any hindrance. It is the royal heavenly garment by which the believer enters into heaven, as a heavenly bride, to the divine throne to find the King, holding out the golden scepter, as in the case of Queen Esther, that she may sit at the right hand of the heavenly King.

Love is the rule of heaven, and its language. Whoever walks with love, imitates the heavenly God, “for God is love” (1 John 4:8). Speaking about love, especially that of the enemies, as the highest level of heavenly virtue, St. John Chrysostom says, “Can you not see how the Lord raises us up step by step to the gates of heaven? (Matt. 5:46).”⁹⁸⁷ Speaking of almsgiving, He raises our eyes to heaven and to the heavenly saying, “Invite Christ to your supper”⁹⁸⁸ “we are able to resemble God, in showing mercy and pity.”⁹⁸⁹

“By how much the brother may be least, so much more does Christ come to you through him. For he that receives the great, often does it from vainglory also … I wish we do not seek those who are able to reward us, but to follow the saying: ‘You will have the blessing, as they do not have what to reward you with.’ Do not be disturbed when we are not rewarded with compassion in return for our compassion for if we receive it from men, we will not receive a greater reward. But if we did not receive it from men, God Himself will reward us. For you ought indeed to receive the poor in the upper part of your house; but if you will not do this, then though it be below, though but where your mules are housed, and your servants, there receive Christ. Let the poor man be (your inmate) a guard to your house: let him be to you a wall and a fence, a shield and a spear. Where alms are, the devil dares not approach, nor any other evil thing. Let us not overlook so great a gain. But now a place is set apart for a chariot, and for litters another; but for Christ Who is wandering, not even one!”⁹⁹⁰

“If we are ashamed of these, whom Christ is not ashamed of, we are then ashamed of Christ Himself since we are ashamed of His friends. Fill your banquets with the lame and disfigured for through them, Christ will come to you and not through the rich.”⁹⁹¹

“Almsgiving is greater than any sacrifice. It opens the heavens for it was said, ‘Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God’ (Acts 10:4). It is more

987 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of St. Matthew 18.8 (NPNF I/10:125).

988 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the First Epistle to the Corinthians 27.7 (NPNF I/12:163).

989 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Second Epistle to Timothy 6.5 (NPNF I/13:498).

990 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles 45 (NPNF I/11:277).

991 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the First Epistle to the Thessalonians 11 (NPNF I/13:374).

important than virginity for some virgins have been driven out of the quarters of the Bridegroom because of their lack of almsgiving while other virgins were let in.”⁹⁹²