John Chrysostom, On the Prophet Elijah

favor. I secretly intercede with you on their behalf, but you be the public provider of reconciliations. Go, and show yourself to Ahab, and I will give rain upon the earth. You announce the reconciliations, you declare the provision of rain; and I will subscribe to your declarations. Therefore Elijah ran, both unwillingly and willingly, and announced the good news of the rains; but seeing their impiety again, he was contemplating some grievous decision of punishment against them. What then did God do? Seeing him not disposed toward philanthropy for the offenders, he separates Elijah from dwelling with the sinners. I, he says, O Elijah, know your zeal, I respect your way of life; but I also pity sinners, whenever they are punished beyond measure; but you are a formidable avenger of piety, and the race of men is constantly sinning.

Therefore I separate you from dwelling with one another. Ascend as if to heaven, you who are unable to bear sinners; and I will visit the earth. If for a long time, he says, you remain with sinners, that race of men will be wiped out, being constantly punished by you. What then? Depart as if to the heavens, O Elijah; for fire cannot dwell with straw. I give to you sinless cohabitants; I make you to dwell with the choirs of angels.

You depart to heaven; and I will dwell among sinners, I who am able to bear the lost sheep upon my shoulders, who say to all sinners: Come to me, all you who labor, I will not punish you, but I will give you rest. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

χάριν. Ἐγὼ λάθρα πρὸς σὲ ὑπὲρ ἐκείνων πρεσβεύομαι σὺ δὲ γενοῦ τῶν καταλλαγῶν χορηγὸς φανερός. Πορεύθητι, καὶ ὄφθητι τῷ Ἀχαὰβ, καὶ δώσω ὑετὸν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Σὺ τὰς καταλλαγὰς καταμήνυσον, σὺ τὴν τῶν ὄμβρον χορηγίαν ἀπόφηναι· ἐγὼ δὲ ταῖς σαῖς ἀποφάσεσιν ὑπογράφω. Ἔτρεχεν οὖν καὶ ἄκων καὶ ἑκὼν ὁ Ἠλίας, καὶ τοὺς ὄμβρους εὐηγγελίζετο· ἀλλὰ πάλιν τὴν αὐτῶν ἀσέβειαν θεασάμενος, ἐμελέτα τινὰ τιμωρίας κατ' αὐτῶν ἀπόφασιν λυπηράν. Τί οὖν ὁ Θεός; Ὁρῶν αὐτὸν μὴ χωροῦντα πρὸς φιλανθρωπίαν τὴν τῶν πταιόντων, χωρίζει τὸν Ἠλίαν τῆς μετὰ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν κατοικήσεως. Ἐγὼ, φησὶν, ὦ Ἠλία, οἶδά σου τὸν ζῆλον, δυσωποῦμαί σου τὴν πολιτείαν· ἐλεῶ δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἁμαρτωλοὺς, ἡνίκα ἂν ὑπὲρ τὸ μέτρον κολάζωνται· σὺ δὲ δεινὸς εἶ ἔκδικος τῆς εὐσεβείας, τὸ δὲ τῶν ἀνθρώπων γένος συνεχῶς πλημμελοῦν.

Χωρίζω τοίνυν ὑμᾶς τῆς μετ' ἀλλήλων κατοικήσεως. Ἀνάβηθι ὡς εἰς οὐρανὸν, φέρειν ἁμαρτωλοὺς μὴ δυνάμενος· ἐγὼ δὲ ἐπιδημήσω τῇ γῇ. Ἂν ἐπὶ πολὺ, φησὶ, συμμένῃς ἁμαρτωλοῖς, ἐκτριβήσεται ἐκεῖνο τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὸ γένος, παρὰ σοῦ συνεχῶς κολαζόμενον. Τί οὖν; Μετάστηθι ὡς εἰς οὐρανοὺς, ὦ Ἠλία· οὐ δύναται γὰρ πῦρ συνοικεῖν καλάμῃ. ∆ίδωμί σοι συνοικοῦντας ἀναμαρτήτους· τοῖς τῶν ἀγγέλων σε συγκατοικίζω χοροῖς.

Μετάστηθι σὺ πρὸς τὸν οὐρανόν· ἐγὼ δὲ ἁμαρτωλοῖς ἐνδημήσω, ὁ φέρειν ἐπὶ τῶν ὤμων τὸ πεπλανημένον δυνάμενος πρόβατον, ὁ λέγων πρὸς πάντας τοὺς ἁμαρτωλούς· ∆εῦτε πρός με, πάντες οἱ κοπιῶντες, ἐγὼ οὐ κολάσω ὑμᾶς, ἀλλ' ἀναπαύσω ὑμᾶς. Αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.