"Juno, he says, aids mothers in childbirth, and Mercury aids hunters or scholars, and Neptune aids sailors." These things are false. For if they are true, then women who blaspheme Juno should not give birth well. What great thing is it, my brothers, to open eyes to see these things? Did the prophets foretell these things as well? Ask yourselves: let the human race respond. Do all those who do not worship Neptune suffer shipwreck? Do all merchants who mock Mercury suffer loss? But if these things are false, they never promised you future life, and they are of no benefit to this present life. Why, then, are they worshipped, except to bind the feet of those walking the Lord's path, so they do not seek immortality and some rest after the labors and difficulties of this life? For that devil opposes with his angels, and makes himself seem necessary to reduce you into servitude. Rather, use your freedom; greater is he who redeemed you than he who opposes. Whoever consents to this will be condemned with him; whoever believes in Christ will condemn with him. These things will happen, but from those that have already come, surmise what remains.
"The cross of Christ is on the foreheads of kings."
Future persecutions for Christians by the kings of the world were foretold: they occurred, a massacre of martyrs happened, and those who did this thought that by killing they could end Christians. The Church grew through its own blood, persecutors were defeated, those who endured persecution triumphed. This too was foretold. We also find in the Holy Scriptures that these very kings would submit their necks to the yoke of Christ, from whom persecution of the Church first appeared to be something to be avoided. And this has happened, brothers: now the cross of Christ is on the foreheads of kings, kings worship what the Jews mocked. And because it was said thus: God chose the weak things of this world to confound the strong, and ignoble things of this world, and things which are not as though they are, so that the things which are may be brought to nothing, our Lord Jesus Christ came for the salvation not only of the poor but also of the rich, not only of commoners but also of kings. However, He did not want to choose kings for discipleship, nor did He want the rich, the noble, or the learned, but chose the poor, the unlearned, the ignoble, fishermen, so that His grace would shine forth even more. For He came to give the cup of humility and heal pride. And if He had first called a king, the king would say that his dignity was chosen; if He had called the learned first, he would say that his learning was chosen. Those who were called to humility had to be called through the humble. Therefore, Christ did not gain a fisherman from an emperor, but an emperor from a fisherman.
Humanity gathers to Christ.
Kings are now coming to Rome. A great matter, brothers, how it has been fulfilled. When it was said, when it was written, none of these things existed. It is wonderful: attend and see, rejoice. Let those who do not want to attend to it be curious; we want them to be curious about these matters: let them leave the crimes and trifles of vain curiosities, let them sometimes be curious about the divine Scriptures, let them find that those things which they now see were foretold so long ago. For they marvel at the whole human race, from kings to those clothed in rags, coming together and flocking in the name of the crucified one. No age is left out, no sect, no doctrine. For it is not that the unlearned believed and the learned did not believe, or that the ignoble believed and the noble did not believe, or that women believed and men did not believe, or that children believed and the old did not believe, or that slaves believed and the free did not believe. Every age has been called to salvation, every age has now come, all dignity, all abundance and human capability. Everything is already within. Few remain outside and still dispute; let them wake up occasionally even to the commotion of the world: the whole world shouts.
The emperor goes to the tomb of the fisherman.
The kings come to Rome, as I began to say. There are the temples of the emperors who, with their pride, demanded divine honors for themselves from men and, because they could - for they were kings and rulers - they extorted rather than deserved them. Who could extort such a thing from a fisherman? There is the tomb of a fisherman, there is the temple of an emperor. Peter is in the tomb there, Hadrian is in the temple there. The Temple of Hadrian, the memorial of Peter. The emperor comes. Let us see where he runs, where he wishes to kneel: in the temple of the emperor, or at the memorial of the fisherman? Setting aside his diadem, he strikes his breast where the body of the fisherman lies, thinking of his merits, believing in his crown, through whom he desires to reach God, by whose prayers he feels aided and finds help. Behold what that crucified and mocked one on the cross has done, behold how he subdued nations, not by raging sword, but by the mocked wood. Therefore, let the proud drink the cup of humility, with Christ humbled. Let them deign to be humble, let them now recognize their remedy, let them come and believe.
"Let there be in you the groaning of one who confesses."
Encourage them, brothers, not only with words but also with your conduct, and we exhort that they no longer delay. For some might think and say, "Tomorrow I will be a Christian." If tomorrow is good, today is also good. Indeed, to become a Christian, one does not need to consult a mathematician regarding the day. God made every day. That day is good for you when you perform something good. If, therefore, it is good to believe in Christ, so that the heart may be cleansed by faith and the eye that will see such a great light may be healed, why delay, why does the raven's voice remain in people? "Tomorrow, tomorrow," says the raven, which, sent out from the ark, did not return; the dove returned. The raven cries "tomorrow," the dove mourns daily. Let there not be a voice of procrastination in you, but the moaning of confession. Whoever is weary of hearing, let them pardon the diligent. Whoever still wishes to hear, let them pardon the weary, for we are also pressed by time to finish the sermon. For we see such eagerness in you in Christ that you could hear more, but we cannot hold the time. Whoever here has not believed, here we are, here is the Church: if they will, let them believe. If they think it must be delayed, which I believe they should no longer think, let them make way for those who are to perform the divine mysteries.
And after the pagans went out:
The word of God is shown in morals.
Now, brothers, we spoke to you yesterday and now we speak and always ask you, that by living well you may win over those who have not yet believed, so that you might not have believed in vain. We ask you that, just as the word of God pleases you, so it may also please you in your behavior, not just in the ear alone, but also in the heart, not in the heart alone, but also in life, so that you may be the family of God fit and pleasing in His eyes for every good work. Indeed, brothers, we do not doubt that, if you live worthy of God, soon none of those who have not yet believed will remain in unbelief.