Wednesday, November 18, 2009

But can wolves become sheep?

Another interesting quote from John Chrysostom got me to wondering, "but can wolves become sheep?" Of course I know what he is getting at, and one must not exceed the reasonable limits of metaphor, but is metamorphosis possible for a wolf? Christ sends us out as sheep among wolves, but is it to seek out the "other sheep not of this fold that He shall also bring" or, again speaking metaphorically, can wolves be changed?

And He bids them have not only gentleness as sheep, but also the harmlessness of the dove. For thus shall I best show forth My might, when sheep get the better of wolves, and being in the midst of wolves, and receiving a thousand bites, so far from being consumed, do even work a change on them: a thing far greater and more marvelous than killing them, to alter their spirit, and to reform their mind; and this, being only twelve, while the whole world is filled with the wolves.

2 comments:

Hilarius said...

With men, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.

God willing, even (us) wolves can become rational sheep.

In Xp

George Patsourakos said...

Man can become as gentle as sheep when he practices the Christian faith by praying to God every day, going to church every Sunday, receiving Holy Communion often, asks God for forgiveness of his sins, loves his neighbor as himself, is a humble and loving human being -- these are some of the Christian attributes that man needs to practice in order to become as gentle as sheep.