The Ancient Witnesses

Chapter 6: The Fullness of Time • 207

then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. 78 “The command to follow Christ,” Cyril began, “is for both the salvation and honor of the saints, and the cause of the highest glory, and the means of perfect joy. Choosing to suffer for the sake of Christ is not a thankless duty but makes us sharers in everlasting life and the glory that is prepared. 79 “Even so,” continued Cyril, “the disciples had not yet been empowered by the Holy Spirit, and had no doubt fallen into various human weaknesses. They were probably asking themselves ‘How does a man deny himself? Or ‘how having lost himself does he find himself again? And what reward will compensate those who thus suffer?’ To rescue them from such timid thoughts and to mold them into manliness and birth in them a desire for the glory about to be given them, our Lord says, there are some standing here, who shall not taste death until they have seen the kingdom of God . 80 “In saying this,” explained Cyril, “the Lord does not mean that he is prolonging their lives until the kingdom comes in its fullness. Rather, by the kingdom of God he means the sight of the glory in which he will appear at his manifestation to the inhabitants of the earth. For he

78 Matt. 16:24–28.

79 Cyril of Alexandria and R. Payne Smith 1859. Commentary upon the Gospel according to St. Luke (Oxford: Univ. Press), Sermon 51, 227.

80 Same as previous note.