Homiliae spirituales 50 (collectio H)

 of the wild beasts, and the bull of the tame animals, and man of the created things, so also are the more royal reasonings of the soul, I mean the wil

 of a most foul odor, and worms crawl into the rotten flesh and there they feed and eat and make their dens but when the salt comes, the worms feeding

 the evil one of darkness and there it is held fast, as Paul also says, calling it the body of sin and the body of death: that the body of sin might be

 from the kingdom, and as one wounded, always cry out to the Lord and ask faithfully, so that you also may be deemed worthy of this true life. For just

 Amen. HOMILY 2 1 The kingdom of darkness, the evil ruler, having taken man captive from the beginning, thus encircled and clothed the soul in the powe

 of the night of darkness, of the devil, and being in night and darkness he is shaken by the terrible wind of sin blowing, and his whole nature is shak

 day and night they are not able to persevere, but some of them devote themselves to prayer for six hours and wish to read, while others eagerly serve,

 to carry off the rewards of victory against sin. But even if he is tested in these things, sin still lays man low, until he comes to a perfect man, to

 a garment of a tunic because of his inattention and slackness and sloth. But if he does not pay attention well and straight ahead with his eye, he him

 having been made nimble by that which is foreign to their own nature, having taken the oil in the vessels of their heart, that is, the grace of the Sp

 in an image, their bodies happen to be subtle according to the subtlety of their nature. Just as in substance this body is dense, so also the soul, be

 and to each of the holy prophets in one way to Elijah, in another to Moses. And I think that Moses, at every hour on the mountain during the forty da

 to repent in truth, but he himself has great compassion for us, being long-suffering, for when, having turned, we might approach him and our inner man

 worship and covenant. how many things they sinned, how often they turned aside, and He did not abandon them completely, but for a temporary time He ha

 they greatly stumbled, having pursued after the people of God. Therefore also the divine justice utterly consumed and destroyed them and drowned them

 more readily the redemption of healing? according to his word: how much more will the heavenly Father bring about justice for those who cry to him da

 with earthly and worldly things, unstably taking captive and shaking and luring the whole sinful race of Adam, as the Lord foretold to the apostles th

 and confusion and cowardice as all men have and in outward appearance and in the estimation of the world they differ and in certain external accompli

 unmanliness and laxity of will, or cowardice, or through some earthly love. For those who truly wish to go through to the end in a good way of life ou

 is any practice whatsoever of evil. Sometimes even seemingly good practices are performed for the sake of glory and the praise of men, which in the si

 are snatched away, suppose for me that some house is set on fire, and one man, wishing to save himself, having perceived the conflagration, fled naked

 of a love perfected by will towards the uprightness of the Lord? Thus also those who wish to become co-heirs of these things ought to love nothing apa

 as the apostle also says, “through many tribulations we are able to enter into the kingdom of heaven,” and the Lord: in your patience possess your sou

 bare trees, opening up the earth this one brings forth joy to all the animals this one shows cheerfulness to all this is the first month of the Chr

 those who have fallen asleep from of old, according to the holy scriptures and he will set everyone into two parts, and those having his own sign, th

 of thoughts, but to gather them when they are wandering from all directions, distinguishing the natural thoughts from the evil ones. For the soul, bei

 the Christians receive in that age, are not created things (and those who say so speak wrongly), but the transformed Spirit reveals these things. What

 that the power of God enters into him and takes possession of his members and his heart and captures the mind unto the love of God. When they seized P

 being with man as one substance, but in many ways as it wishes it manages man for his benefit. Sometimes the fire is kindled more and burns, and at ot

 Since I also have partially, at certain times, entered into that measure and I know, having learned, how man is not perfect. 20Question:20 Tell us, wh

 having been brought up in royal enjoyment and luxury. And so afterwards, having been found approved by God and faithful through much long-suffering, s

 to the heavenly goods of love from which love nothing in heaven or on earth or under the earth will be able to separate them, as the apostle Paul tes

 we are occupied, may the mind not be separated from love and seeking and longing for the Lord, so that by striving with such a mind and traveling the

 is disposed to labor for the virtues and even if she should be deemed worthy to receive diverse gifts of the spirit or even revelations and heavenly

 the fire likewise made an idol of the vessels cast into it, and so in what was seen they committed idolatry. As therefore the three youths, reckoning

 but in the law Moses was called the savior of Israel for he led them out of Egypt. So also now the true redeemer Christ passes into the secret places

 For in the dead body is life here is the redemption, here is the light, here the Lord comes to death and speaks with it and commands it to cast out t

 of the gulf of that water, may plunge down there and bring up the one who was sunk and is among wild beasts and the water itself, whenever it sees so

 the Lord is nearer to come and open the closed doors of the heart and to grant us heavenly wealth. For he is good and loves mankind, and his promises

 in caves, in the holes of the earth. Likewise also the apostles say, “To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are reviled, a

 Still in the testimonies they say: you burn me, you burn me. Did they not then know the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? The transgression of A

 the world is divided into parts, and there becomes one dark flock which goes into everlasting fire, and one full of light which is brought up to the h

 has chosen.” But after a time, those things which Martha eagerly did in her service brought her to that gift for she also received a divine power in

 likened to their father), so also Christ the true master himself created all things and nourishes the evil and the ungrateful, but the children, whom

 they make alive what is commanded. Just as there is light entering through a window, but the sun sends its rays over the whole inhabited world, so the

 a bride, the heavenly bridegroom Christ to his own mystical and divine communion, and she may taste of heavenly riches, with much eagerness she ought

 should he enter the palace to serve, he receives the vessels for service from the king's possessions, but he himself enters naked and in the king's ve

 For the God-fearing are masters of all things. But again, those lax in faith and sinners are slaves of all things, and fire burns them and stone and s

 a soldier and he puts away his armor into someone's house, whenever he wishes he has authority to go in and out of that house, so also sin has authori

 and they have no danger in this respect, because they are unassailable and are secure concerning their own salvation, because of having been trained o

 of thoughts is sin. But all who deny this are convicted and mocked by sin itself, which does not want to be triumphed over for evil strives to be hid

 they are held by wickedness. Therefore you ought to seek a lamp that it may be lit, and you may find pure thoughts for these are the natural ones, wh

 but to flee as from fire. In the visible world, if a very small nation should rise up against the king for war, he himself does not weary himself with

 the mind as governor, the conscience convicting, thoughts accusing and defending for it says: their thoughts among themselves accusing or even defend

 he entrusted this treasure, for I am poor, and when he wishes, he takes it from me. But if someone says: I am rich, it is enough, I have acquired it,

 he learns the letters, and when he becomes first there, he goes to the school of Latin and is the last of all. Again when he becomes first there, he g

 and if it happens that that house has some impurity, it is put in order and much adornment is done and perfumes are poured out, how much more does the

 having in the mind itself also its illumination, they know from where these things are moved. For the world suffers the passion of evil and does not k

 thorny for God said to man: “thorns and thistles the earth shall bring forth to you.” Therefore, there is need of much toil and labor, that one might

 it has seized. And so when a person is in the depths and is rich in grace, there is still a remnant of wickedness with him he has the helper assistin

 beauty. For those who want to make vessels and to weave in figures of animals first model them in wax, and thus they pour in the likeness of that, so

 him for the robbers are coming. Just as if someone, having fallen into many public services and financial losses, escapes with much labor and after t

 HOMILY 17. 1 The perfect Christians who have been deemed worthy to come to the measures of perfection and to become very near to the king, these are a

 of Christ and is with the Lord night and day, in the same way that the body of the Lord, having been joined to the Godhead, is always with the Holy Sp

 Some however were sufficient for themselves, while others, receiving from worldly people, gave to the poor and this is more worthy. For those who hav

 being unrestrained and insatiable and greedily seeking and eating. Or just as if someone is thirsty and is given a sweet drink, then having begun to t

 from God, and having found and possessing the heavenly treasure of the Spirit, the Lord Himself shining in their hearts, they accomplish all righteous

 souls of those hearing the spiritual word, and they do not fear that they will be in need because they possess within themselves a heavenly treasure

 he takes the heavenly weapons of the spirit and descends upon the enemies and wars and subjugates them under his feet. At other times the soul rests i

 Then one must compel himself to every good thing and to all the commandments of the Lord, because of the sin that is with him. For example, let him co

 faith and trust towards God, since he has not known himself, he has not tested not having, and has labored in affliction seeking from the Lord to have

 he never falls. For from where can he fall, being underneath all things? Great humiliation is high-mindedness, and great exaltation and honor and dign

 righteousness (which is the Lord, “who,” it says, “became for us righteousness and redemption”), he labors in vain and to no purpose. For all the conc

 sent forth the voice of angels (for he was saying: Son of David, have mercy on me), and thus by believing he received healing, when the Lord came to h

 of wickedness, and another contest lies ahead. And thus by remaining and calling upon the Lord in unwavering faith and much patience, and awaiting the

 for whom now there are abiding angels and holy spirits surrounding and guarding them, and when they depart from the body, the choirs of angels receive

 HOMILY 24. 1 Christians are like merchants trading for the greatest profits. For just as those gather earthly profits from the earth, so these, throug

 nature of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, unless the heavenly leaven of the Spirit and the good holy salt of the Godhead from that age and from that count

 to a man, having cleansed himself and been strengthened by the one who said to the apostles: “Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpent

 «partakers of the divine nature». We have not yet become a genuine royal purple nor an unadulterated divine image. We have not yet been wounded by div

 thorns and stubble. “For our God is a consuming fire,” giving “vengeance on those who do not know him in a flame of fire and on those who do not obey

 silver both tarnishes and is destroyed and if the human mind knows how to measure out burdens for the beast of burden and for the camel or for any ot

 despair, evil thoughts, afflicting the soul, that he may make it lax and alienate it from the hope of God. But the prudent soul, being in evils and in

 scatters expenses likewise also the one building a house and the one farming first scatters many things of his own for the hope of future income, so

 trains him for the wars, and the two persons spring forth from within, both the light and the darkness, and the rest and the affliction. they pray in

 But it is written, that when the farmer sees the “branch bearing fruit,” he cleans it, so that it may bring forth more but the one not bearing fruit

 to depart, then only is it able to be without affliction and temptations for there there is no longer care or affliction or labor or old age or satan

 HOMILY 27. 1 Know your nobility, O man, and your dignity, how honorable you are, a brother of Christ, a friend of the king, a bride of the heavenly br

 in the heavenly church. And He is the firstborn from the dead, and they also are firstborn. But although they are such, chosen and approved by God,

 is Satan shown to be much weaker? For where there is day, how can there be night? 20Answer:20 not that grace is extinguished or is weak, but so that y

 and to give and to carry away the prizes of victory. So also in spiritual matters, it is one thing to recount words with some knowledge and intellect,

 he was driving out, but he also healed those who were bound hand and foot and had terrible afflictions through the laying on of his hands. Then, becom

 part, there would no longer be contests or seasons of wars or a race, but without toil, if he only heard, he would have come to rest and the perfect m

 ages. Amen. HOMILY 28. 1 Just as God, once angered with the Jews, delivered Jerusalem openly to its enemies, and those who hated them ruled over them,

 they are still in sin, having the same activity of pleasures, subject to the same punishment, not yet having eyes that see the Father. For each one ou

 gifts immediately upon approaching with faith and asking without toils and sweats and labors, but there are times when, while they are still in the w

 resting and being bound willingly, but always speaking against material reasonings, expect only the help and assistance of God, whereupon to souls und

 ages. Amen. HOMILY 50. 1 Those who hear the word ought to show the work of the word in their own souls for the word of God is not an idle word, but h

 Let not its master impress the image from his own light. Therefore we must gaze upon him, believing and loving him, having cast aside all things and a

 of an evil power. Therefore he put on darkness in his own soul, a bitter and evil darkness for he was ruled by the prince of darkness. This was the o

 when he comes in truth he might gather it. But since the future is uncertain, let it hope yet more in the pilot, hoping well, and let it remember how

 a soul, where it also eats, either from this age or from the spirit of God. And God is nourished there and lives and rests and abides. Henceforth, if

 from now on Christians receive an invisible and heavenly gift and garment. Just as sheep or camels, finding grass, approach their food eagerly and qui

 should remain behind and not receive the mixture and communion of the heavenly nature, it has been corrected in nothing, but has remained naked and bl

 in secret. But for a time He allows you to be disciplined, and grace directs you even into tribulations. And when you come into rest, it reveals itsel

 of impurity and disorder there sirens and demons dwell, according to the prophet for in the desolate house are cats and dogs and every impurity. W

 while resting one will give heed to the other, and in giving heed they will immediately shine forth again into truth, into a true vision of ineffable

 a true, delightful, holy sabbath and they celebrate a festival of the spirit, of joy and inexpressible gladness and they offer a worship pure and we

 preferring what is dear to God and the good of the Spirit above all things, not in word only or bare knowledge, but in word and deed through the thing

 of God. But lest someone say that the Spirit was given to them as apostles, but to us it is by nature unattainable, elsewhere praying he says: that G

 But when the will is not present, not even God himself does anything, although he is able, on account of free will. The completion of God's work there

 an advocate within and has brought up into His kingdom. Therefore let us also reign with Him in Jerusalem, His city, in the heavenly church, in the ch

 to attain, which is Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen. HOMILY 40. 1 Concerning visible asceticism and what practice happens to be greater and fir

 will conquer the one who opposes), thus there is in the heart of those who struggle a theater of evil spirits wrestling with the soul, and of God and

 Let us compare the soul and sin mixed together, just as when there is a very large tree, having many branches, and it has its roots in the deepest par

 to those who approach, whether good or evil, they prove to be kind, as the Lord says: Be kind as your heavenly Father is. For that which harms and d

 are able to withstand the power of the fire, but are immediately burned up, so also the demons, wishing to war against a man deemed worthy of the spir

 they have desolated the soul. Just as the eye is small in comparison to all the members, and the pupil itself, being small, is a great vessel, for it

 laid waste by the passions through the transgression, having mixed it with His own Spirit of divinity. He came to make a new mind and a new soul, new

 He seeks blameless and pure souls. For, he says, blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. For the soul that truly believes in Christ mus

 of God? just as if a tyrant, having seized some captives, leads them away, and then is overtaken by the true king, so also Paul, because he was acted

 and images of men, in those things they have been eager to display their own virtue others have undertaken to make likenesses of statues and of certa

 to have a den, and from there to have life. He created also two worlds the one above for the ministering spirits, and He ordained that they have thei

 bound by earthly bonds, so also he who is possessed by a carnal disposition that is, being a man of the world, if he should wish to hear the word of

 Therefore, the soul of the sinner is so light and swift-winged that his mind is not hindered from distant places, much more the soul from which the ve

 To them a law was given written on tablets of stone, but to us spiritual laws are inscribed on tablets of fleshly hearts for he says: giving my laws

 of the Egyptians. But first it cries and groans, and then it receives the beginning of redemption, and this in the month of new blossoms, being rede

 destruction, he dared to pursue for having yoked his chariots with haste and with all his people, he hurried to destroy them. And when he was about t

 of the bondage of Pharaoh and having established his own throne and house and temple and a pure bride, and having brought it into a kingdom of eternal

 to hope that the Lord is in all things the provider for those who flee to him for refuge. But for the most part, they are the gifts of the eternal and

 and he prepared medicines, and the practices of physicians for the passions of the body, having ordained that the body, which is from the earth, shoul

 “Let the dead bury their own dead ” for “the dead will not praise you, Lord, but we who live will bless you.” For just as the sun, having risen upon t

 I think that the ruler of heaven himself sat within his mind, and through his tongue the word of God prevented rain from coming down upon the earth. A

 of grace and peace. And again, he who is helped by the Lord and finds himself in spiritual gladness and heavenly gifts, if he thinks that he is no lon

trains him for the wars, and the two persons spring forth from within, both the light and the darkness, and the rest and the affliction. they pray in rest and at another hour are in turmoil. Do you not hear what Paul says? "If I have all the gifts, if I give my body to be burned, if I speak with the tongues of angels, but have not love, I am nothing;" because these gifts are exhortatory, and those who stand in them, even if in light, are infants. For many of the brethren came to such measures and had gifts of healing and revelation and prophecy, and since they did not reach perfect love, which is the bond of perfection, war came upon them and being neglectful they fell. But if anyone reaches perfect love, he is then bound and is a captive to grace. But if anyone comes close to the measure of love, but does not arrive at that love to be bound, such a one is still under fear and war and falling, and if he does not make himself secure, Satan casts him down. For thus many were led astray; when grace came to them, they thought that they had attained perfection and said: It is enough for us, we need no more. But the Lord has neither end nor attainment, and Christians do not dare to say that we have attained, but are humbled, seeking night and day. In things that are seen, letters are incomplete, and no one knows this except a scholar who has moderately learned letters. So also here God is not comprehensible or measurable to anyone, except to those who have tasted of that very thing which they received, and they know their own weakness. If someone knowing a few letters should go to a village where there are unlearned people, he is glorified by them as a scholar, because they are peasants completely unable to judge. But this same one who knows a few letters, if he should go to a city where there are orators and scholars, he does not dare to appear before them or to speak; for he is judged by the scholars as a peasant. 20Question:20 If a man, being in warfare and having the two persons in his soul, of sin and of grace, should depart from this world, where does he proceed, being held in the two parts? 20Answer:20 Where the mind has its purpose and where it loves, there it proceeds. Only if affliction and war come upon you, you must contradict and hate; for the coming of the war is not yours, but to hate it is yours. And then the Lord seeing your mind, that you struggle and love him with all your soul, separates death from your soul in one hour (for it is not difficult for him) and receives you into his bosom and into the light; for he snatches you in the twinkling of an eye from the mouth of darkness, and immediately transfers you into his kingdom; for with God all things are easy to do in the twinkling of an eye, only that you have love for him. For God needs the work of man, because the soul has communion with the divinity. And as we have often told the parable of the farmer, that having labored and cast the seed into the earth he must also wait for the rain from above; for if clouds do not appear and winds blow, the farmer's labor has profited nothing, for the seed lies bare, understand this also in the spiritual sense. If a man remains only in his own work and does not receive something foreign to his nature, he cannot give worthy fruits to the Lord. What then is the work of man? To renounce, to go out from the world, to persevere in prayer, to keep vigil, to love God and the brethren; this is his own. But if he remains in his own work and does not hope to receive anything else, and the winds of the Holy Spirit do not blow on the soul, and if heavenly clouds do not appear and rain does not come down from heaven and water the soul, man cannot give worthy fruits to the Lord.

γυμνάζει αὐτὸν εἰς τοὺς πολέμους, καὶ τὰ δύο πρόσωπα ἔσωθεν βρύει, καὶ τὸ φῶς καὶ τὸ σκότος, καὶ ἡ ἀνάπαυσις καὶ ἡ θλῖψις. εὔχονται ἐν ἀναπαύσει καὶ ἄλλῃ ὥρᾳ ἐν θορύβῳ εἰσίν. Οὐκ ἀκούεις τί λέγει ὁ Παῦλος; «ἐὰν ἔχω πάντα τὰ χαρίσματα, ἐὰν παραδῶ τὸ σῶμά μου ἵνα καυθήσωμαι, ἐὰν ταῖς γλώσσαις τῶν ἀγγέλων λαλῶ, ἀγάπην δὲ μὴ ἔχω, οὐδέν εἰμι·» ἐπειδὴ ταῦτα τὰ χαρίσματα προτρεπτικά εἰσι, καὶ οἱ ἐν τούτοις στήκοντες, εἰ καὶ ἐν φωτί, νήπιοί εἰσι. πολλοὶ γὰρ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἦλθον εἰς τοιαῦτα μέτρα καὶ ἔσχον χαρίσματα ἰαμάτων καὶ ἀποκάλυψιν καὶ προφητείαν, καὶ ἐπειδὴ οὐκ ἔφθασαν εἰς τὴν τελείαν ἀγάπην, ὅπου ὁ σύνδεσμος τῆς τελειότητος, ἐπῆλθεν αὐτοῖς πόλεμος καὶ ἀμελήσαντες ἔπεσον. εἰ δέ τις φθάσει εἰς τὴν τελείαν ἀγάπην, οὗτος λοιπὸν δέδεται καὶ ἔστιν ᾐχμαλωτισμένος εἰς τὴν χάριν. εἰ δέ τις παρὰ μικρὸν ἐγγίσει τῷ μέτρῳ τῆς ἀγάπης, μὴ φθάσει δὲ εἰς αὐτὴν τὴν ἀγάπην δεθῆναι, ἀκμὴν ὁ τοιοῦτος ὑπὸ φόβον ἐστὶ καὶ πόλεμον καὶ πτῶσιν, καὶ εἰ μὴ ἀσφαλίσεται, ῥίπτει αὐτὸν ὁ σατανᾶς. οὕτως γὰρ πολλοὶ ἐπλανήθησαν· χάριτος εἰς αὐτοὺς γενομένης ἐνόμισαν ὅτι κατέλαβον τὴν τελειότητα καὶ ἔλεγον· ἀρκεῖ ἡμῖν, οὐ χρῄζομεν. ἀλλ' ὁ κύριος οὔτε τέλος ἔχει οὔτε κατάληψιν, καὶ οἱ Χριστιανοὶ οὐ τολμῶσιν εἰπεῖν ὅτι κατελάβομεν, ἀλλὰ τεταπεινωμένοι εἰσὶ νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας ζητοῦντες. ἐν τοῖς φαινομένοις τὰ γράμματα ἀτέλεστά εἰσι, καὶ οὐδεὶς οἶδε τοῦτο εἰ μὴ σχολαστικὸς ὁ μετρίως μαθὼν γράμματα. οὕτως καὶ ὧδε οὐδενί ἐστιν καταληπτὸς ὁ θεὸς καὶ μετρητός, εἰ μὴ τοῖς γευσαμένοις ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἐκείνου, οὗ ἐδέξαντο, καὶ γνωρίζουσι τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀσθένειαν. εἰς χωρίον ἐάν τις ἀπέλθῃ ὀλίγα γράμματα εἰδώς, ὅπου εἰσὶν ἰδιῶται, δοξάζεται ὑπ' αὐτῶν ὡς σχολαστικός, ἐπειδὴ χωρικοί εἰσιν ὁλοτελῶς μὴ εἰδότες δοκιμάσαι. αὐτὸς δὲ οὗτος ὁ τὰ ὀλίγα εἰδὼς γράμματα, ἐὰν ἀπέλθῃ εἰς πόλιν, ὅπου εἰσὶ ῥήτορες καὶ σχολαστικοί, οὐ τολμᾷ παραφανῆναι αὐτοῖς οὔτε λαλῆσαι· ὡς χωρικὸς γὰρ κρίνεται ὑπὸ τῶν σχολαστικῶν. 20Ἐρώτησις:20 εἰ ὢν ἐν πολέμῳ ἄνθρωπος καὶ ἔχων τὰ δύο πρόσωπα ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ, τῆς ἁμαρτίας καὶ τῆς χάριτος, μεταστῇ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, ποῦ προχωρεῖ κατεχόμενος εἰς τὰ δύο μέρη; 20Ἀπόκρισις:20 ὅπου ἔχει τὸν σκοπὸν ὁ νοῦς καὶ ὅπου ἀγαπᾷ, ἐκεῖ προχωρεῖ. μόνον εἰ ἐπέρχεταί σοι θλῖψις καὶ πόλεμος, ἀντιλέγειν ὀφείλεις καὶ μισεῖν· τὸ γὰρ ἐλθεῖν τὸν πόλεμον οὐκ ἔστι σόν, τὸ δὲ μισῆσαι σόν ἐστι. καὶ τότε βλέπων ὁ κύριος τὸν νοῦν σου, ὅτι ἀγωνίζῃ καὶ ἀγαπᾷς αὐτὸν ἐξ ὅλης ψυχῆς, διαχωρίζει τὸν θάνατον ἐκ τῆς ψυχῆς σου μιᾷ ὥρᾳ (οὐκ ἔστι γὰρ αὐτῷ δυσχερές) καὶ προσλαμβάνεταί σε εἰς τοὺς κόλπους αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς τὸ φῶς· ἁρπάζει γάρ σε ἐν ῥοπῇ ὥρας ἐκ τοῦ στόματος τοῦ σκότους, καὶ εὐθέως μετατιθεῖ σε εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ· τῷ γὰρ θεῷ ἐν ῥοπῇ ὥρας πάντα εὐχερῆ ἐστι ποιῆσαι, μόνον ἵνα τὴν ἀγάπην ἔχῃς πρὸς αὐτόν. χρῄζει γὰρ ὁ θεὸς τῆς ἐργασίας τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ἐπειδὴ κοινωνική ἐστιν ἡ ψυχὴ τῆς θεότητος. Καὶ καθὼς πολλάκις εἴπομεν τὴν παραβολὴν τοῦ γεωργοῦ, ὅτι καμὼν καὶ βαλὼν τὸν σπόρον ἐν τῇ γῇ ὀφείλει ἐκδέξασθαι καὶ τὸν ἄνωθεν ὑετόν· ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ ἐπιφανῇ νέφη καὶ ἄνεμοι πνεύσωσιν, οὐδὲν ὠφέλησεν ὁ κάματος τοῦ γεωργοῦ, ὁ γὰρ σπόρος γυμνὸς ὑπόκειται, τοῦτο ἀνάλαβε καὶ εἰς τὸ πνευματικόν. ἐὰν μόνον ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἐργασίᾳ ἀπομείνῃ ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ μὴ ἐπιδέξηταί τι ξένον τῆς φύσεως αὐτοῦ, οὐ δύναται καρποὺς ἀξίους τῷ κυρίῳ ἀποδοῦναι. τί δέ ἐστιν ἡ ἐργασία τοῦ ἀνθρώπου; τὸ ἀποτάξασθαι, τὸ ἐξελθεῖν ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου, τὸ ὑπομένειν ἐν τῇ εὐχῇ, τὸ ἀγρυπνεῖν, ἀγαπᾶν τὸν θεὸν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφούς· τοῦτο ἴδιον αὐτοῦ ἐστιν. ἀλλ' ἐὰν ἀπομείνῃ ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἐργασίᾳ καὶ μὴ ἐλπίσῃ ἄλλο τι ἐπιδέξασθαι, καὶ μὴ πνεύσωσιν οἱ ἄνεμοι τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος τῇ ψυχῇ, καὶ ἐὰν μὴ ἐπιφανῇ οὐράνια νέφη καὶ κατέλθῃ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ὑετὸς καὶ ἐπιβρέξῃ τῇ ψυχῇ, οὐ δύναται ὁ ἄνθρωπος καρποὺς ἀξίους ἀποδοῦναι τῷ κυρίῳ.