Prudent men, those who are schooled in misfortune and purified in the fire like gold, declare, "It is good for me that you have afflicted me, that I might learn your ordinances," for they realize that abasement generates understanding of his ordinances, indeed, they act like Peter, who cried out for help when he was about to go under, and their pain somehow draws them closer to God and through their distress they make him their friend, since a troubled soul is next to God and their need turns them to the one who can provide, him who is even perchance despised for his unstinted generosity. This is why, my brothers, we should look up to heaven; at all times and before every adversity let us exude good hope; let us relinquish neither anxiety in time of happiness nor confidence in time of sorrow. Even in fair weather let us not forget the gale, nor in the storm the pilot; yes, let us not lose heart in the midst of afflictions or become wicked servants who acknowledge their master only when he treats them well and repudiate him when he tries to correct them. Yet there are times when pain is preferable to health, patience to relief, visitation to neglect, punishment to forgiveness. In a word, we must neither let our troubles lay us low nor a glut of good fortune give us airs. Saint Gregory Nazianzen
-Saint Gregory Nazianzen (390) was a monk, a bishop, and a writer of letters, prayers, and poems.
No comments:
Post a Comment