THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Do you not realize that while He envisions a life for us that is entirely devoid of toil and weariness, exemplified by the concept of rest, He prohibits us from undertaking any actions on the Sabbath? Not only does He forbid us from collecting the manna, but He also instructs us not to leave our homes or venture beyond our designated spaces. The lesson He intends to impart through this will be clarified through a similar declaration. The blessed prophet Jeremiah addresses the Israelites, proclaiming: ‘Thus saith the Lord, Keep your souls, and lift up no burden on the sabbath day, and go not out by the gates of Jerusalem, and carry no burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, nor do any work: sanctify the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers’ (Jeremiah 17:21-22).
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What is the implication of this? By calling us to be vigilant, He instructs us to safeguard our souls, as this is the path to achieving the promised rest. His other words clarify the blessings that await those who reach it. Thus, He prohibits anyone from taking on burdens, for at that time no one will bear the intolerable weight of sin. The era of holiness will arrive, original sin will be fully eradicated, and every soul will be transformed into a state of perpetual virtue. Furthermore, it is forbidden to step outside the gates of Jerusalem. The radiant assembly of saints, in accordance with the true and correct teaching, will dwell eternally within the heavenly Jerusalem and will not leave the sanctified city; rather, they will remain there, upheld by Divine power, incapable of losing the graces once granted, ‘for the gifts and calling of God are immutable,’ as stated by Saint Paul (Rom. 11:29). When He says, ‘do not go out every one from his place,’ He clearly indicates that God and the Father have ‘many dwellings’ (John 14:2), as the Savior expressed. The holy tabernacle, which contained ‘ten courts,’ serves as an apt representation of this. Each person will be granted a dwelling corresponding to their worth and actions. Once they have taken possession of their homes, they will always reside in them and will never lose the blessings conferred upon them by God. The prophet Isaiah affirms this truth, proclaiming, ‘Your eyes shall see Jerusalem, the rich city, tents that will not be shaken or moved for ever’ (Isaiah 33:20). The assertion that the tents in the abundant city will endure unshaken signifies the permanence of their habitation within it.