Jacob toiled ardently for a fleeting beauty, committing to seven years of service, and ultimately laboring for fourteen; yet, for our eternal salvation and the boundless joys of the Kingdom of Heaven, we often neglect even a single day of true effort for God. Jacob’s profound love for Rachel made his lengthy toil appear effortless, while even the slightest endeavor for the salvation of our souls feels burdensome to us. Truthfully, we do not love our souls as we should, for we show little concern for their salvation; indeed, we act contrary to love, demonstrating enmity towards our souls through sinful deeds, as the Psalmist declares: “He who loves unrighteousness hates his soul” (Psalm 10:5). An angel spoke to Tobiah, saying, “Whosoever committeth sin and iniquity is an enemy to his soul” (Tob. 12:10). Jacob cherished Rachel for a temporary union; however, we, who after the final resurrection will reunite with our souls and share an eternal existence, often neglect to nurture our souls, clinging instead to a carnal love that lacks spiritual depth. Many love their souls only for the sake of earthly enjoyment, disregarding the care needed to prevent their destruction in the afterlife, to avoid condemnation to hell, to escape the tormenting fire, and to evade the endless worm, not to mention the depths that even Satan fears. Our indifference to plunging our souls into such profound anguish reveals our lack of true love for them. What can be more beautiful than a soul made in God's image, eternal and immortal? And what could be more delightful than the everlasting Kingdom of Heaven? Yet, we treat both as trivial and disdain our souls and the heavenly kingdom for the sake of a fleeting and sinful life! O our profound folly!
Reflecting on Jacob’s two wives—Leah and Rachel—brings to mind the words of St. Andrew of Crete, chanted during Great Lent in his canon: “My two wives, understand deeds and mind together: for Leah symbolizes deeds, which are numerous, while Rachel represents understanding.” Another verse states: “Watch, O my soul, and be courageous, like the great patriarchs of old, that you may accomplish deeds with understanding, leading a life attuned to God” (Thursday of the 5th week of Lent, Song 4). From these words, we can see that St. Andrew presents these two wives as symbols of righteous living—embodying action and discernment, namely, a commitment to good works alongside mindful, God-centered contemplation. The essence of our diligent life consists of serving others, caring for the needy, feeding the hungry through our toil, clothing the naked, comforting the estranged, visiting the imprisoned and the ill, burying the dead, and engaging in various acts of mercy. We also fulfill obedience to God through steadfastness in our responsibilities. True theological reflection entails withdrawing from worldly distractions to cling solely to God, seeking to work for Him spiritually, aligning our thoughts and minds with Him. For those pursuing salvation, both these principles are equally essential, akin to having two eyes and hands. While one may an eye and still perceive the heavenly realm, having two is far superior. The same applies to our spiritual journey; while salvation may be sought through one aspect alone, it is better to embrace both.
Consider this: the elder of the two was Leah, as humanity first engaged in labor and only later in contemplation of God. While Rachel was favored by Jacob, a life of divine consciousness is ultimately more precious to God than one of mere strenuous effort void of spiritual awareness. Leah and Rachel, being sisters, represent two foundational paths to salvation, just as these concepts of diligent action and reason must unite for those desiring salvation. Jacob first joined himself to Leah and then to Rachel; likewise, one should first dedicate themselves to a life of diligent good deeds before nurturing the mind with theological understanding. Leah bore children more readily than Rachel; thus, those who seek salvation through diligent labor are numerous, while those well-versed in speculative theology are fewer. Rachel's beauty surpasses Leah’s; therefore, a life led by godliness is more beneficial than one of rigorous toil. The Gospel illustrates both principles through Lazarus's sisters—Martha and Mary: Martha was busy with her efforts, and Mary sat at Jesus' feet, absorbing His teachings. Martha upheld the principle of deeds, while Mary embraced the principle of contemplation. To Martha, Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things,” but He commended Mary, saying, “But Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). Jesus did not diminish Martha’s contributions; her efforts were commendable, aimed at providing for Him, yet He esteemed Mary even more. Why? Because Mary, dismissing worldly cares, focused entirely on God’s words, whereas Martha, preoccupied with duties, overlooked the divine message. The Lord appreciates the external labors of the faithful, but they must be joined with piety; otherwise, He admonishes: “You are anxious and busy about many things.” A life centered on God adorns all efforts of a devoted follower; a laborious life without piety resembles Peter walking on water, while a pious life reflects John reclining on the heart of Christ. One struggles amidst turmoil, the other rests in peace; one is met with rescue, and the other receives divine revelations. This contrast between diligence and pious living becomes evident when separated; yet when combined, they parallel the apostles racing to Christ's tomb to confirm His Resurrection, with John arriving before Peter. Thus, a godly existence is foundational and precedes a laborious life in questing for Christ. Consequently, the pursuit of godliness is more beneficial than mere toil, just as Rachel is more beautiful than Leah.
To illustrate both lifestyles, we consider the righteous figures of Moses and Arsenius—one dedicated to labor, the other to reflection. Moses devoted himself to hospitality and serving others, while Arsenius embraced solitude and silence. Though Moses receiving more praise from travelers, a certain father wondered which approach was truly greater before God—hosting others for His sake or living apart for His name. In a vision, he beheld two magnificent ships upon a great river: in one, Arsenius was guided silently by the Spirit of God; in the other, Moses was accompanied by angels who enriched his journey. The elders who heard this vision concluded that Arsenius, in his silence, was nearer to God’s perfection than Moses, who welcomed travelers for the Lord’s name. The stories of Leah and Rachel illustrate that God bestows His gifts diversely; one may receive beauty while another receives productivity. Rachel was endowed with beauty but initially remained barren, allowing the birth of only two children before her death. Leah, in contrast, bore Jacob six sons and one daughter in rapid succession. Ultimately, Leah's blessings surpassed Rachel's because from her lineage would emerge Judah, from whom the promised Messiah Christ would come.
THEOSIS