THEOSISGregory the Great
Leave behind your splendor without regret, and all your strength in might, as stated in Job 36:19. The term 'the mighty' within the Holy Church refers to those who, through their lofty efforts and fruitful achievements, have fortified themselves against the temptations of this worldly life. This greatness is anchored in the lives of the virtuous, and it becomes all the more glorious when the chosen endure even to the point of death, facing decline as they defend their faith. Thus, when the Apostles departed from this world and the Martyrs ascended to heaven, the arrogant, perhaps assuming themselves to be wiser and stronger rulers eager for recognition, believed they stood alone in the Church.
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While they elevated themselves, they disparaged Her under a guise of offering advice, suggesting, "Leave your splendor without regret, and all strength within might." This was as if they openly reproached, claiming that confidence in their greatness was misplaced; since the ancient patriarchs were no longer present, there was nobody left in whom they could take pride. They express this, unaware that the Almighty Creator does not forsake His Church, ensuring it remains under appropriate guidance. For while He rewards the strong with their deserved rest, He simultaneously empowers the weak for ongoing endeavors, granting strength for their labors in anticipation of His rewards. It was said to the Holy Church, "Instead of thy fathers, children are born to thee; thou shalt make them princes over all the earth," as noted in Psalms 44:17. The later elect are destined to benefit from the legacies of the revered ancestors, for just as old trees fall, new shoots rise in their stead. However, the proud refuse to accept that those they once deemed weak have become strong, and they hesitate to honor the transformed individuals they once knew in a diminished state.
Seeing that the righteous are few while the wicked outnumber them, as in the harvesting where tares prevail, they disdain even the life of the virtuous based on their assessment of the wrongdoers. They observe that certain rulers, buoyed by worldly power, bask in the arrogance of their domination. They notice that the reverence for true faith, which their ancestors safeguarded in ancient writings, has been washed away by those reveling in earthly delights; they mistakenly believe themselves powerful, but not truly so. Though seemingly fortified by worldly authority, they are paradoxically bolstered by a kind of frailty. The more robustly they appear externally, the more they are stripped of genuine power within. Thus, it was proclaimed regarding the Church by the arrogant, "Leave your might in strength," suggesting that while the truly strong once clung to You, they now seem merely superficial rulers, lacking true might. Despite their persistence in seeking honor, their need for recognition only reveals their greater weakness and contemptibility, particularly as they sense respect waning in light of the truth. The proud believe such sentiments are widely held, yet they dive deeper into the sin of arrogance, assuming those they see elevated bear no virtue. The immoral actions of many should not lead to a blanket judgment of all. For, while those known to them may be wicked, there exist others they do not know who are righteous. The time of sifting has arrived, yet the grain remains concealed beneath the tares. No harvest will arise from the sifting if the only visible fruit signifies despair. Thus, they mock those they recognize while failing to acknowledge the worthy placed in positions once held by revered ancestors, demonstrating that it is indeed time to "Leave your greatness without sorrow, and all your might in strength."
The inclinations of the heart possess great power when they are focused solely on what is just. Yet, we abandon our magnificence and mighty inspirations when faced with sin, reconsidering our true state. Mighty impulses dissolve when we are no longer uplifted by our virtue but succumb to fear of being overcome by the very frailty that assails us. The mind maintains a robust confidence in holiness and may even begin to feel a sense of equivalence to the summit of benevolence, which it has only envisioned in thought. However, when temptation strikes suddenly, it can completely undermine those high aspirations stemming from one’s virtuous accomplishments. An unexpected foe may invade the unsuspecting fortress, leaving the proud citizens reeling from sudden blows. In such moments, only deep lamentation remains, and the besieged city of the mind may lose the glory of its exalted. So it is articulated that we should "Leave your greatness without sorrow, and all your might in strength," as if to assert: Renounce all hidden pride fostered by your good deeds, releasing all those mighty urges emitted from just actions; for now you perceive, amidst the tumult of adversity, the folly of once harboring lofty notions born of arrogance. The greatness that is to be relinquished without remorse is certain, for when humility prevails through trial, the very hardships that protect the mind from pride prove to be blessings. Yet, until this transformation occurs with minimal distress, when a serene mind is overwhelmed by the encroachments of temptation, it faces sudden intrusions. When the trials of temptation infiltrate the mind, they cast a shadow, blending its light with bitterness, while the soul was once illuminated by the radiant sweetness of its virtues.