THEOSISGregory the Great
What sustains my perseverance, and what is the purpose of my endurance? It is important to recognize that the strength of both the righteous and the wicked differs significantly. The righteous draw strength from the ability to temper their desires, resist temptations, shun the fleeting pleasures of this world, cherish the challenges of earthly existence in hopes of eternal reward, ignore the allure of wealth, and confront the fear of trials with courage.
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In contrast, the wicked derive their power from an unrestrained love of transient things, callously accepting the disdain of the Creator, refusing to let go of their attachment to material possessions even in hard times, seeking empty accolades at the expense of their souls, compounding their wrongs, actively opposing a righteous life through words and deeds, and placing their trust in their own abilities while perpetuating injustice without hesitation.
Am I as unyielding as stone? Is my body as hard as metal? The righteous individual fleeing from the malice of the wicked amid suffering should declare, ‘My hardness is not that of stone, nor is my flesh like bronze.’ It brings to mind Job's admission that under the scourge of affliction, he does not mirror the wicked; he is not so hardened as to remain silent when faced with suffering, especially when he must profess his faith. Nor is he so unyielding that he can proclaim his beliefs without grasping their true significance. In moments of threat, the wicked may appear strong, yet this strength is merely a facade; the elect, on the other hand, may seem weak, but they embody true strength. Blessed Job, by admitting that he finds affliction overwhelming, reveals that he possesses strength for salvation. He acknowledges the Source of his strength, ensuring it is understood that it is not of himself.
The one who withholds compassion from his neighbor fails to honor the Almighty. Here, ‘neighbor’ refers to anyone drawn closer to us in faith who benefits from our goodwill, aiding our pursuit of eternal life. The commands of love are twofold: love for God and love for neighbor. Love for God inspires love for neighbor, and conversely, love for neighbor nurtures love for God. Those who lack love for God certainly do not possess love for their neighbor; rather, we deepen our love for God as we first cultivate charity toward our neighbor. Love for God begets love for neighbor; before proclaiming through the law, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself’ (Matt. 22:39), the Lord first instructed, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God’ (Matt. 22:37), which is rooted in Deut. 6:5 and Deut. 10:12. Hence, the Lord desires to plant the seed of His love within our hearts, from which the branches of brotherly love can thrive. Moreover, love for God is also fortified by love for our neighbor, as John states, ‘If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?’ (1 Jn. 4:20). Love stemming from divine fear matures into fervent passion.