THEOSISGregory the Great
What then is my strength to persevere, and what is my purpose in enduring? It is essential to recognize the distinction between the strength of the righteous and that of the wicked. The righteous draw their strength from restraining their bodily desires, resisting temptation, turning away from the fleeting pleasures of this world, embracing the hardships of life for the sake of eternal reward, disregarding the allure of wealth, and overcoming the fear of trials within their hearts.
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In contrast, the wicked are driven by their unrestrained love for perishable things, insensitively bearing the scorn of the Creator, clinging stubbornly to material possessions even in the face of hardship, chasing after vain glory at the expense of a squandered life, multiplying evil deeds, opposing righteousness not just verbally but through violence, placing their trust solely in themselves, and committing injustice daily without diminishing their cravings.
Can my resilience be likened to that of stone? And is my flesh akin to bronze? The righteous, who escapes the cruelty of the wicked amidst suffering, should declare, "My resilience is not like the hardness of stone, nor is my flesh like brass." This can be interpreted as Job's acknowledgment that, under the weight of punishment, he avoids the traits of the wicked; he is neither so hardened as to remain silent when faced with the threat of persecution nor so inflexible as to recite confessions without grasping their meaning. The wicked may display a semblance of strength in adversity, which is, in truth, a manifestation of their weakness; whereas the elect might appear weak, yet that is their true strength. Blessed Job reveals that admitting his limitations in the midst of suffering actually demonstrates his strength in the pursuit of salvation. He points to the source of his strength, making clear that he does not claim it as his own.
He who withholds kindness from a neighbor shows a lack of reverence towards the Almighty. In this context, a friend is defined as every neighbor who draws closer in faith as we share good with them, aiding one another in the journey toward our eternal home. The commandments of love are twofold: love for God and love for one’s neighbor. Love for God begets love for neighbor, and love for the neighbor nourishes our love for God. For those who lack love for God certainly do not possess love for their neighbor; indeed, our love for God deepens when we are nourished through acts of charity towards others. God's love produces love for neighbor; prior to stating, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matt. 22:39), the Lord emphasizes, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God" (Matt. 22:37) (See Deut. 6:5; Deut. 10:12). Thus, the Lord desires to establish the root of His love within our souls, from which the branches of brotherly love will flourish. Moreover, our love for God is strengthened by our love for our neighbor, as John attests, "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 cannot love God whom he has not seen" (1 Jn. 4:20). Love for God, born from reverence, matures into fervent passion.