Fragment on "Rejoice in That Day

pure in both deed and mind, he will stand on the right hand ^A in the day of judgment with those who will be blessed, and not with those who are cursed. Let us therefore also entreat God, the Lord of all, to become our guide, so that walking in the light of his countenance according to the prophetic song, we may not turn aside to the right or to the left; but may walk the royal road which leads to eternal life. May we attain to this by the grace and loving-kindness of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father be glory, honor, and power, together with the most Holy Spirit, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

FRAGMENT ON LUKE

CAP. VI, v. 25. Just as in the body one who is healthy and happily robust prides himself on that very fact because of his firm health, rejoicing in the pleasure born of a sound body, and as neither intemperance of the air, nor heat, nor cold, nor a frugal table, nor anything else of this kind could disturb him—for his good health repels these injuries—so too it happens in the case of the soul. ^B Therefore also Paul, suffering countless terrible things, rejoiced, saying: *I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake*, not only in the kingdom of heaven, where the reward of virtue is laid up, but also in the sufferings themselves, since this too is a very great reward—to suffer something for the sake of the truth. For this reason also the chorus of the apostles came out from the assembly of the Jews rejoicing, not only because of the kingdom of heaven, but because they were considered worthy to be disgraced for the name of Jesus; and this very thing, and for this very reason, is the greatest honor and crown and prize and cause of immortal pleasure. It is no light conflict, but a violent conflict of calumny. Therefore Solomon, when he contemplated the troublesome struggle, says: *I saw the calumnies that are done under the sun, and behold the tears of those who are calumniated, and there was no one to comfort them*. If then the conflict is great, as it is in reality, it is manifest that the crown proposed for it is great; therefore Christ commands those who are struggling in this way to rejoice and exult, [G] with the fitting patience.