St. Ephraim the Syrian
He who wishes to be saved,
beloved, let him hasten; and he who desires to enter the Kingdom of God, let
him not be indifferent. He who wishes to escape from the fire of Gehenna, let
him struggle lawfully; and he who does not desire to be cast into the sleepless
worm, let him be attentive. He who wishes to be exalted, let him be humble; and
he who desires to be comforted, let him mourn. He who longs to enter the Bridal
Chamber and to experience its joy, let him take a shining lamp and oil in his
vessel. He who hopes to recline at those wedding-feasts, let him acquire a
splendid garment (Matt. 22:11, 13).
The city of the King is full of
gladness and exultation, full of light and sweetness, and for those who dwell
within it, sweetness springs forth together with eternal life. If, then, anyone
longs to become a fellow-citizen of the King, let him quicken his step, for the
day is already nearly at its end, and no one knows what he will encounter on
the road. For just as a certain traveler, who knows the length of the road,
lies down and sleeps until evening draws near; then, after waking, he sees that
the day is nearly at its end; and as soon as he begins to walk, suddenly
clouds, hail, thunder, lightning, and afflictions come from every side, for he
neither manages to reach the lodging-place nor is he able to return to his own
place—so also we, if we show indifference during the time of repentance, will
suffer the same thing; for we are strangers and sojourners.
Let us therefore take care to
enter the city and our homeland with riches. We are spiritual merchants, my
brethren, seeking the precious pearl (Matt. 13:45–46), which is Christ our
Savior, our boast and inviolable treasure. Therefore, let us acquire Him with
great diligence. Blessed and thrice-blessed is he who took care to make Him his
possession; but thrice-wretched is he who neglected to make the Creator of us
all his possession, and at the same time to become the possession of this
treasure.
Do you not know, brethren, that
we are a branch of the true Vine (John 15:1), which is the Lord? Take heed,
then, lest anyone be found to be fruitless. For the Father of truth is the
husbandman. He cultivates this Vine, and those who bear fruit He tends, so that
they may bear more fruit; but those who do not produce fruit He cuts off at the
root and casts outside the vineyard, to be burned in the fire. Take heed, then,
to yourselves, lest you be found fruitless and, having been cut off at the
root, be delivered over to the fire.
We are also good seed, which the
Creator of heaven and earth, Christ the Master of the house, has sown. Behold!
The harvest has arrived, and the reapers hold the sickles in their hands,
awaiting the Master’s signal. Take heed, therefore, lest anyone be found to be
a tare, and, after being bound into a bundle, be burned in the eternal fire
(Matt. 13:30).
From Venerable Ephraim the Syrian, Works, vol. I,
published by “The Garden of the Panagia,” Thessaloniki 1995, p. 130.
Greek online source:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.