Rest for the Saints

Regarding various sufferings, such as being in poverty, or passing from wealth into poverty in different ways, or being in various crises and others in some evil, and not only experiencing such bad things but also important ones, examining the judgment, he asks saying: 'For why is light given to those in bitterness?' (Job 36:30). For if he knows, but indeed wishes us to be enduring, he instructs, as it is fitting to receive the teaching of these things from God. And regarding those being embittered because of the injustices of men, he says: 'For why is light given to those in bitterness?' (Job 36:30). Such a thing even Jeremiah, alluding to it, said: 'I sat alone, because I was filled with bitterness' (Jeremiah 9:21). And he fell into bitterness because he saw the irregularities and injustices concerning men. And these same ones also grieve.

Or did not the blessed Paul have pain, saying: 'Great sorrow is mine, and unceasing pain to my heart. For I wish that I myself might be an anathema for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh' (Romans 9:3), who happened to be outside of it because of 'turning away from the truth' (Romans 2:8)? And he also shares in death, saying: 'It is better to depart and be with Christ' (Philippians 1:23), just as 'digging up a treasure' (2 Cor 4:7 allusion) is the desire for this, as one of the saints says: 'Woe, that my sojourning has been made long' (Hebrews 11:13), and writing about Paul concerning similar things: 'For they do not have here a staying city, but they seek the one that is to come' (Hebrews 11:16). Therefore, not even being lovers of life are they ready to die, as the blessed Paul says: 'Daily I die' (1 Corinthians 15:31). For because of this readiness he wrote thus. For a lover of life would not say this. For the saints know that if they come out of this life, they will receive the divine rewards.

Therefore, just as they are 'digging up a treasure' (2 Cor 4:7 allusion), it happens even if the digging is done with toil. Just as also the saints themselves through much toil look forward to entering the kingdom—but hope deafens the toil—so also those contending in the struggle suffer much, looking toward the crown. It is also fitting for these same saints the following half-verse, if he says: 'But they became circumspect, if they should encounter it.' No one of the bad ones, even if he is in crisis and because of this desires to depart from life, per...

One becomes rich after departing. For if the afflictions of those here have ceased, but instead they receive the blows that have become established, and even as they withdraw they possess the impulses, or passions, or wildness, or other sufferings of the soul, which have been sent to them here having been strengthened. Because of the following blows, they are not without joy.

Therefore, let this also be understood concerning the saints: either they are not without joy, being sent by angels and encountering the bosom of Abraham and exchanging this life for the kingdom, despite the circumstances for which they suffered externally and for the sake of virtue they endured pains; and even the blessed David, looking toward those things and though being king, considering life to be like a prison, sang to God: 'Bring my soul out of the prison' (Ps 142:7). For he was not being guarded in a sensible prison. There is also the thought from what is approaching, as he desired the deliverance from here; for he says: 'The righteous shall wait for me, until I am repaid' (Ps 116:15). And this is equivalent to: 'so that we may not be perfected apart from ourselves.' Of these are the true masculine sacrifices, and those of the promises.

If this is so, how are the saints not without joy, encountering the end of this life, after which the kingdom of heaven shall receive it? 'Death is a rest to a man; for God has shut up the door against him' (Wis 1:15; Ps 108:7). If anyone wished to take this according to what is at hand, he might say, that for those in circumstance and in pains death is a rest, since 'God has shut up the door against him' (Ps 108:7), dismissing the circumstances. But he who follows with the first thought will have nothing to complain about, saying, as if not all those who end in rest become so by receiving the bad blows.

And this should also be noted, that he did not say: 'death to a man,' but 'to a man of valor'; for he who has courage and is in virtue is unshakeable toward death, having himself most ready for it and singing: 'My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready' (Ps 57:7). And this same shall have rest, receiving the promises directed toward him. And moreover, he shall have rest while suffering, because that which 'God has shut up against him' (Ps 108:7) through the common decree of that which is said concerning Adam, 'Dust you are and to dust you shall return' (Gen 3:19), is released by 'departing' from him 'pain and sorrow and sighing' (Rom 8:22) because of having heard: 'Enter...'