The Attainment of Perfect Freedom
What are the external objects which rouse the passions in us? Chiefly the opposite sex, material possessions and fame. To avoid being overwhelmed by these passions, there are certain steps we can take.
As far as the opposite sex is concerned, it is enough to gain control of our own bodies by mortification. With respect to material possessions we must make a resolution to be content with the bare necessities. With regard to fame, let us try to experience the beauty of practicing virtue in secret, seen only by God.
Anyone who behaves in this fashion will not despise anything that exists on the face of the earth.
At times it happens that someone who has not these conditions before his eyes is not disturbed by the passions and enjoys a partial freedom. Yet the moment a person of the opposite sex or wealth or fame crosses his path, the passions tear his spirit to pieces.
Do not delude yourself into thinking that you have perfect freedom of spirit if there is no external object disturbing you. Only if you remain untroubled at the appearance of such an object, only then have you attained perfect freedom.
Maximus the Confessor
Centuries on Charity, 4, 49ff. (SC9, pp.162ff.)
Let us Glory in Temptation
The devil does not have only one weapon. He uses many different means to defeat human beings: now with bribery, now with boredom, now with greed he attacks, inflicting mental and physical wounds equally.
The kind of temptation varies with the different kinds of victim. Avarice is the test of the rich, loss of children that of parents and everyone is exposed to pain of mind or body. What a wealth of weapons is at the devil’s disposal!
It was for this reason that the Lord chose to have nothing to lose. He came to us in poverty so that the devil could find nothing to take away from him. You see the truth of this when you hear the Lord himself saying: ‘The prince of this world is come and has found nothing in me.’ [John 14:30] The devil could only test him with bodily pain, but this too was useless because Christ despised bodily suffering.
Job was tested by his own goods, whereas Christ was tempted, during the experience of the wilderness, by the goods of all. In fact, the devil robbed Job of his riches and offered Christ the kingdom of the whole world. Job was tested by vexations, Christ by prizes. Job the faithful servant replied: ‘The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away.’ [Job 1:21] Christ, being conscious of his own divine nature, scorned the devil’s offering of what already belonged to him.
So let us not be afraid of temptations. Rather, let us glory in them saying: ‘When I am weak, then am I strong.’ [2 Cor. 12:10]
Ambrose
On the Gospel of St Luke, 4, 39 (PL15, 1625)
~ Thomas Spidlik, Drinking from the Hidden Fountain, A Patristic Breviary: Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World
