Tears, not Sorrows
When you hear me speak of tears, you need not think of sorrow. The tears of which I am speaking bring more joy than all the laughter of the world can gain for you.
Do you doubt my words? Then listen to St Luke who tells us how the apostles, after being beaten with rods by order of the Sanhedrin, were filled with joy. [Acts 5:41]
Clearly that joy was not the effect of the rods. They cause pain, not pleasure. What rods cannot do however faith in Christ can. Faith triumphs over the nature of events. The beatings endured for Christ were springs of joy. Is it surprising, then, if the same effect is produced by tears shed for the selfsame Lord?
That is the reason why Jesus says on the one hand that the way is narrow, but on the other hand his yoke is sweet. [Matt. 7:14; 11:30]
John Chrysostom, On Virginity 54, Iff. (SCI25, P.331)
Be Hard on your Heart
Avoid flattery. Flattery confirms sinners in their evil desires by giving them praise. Avoid flatterers. Flatterers’ tongues rivet souls to their sins.
Not only do we normally steer clear of anyone who is in a position to reprimand us, we look for someone to heap praises on us. Whereas we ought to pray with the Psalmist: ‘Let a good person strike or rebuke me in kindness.'[Ps. 141:5] Look for reproof, rather than praise. If your friend is good and kind, when he sees you are set to commit a sin, he will correct you in his kindness.
It is the Lord who deigns to speak through the one who corrects his brother or sister. He speaks so that the brother or sister who is reproved may not be lost.
The one who reprimands another does not hate. Indeed, he reprimands precisely because he does not hate. What then is the result? Listen to Scripture: ‘Reprove a wise person and he will love you.’ [Prov. 9:8]
Do not therefore covet praise which can make you a sinner; you will only collect contempt in the end if you do. It is better to love a good person who reproves you in his kindness
Augustine, On Psalm 140, 13 (PL37, I 815)
It Depends How You Use It
There are good things, bad things and things that are indifferent. Some of the things that are indifferent people consider to be good or bad while in reality they are neither. I will give you an example, to explain my meaning more clearly.
Poverty is in general thought to be an evil. Not so: if someone who is poor practises watchfulness and wisdom, poverty itself can completely overcome evil.
On the other hand, wealth is regarded as a good thing by most people. But that is not entirely true: it depends how you use it. If wealth were a good thing in itself and on its own account, then everyone who possesses it ought to be good. Yet not all rich people are virtuous, only those who manage their money in a responsible way. Therefore wealth is not a good thing in itself, it is only an instrument for doing good.
So with regard to indifferent things: they are either good or bad according to the use that is made of them.
John Chrysostom, Commentary on Isaiah, 3ff. (PG56, 146)
~Thomas Spidlik, Drinking from the Hidden Fountain: A Patristic Breviary, Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World
