Unless I am convinced otherwise by my Augustinian friends, this reading from St. Chrysostom, appointed in Celebrating the Saints on the Feast of Ss. Timothy and Titus, goes for me.
Paul's words remind us that much zeal is required to stir up the grace of God in us. Just as a fire requires fuel, so grace requires our glad and willing consent if it is to be fervent. For it lies within our power to kindle or extinguish the grace of God in each of us. That is why Paul admonishes us: "Do not quench the Spirit!" The Spirit is quenched by sloth and carelessness, but kept alive by being watchful and diligent. As Paul goes on to say: "God did not give us a Spirit of fear, but rather a Spirit of love and of self-discipline." In other words, we have not received the Spirit that we should not need to make any effort in life, but rather that we may speak with boldness. But to us God has given a Spirit of power and of love for himself. This is the work of grace, and yet not only of grace: we too have a part to play. For the same Spirit that makes us cry out "Abba, Father!" inspires us with love both for God and for our neighbor, that we may love one another.
[In Praise of St. Paul, PG 52.427-30]
2 comments:
Yay! You got the summary format to work ;)
Also, you know (I assume?) that Cassian, the leading light of the semi-Pelagians, was a student of Chrysostom.
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