Vigils Reading

MANY ARE CALLED,

BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN

From “The Conferences” of St John Cassian

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Now something must be said about the renunciations which the tradition

of the Fathers and the authority of Holy Scripture show to be three and which

each one of us ought to pursue with all our zeal. The first is that by which in

bodily fashion we despise all the wealth and resources of the world. The second

is that by which we reject the former behavior, vices, and affections of soul and

body. The third is that by which we call our mind away from everything that is

present and visible and contemplate only what is to come and desire those

things that are invisible.

We read that the Lord commanded Abraham to do these three things all at

once when he said to him, Leave your country and your kinsfolk and your

father’s house. First he spoke of your country – namely, of the resources of this

world and of earthly wealth; secondly, of your kinsfolk – namely, of the former

way of life and behavior and vices that have been related to us from our birth by

a connection as it were of a certain affinity or consanguinity; thirdly, of your

father’s house – namely, of every vestige of this world which the eyes gaze upon.

Therefore, if we desire to achieve true perfection we ought to strive so

that, just as with our body we have disdained parents, homeland, wealth, and

the pleasures of the world, we may also in our heart abandon all these things

and not turn back again in our desires to what we have left behind, like those

who were led out by Moses. Although, to be sure, they did not return in body,

nonetheless they are said to have turned back to Egypt in their heart, for they

abandoned the God who had led them out with such powerful signs and they

venerated the idols of Egypt that they had once disdained. Scripture recalls it

thus: In their hearts they turned back to Egypt, saying to Aaron: Make for us

gods who will go before us.

We would be censured along with those who dwelled in the desert and

who desired the disgusting food of vice and filthiness after having eaten the

heavenly manna, and we would seem to complain like them: It was well with us

in Egypt, when we sat over pots of flesh and ate onions and garlic and

cucumbers and melons. Although this manner of speaking first referred to that

people, nonetheless we see it now daily fulfilled in our life and profession. For

everyone who has first renounced this world and then returns to his former

pursuits and his erstwhile desires proclaims that in deed and in intention he is

the same as they were, and he says: ‘It was well with me in Egypt’.

I fear that there will be found as many such people as we read there were

multitudes of sinners in the time of Moses. For although six hundred and three

thousand armed men were said to have left Egypt, no more than two of these

entered the promised land. Hence we must strive to take our models of virtue

from the few and far between, since, according to that figure of speech in the

Gospel, many are said to be called but few are said to be chosen. Bodily

renunciation and removal from Egypt, as it were, will be of no value to us,

therefore, if we have been unable to obtain at the same time the renunciation

of heart which is more sublime and more beneficial.