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Vigils Reading
March 16
LABOR WHILE IT IS YET DAY
From a sermon by St Ambrose7
◊◊◊
Give thanks, brethren, to the Divine Mercy which has brought you safely
half-way through the season of Lent. For this favor they give praise to God,
thankfully and with devotion, who in these days have striven to live in the
manner in which they were instructed at the beginning of Lent: that is, those
who, coming with eagerness to the church, have sought with sighs and tears, in
daily fasting and alms, to obtain the forgiveness of their sins.
They, however, who have neglected this duty, that is to say, those who
have not fasted daily, or given alms, or those who were indifferent or unmoved
in prayer, they have no reason to rejoice, but cause rather for mourning. Yet let
them not mourn as if they had no hope; for He who could give back sight to the
man blind from birth can likewise change those who now are lukewarm and
indifferent into souls fervent and zealous in His service, if with their whole heart
they desire to be converted unto Him.
Labor therefore, beloved children in the Lord, labor while it is yet day; for
as Christ our Lord says, The night comes, when no man can work. Daytime is
this present life; night is death and the time that follows death. If after this life
there is no more freedom to work, as the Truth tells us, why then does every
person not labor while yet there is time…while he still lives in this world?
Be fearful, brethren, of this death. All those who now work evil are
without fear of this death, and because of this when they depart from this life
they shall encounter everlasting death. Labor while you yet live, and particularly
in these days; fasting from dainty fare, withholding yourselves at all times from
evil works. For those who abstain from food, but do not withhold themselves
from wickedness, are like the devil, who while he eats not, never ceases from
evildoing.
7 The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers – vol. 2 – Henry Regnery Co – Chicago – 1958 – pg
82.15