Vigils Reading

A Reading on the Path to Christian Discipleship by Isaac of Stella

We were enemies of God, “slaves of sin, rightdoing had no claims upon us.” The Son set us free, so that we are really “free from the claims of sin” and from the devil, and have become “slaves of rightdoing”. This is the first stage, the one the Psalmist craves and calls for in the words: “Save me, Lord.” Once his prayer has been granted he rejoices thus: “O Lord, you have freed me from peril, I, your servant and the son, not yet of you, but of your handmaid.” You have broken the chains that bound me.” The chains, he means, with which the devil had controlled him as though he were no better than a four-footed beast. Kept from doing and from moving as he should, man was no longer the “man who went abroad to toil and drudge”.

Set free, man can use his feet, is able to, at least, stretch out his withered hand. The crooked has come straight, the enemy has become a willing servant. Though utterly worthless he would be of service to him who had “no need of his services.” The service of God is profitable to such as would “earn salvation in anxious fears,” to those who remembered the words, “And you, when you have done all that was commanded you, are to say, we are servants and worthless.” One who does evil with a bad intention or good with an evil intention is reckoned an enemy. One who does everything with a good intention ranks as a servant, but not yet as a friend.

It is for a servant of God to do good, to perform the works of virtue, of justice and of mercy; to know his plans and be involved in his secrets is for God’s friends. They had reached this second stage, those one-time enemies of God become his servants, to whom were addressed the words “I do not speak of you anymore as my servants but as my friends.” Is there a further stage? Yes, none other than the third stage where Christ’s friends become his brothers, become children of God and thereby finally his heirs, for if we are his children then we are also made his heirs”. “Blessed,” says our Lord, “are the peacemakers! They shall be counted the children of God.” In other words, the clean of heart have through contemplation, come to know all that the Son has heard from the Father, and because they are pacified they are counted the children of God.

For the love of Christ tell me, my dear brothers, I beg you, tell me what is this satisfying peace, so worth loving and desiring, so precious that it ranks higher than all the virtues, is beyond all deserving, surpasses all else, obtains the highest and greatest happiness? Let us question our fellowmen, let us question those companions and intercessors of awe, the holy angels. Let us especially ask God for this wisdom we need so much, for “he gives freely and ungrudgingly”.

Let us seek it through prayer, meditation and reading, and never be discouraged. If only our seeking is in good earnest, the gift will be ours; the truth itself that we seek has guaranteed it to me in the words, “Seek and you shall find”. This is the treasure hidden in the field, the rare pearl that repays the most unwearied search. Cheap at any price, no miser could hoard it too closely. This is that highest of mountains upon which the Son alone had access to the Father as a natural right. Yet having no mind to be the Father’s only heir, he freely chose to have adopted brothers. We should, you will agree, spare no effort to achieve whatever is necessary to become brothers of Christ and sons of God, “heirs of God and coheirs with Christ”