Obstacles And Gospels

Μηδέν έμποδών τῷ τοῦ Κυρίου Εύαγγελίῳ γινέσθω, μηδέ περισπασμδς τῇ πνευματικῇ άκολουθείτω διδασκαλίᾳ μηδέ θόρυβος τῇ έπωφελεΐ διαλέξει μεσιτευέτω. Οὔτε γὰρ Χριστὸς ζητούμενος ύπὸ τῆς μητέρος καὶ τῶν αδελφών, αυτών την χλῆσιν προσήχατο, ήνίκα δογμάτων άπήρξατο, καὶ σωτηρίαν τοῖς άκροαταῖς κατειργάζετο, δεικνὺς ὡς χρή τῶν σαρκικῶν είναι τα πνευματικΐ προτιμότερα. Οὔτω καὶ οί αυτοῦ μαθηταὶ τῶν τραπεζῶν παρῃτήιαντο τὴν έπίσκεψιν άναγκαίαν οὐσαν διὰ τοὺς πένητας. Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος Του Πηλουσιώτου, Βιβλιον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολή ΡΗΘ', Λεοντιῳ Ἐπισκοπῳ Source: Migne PG 78.289b

Nothing must be placed as an obstacle to the Gospel of the Lord. Do not let any distraction of soul accompany spiritual teaching, nor any tumult interrupt any useful discussion. For Christ did not admit His mother and brethren when they sought Him, 1 since then it was favourable to give the gift of teaching and to work the salvation of those who were listening, which shows that spiritual matters should take precedence over the flesh. In this way the disciples entreated consideration at his table, though it was necessary to hold back other poor folk. Saint Isidore of Pelusium, Book 1, Letter 159, To the Bishop Leontius 1 Mt 12.46