New Creatures

Saepe autem quosdam videmus ad vocem praedicationis, quasi ex conversione compunctos, habitum, non animum mutasse, ita ut religiosam vestem sumerent, sed anteacta vitia non calcarent; irae stimulis immaniter agitari, malitiae dolore in proximi laesionem fervescere, de ostensis quibusdam bonis ante humanos oculos superbire, praesentis mundi lucra inhianter quaerere, et de solo exterius habitu quem sumpserunt, sanctitatis fiduciam habere. Quibus quid aliud dicendum est, nisi hoc quod magister egregius quibusdam legis exteriora servantibus loquitur, dicens: Quia in Christo Jesu neque circumcisio aliquid valet, neque praeputium, sed nova creatura? Non enim magni est meriti, si quid foris erga nos agatur in corpore, sed magnopere pensandum est quid agatur in mente. Nam praesentem mundum despicere, transitoria non amare, mentem medullitus in humilitate Deo et proximo sternere, contra illatas contumelias patientiam servare, et, custodita patientia, dolorem malitiae a corde repellere, egenis propria tribuere, aliena minime ambire, amicum in Deo diligere, propter Deum et eos qui inimici sunt amare, de afflictione proximi lugere, de morte ejus qui inimicus est non exsultare, haec est nova creatura, quam idem magister gentium apud alios discipulos vigilanti oculo requirit, dicens: Si qua igitur in Christo nova creatura, vetera transierunt, ecce facta sunt omnia nova. Sanctus Gregorius Magnus, In Ezechielem Prophetam, Liber Primus, Homilia X

For often we see some by the voice of preaching, as if stung to convert, change but their garments not the soul, and thus they have only put on a religious vestment but have not trodden down their vices; and so by stimulus of anger they are fiercely agitated, and they are in a fervour to inflect grievous wounds of wickedness on their neighbour, and they vaunt showy goods before the eyes of men, and they covet the goods of the present world, and yet this putting on of the exterior garment alone they would have as a sure sign of sanctity. Concerning which what must be said, unless that which a wondrous teacher speaking of the servants of the exterior law, said: 'Because in Jesus Christ neither circumcision nor non circumcision profits, but a new creature.' ?1 For it is of no great merit, if something without acts against us in the body, but that which moves in the mind must be thought greater. For to despise the present world, to not love transitory things, to exert the heart of the mind in humility toward God and ones neighbour, to endure the assaults of insolence, to repel the pain of wickedness with the guard of patience, to give from one's own things to the needy, to not desire the things of another, to love a friend in God, to love even those who are enemies on account of God, to mourn the afflictions of a neighbour, not to exalt over the death of an enemy, this is the new creature which the same teacher of the gentiles sought with vigilant eye, saying to other pupils, 'If then a new creature in Jesus Christ, the old has passed away, and behold all things are made new.' 2 Saint Gregory the Great, On the Prophet Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 10 1 Gal 5.6 2 2 Cor. 5. 17