Deeds And Merits

Deus qui loqui dat, tacere facit; et imperat silentium, qui inserit verbum; dominatur divinus sermo, non servit, quia Deus verbum; et ideo non cum jubetur loquitur, sed cum jubet; non cum exigitur, sed cum donat; non cum cogitur, sed cum venit. Unde, fratres, et cum venit audite, et cum non venit sustinete, et cum se donat accipite, et cum se negat orate; quia hoc doctor accipit, quod meretur auditor. Sanctus Petrus Chrysologus, Sermo LXXXVI Source: Migne PL 52.441-442

God who gives the power to speak, makes silent, He who implants the Word. The Divine speech is not ruled, because the Word is God, and therefore He does not speak when He is commanded but when He commands, not when He is importuned, but when He gives, not when He is forced, but then He comes. Whence, brothers, when He comes, listen; and when He does not, be patient; and when He gives Himself, receive Him; and when He does not, pray; because this teacher does what a listener merits. Saint Peter Chrysologus, from Sermon 86