Advice On Service

Nemo potest duobus dominis servire. Nisi enim prius a secreto cordis expellatur importuna saecularium multitudo curarum, anima quae intrinsecus jacet nequaquam resurgit. Arguitur eorum tepor qui, Dei vacare volentes, mundoque renuntiant, et curas proprias aspernantur, sed dum propinquorum utilitates procurant, a Dei amore se separant. Vir spiritualis prodesse debet suae propinquitati, tamen cavere ne dum illis gratiam carnis praestare studet, ipse a spirituali proposito non declinet. Multi enim monachorum amore parentum non solum terrenis cruis, sed etiam forensibus jurgiis involuti, et pro suorum temprali salute suas animas perdiderunt. Sicut nostra nobis non odienda est animas perdiderunt. Sicut nostra nobis non odienda est anima, sed ejus carnales affectus, uta nec parentes a nobis odeindi sunt, sed eroum impedimenta, quae nos ab itinere recto praepediunt. Dum tamen Dominus ita praecepit a nobis parentes odiri sicut animas nostras. Nemo enim perpendere potest, quanti sit ponderis declinare a bono et facere malum, nisi prius toto mentis annisu convertitur ad Deum. Tripertitum describitur esse uniuscujusque conversi profectum, id est, primum corrigendi a malo, secundum feciendi bonum, tertium consequendi boni operis praemium. Ideoqie festinare debet ad Deum poenitendo unusquisque dum potest, ne si dum potest noluerit, cum tarde voluerit, omnino non possit. Proinde propheta ait: Quaerite Dominum dum inveniri potest, invocate eum dum prope est. Et ubi inveniri potest, nisi in hac vita, in qua etiam prope est omnibus invocantibus se in veritate Jesus Christus Dominus noster, qui omnibus in se veraciter fideliterque credentibus vitam et gloriam sempiternam praeparabit? Theodulfus Aurelianensis, Fragmentum Sermonis Source:Migne PL 105.280a-c

No one can serve two masters. 1 Unless from the depths of heart the great crowd of the demands of the world's cares is expelled, the soul that may boast within shall never rise. It is proved by the tepidness of those who wishing to make space for God, renounce the world, and despise their own cares, but they are yet eager to be useful to their families, by which they are separated from the love of God. A spiritual man should be of profit to his family, however let him beware lest being eager to excel in being benefical to their corporeal concerns, he falls away from the vow of the spiritual. Many monks because of love of parents have been embroiled not only in worldly cares, but even in quarrels in the courts, and for temporal advantage have destroyed their own souls. So as it is of us not to hate our souls, but the passions of the flesh, so we do not hate our own parents but their impediments, which bind us far from the right way. So does the Lord command us to hate our own parents like our souls. 2 No one is able to weigh matters carefully when by a great weight he falls away from the good and does evil, unless first the whole of the will of his heart is converted to God. The way of conversion for everyone is described in a threefold manner. First to correct onself in matters of evil, second to do good, third to achieve the reward of one's good works. Therefore we should make haste by penance to come to God while we are able, lest while we can we are unwilling, and when later we wish to, it is not longer possible. So the prophet says: 'Seek the Lord while he can be found. Call on him while He is near.' 3 And where is He to be found unless in this life, in which He is near to those who invoke Him in truth, 4 our Lord Jesus Christ, who being true and faithful to everyone who believes, prepares eternal life and glory. 5 Theodulf of Orleans, Fragment of A Sermon 1 Mt 6.24 2 Mt 10.37-39 3 Isaiah 55.6 4 Jn 4.24, Ps 144.18 5 Jn 14.2-3