Coals And Lamps

Et similitudo animalium, et aspectus eorum quasi carbonum ignis ardentium, et quasi aspectus lampadarum. Aspectus animalium carbonibus ignis ardentibus atque lampadibus comparatur. Quisquis enim carbonem tangit, incenditur, quia qui sancto viro adhaeret, ex ejus assiduitate visionis, usu locutionis, exemplo operis accipit ut accendatur in amorem veritatis, peccatorum suorum tenebras fugiat, in desiderio lucis exardescat, et jam per verum amorem ardeat, qui prius in iniquitate tantum mortuus, quantum frigidus jacebat. Lampades vero lucem suam longius spargunt, et cum in alio loco sint, in alio resplendent. Qui enim spiritu prophetiae, verbo doctrinae, miraculorum pollet gratia, hujus opinio longe lateque ut lampas lucet; et quique bona ejus audiunt, quia per haec ad amorem coelestium surgunt, in eo quod se per bona opera exhibent, quasi ex lampadis lumine resplendent. Quia ergo sancti viri quosdam juxta se positos quasi tangendo ad amorem patriae coelestis accendunt, carbones sunt. Quia vero quibusdam longe positis lucent, eorum itineri, ne in peccati tenebras corruant, lampades fiunt. Hoc vero inter carbones et lampades distat, quod carbones ardent quidem, sed ejus loci in quo jacuerint tenebras non expellunt; lampades autem, quia magno flammarum lumine resplendent, diffusas circumquaque tenebras effugant. Sanctus Gregorius Magnus, In Ezechielem Prophetam, Liber Primus, Homilia V Source: Migne PL 76.823a-b

And the likeness of the living creatures and the appearance of them was as coals burning with fire, and as the appearance of lamps. 1 The appearance of the living creatures is compared to coals burning with fire and with lamps. For as whoever touches a coal is burned, so he who associates with a holy man, from the assiduity of his vision, his use of speech, and the example of works, he catches fire with the love of truth and flees the darkness of his sins, burning up in longing for light, already aflame for true love, he who previously, as much as he was dead in wickedness, was as much like a man frozen and cast down. But the lamps cast their light afar, and being in one place, they shine into another. For he who has the spirit of prophecy, the word of teaching, the grace to perform miracles, his fame spreads far and wide like a lamp, and whoever hears of his goodness, because they rise to the love of heaven by this, in which they reveal themselves through good works, they shine as from the light of a lamp. Because, then, certain holy men are placed near some people that it is like touching, they are the coals which ignite to love for the heavenly fatherland. Because, however, they shine for those placed far away, for their journey, lest they fall into the darkness of sin, they are like lamps. This, then, is the difference between coals and lamps, that coals burn but they do not drive out the darkness from the place in which they are placed, but lamps, because they shine with the great light of flames, they drive off the widespread surrounding darkness. Saint Gregory the Great, On the Prophet Ezekiel, Book 1, from Homily 5 1 Ezek 1.13