Seeking What Is Above

Si ergo dilectissimi, consurrexistis in anima interim sola cum Christo resurgente in carne sola, quae sursum sunt quaerite, intentione et desiderio animae, ubi Christus est in dextera Dei sedens, etiam corpore. Multi enim, quae sursum sunt, quaerunt desorum, quales sunt, qui dignitatem et gratiam, sufficientiam et delectionem quaerunt in terrenis. Isti sunt, qui statuerunt oculos suos declinare in terram, quaerentes summa in imis. Alii autem quae deorsum sunt, quaerunt sursum; id est in virtute vanam gloriam, in sapientia jactantiam, in veritate curiositatem, ad extremum in studio spirituali, et habitu religioso emolumentum aliquod temporale, vel laudis, vel dignitatis, vel pecuniae, vel licentiosae liberatatis. Alii, quae deorsum sunt, quaereunt deorsum, terrena videlicet in terrenis, et in carnalibus carnalia; qui omnes omnino quae super terram sunt sapiunt, et non quae sursum. Alii vero quae sursum sunt quaerunt sursum, id est, in veris vera, in spiritualibus spiritualia, in coelestibus coelestia, et in divinis divina, sapientes quae Dei sunt, et in novitate vitae ambulantes, complantati similitudini mortis Christi, dum peccato et carni et mundo mortui sunt, configurati resurrectioni Christi, dum alienati a prioris corruptelae, et sensualitatis vita, in carne quodammodo supra carnem degunt, consedentes quoque cum eo in coelestibus, dum eorum requies et conversatio in coelis est, et conregnantes illi, dum omnia sua ad spiritualem profectum deservire compellunt. Praeterea, qui coelestem remunerationem quaerunt in actibus terrenis, profecto laudabiliter summa quaerunt in imis, sicut reprehensibiliter ima in summis, qui terrenum in spiritualibus. Minus quidem ab his reprehensibiliter agunt, qui ima quaerunt in imis; omnium vero laudabilius, qui summa in summis, quae est, dilectissimi, professio, et propostium. Isaac, Cisterciensis Abbas, Sermo XL in Die Paschae Source: Migne PL 194.1827a-d

If then, most beloved, you have risen, in the soul alone for the time being, with Christ rising in the body, you must seek what is above, with all intent and desire of soul, where Christ now sits at the right hand of God, even in the body. Many there are who seek what is above below, the sort who look for dignity and favour, for abundance and pleasure, in earthly things. These are the ones 'who have set their eyes to bend down to earth,' 1 seeking high things in the lowest. But others seek what is below above, that is, vainglory in virtue, boasting in wisdom, entertainment in truth, and they even go to the extreme of seeking some temporal profit in the religious habit, either praise, or honour, or money, or unrestricted freedom. Others seek below what is below, the earthly in earthly things, the carnal in carnal things, all who know everything which is on the earth and nothing above. Others, however, seek above what is above, things true in what is true, things spiritual in what is spiritual, things heavenly in the heavenly, things divine in what is divine, knowing what belongs to God, walking in the new life, buried in the likeness of the death with Christ, 2 being dead to sin and flesh and the world. being shaped in the resurrection of Christ, having been estranged from a former life of corruption and sensuality, in the flesh living as above the flesh, enthroned with Him in the heavens, 3 for their rest and converse is in the heavens, 4 and even ruling with Him, compelling everything to serve their spiritual advance. Moreover, they who seek heavenly reward in worldly deeds are doubtless more praiseworthy seeking high things in low things, as they are more reprehensible who seek low things in high things, worldly things in spiritual things. Certainly less blameworthy than them are those who seek low things in low things, but the most praiseworthy of all are those who seek high things in the heights, which is, most beloved, our profession and purpose. Isaac of Stella, from Sermon 40, On Easter 1 Ps 16.11 2 Rom 6.4-5 3 Ephes 2.6 4 Philip 3.20