"'For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord' (Rm 8:38-39). What then should we deserve, when Paul is found not to value even the things in heaven as compared with the desire for Christ, while we set greater value on things of mud and clay than on Christ? Paul, out of desire for Him, would take falling into hell and being banished from the kingdom, if the choice between the two were put to him. We do not so easily rise above the things of earthly life. Are we worthy then to touch his shoes, when we have come to be so far short of his greatness of mind? For Christ's sake Paul does not think anything of a kingdom. While we think slightingly of Him, but of the things that are His we make a great fuss. Would that it were just of His things. But it is not even this. While a kingdom is held out to us, we let that go, and keep pursuing shadows and dreams all our days.

"Yet God in His love toward man and exceeding gentleness, has done the same as an affectionate father would, if his son tried to run away from home. He would work to keep him home in whatever way he could. Since we have not the right desire for our Father and His house, He keeps putting many other things before us, so as to hold us to Himself. Yet not even for this do we remain with Him, but we keep springing off to childish play. Not so Paul, but like a noble spirited child, who is attached to his father, he seeks only after the Father's presence, and other things he does not care much about. For he does not value the Father and things that are His at the same rate, but when he looks to the Father, he counts those things nothing. He would choose rather to be chastised and beaten, so that he was with Him, rather than be separated from Him and be indulged in his ease. We should shudder, because, even for Christ's sake, we do not even think about anything other than money.

"Paul truly suffered all things for Christ's sake, not for the sake of the kingdom, or his own honor, but owing to his love for Him. But as for us, neither Christ nor the things of Christ draw us from the things of this life. As worms, snakes, swine, or even as all of them at once, we keep rolling in the mire. How are we better than those insensible creatures, when we have so many and such great examples before us, yet we still keep bowing down and have not the heart to look up to heaven even for a little time? Yet God gave up His own Son. But you will not so much as share your bread with Him, who was given up for you and who was slain for you. For your sake the Father spared Him not, and this too although He was indeed His Son, but you can't look up to Him even when you are starving. Even then you should spend what belongs to Him, and spend it for your own good (Is 55:1-2). What could be worse than such a breach of law as this? He was given up for you, He was slain for you, He hungered for you. You should give of His, that you might get the gain, and still you do not give! What sort of stone is more senseless, who in spite of such great encouragements, continues in this demonic hardness of heart? He was not satisfied with death and the cross only, but He took up poverty, became a stranger, a beggar, and naked, was thrown into prison, underwent weakness, that He might call you."