St Athanasius the Great LETTERS, Part I, Complete

Translated by Cardinal Newman.

St Athanasius the Great Resources Online and in Print

This Part: 128 Pages

Page 80

2. For what else is the feast, but the service of the soul? And what is that service, but prolonged prayer to God, and unceasing thanksgiving [3981] ? The unthankful departing far from these are rightly deprived of the joy springing therefrom: for 'joy and gladness are taken from their mouth [3982] .' Therefore, the [divine] word doth not allow them to have peace; 'For there is no peace to the wicked, saith the Lord [3983] ,' they labour in pain and grief. So, not even to him who owed ten thousand talents did the Gospel grant forgiveness in the sight of the Lord [3984] . For even he, having received forgiveness of great things, was forgetful of kindness in little ones, so that he paid the penalty also of those former things. And justly indeed, for having himself experienced kindness, he was required to be merciful to his fellow servant. He too that received the one talent, and bound it up in a napkin, and hid it in the earth, was in consequence cast out for unthankfulness, hearing the words, 'Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed; thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and on my return, I should have received mine own. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that hath ten talents [3985] .' For, of course, when he was required to deliver up to his lord that which belonged to him, he should have acknowledged the kindness of him who gave it, and the value of that which was given. For he who gave was not a hard man, had he been so, he would not have given even in the first instance; neither was that which was given unprofitable and vain, for then he had not found fault. But both he who gave was good, and that which was given was capable of bearing fruit. As therefore 'he who withholdeth corn in seed-time is cursed [3986] ,' according to the divine proverb, so he who neglects grace, and hides it without culture, is properly cast out as a wicked and unthankful person. On this account, he praises those who increased [their talents], saying, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful in a little, I will place thee over much; enter into the joy of thy Lord [3987] .'

[3981] Cf. Clemens Alex. Strom. 7. 1. adialeiptos agape. Also 1 Thess. v. 16, 17, both in the Greek and in the Syriac vers. and Letter 11.

[3982] Apparently a quotation from Scripture, perhaps from Jer. vii. the phraseology of v. 28. being transferred to the sentiment of v. 34. The expression has already occurred, Letter 2. 4.

[3983] Is. xlviii. 22.

[3984] Matt. xviii. 24.

[3985] Matt. xxv. 26.

[3986] Prov. xi. 26.

[3987] Matt. xxv. 23.

Previous Page / First / Next Page of Athanasius - LETTERS

St Athanasius the Great Home Page ||| More Church Fathers

Elpenor's Free Greek Lessons

Reference address : https://elpenor.org/athanasius/letters.asp?pg=80