Discourse 34

On the natural children of the virtues and of the rest. To the same one: On humility, what it is in relation to sanctity. That which is born from it is the taste of the first sentient perception of the mysteries of God, that which is called the first stage of the knowledge of the spirit. Do not let a man deceive himself and cut off the arguments. For a defiled soul does not ascend to the kingdom of purity. If this is a matter of wonder, and if that is true and not to be mixed with the holy spirits, except when the elements are mixed for their life, by the natural distinction of solitude, the abode is prepared for the great future dwelling. Empty, O brother, the beauties of your asceticism by means of tears and fasting, and place a guard over the solitude that is with your soul. When, therefore, the straight course of the natural sphere is completed and reaches the great luminous one, that which is established for the spheres of the many stars of the first distinctions, like Paul in the demonstration concerning the future resurrection, and it was mixed in its rays not naturally speaking: then the chariot of will shall be bound in the reins of ignorance, and both of their many springs shall be subdued, cut off from the desire of their subjugation. And they went out from the sanctuary then and the priests, from before the cloud of the honor of the Lord.

In the time when that king reigned over Israel, Solomon: this peace, then, which is born from humility, is the house that is fitting for the Lord, and it forms him in all the holy mysteries. A small suffering for God's sake is better than a great labor that is without feeling, because voluntary suffering is the proof of love that is pure in it. Labor, however, that is with ease comes from satiety of the mind. For this reason: the saints were proved by sufferings for the love of Christ, and not by labor that is with ease. Labor without toil is the righteousness of the worldly; those who are separate from them are justified, but not by their standing are they made better. But you, O victor, taste in yourself the suffering of Christ, so that you may also be worthy of the taste of his glory. If you suffered with him, you will also be glorified with him. Not the body is glorified with Jesus, but the body suffered for Jesus. So then, the one who burns with glory and receives glory, in his body together with himself is glorified. The glory of the body is humble service with God. The glory of the body is the contemplation of the truth concerning God. Right service is intimately joined with labor and pain, so that when the body suffers, the heart also suffers with it. But if you know God, his love cannot be shaken in you.

It is not possible to conceive of God, but I have seen God. I have seen God when I knew Him. The vision of Him does not precede the knowledge of Him. I ask of your knowledge, my Lord, that I may also conceive of you. Not that knowledge which is accompanied by the distraction of the air, which is a product of instruction. Rather, I ask for that knowledge by which the air looks upon you, and becomes the glorifier of your purity. By that gaze which removes the world's perception from thought. I ask to be raised from the natural colors that generate thoughts, and to look upon you by the short path of the bonds of the cross, by that same path of the two crosses of the air, by which the freedom of the air is abolished from the service of the movements, through the gaze that is spoken of and not natural to you. Place in me the refining of your love, so that I may be one who pursues after you from the world. Stir in me the understanding of your humility, that by which the turning about in the world is accomplished through the concealment of the enfolding from the members, whose remembrance is spoken of and not attainable, so that I may be a receiver of the sweetness of the humility of your purity. Two things are from the paths of the ascent of the cross. One: the crucifixion of the body. And the second: the ascent of theory. But the first is of freedom. The two are of the workings. The air is not enslaved if the body is not enslaved. The kingdom of the air is the crucifixion of the body.

It is not possible for God to be enslaved, but freedom is enslaved to the rational nature. It is difficult to bring to completion the lowly, humble, elevated will. Woe to you, O city, whose king is lost! He who enslaves himself is near to having everything enslaved to him. He who knows Him, the knowledge of everything is given to him. That which is of your nature is the perfection of the knowledge of everything. Just as your nature is completed by everything, by His knowledge the knowledge of everything is completed. And by the enslavement of your nature, the enslavement of everything is accomplished. In the hour when you cause humility to rule over your conduct, your nature is enslaved to you, and with it everything. For from your heart is born peace from God. As long as you are outside of this, you are not only persecuted by passions, but also by events, being driven away with weariness. Truly, O Lord, unless you humble yourself, you will not cease from your own humiliation. True humility is the begetter of knowledge. And right knowledge is the begetter of visions.