Воздаяние

Penalties and retributions are always proportionate to the crimes (1). And why does anyone know that one is punished for a vicious life, while another is exalted as worthy of praise? Or maybe vice versa - this one rises precisely because he is thin; and he is subjected to temptation for his virtue; this one rises higher in order to fall harder, he is allowed to reveal in advance, like a certain disease, all his depravity, so that the punishment that befalls him will be all the more just; and he is oppressed beyond expectation, so that, having been tempted like gold in a crucible (Wisdom 3:6), he may be cleansed from the slightest admixture of evil that still remains in him (for no one by natural birth is completely pure from filth, as we hear from Scripture (see Job 14:4), and appear even more worthy, since I also find this secret in the Divine Scripture (see Pres. 3:5) It would take a long time to list all the words of the Spirit that relate here. And who can count the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and the depth of the abyss (see Sir. 1:2-3)? Likewise, who can explore in everything the depth of the wisdom of God, with which He created everything and governs everything as He wants and as He knows?.. And who will dare to measure what is beyond all measure by comprehensible considerations? So, let someone be bold and courageous to do this, or better yet, no one. I dare not attribute either punishment in life here to vice, or a calm state to virtue. True, such reward also happens here, and, of course, for some useful purposes, so that, on the one hand, the misfortunes of evil people stop the pursuit of vice, and on the other, the prosperity of the good ones eases the path of virtue, but this does not always happen and not completely. Full reward belongs to the only future life, where some will receive rewards for virtue, and others - punishments for vice. They will rise, for it is said, these are in the resurrection of life, these are in the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:29). But for real life there is a different law, a different knowledge (1). If I ever send an exhausted widow from my door with nothing, or from my own hands, instead of the desired bread or tasty fish, I give someone a stone or a terrible snake, covering up enmity with friendliness, then may I myself receive the same reward from God (2)! You might be interested in: