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Not everyone, he says, can receive this word, but to whom it is given (Matthew 19:11). When you hear: to whom it is given, do not fall into heresy because of this, do not introduce different natures: earthly, spiritual and average, for some hold false opinions and think that some by nature are destined for complete destruction, and others for salvation, while others are placed in such a state that their own arbitrariness leads them to bad or to good. And I agree that one has more or less ability in comparison with another; but ability alone is not enough for perfection, and the mind must arouse the ability for nature to come into action, just as a pyrite stone, if struck with iron, itself becomes iron. When you hear: to whom it is given, then add - it is given to those who are called and those who have a disposition for it, for when we also hear: not from him who wills, not from him who strives, but from God who has mercy (Rom. 9:16), I advise you to mean the same thing. Since there are people who think so highly of their merits that they attribute everything to themselves, and not to the One who created and made them wise, not to the Giver of blessings; The Word of God teaches such that God’s help is needed in order to wish good, especially since the very choice of what is due is something Divine, a gift of God’s love for mankind. For it is necessary that the matter of salvation depend both on us and on God. Therefore it is said: not from the one who wishes, that is, not from the one who wills, not from the one who strives only, but also from the merciful God. Then, since will itself is from God, the apostle rightly attributed everything to God. Whether you walk or work, you always need someone who gives you a crown. If the Lord does not build the house, the builders labor in vain; If the Lord does not preserve the city, the watchman watches in vain (Ps. 126:1). I know, he says, that running does not depend on the easy ones, war does not depend on the strong, and victory and the pier are not in the power of skilled swimmers, but it is up to God to arrange the victory and bring the boat to the pier. And perhaps what is said and implied elsewhere and what came to my mind on the occasion of what was said, needs to be added here in order to share my wealth with you. The mother of the sons of Zebedee asked, suffering from love of children and not knowing the extent of what was asked, but she was excused by the excess of love and goodwill that she should have for children, because there is nothing more compassionate than a mother; and I say this to make it an obligation to honor mothers, - so, the mother of the sons of Zebedee asked Jesus, so that one could sit on His right hand, and the other on His left. What about the Savior? First he asks whether they can drink from the cup from which He Himself will drink? And when they said that they could, and the Savior did not contradict this (for he knew that the same cup would lead them, or, better said, would lead them to perfection), then what does he say? They will drink the cup, but it is not up to me to be allowed to sit on my right side and on my left,” He says, “but to whomever is prepared (Matthew 20:23). So, neither the sovereign mind, nor work, nor words, nor wisdom, nor fasting, nor vigil, nor reclining on the bare ground, nor flowing streams of tears mean anything? Does all this mean nothing? But by some pre-election, Jeremiah is sanctified, and others are separated in the womb? I’m afraid that an absurd thought might be added to this, as if the soul had another life, and then was united with this body, and for the life there, some receive the gift of prophecy here, while others, who lived badly there, are condemned. But since it is extremely absurd to allow this and is inconsistent with the teachings of the Church (although others are amused by such teachings, it is not safe for us to amuse ourselves with such talk), then in this place add to the words “to whom it is given”: “that is, to those worthy,” and in order to become worthy, they not only received from the Father, but also gave to themselves (1). You might be interested in: