Chapter XI.
David, content with the possession of God, desires nothing except him; for earthly things ought to be erased from memory, so that heavenly things may take their place, and so that we may also approach God, who repels no one, from whom we only stray through wicked actions.
Therefore, Saint David says: What do I have left in heaven, and what do I desire from you on earth? That is, You are my portion, you abound to me in all things, I sought nothing else but to have you as my portion, I have subjected myself to no heavenly creature as the Gentiles do, I have desired no riches of this world and no allurements of pleasures. I have no need of anyone since I have been assumed by you, there is nothing more that I seek in heaven. Having nothing, I have everything; because I have Christ, whom the Most High Father did not spare; but for the sake of all of us, He handed Him over: therefore, how could He not have given us everything with Him (Rom. VIII, 32); as the Apostle said? For all things are in Christ, through whom all things are, and in whom all things consist. Therefore, having everything in Him, I seek no other reward, for He Himself is the reward of all. Therefore, He rightly said: Take up your cross and follow me (Mark VIII, 34). He who follows Him is not led to perfection by reward, but is consummated in perfection for the reward. For the imitators of Christ are not virtuous because of the hope of reward, but because of the love of virtue. For Christ is good by nature, not because of desire for reward. Therefore, He suffered because it pleased Him to do good, not because He sought an increase of glory from His passion. Therefore, he who desires to imitate Him, does so not for his own benefit, but for the benefit of others. Where he rightfully falls short for himself, but grows stronger for others through an increase in virtue.
And appropriately he says: My heart and my flesh have failed, O God of my heart (Psalm 73:26). For eternal things cannot succeed unless earthly things fail. And so the flesh fails when it is mortified by rejecting worldly desires. Likewise, those who bear the death of Jesus Christ in their own flesh are also weakened; for the death of Christ works in them, so that every snare of error may die. Therefore, it is inferred that the heart of man also fails when evil thoughts, which come from the heart, are mortified; so that forgetfulness may conceal all worldly things and God may become the heart of those who are blessed with a pure heart to see God, that they may draw near to you and not separate themselves. For God, approaching is not a repulsion of those who approach; for He wants to be the cause of salvation for all, not of death. In fact, He repels no one, unless they think they should be kept away from His sight.
30. For behold, those who distance themselves from you will perish, as it is said. For each person either joins or separates themselves from your piety through their actions. For he who performs things that he fears being caught for avoids God, just as that person who is hidden by walls and surrounded by darkness considers himself unseen by the Lord God; but he is seen, as it is said, 'You have destroyed all who are unfaithful to you.' For just as a woman who commits adultery does not cling to her husband, nor does one flesh exist with her husband, nor is there one spirit; but she divides and separates herself through adultery: so too, any soul that does not cling to God, but serves in vain the worship of idols, commits adultery, separates herself through the wickedness of sacrilege, and becomes distant from the Lord, whom she should be close to. But he who is separated from the Lord perishes.
31. Hence the Holy one who fears the judgment of God always wants to adhere to Christ and place his hope in Him, in order to praise the Lord, to whom belongs honor, glory, perpetuity from age to age, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.