Each one of you, for my sake, ensure that you save one more brother.
Look for him. Be more into it, so that in our next meeting we will meet with a lot of boldness and offer gifts to God that are more decent than anything.
These are the souls of our deceived brothers that we have brought back.
And if we have to be cursed or take blows or to endure anything else, let’s do everything to get them back.
Because, even when our patients curse us and mock us, we tolerate them and do not suffer from their insults, but wish instead to see the people who do these indecencies healthy.
The sick man has often even stripped off the doctor’s uniform, but the doctor does not give up on treating the sick.
So, how come it is not unreasonable for those who have the care of the bodies to show so much care, while, we indifferently watch so many souls being lost and believe that we are not harmed when our limbs rot?
Paul did not act like that; how did he act though? “Who,” he says, “is sick, while I am not? Who is tempted, while I don’t get burned?”
This is the flame that you should accept too, and if you see a brother being lost, even if he blames you, speaks ill of you, beats you, threatens to become your enemy and so many other things he claims he will do, bravely endure everything to gain his salvation.
If he becomes your enemy, then God will become your friend and on that day he will reward you with great goods.
Agios Ioannis Chrysostomos
