Friday, May 23 : Saint John Cassian

Though it is a grand thing to serve God, and it is said: Serve the Lord in fear; and: It is a great thing for you to be called My servant; and: Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when He comes, shall find so doing, yet it is said to the Apostles: I no longer call you servants, for the servant knows not what his Lord does: but I call you friends, for all things whatsoever I have heard from my Father, I have made known unto you. John 15:14-15 You see then that there are different stages of perfection, and that we are called by the Lord from high things to still higher in such a way that he who has become blessed and perfect in the fear of God; going as it is written from strength to strength, and from one perfection to another, i.e., mounting with keenness of soul from fear to hope, is summoned in the end to that still more blessed stage, which, is love, and he who has been a faithful and wise servant Matthew 24:45 will pass to the companionship of friendship and to the adoption of sons. So then our saying also must be understood according to this meaning: not that we say that the consideration of that enduring punishment or of that blessed recompense which is promised to the saints is of no value, but because, though they are useful and introduce those who pursue them to the first beginning of blessedness, yet again love, wherein is already fuller confidence, and a lasting joy, will remove them from servile fear and mercenary hope to the love of God, and carry them on to the adoption of sons, and somehow make them from being perfect still more perfect.
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team