|
The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: officers. Then came a scene fit, belike, to make one weep. They
all crowded around him, as though his presence meant life to
them, and his departure would reave them of their very souls; and
what piteous pleading, what extravagance of grief did they omit?
They kissed him; they hung about him; they were beside themselves
for anguish of heart. "Wo is us," cried they, "for this grievous
calamity!" They called him, Master, Father, Saviour, Benefactor.
"Through thine," said they, "we learned to know God, and were
redeemed from error, and found rest from every ill. What
remaineth us after thou art gone? What evils shall not befall
us?" Thus saying, they smote upon their breasts, and bewailed
|
