Letter 18: The labours of the field come as no novelty to tillers of the land; sailors are not astonished if they meet a storm at sea; sweats in the summer heat are the common experience of the hired hind; and to them that have chosen to live a holy life the afflictions of this present world cannot come unforeseen. Each and all of these have the known and ...

Farmers aren't surprised by hard work in the field. Sailors don't panic at storms at sea. Day laborers expect to sweat in the summer heat. And those who have chosen to live a holy life shouldn't be caught off guard by the afflictions of this world. Each of these people endures the hardship that comes with their calling — not for its own sake, but for the good things they expect at the end. What sustains them through trouble is the thing that holds all human life together: hope. But here's the difference. People who labor for earthly rewards sometimes get only an illusion of what they hoped for — and are bitterly disappointed. Even when things work out, the satisfaction fades so quickly that they immediately need another hope to replace it. Only those who labor for holiness and truth have hopes that no deception can destroy, no outcome can undermine. The kingdom of heaven that awaits them is firm and sure. So as long as the truth is on our side, don't let slander discourage you. Don't let imperial threats scare you. Don't be hurt by the mockery of your friends, or by the criticism of people who pretend to care about you while dangling "good advice" as bait. Stand firm against all of it with sound reason, and call on the help of our Lord Jesus Christ, the teacher of true religion — for whom suffering is sweet, and death is gain.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Macarius and John. The labours of the field come as no novelty to tillers of the land; sailors are not astonished if they meet a storm at sea; sweats in the summer heat are the common experience of the hired hind; and to them that have chosen to live a holy life the afflictions of this present world cannot come unforeseen. Each and all of these have the known and proper labour of their callings, not chosen for its own sake, but for the sake of the enjoyment of the good things to which they look forward. What in each of these cases acts as a consolation in trouble is that which really forms the bond and link of all human life — hope. Now of them that labour for the fruits of the earth, or for earthly things, some enjoy only in imagination what they have looked for, and are altogether disappointed; and even in the case of others, where the issue has answered expectation, another hope is soon needed, so quickly has the first fled and faded out of sight. Only of them that labour for holiness and truth are the hopes destroyed by no deception; no issue can destroy their labours, for the kingdom of the heavens that awaits them is firm and sure. So long then as the word of truth is on our side, never be in any wise distressed at the calumny of a lie; let no imperial threats scare you; do not be grieved at the laughter and mockery of your intimates, nor at the condemnation of those who pretend to care for you, and who put forward, as their most attractive bait to deceive, a pretence of giving good advice. Against them all let sound reason do battle, invoking the championship and succour of our Lord Jesus Christ, the teacher of true religion, for Whom to suffer is sweet, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

[Πρός: Μακαρίῳ καὶ Ἰωάννῃ] Οὔτε γεωργοὺς οἱ κατὰ γεωργίαν ξενίζουσι πόνοι, οὔτε ναύταις ὁ κατὰ θάλασσαν χειμὼν ἀπροσδόκητος, οὔτε τοῖς μισθαρνοῦσιν ὁ ἱδρὼς παράδοξος, οὔτε μὴν τοῖς εὐσεβῶς ζῇν ἑλομένοις αἱ κατὰ τὸν ἐνεστῶτα κόσμον θλίψεις ἀμελέτητοι. ἀλλʼ ἑκάστῳ τῶν εἰρημένων οἰκεῖος καὶ γνώριμος τοῖς μετιοῦσι συνέζευκται πόνος, οὐ δι’ ἑαυτὸν αἱρετός, ἀλλὰ δι’ ἀπόλαυσιν ἀγαθῶν προσδοκωμένων. ἐλπίδες γάρ, πάντα τὸν τῶν ἀνθρώπων συνέχουσαι καὶ συγκροτοῦσαι βίον, τὴν ἐφʼ ἑκάστῳ τούτων παραμυθοῦνται δυσκολίαν. Τῶν μὲν οὖν ὑπὲρ γῆς καρπῶν ἢ τῶν κατὰ γῆν πονούντων, οἱ μὲν παντάπασιν ἐψεύσθησαν τῶν ἐλπίδων, μέχρι μόνης φαντασίας τῶν προσδοκωμένων τὴν ἀπόλαυσιν ἔχοντες, οἷς δὲ καὶ κατὰ γνώμην ἐκβῆναι συνέβη τὸ τέλος, δευτέρας ἐδέησε πάλιν ἐλπίδος, παραδραμούσης καὶ μαρανθείσης ἐν τάχει τῆς προτέρας. μόνοις δὲ τοῖς ὑπὲρ εὐσεβείας καμοῦσιν οὐ ψεῦδος ἠφάνισε τὰς ἐλπίδας, οὐ τέλος ἐλυμήνατο τοὺς ἄθλους, βεβαίας καὶ μονίμου διαδεχομένης τῆς τῶν οὐρανῶν βασιλείας. Μὴ τοίνυν ὑμᾶς ταραττέτω διαβολὴ ψευδής, μηδὲ φοβείτω τῶν κρατούντων ἀπειλή· μὴ γέλως λυπείτω καὶ ὕβρις τῶν γνωρίμων, μηδὲ κατάγνωσις παρὰ τῶν κήδεσθαι προσποιουμένων, ἰσχυρότατον πρὸς ἀπάτην δέλεαρ προβαλλομένων παραινέσεως προσποίησιν, ἕως ἂν ὁ τῆς ἀληθείας ἡμῖν συναγωνίζηται λόγος. ἀντιμαχέσθω δὲ τοῖς πᾶσι λογισμὸς ὀρθός, σύμμαχον παρακαλῶν γενέσθαι καὶ βοηθὸν αὐτῷ τὸν τῆς εὐσεβείας διδάσκαλον τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, δι’ ὃν καὶ τὸ κακοπαθεῖν ἡδὺ καὶ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν κέρδος.