Letter 8035: Since in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some indeed to honour but some to dishonour 2 Timothy 2:20, who can be ignorant that in the bosom of the Universal Church some as vessels of dishonour are deputed to the lowest uses, but others, as vessels of honour, are fitted for clean u...

Gregory to Leontius, Ex-Consul. "In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay -- some for honor and some for dishonor" (2 Timothy 2:20). Who does not know that within the embrace of the universal Church, some serve as vessels of dishonor, assigned to the lowest tasks, while others, as vessels of honor, are fitted for noble purposes? And yet it often happens that citizens of Babylon end up doing the work of Jerusalem, while citizens of Jerusalem -- that is, of the heavenly country -- find themselves laboring in service to Babylon. When God's chosen people, distinguished by moral excellence and moderation and seeking no personal gain, are assigned to worldly affairs, what is that but citizens of holy Jerusalem serving Babylon? And when people of no moral restraint hold positions of sacred authority, seeking personal glory even in their seeming good deeds, what is that but citizens of Babylon carrying out the work of the heavenly Jerusalem? Consider Judas: mixed in among the apostles, he preached the Redeemer and performed signs alongside the rest -- but he was always a citizen of Babylon, doing Jerusalem's work as mere labor. On the other hand, Joseph was carried into Egypt and served a worldly court, bearing the weight of temporal administration and rendering what was justly due to a passing kingdom. But because he was always a citizen of holy Jerusalem, he carried out Babylon's work as nothing more than assigned duty. Good man, I believe you are a follower of Joseph. Though you are involved in earthly affairs, you act with a gentle spirit, hold firmly to humility, and give everyone their due. Many people report such good things about your Glory that I wish I could see them for myself rather than merely hear about them. May Almighty God protect you and bring you safely to the heavenly country.

Book VIII, Letter 35 To Leontius, Ex-Consul. Gregory to Leontius, etc. Since in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some indeed to honour but some to dishonour 2 Timothy 2:20, who can be ignorant that in the bosom of the Universal Church some as vessels of dishonour are deputed to the lowest uses, but others, as vessels of honour, are fitted for clean uses. And yet it commonly comes to pass that the citizens of Babylon serve in task-work for Jerusalem, while the citizens of Jerusalem, that is of the heavenly country, are deputed to the task-work of Babylon. For when the elect of God, endowed with moral excellence, distinguished for moderation, seeking not their own gain, are deputed to earthly business, what else is it but that the citizens of holy Jerusalem serve in the work of Babylon? And when some, unbridled in immorality, hold places of holy dignity, and in the very things which they seem to do well seek praise to themselves, what else is it but that the citizens of Babylon execute the task-work of the heavenly Jerusalem? For so Judas, mixed with the apostles, long preached the Redeemer of the human race, and did signs with the rest; but, because he had been a citizen of Babylon, he executed his work as task-work for the heavenly Jerusalem. But on the other hand Joseph, being carried into Egypt, served an earthly court, bore the charge of administration in temporal things, exhibited whatever was justly due to a transitory kingdom; but, because he was still a citizen of holy Jerusalem, he administered the service of Babylon, as has been seen above, in the way of task-work only. A follower of him, good man, I believe you to be, knowing you, though involved in earthly action, to act with a gentle spirit, to keep in all respects the citadel of humility, and to give to every one what is just. For such good things are reported by many of your Glory that I would fain not hear of such things, but see them: yet still I am fed by the good renown of him whom I am not allowed to see. But the woman who poured from the alabaster box, exhibiting a type of the Holy Church, that is of all the elect, filled the house with the ointment Luke 7. And we, as often as we hear anything of good people, draw in as it were through our nostrils a breath of sweetness. And when Paul the Apostle said, We are a good odour of Christ unto God 2 Corinthians 2:15, it is plainly given to be understood that he exhibited himself as a savour indeed to the present, but as an odour to the absent. We therefore, while we cannot be nourished by the savour of your presence, are so by the odour of your absence. For this also we greatly rejoice, that the gifts which you sent us were not unlike your character. For indeed we received oil of the holy cross , and wood of aloes; one to bless by the touch, the other to give a sweet smell when kindled. For it was becoming that a good man should send us things that might appease the wrath of God against us. Many other things also you have sent for our store-houses, since, as we subsist both in soul and in flesh, it was needful that we should be sustained in both. And yet in transmitting these things your most sweet soul declares that it blushes much for shame, and holds out the shield of charity before this same shame-facedness. But I altogether rejoice in these words, since from this attestation of the soul I know that he can never take away what is another's who blushes even in bestowing what is his own. Your gifts however, which you call small, are great: but I think that your Glory's very humility enhances them yet the more. And you beg me to receive them kindly. But meanwhile recall to your memory the two mites of a certain widow Luke 27. For, if she pleased God who offered a little with a good will, why should not he please men who with a humble mind has given much? Furthermore we send you, as a blessing from Saint Peter, Prince of the apostles, a key of his most sacred sepulchre, in which is inserted a blessing from his chains , that what bound his neck for martyrdom may loose yours from all sins. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360208035.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.