Letter 160: On the text: "If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

To Leontius. On the saying, "Who is the faithful and wise servant?" [Matthew 24:45]. That the man who betrays the opportune moment of affairs will fail in the hunt for good things is plain. And that all things are good in their own season the Preacher [Ecclesiastes] has taught. If, then, these things are so, why are you astonished that the Savior said concerning the wise and faithful steward that he will give the food in due season? For what is untimely is everywhere grievous, and a benefaction that has missed its right moment loses even its very name. For example, the same loaf of bread is sweet and welcome to one who is hungry, but to one who has had his fill not so at all; and the same cup is most agreeable to one who is thirsty, but most disagreeable to one who is drunk. What, then, is the cause that brings it about that the same things are not the same to the same people? Plainly the opportune moment, which also makes the thing given greater and more lovely. One must therefore not only give (for that perhaps is a small thing), but give in season. For this, even if what is given be small, will make it greater; and if it be great, will render it greatest. For this reason the Melodist [the Psalmist], proclaiming the divine benefactions, added this also: "All things look to you, to give them their food in due season" [Psalm 103:27 LXX / 104:27]. For he does not merely feed, but feeds in season. For this above all is what nourishes all things: that it be given in season. And if you wish to see this happening also among the fruits that are born from the earth, consider that grain and wine and oil and the kinds of tree-fruits and the varieties of flowers do not come in one and the same season; but the meadows come first, the cornfields follow, the vine takes its turn, and the cluster of grapes hands the earth on to the olive [escorts the year onward to the olive harvest]; as though the seasons were dancing some most excellent dance, and by the length of time giving the farmer rest. For if all things came together at once to their proper ripeness, the farmer's craft would be hard pressed by the shortness of the time, and all would perish, [left] untilled and ungathered.

Εἰς τὸ εἰρημένον, «Τίς ἐστιν ὁ πιστὸς δοῦλος καὶ φρόνιμος;» Ὅτι μὲν ὁ τὴν εὐκαιρίαν τῶν πραγμάτων προδιδούς, τῆς τῶν καλῶν διαμάρτοι θήρας, δῆλον. Ὅτι δὲ καὶ πάντα καλὰ ἐν καιρῷ αὐτῶν, ὁ Ἐκκλησιαστὴς ἐδίδαξεν. Εἰ τοίνυν ταῦθ’ οὕτως ἔχει, τί ξενίζῃ, εἰ ὁ Σωτὴρ ἔφη περὶ τοῦ φρονίμου καὶ πιστοῦ οἰκονόμου, ὅτι δώσει τὴν τροφὴν ἐν καιρῷ; Τὸ γὰρ ἄκαιρον πανταχοῦ λυπηρόν, καὶ ἡ εὐεργεσία καιροῦ ἀμοιρήσασα, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα ἀπόλλυσιν (9). Οἷον, ὁ αὐτὸς ἄρτος πεινῶντι μὲν ἡδὺς καὶ ἐράσμιος, χορεσθέντι δὲ οὐ πάνυ· καὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ποτήριον, δίψωντι μὲν προσηνέστατον, μεθύοντι δὲ ἀηδέστατον. Τίς οὖν ἡ αἰτία, ἢ τὰ αὐτὰ μὴ τῶν αὐτῶν τυγχάνειν παρασκευάζουσα; Ἡ εὐκαιρία δηλονότι, ἢ καὶ τὸ διδόμενον μεῖζον καὶ ἐρασμιώτερον δημιουργοῦσα. Χρὴ οὖν μὴ μόνον διδόναι (μικρὸν γὰρ ἴσως τοῦτο), ἀλλὰ καὶ καιρίως. Τοῦτο γάρ, κἂν μικρὸν ᾖ τὸ δοθέν, μεῖζον ποιήσει· κἂν μέγα, μέγιστον παρασκευάσει. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Μελῳδὸς τὰς θείας εὐεργεσίας ἀνακηρύττων, καὶ τοῦτο προσέθηκε, «Πάντα πρὸς σὲ προσδοκῶσι δοῦναι τὴν τροφὴν αὐτοῖς εἰς εὔκαιρον». Οὐ γὰρ τρέφει μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ εὐκαίρως. Τοῦτο γὰρ μάλιστά ἐστι τὸ πάντα τρέφον, τὸ καιρίως δίδοσθαι. Καὶ εἰ βούλει γε καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν καρπῶν, τὴν ἀπὸ γῆς τικτομένην, τοῦτο γινόμενον ἰδεῖν· θέα ὅτι οὐκ ἐν ἐῇ καιρῷ σῖτος, καὶ οἶνος, καὶ ἔλαιον, καὶ ἀκροδρύων γένη, καὶ ἀνθῶν ποικιλίαι· ἀλλὰ προηγοῦνται μὲν οἱ λειμῶνες, ἕπεται δὲ τὰ λήϊα, διαδέχεται δὲ ἄμπελος, παραπέμπει δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν ἐλαίαν τὴν γῆνὸν ὁ βότρυς· ὥσπερ χορείαν τινὰ ἀρίστην τῶν ὡρῶν χορευουσῶν, καὶ τῷ μήκει τοῦ χρόνου τὸν γεωργὸν ἀναπαυουσῶν. Εἰ γὰρ πάνθ’ ὁμοῦ εἰς τὴν εἰσείαν ἤρχετο ἀκμήν, ἐστενοχωρήθη ἂν ἢ τοῦ γεωργοῦ τέχνη· ὑπὸ τῆς τοῦ χρόνου βραχύτητος, καὶ πάντα ἂν ἀπώλωλε καὶ. ἀγεωργήτους καὶ ἀσυγκομίστους.