Letter 123: To the Same,

To the Same, Your letter was long and delightful, and it shows how warm and genuine your affection is. I am so pleased by it that I do not regret misunderstanding the opening of your previous one. My misreading has drawn out your brotherly love, revealed the sincerity of your faith, and displayed your zeal for true religion. We have, it seems, divided the prophet Jonah's story between us: your holiness has supplied the words, while I am battered by the hurricane and the waves. Against the sailors of this ship I cry out in Jonah's own words: "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the mercy that could be theirs" [Jonah 2:8]. Perhaps He who is Lord of both Jonah and me will grant that I too may rise and be released from the belly of the beast. But even if the storm continues to rage, I trust in divine protection and will learn from my own experience how "His strength is made perfect in weakness" [2 Corinthians 12:9] -- for He has measured the danger to match my frailty. The prophet Jonah was thrown into the sea by all of his shipmates at once, but I have been granted the consolation of your holiness and of other godly people. For you and for them I pray that the blessing given to the excellent Onesiphorus may be yours, "for you have not been ashamed of my chains" [2 Timothy 1:16] -- indeed, you have shared in my afflictions for the faith's sake. One thing I want you to know: although other godly bishops have sent me gifts, I have declined to accept them -- not out of disrespect, God forbid, but because my daily bread has always been provided by the One who feeds even the ravens without fail. But in your case I have made an exception. The warmth of your friendship has overridden my usual principle. Be assured, my godly friend, that ever since our friendship began, the fire of our affection has only burned hotter.

Letter 123