The Ancient Witnesses

200 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

“Whenever you see a person who delights in hearing about the good, even if he does not do good works, God does not take away what he has, but waits for him to repent and do good. But when you see a person who not only does not do good but does not even delight in hearing about the good, understand that God has already removed from him his ability to understand the good; and he is dead as far as God is concerned. 62 “So then, concluded Mentor, “the one who does not rightly exercise his God-given knowledge of good and evil receives what he deserves: what he has is according to nature, and what he loses is according to his will. 63 “In other words, it is a matter of the heart,” said Cesar, echoing Ephrem’s words. One of the three Church historians saluted Mentor. He was a distinguished-looking man in stylish vestments, whom Mentor introduced as Eusebius of Caesarea. “You are speaking of the hearts of the disciples,” said Eusebius, “but what about the heart of our Savior?” “Illuminate us, please” said Mentor. Eusebius came the lectern and read from Matthew’s Gospel: The Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him,

62 Opus Imperfectum , Homily 32 in Patrologia Graeca 56, column 797. ​

63 Same as previous note.