How is dying with Christ understood in the life of preaching and service?

St. Augustine says, “As weak, then, He nourishes the weak, as a hen her chickens, for He likened Himself to a hen: ‘How often, He says to Jerusalem, would I have gathered your children under my wings, as a hen her chickens; but you would not!’ (Matt. 23:37). And you see, brethren, how a hen becomes weak with her chickens … With her wings drooping, her feathers ruffled, her note hoarse, in all her limbs she becomes so sunken and weak, that, as I have said, even though you do not see her young, yet you perceive her to be a mother. In such manner was Jesus weak, wearied with His journey. His journey is the flesh assumed for us. For how can He, who is present everywhere, have a journey, He who is nowhere absent? … Jesus was weak in the flesh so that would not become weak; but in His weakness be strong, because what is the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Cor. 1:25),”⁵⁰⁸ and, “If you love, be ready to lose; if you want to possess life in Christ, be not afraid of death for Christ.”⁵⁰⁹

St. Cyril of Alexandria says, “To this we answer, that each one of us also who have believed in Christ and loved His Name, if he have left a house shall receive the mansions that are above: and if he have abandoned a father, shall gain that Father Who is in heaven. If he be abandoned by his brethren, yet will Christ admit him to brotherhood with Him. If he leaves a wife, he shall have as the inmate of His house Wisdom who comes down from above, from God. For it is written, ‘Say to Wisdom that she is your sister, and make Understanding your friend’ (Prov. 7:4). By her shall you bring forth beautiful spiritual fruits, by means of which

507 The Paradise of the Fathers, Volume 2 , trans. E. A. Wallis Budge (Seattle, Washington: St. Nectarios Press, 1984) 1.417: p. 97.

508 St. Augustine of Hippo, Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 15.7 (NPNF I/7:101).

509 St. Augustine of Hippo, Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 51.10 (NPNF I/7:286).

you shall be made a partaker of the hope of the saints, and join the company of the angels. And though you leave your mother, you shall find another incomparably more excellent, even ‘the Jerusalem that is above, which is free, and our mother’ (Gal. 4:26). How are not these things manifold times more than those that were left? … But he who is counted worthy of these things becomes even in this world illustrious and enviable, being adorned with glory both before God and men. Manifold more therefore are these things than all that is earthly and carnal, and the Giver of them is our common Lord and Savior.”⁵¹⁰

St. Athanasius says, “The blessed Paul wrote to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 4:10) that he always bore in his body the dying of Jesus, not as though he alone should make that boast, but also they and we too, and in this let us be followers of him, my brethren. And let this be the customary boast of all of us at all times. In this David participated, saying in the Psalms, ‘For Your sake we die all the day; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter’ (Ps. 44:22). Now this is becoming in us, especially in the days of the feast, when a commemoration of the death of our Saviour is held. For he who is made like Him in His death, is also diligent in virtuous practices, having mortified his members which are upon the earth (Col. 3:5), and crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts, he lives in the Spirit, and is conformed to the Spirit (Gal. 5:25).”⁵¹¹

510 St. Cyril of Alexandria, A Commentary upon the Gospel According to St. Luke: Part II , trans. R. Payne Smith (Oxford University Press, 1859) 124: p. 577 amended. 511 St. Athanasius, Festal Letters 7.1 (NPNF II/4:523).