How does our Christ recompense us for the losses we have suffered?

How often our Fathers directed our attention to the greatness of the blessings we enjoy in the midst of our war with the devil and his angels.

First: We enjoy the heavens opened before us. St. John Chrysostom says, “You lost paradise; but God gave you heaven, to show you His compassion and His power over the devil. He shows that — even if the devil plots tens of thousands of plans against the human race — it will not benefit him, so long as God guides us always to a greater honor. You lost paradise (the Garden of Eden); and God opened heaven to you. You fell under condemnation, in weariness until now; and you were honored with eternal life. God commanded the earth to bring forth thorns and thistles; but the dust of the Spirit brings forth fruits for you. Do you not see that you profit far more than you lost?!”⁷²³

Second: He exposes the foolishness of the devil in his attempts against us . St. John Chrysostom says, “Such are the devil’s wiles that he not only drives us away from the blessings we have, but he also tries to drive us onto a more precipitous cliff. But God in His love did not fail to regard mankind. He showed the devil how foolish were his attempts ; He showed man the great care He manifested in his regard, for through death He gave man everlasting life. The devil drove man from Paradise; God led him to heaven. The profit is greater than the loss.”⁷²⁴

Third: He reveals to us the depths of God’s love for us. According to the Liturgy of St. Gregory the Theologian “You, O Master have turned punishment for me into salvation. As a good shepherd, You have sought after those who have gone astray. As a good father, You have labored with me, I who had fallen. You gave me all the remedies that lead to life.” Jesus died and rose from the dead to raise us with him and to imbue the death of the flesh with the longing to fly free to paradise.

Fourth: He makes the profit greater than the loss. In our war against the devil, our crucified Christ raised our nature to the divine throne. Therefore, St. Paul the apostle cries, “He raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Jesus Christ; that in the ages to come, He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6–7).

723 St. John Chrysostom, Sermon in Gen. 7, PG 5:614C–D.

724 St. John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instructions 2.7 (ACW 31:45–46).