From a
commentary on the Diatessaron by Saint Ephrem, deacon 160-175 AD
God’s Word is an Inexhaustible Spring of Life
Lord,
who can comprehend even one of your words? We lose more of it than we grasp,
like those who drink from a living spring. For God’s word offers different
facets according to the capacity of the listener, and the Lord has portrayed
his message in many colors, so that whoever gazes upon it can see in it what
suits him. Within it he has buried manifold treasures, so that each of us might
grow rich in seeking them out.
The word
of God is a tree of life that offers us blessed fruit from each of its branches.
It is like that rock which was struck open in the wilderness, from which all
were offered spiritual drink. As the Apostle says: They ate spiritual food and
they drank spiritual drink.
And so
whenever anyone discovers some part of the treasure, he should not think that
he has exhausted God’s word. Instead he should feel that this is all that he
was able to find of the wealth contained in it. Nor should he say that the word
is weak and sterile or look down on it simply because this portion was all that
he happened to find. But precisely because he could not capture it all he
should give thanks for its riches.
Be glad
then that you are overwhelmed, and do not be saddened because he has overcome
you. A thirsty man is happy when he is drinking, and he is not depressed
because he cannot exhaust the spring. So let this spring quench your thirst,
and not your thirst the spring. For if you can satisfy your thirst without
exhausting the spring, then when you thirst again you can drink from it once
more; but if when your thirst is sated the spring is also dried up, then your
victory would turn to your own harm.
Be
thankful then for what you have received, and do not be saddened at all that
such an abundance still remains. What you have received and attained is your present
share, while what is left will be your heritage. For what you could not take at
one time because of your weakness, you will be able to grasp at another if you
only persevere. So do not foolishly try to drain in one draught what cannot be
consumed all at once, and do not cease out of faintheartedness from what you
will be able to absorb as time goes on. ( Office
of Readings for Sunday of the 6th week of Ordinary Time)
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