examination of the heart 446 ately obeyed His call; and having left everything, whatever they possessed in this world, not only nets, and disregarding their own will above all, they followed in His footsteps. They could have responded to the one calling them: “You want to make us fishers of men, and yet happy is he who holds the present; we do not want to forsake what is certain for what is uncertain. We are satisfied with catching fish; we do not desire to catch men.” None of those objections were made by the holy fishermen; instead, “immediately leaving their nets, they followed [H]im.” As for you, how long will you refuse to forsake your passions and to follow in Christ’s footsteps? Will you ignore with deaf ears the call of Christ, speaking in your heart? Hear what the Word says to you: forsake yourself, and you will find me; forsake concupiscence, and you will find rest; forsake everything, and you will have everything; empty yourself, and you will be filled. 2. “Hail, the cross! … accept the disciple of the one who hanged on you, my Master Christ.”213 The holy Apostle uttered these words. He flung these darts and arrows of ardent love up to Heaven, as he was to be fastened to the cross.214 He went to hang on the cross with as great a joy as others may hasten to a high royal rank; indeed, he accepted the ignominious death with eagerness greater than that of others accepting worldly honors. Evidently, by his example he wanted to teach you that you should gladly anticipate each approaching cross, that you should accept it with joy, and that you should carry it with thanksgiving. Since, as the African Doctor proclaims: “There is nothing more blessed than the tongue, which in adversities gives thanks to God.”215 213 It is the Benedictus antiphon “Ad Laudes matutinas” for the feast of St. Andrew, Apostle (Nov. 30). Cf. LH, vol. IV, p. 1293. 214 Cf. BLS (s.v. November 30 — St. Andrew, Apostle). 215 Undoubtedly, “African Doctor” denotes St. Augustine. However, this saying does not come from St. Augustine, but rather from St. John Chrysostom. Cf. Joannes Chrysostomus, In Epistolam ad Colossenses: Homilia VIII (Col. III, 5-15), in: PG, vol. 62, Ateliers catholiques du Petit-Montrouge, Paris 1862, p. 357.
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