More Johnny Chrysostom

From Homily #1, Concerning the Statues:

Listen to this simile:

Just as in the contests of the outer world, the combatants that are vigorous, and in high condition of body, are not so well discerned, when they are enwrapt all around with the garment soaked in oil; but when casting this aside, they are brought forward unclothed into the arena; then above all they strike the
spectators on every side with astonishment at the proportion of their limbs,
there being no longer anything to conceal them; so also was it with Job. When he
was enveloped in all that wealth, it was not visible to the many, what a man he
was. But when, like the wrestler, that strips off his garment, he threw it
aside, and came naked to the conflicts of piety, thus unclothed, he astonished
all who saw him; so that the very theatre of angels shouted at beholding his
fortitude of soul, and applauded him as he won his crown!

Wow. What an amazing metaphor! To think of Job as a wrestler whose body is revealed as he strips off the outer garment of wealth...how vivid, how memorable.

I just like this quote:

Let us not then call Him to account for what He does; but let us give Him glory in all things. For it is not lightly and to no purpose that He often permits such events [as afflictions in the lives of the righteous].