All things to all men

The holy apostle Paul writes, ‘I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some’ (1 Corinthians 9:22b). He also writes, ‘It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me’ (Galatians 2:20).

So it is not he, but Christ in him, who does the work. It is therefore Christ who becomes all things to all men in order to save some. This is exactly what He did on the Cross. He became sin for us, that we might be made righteous (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21).

He descended to the uttermost depths, that we might be raised on high with Him (cf. Ephesians 4:9). So we see that Christ in us is willing to endure every suffering, every shame and degradation, in order to save some of us.

Why some, and not all? Because even infinite love cannot overcome the finite wills of those who reject it.

And so, like Paul, we become all things to all men according to our call, according to the measure of our abilities, according to the breadth of our love. Yet it is never we who do the work, but Christ who is alive in us.

Always, brethren, surrender to the man-loving God who becomes visible in Christ, who in us is still the most active Person in the history of the race. Yes, surrender to the Love that made all worlds and who has descended to free us from our passions.

Surrender, brethren, to His mercy. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall have mercy shown them. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called God's sons.