Desiring and Refusing the Office of Preaching

Although some at times rightly desire the office of preaching, others are just as rightly drawn to it by compulsion. We see this plainly if we consider the conduct of two prophets, one of whom offered himself of his own accord to be sent to preach, while the other refused to go out of fear. For Isaiah, when the Lord asked whom he should send, offered himself of his own accord, saying, “Here I am; send me.” But Jeremiah is sent, and yet humbly pleads not to be sent, saying, “Ah, Lord God! See, I cannot speak, for I am a child.” See how different voices came outwardly from these two men, yet they flowed from the same spring of love. For there are two commands of love: the love of God and the love of our neighbor. So Isaiah, eager to benefit his neighbors through an active life, desires the office of preaching; but Jeremiah, longing to cling diligently to the love of his Creator through a contemplative life, protests against being sent to preach. So what the one rightly desired, the other rightly shrank from: the second for fear that by speaking he would lose the gains of silent contemplation, the first for fear that by keeping silent he would suffer loss for want of diligent work. [a]

But in both cases this is to be carefully noticed: the one who refused did not persist in his refusal, and the one who wished to be sent saw himself first cleansed by a coal from the altar. This is so that no one who has not been purified should dare to approach sacred ministries, and so that no one whom grace from above has chosen should proudly resist it under a show of humility. Since, then, it is very hard for anyone to be sure that he has been cleansed, it is safer to decline the office of preaching; though, as we have said, it should not be stubbornly declined when the will from above that it be taken up is recognized. Moses wonderfully fulfilled both requirements: he was unwilling to be set over so great a multitude, and yet he obeyed. For perhaps he would have been proud had he taken up the leadership of that countless people without fear; and again, he would plainly have been proud had he refused to obey his Lord’s command. So, humble in both ways and submissive in both ways, he was unwilling to be set over the people when he measured himself; and yet, relying on the might of the one who commanded him, he consented.

From this, then, from this let all rash people gather how great their guilt is if they are not afraid to be set above others by their own seeking, when holy men feared to take up the leadership of peoples even when God commanded it. Moses trembles though God urges him; and yet every weak man pants to take on the burden of dignity. One who can hardly bear his own load without falling gladly puts his shoulders under the weight of others that are not his own. His own deeds are too heavy for him to carry, and he adds to his burden.