A man said to his father Giovanni: «We have suffered so much for the kingdom of heaven; we will inherit it eventually?». And the old man said: «I trust that I will inherit the Jerusalem of above inscribed in heaven. He who promised is faithful; why should I doubt? I was as hospitable as Abraham, gentle like Moses, holy like Aaron, patient like Job, humble like David, a hermit like Giovanni, contrite like Jeremiah, doctor like Paolo, faithful like Peter, wise like Solomon. And I believe like the thief that he who out of his goodness has given me all this, he will also give me the kingdom of heaven" (237d-240a).
Taken from Life and sayings of the Desert Fathers, edition New City, 1999.
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