Letter 444

To Palladius the Monk. As it seems, you spiritually emulate Jonathan, the son of Saul. For he, according to the literal narrative, says: "I tasted of the honey with the tip of my staff, and my eyes see." [1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 14:29, 43, where Jonathan tasted honey with the end of his rod and his eyes brightened.] But you, having partaken spiritually of the intelligible honey, of the words of the Almighty that are sweeter than honey, behold with the eyes of the soul the things that are hard for the many to see. And so you have now begun to inquire why Jacob worshipped upon the top of his staff. [Genesis 47:31 LXX / Hebrews 11:21, where Jacob bowed in worship leaning on the top of his staff.]

Ὡς ἔοικεν, Ἰωνάθαν κατὰ τὸ πνεῦμα ζηλοῖς τὸν τοῦ Σαοὺλ υἱόν. Ἐκεῖνος μὲν γὰρ καθ' ἱστορίαν, φησὶν ὅτι «Ἐγευσάμην τοῦ μέλιτος τῷ ἄκρῳ τοῦ σκήπτρου μου, καὶ βλέπουσιν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου.» Σὺ δὲ γε πνευματικῶς τοῦ νοητοῦ μέλιτος μεταλαβών, τῶν μέλιτος γλυκυτέρων ῥημάτων τοῦ Κρείττονος βλέπεις τοῖς τῆς ψυχῆς ὄμμασι τὰ τοῖς πολλοῖς δυσθέατα. Καὶ ζητεῖν λοιπὸν ἦρξω, διατὶ ἐπὶ τὸ ἄκρον τῆς ῥάβδου ὁ Ἰακὼβ προσεκύνησε.