Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Matthew 24:17

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Therefore them also that are on the housetop, He suffers not to enter into the house to take their clothes, indicating the evils to be inevitable, and the calamity without end, and that it must needs be that he that was involved therein should surely perish. Therefore He adds also, him that is in the field, saying, neither let this man turn back to take his clothes. For if they that are in doors flee, much more they that are out of doors ought not to take refuge within.

Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 76 ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

For in tribulations we must beware of coming down from the spiritual heights, and yielding ourselves to the carnal life; or of failing and looking behind us, after having made some progress forwards.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Hilary of Poitiers

The roof is the summit of the house, the noble perfection of the entire dwelling. For one may not even say that a house exists if it does not have a roof. Whoever therefore is established at the summit of his house—that is, in the perfection of his body made new by regeneration, raised high by the Spirit and perfected by the absolution of the divine gift—should not allow himself to be provoked within by bodily enticements and to descend to the sinful desire for the lowly things of this world or fall from the heights of the roof."And …

Commentary on Matthew 25.5 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then he removes the impediments to flight. And because some impediments are avoidable and some are not, therefore he first sets forth the avoidable dangers; secondly, the unavoidable, at and woe to them that are with child, etc. Those that are avoidable are the concerns of earthly affairs; and some of these occur in the city, and some outside; therefore he presents both. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗