Having met the Savior, therefore, the lepers earnestly besought Him to free them from their misery, and called Him Master, that is. Teacher. No one pitied them when suffering this malady, but He Who had appeared on earth for this very reason, and had become man that He might show pity to all, He was moved with compassion for them, and had mercy on them.
-St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homilies 113-116. B#42, pp. 465-466, 4th Century


So in order that we may not destroy the grace that we have received, but preserve it to the end and depart this life in possession of the treasure, there is need of something human, of endeavor on our part. In ordinary affairs it is neither reasonable nor usual for us merely to be content with having received life ... Rather we must seek the means of preserving it.
-St. Nicholas Cabasilas, The Life in Christ, The Sixth Book, 1. B#38, p. 159, 14th Century