Gregory the Great, on Ezek 40:3

“And he brought me in thither, and behold a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed in his hand, and he stood in the gate.”

“We have also learned from the testimony of the Holy Gospel that one came who said: "Master, I will follow You wherever You go." To whom the answer was given: "Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Another came who said: "Master, let me first go and bury my father." To whom it is said: "Let the dead bury their dead, but you follow Me and proclaim the kingdom of God." What does it mean that the one who promises to go is abandoned, while the other who wishes to return home is nevertheless commanded to follow? The former is not received, the latter is not released from service even for a moment. Therefore, by the internal dispensation of hidden judgment, the measuring line and the measuring rod are drawn out, by which this one is drawn in and that one is left behind, so that the heavenly structure may be built not without a devout and just examination.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.