24 March 2021
Self Examination
Examine
yourself to see whether you have within you a strong sense of your own self
importance, or negatively, whether you have failed to realize that you are
nothing. This feeling of self-importance is deeply hidden, but it controls the
whole of our life. Its first demand is that everything should be as we wish it,
and as soon as this is not so we complain to God and are annoyed with people.
Saint
Theophan the Recluse
23 March 2021
Time for Repentance
Since
we know these things and are well aware of that terrible day and of that fire,
and have in mind those terrible torments, let us turn aside at last from the
path on which we have strayed. For the hour will come when the theater of this
world will be dissolved, after which there will be no more contending for the
prize, no more exertions to be made after the end of this life, no more crowns
to be merited after the collapse of this theater. This is the time for
repentance, that the time of judgment.
Saint
John Chrysostom
22 March
2021
The
Meek Live
According to
those who write on this virtue, the meek live in a noble quietude of mind, and
are not easily perturbed. They are sober and temperate, control their anger,
are not impetuous but very placid; they are gentle and never speak bitterly;
courteous and not rough-mannered. They are good-hearted, not malicious, suspect
no harm, always return good for evil, are healthy and un-corrupted, for those
who are by nature meek are naturally healthy, not only, in soul but even in
body. They are neither provoked nor do they provoke others to evil; they do not
hinder people nor are they hindered: they bear no grudges and are generally
self-possessed: are not readily annoyed and usually give place to evil. They
overlook many offences; are easily corrected; do not resist though they are
struck and wounded; are neither cruel nor melancholy but always cheerful; they
are extremely docile and sincere, simple and thoroughly straightforward: their
face is open and they are full of kindness and patience.
Francisco de Osuna
(1497-1541)
21 March
2021
Cross
as Cup, Death as Baptism
Here Christ
was calling his crucifixion a cup and his death a baptism. He called his cross
a cup because he was coming to it with pleasure. He called his death a baptism
because by it he cleansed the world. Not only on this account did he call his
death a baptism but also because of the ease with which he would rise again.
For just as one who is baptized in water easily rises up because the nature of
the water poses no hindrance, so, too, Christ rose with greater ease because he
had gone down into death. And this is why he calls his death a baptism.
John Chrysostom
20 March 2021
A Prayer in Spring
Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.
Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating 'round the perfect trees.
And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.
For this is love and nothing else is love,
To which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.
Robert Frost
A Prayer in Spring
Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.
Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating 'round the perfect trees.
And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.
For this is love and nothing else is love,
To which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.
Robert Frost
17 March
2021
In
Love, God
In love did He
bring the world into existence; in love does He guide it during this its
temporal existence; in love is He going to bring it to that wondrous
transformed state, and in love will the world be swallowed up in the great
mystery of Him who has performed all these things; in love will the whole
course of the governance of creation be finally comprised.
Saint Isaac of
Syria (Seventh Century)
16 March 2021
Seek Mercy and Be Merciful
The debts of those who ask for pardon are forgiven. But see that you do not harbor hatred for your brethren when you ask forgiveness of your debts. Prayers that are offered up to God remain behind closed doors if they do not contain love, for only love can open the doors for prayer. If your brother is angry with you, then the Lord also is angry with you. And if you have made peace with your brother below, then you have made peace also with the Lord on high. If you receive your brother, then you also receive your Lord. Thus, make peace with the Lord in the person of those who are offended; give Him cause to be glad in the person of those who sorrow; visit Him in the person of those who are infirm; feed Him in the person of those who hunger. In the person of a weary traveler, prepare a soft bed for Him, wash His feet, seat Him at the head of your table, break your bread and share it with Him, and give Him also your cup. He has already shown His great love for you; He has broken His body for you and given you His blood to drink.
St. Ephraim the Syrian
Seek Mercy and Be Merciful
The debts of those who ask for pardon are forgiven. But see that you do not harbor hatred for your brethren when you ask forgiveness of your debts. Prayers that are offered up to God remain behind closed doors if they do not contain love, for only love can open the doors for prayer. If your brother is angry with you, then the Lord also is angry with you. And if you have made peace with your brother below, then you have made peace also with the Lord on high. If you receive your brother, then you also receive your Lord. Thus, make peace with the Lord in the person of those who are offended; give Him cause to be glad in the person of those who sorrow; visit Him in the person of those who are infirm; feed Him in the person of those who hunger. In the person of a weary traveler, prepare a soft bed for Him, wash His feet, seat Him at the head of your table, break your bread and share it with Him, and give Him also your cup. He has already shown His great love for you; He has broken His body for you and given you His blood to drink.
St. Ephraim the Syrian
15 March 2021
God Caresses the Heart
At all times God caresses the hearts of all the people with His love, but we are not aware of it because our hearts have gathered a crust. When man has cleansed his heart, he is deeply moved and madly excited, because he can then see the benefactions, the blessings of God, Who loves all people in the same way. For those who are suffering, God is pained; for those who are living a spiritual life, He rejoices.
Saint Paisos the Athonite (1924-1994)
God Caresses the Heart
At all times God caresses the hearts of all the people with His love, but we are not aware of it because our hearts have gathered a crust. When man has cleansed his heart, he is deeply moved and madly excited, because he can then see the benefactions, the blessings of God, Who loves all people in the same way. For those who are suffering, God is pained; for those who are living a spiritual life, He rejoices.
Saint Paisos the Athonite (1924-1994)
12 March 2021
Having Confidence
The waters have risen and severe storms are upon us, but we do not fear drowning, for we stand firmly upon a rock. Let the sea rage, it cannot break the rock. Let the waves rise, they cannot sink the boat of Jesus. What are we to fear? Death? Life to me means Christ, and death is gain. Exile? The earth and its fullness belong to the Lord. The confiscation of goods? We brought nothing into this world, and we shall surely take nothing from it. I have only contempt for the world’s threats, I find its blessings laughable. I have no fear of poverty, no desire for wealth. I am not afraid of death nor do I long to live, except for your good. I concentrate therefore on the present situation, and I urge you, my friends, to have confidence.
Saint John Chrysostom
Having Confidence
The waters have risen and severe storms are upon us, but we do not fear drowning, for we stand firmly upon a rock. Let the sea rage, it cannot break the rock. Let the waves rise, they cannot sink the boat of Jesus. What are we to fear? Death? Life to me means Christ, and death is gain. Exile? The earth and its fullness belong to the Lord. The confiscation of goods? We brought nothing into this world, and we shall surely take nothing from it. I have only contempt for the world’s threats, I find its blessings laughable. I have no fear of poverty, no desire for wealth. I am not afraid of death nor do I long to live, except for your good. I concentrate therefore on the present situation, and I urge you, my friends, to have confidence.
Saint John Chrysostom
10 March 2021
The Path of Humility
Let us then follow Christ’s paths which he has revealed to us, above all the path of humility, which he himself became for us. He showed us that path by his precepts, and he himself followed it by his suffering on our behalf. In order to die for us – because as God he could not die – the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The immortal One took on mortality that he might die for us, and by dying put to death our death. This is what the Lord did, this the gift he granted to us. The mighty one was brought low, the lowly one was slain, and after he was slain, he rose again and was exalted. For he did not intend to leave us dead in hell, but to exalt in himself at the resurrection of the dead those whom he had already exalted and made just by the faith and praise they gave him.
The Path of Humility
Let us then follow Christ’s paths which he has revealed to us, above all the path of humility, which he himself became for us. He showed us that path by his precepts, and he himself followed it by his suffering on our behalf. In order to die for us – because as God he could not die – the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The immortal One took on mortality that he might die for us, and by dying put to death our death. This is what the Lord did, this the gift he granted to us. The mighty one was brought low, the lowly one was slain, and after he was slain, he rose again and was exalted. For he did not intend to leave us dead in hell, but to exalt in himself at the resurrection of the dead those whom he had already exalted and made just by the faith and praise they gave him.
Saint Augustine
9 March
2021
Times
of Aridity
God uses times
of aridity to press his most beloved souls closer to him. What hinders true
union with God is attachment to our disordered inclinations. When, therefore,
God wants to draw souls to his perfect love, he tries to detach them from all
affection for created goods.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
7 March 2021
On Holy Scripture
On Holy Scripture
When you approach
Scripture, examine the intention of the words, in order to measure and
understand with great discernment the depth and holiness of meaning that it
holds. Those who throughout their life have been led toward enlightenment by
grace feel all the time a kind of spiritual ray shining through the verses, and
in the Spirit they identify the words and their deep meaning.
Saint Isaac of Syria
(Seventh Century)
6 March 2021
Love
for God and Neighbor
We must nourish a
great love for God and our neighbors; a strong love, an ardent love, a love
that burns away imperfections, a love that gently bears an act of impatience,
or a bitter word, a love that lets an inadvertence or act of neglect pass
without comment, a love that lends itself readily to an act of charity.
5 March 2021
Lift
Up Your Heart Heavenward
Following the
greeting, “The Lord be with you,” which you know so well, you heard the words,
“Lift up your heart.” Now the whole life
of true Christians is a matter of lifting up the heart. To lift up the heart is a duty of Christians
who are such in very fact and not in name alone. To lift up the heart — what does this
mean? It means that you must trust in
God, not in yourself since God is so superior to you. When you trust in yourself, your heart stays
fettered to the Earth, not fixed on God.
So when you hear the priest say, “Lift up your heart,” you respond, “We
have lifted it up to the Lord.” See to
it, then, that your response rings true, since it is God himself who takes
cognizance of your words. Let there be
truth in what you say, lest your conscience deny what your tongue
professes. And since it is by God’s
grace, not by your own resources, that you are enabled to lift your heart
heavenward, the dialogue proceeds, after you have averred that your heart is
lifted up to the Lord, with the words of the priest, “Let us give thanks to the
Lord our God.” Why should we give
thanks? Because our heart has ascended
on high, and yet, had he not raised it up, we should still be wallowing in the
Earth.
Saint Augustine
4 March 2021
Hope
Things Will Improve
Although at times they
will have troubles or anxieties, nevertheless this will soon pass away and be
turned into gladness and joy. And then, the suffering of this world is nothing
in comparison with the blessings which are in Paradise. Also, let them hold
this as most certain: that they will never be abandoned in their needs. God
will provide for them wonderfully. They must not lose hope.
2 March 2021
Hypocrites
Since love for God
arises in the heart, that must be enlightened before the exterior man: for
hypocrites first make bright what is outside, but the servants of God begin
with what is within, for hypocrites love God in appearance but in their heart
care only for themselves.
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