14 November 2023
In the Scriptures it is written that falsehood is from the evil one, and
that He is the "Father of Lies" (John 8:44), while God is truth, for
He Himself says, "I am the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:6).
Thus you see from whom we estranged ourselves and to whom we are united by a
lie. So then, if we really want to be saved, we must love truth with our whole
hearts and guard ourselves from all falsehood. There are three different types
of lies: in thought, in word, and in life itself. A man lies in thought when he
accepts as true his own imaginations, that is his vain despite of his neighbor.
Such a one, when he sees that someone is conversing with his neighbor, makes
his own estimation and says, "They are talking about me." If someone
say a word, he considers that it was said to grieve him. Never believe your own
guesses and interpretations, for a crooked measurement makes even the straight
to be crooked. Human opinion is false and harms those who are given to it. The
one who sins in word is one who, for example, when out of despondency he has
not gotten up for the service, does not say, "Forgive me, I was too lazy
to get up," but says, "I had a fever, I had too much work, I hadn't
the strength to get up, I was sick," and says ten false statements, rather
than make a single prostration and be humbled. And if he should be rebuke is
such a situation, he changes his words and argues, in order not to be rebuked.
One who lies by his life is one who, if he is defiled, pretends to be chaste,
or if he is avaricious, praises almsgiving, or if he is proud praises humility.
Thus, in order to escape falsehood and be delivered from the part of the evil
one, let us strive to appropriate truth, in order to have union with God.
St. Abba Dorotheos
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