13 February 2020

Listening and Doing

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and
humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not

merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

                                                                                                    James 1:21-22

8 February 2020

Epistle to the Corintians

On account of his hospitality and godliness, Lot was saved out of Sodore
when all the country round was punished by means of fire and brimstone,
the Lord thus making it manifest that He does not forsake those that hope
in Him, but gives up such as depart from Him to punishment and torture.
For Lot's wife, who went forth with him, being of a different mind from
himself and not continuing in agreement with him [as to the command
which had been given them], was made an example of, so as to be a pillar
of salt unto this day. This was done that all might know that those who are
of a double mind, and who distrust the power of God, bring down judgment
on themselves and become a sign to all succeeding generations.

                                                                                          Saint Clement of Rome

6 February 2020

Small Collection of Litany Collects

L: O Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
C: Do not reward us according to our iniquities.
L: O God, merciful Father, You have promised to hear the prayers of all
     who in repentance call out to You. Graciously hear us so that all evils
     which beset us may be of no avail, that we, Your servants, may evermore
     give thanks to You in Your holy Church; through Jesus Christ, Your Son,
     our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
     now and forever.
C: Amen.

L: O Lord, enter not into judgment with Your servant.
C: For in Your sight shall no man living be justified.
L: Almighty God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that
     in our frailty we can not stand upright. Grant strength and protection
     to support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations;
     through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with
     You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.

L: Call on Me in the day of trouble.
C: I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me.
L: Spare us, O Lord, and mercifully forgive us our sins. Though by our
     continual transgressions we have merited Your chastisements, be
     gracious to us. Grant that all these punishments which we have
     deserved may not come upon us, but that all things may work to our
     everlasting good; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives
     and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.

5 February 2020

Cross the Tree to Heaven

This is the Son of the carpenter, who skillfully made his Cross a bridge
over Sheol—Sheol that swallows up all—and brought over mankind into
the dwelling of life.

And because it was through the tree that mankind had fallen into Sheol, so

upon the tree they passed over into the dwelling of life. Through the tree in
which bitterness was tasted, through it also sweetness was tasted; so that

we might learn of him that among the creatures nothing resists Him.

Glory be to you, who laid your Cross as a bridge over death, that souls
might pass over on it from the dwelling of the dead to the dwelling of life!

                                                   –St. Ephrem the Syrian, Homily on Our Lord,

4 February 2020

The Fear of God

A man obtains the fear of God if he has the remembrance of his unavoidable
death and of the eternal torments that await sinners; If he tests himself every
evening as to how he has spent the day, and every morning as to how he has
spent the night, and if is not sharp in his relations with others.

                                                                  Venerable Abba Dorotheus of Palestine

2 February 2020

Humility

Nothing is more opposed to God than pride, for self-deification is concealed
in it, its own nothingness or sin. Thus more than anything humility is acceptable
to God, which considers itself nothing, and attributes all goodness, honor, and
glory to God alone. Pride does not accept grace, because it is full of itself, while
humility easily accepts grace, because it is free from itself, and from all that is
created. God creates out of nothing. As long as we think that we can offer
something of ourselves, He does not begin His work in us. Humility is the salt
of virtue. As salt gives flavor to food, so humility gives perfection to virtue.
Without salt, food goes bad easily, and without humility, virtue is easily spoiled
by pride, vainglory, impatience - and it perishes. There is a humility which a
man gains by his own struggles: knowing his own insufficiency, accusing himself
for his failings, not allowing himself to judge others. And there is a humility into
which God leads a man through the things that happen to him: allowing him to
experience afflictions, humiliations, and deprivations.

                                              St. Philaret of Moscow, The Glory of the Mother of God

1 February 2020

Unbelief

The Lord does not show Himself to a proud soul. The proud soul, no
matter how many books it reads, will never know God, since by its
pride it does not give place for the grace of the Holy Spirit, while God
is known only by the humble soul.

                                                                                 St. Silouan the Athonite