Mary has chosen the good part

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Administrator

1 6. Question.

What does it mean when Martha said to the Lord about Mary, “I am hard at work about many things, while she sits beside Thee”? (Luke 10:41)

Answer.

What Mary might well have said to Martha, the Lord, anticipating her, replied that she had left everything to sit at the Lord’s feet, and bless God all day long. You see, her sitting was for love’s sake. But that God’s word may be made clearer, listen to this. If any one loves Jesus, and attends to Him in earnest, and not in a casual way, but in love abides by Him, God is already devising to make some return to that soul for its love, although the man does not know what he is to receive, or what portion God is about to give to the soul. When Mary loved Him, and sat at His feet, the gift that was added to her was no casual gift ; He gave her a certain hidden virtue from His own substance. The very words which God spoke in peace to Mary were so many spirits, and a power; and these words entering into her heart were made a soul to her soul and a spirit to her spirit, and a divine power was filled into her heart. Where that power shall lodge, it cannot but abide permanently, as a possession not to be taken away. For this reason the Lord, who knew what He gave her, said  “Mary hath chosen the good part” (Luke 10:42) But after a time the things which Martha had done so eagerly in the way of service brought her to that gift of grace. She too received divine power in her soul.

St. Macarius the Great, Homily 12, Q. 16, p. 103

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The Fallen Angel

Posted on August 14, 2016 by Administrator

‘The devil,’ says St. John Chrysostom of the fallen angel, ‘is shameless and insolent. He attacks from below. Yet even so he often wins, but that is only because we do not try to raise ourselves to where he is powerless to wound us. For he cannot raise himself high, but creeps over the earth; and that is why the serpent is his type or image. And if God set him crawling at the beginning of things, he is all the more so now.

But if you do not know what it means to attack from below, I will try to explain it to vou. It means to steal upon you and master you by using low things, by means of pleasures, riches and all that is earthly.

So if the devil sees someone soaring to heaven, first he is not in a position to attack him; and second, if he does risk attacking, he soon falls, because he has not a leg to stand Do not be afraid of him; he has no wings. He only crawls over the earth and creeps among earthly things. So have nothing in common with earth; then there will be no need even of labour.

The devil cannot fight openly, but just as a snake hides in thorns, so he mostly lurks in the delusions of wealth. If you cut out the thorns, he will soon be scared and take to flight. If you can exorcize him with the divine charms, you will easily strike him. And we do have, we surely have spiritual charms: the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of the cross.’

Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov), The Arena, p.188

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Secret Meditation

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Administrator

A certain brother by the name of John came from the coastal country to the holy and great father Philemon (Abba Philemon: an Egyptian hermit during the 6th—7th century) and clasping his feet, said to him: ‘What must I do, Father, to be saved? I see that my mind is distracted, and wanders hither and thither where it should not.’ After a short silence, Philemon said to him:

‘This is a sickness suffered by those who are external, and it remains in you because your love of God is not yet perfect; up till now the warmth of the love and the knowledge of God has not yet arisen in you.’

The brother asked him, ‘What then shall I do ? ‘ ‘Go,’ answered the father, ‘and for the time being practice secret meditation in your heart; this will cleanse your mind of its sickness.’

The brother, not understanding what was told him, said to Philemon: ‘What is this secret meditation, Father? ‘ ‘Go,’ he answered, ‘preserve sobriety in your heart, and in your mind repeat soberly, with fear and trembling, ‘ ‘Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me.” This is what the blessed Diadochos prescribed for beginners.’

The brother left him, and by God’s help and the prayers of the father he began to keep silence and to taste the sweetness of this secret meditation. But this lasted only for a short time. Since it suddenly departed from him and he could no longer maintain it or pray soberly, he came again to the father and told him what had happened. The father said: ‘Now you have trod a little way on the path of silence and inner practice and tasted of its sweetness. Therefore, keep it always in your heart. Whether you eat or drink, or talk to someone outside your cell or on the way somewhere, do not forget to recite this prayer with a sober and attentive mind, and to sing and meditate upon prayers and psalms.

Even if you are satisfying some essential need, do not allow your mind to be idle, but let it meditate and pray in secret. All the time— when you drop off to sleep or wake up, when you eat or drink, or talk with someone—keep your heart at work secretly, sometimes meditating on a verse from the Psalms, and sometimes praying, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me.” ‘

From the Life of Abba Philemon, The Art of Prayer, pp. 76,77

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Friendship (part 3)

Posted on July 31, 2016 by Administrator

He who loves does not wish to command, nor to rule, but is rather obliged when he is ruled and commanded. He wishes rather to bestow a favor than to receive one, for he loves, and is so affected, as not having satisfied his desire. He is not so much gratified when good is done to him, as when he is doing good. For he wishes to oblige, rather than to be indebted to him; or rather he wishes both to be beholden to him, and to have him his debtor. And he wishes both to bestow favors, and not to seem to bestow them, but himself to be the debtor …This God also has done in the case of men. He purposed to give His own Son for us; but so He might not seem to bestow a favor, but to be indebted to us, He commanded Abraham to offer his son… And these things indeed are so here. But from God the reward of friendship is so great, that it cannot be expressed.

St. John Chrysostom. Homily 11 on I Thessalonians I. B#57, pp. 329-332. The Bible and the Holy Fathers, pp.481-482

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Friendship (part 2)

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Administrator

From a friend we may both ask a favor, and receive one without  suspicion. When they enjoin anything upon us, then we feel indebted to  them, but when they are slow to do this, then we are sorrowful. We have nothing which is not theirs. Often despising all things here, on their account we are not willing to depart from here; and they are more longed for by us than the light… And do not wonder: for it would be better for us were the sun to be extinguished, than that we should be deprived of friends, better to live in darkness, than to be without friends…  I speak of spiritual friends, who prefer nothing to friendship. Such was Paul, who would willingly have given his soul, even though not asked; more, he would have plunged into hell for them. With so ardent a disposition ought we to love …

But consider, in the time of the Apostles, I do not speak of the chief  men, but of the believers themselves generally, ‘all,’ he says, ‘were of one heart and soul: and neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own …and they distributed to each, as anyone had need’ (Acts 4:32,35). There were then no such words as ‘mine’ and ‘yours.’ This is friendship, that a man should not consider his goods his own, but his neighbour’s, that his possessions belong to another; that he should be as careful of his friend’s soul, as of his own, and the friend likewise. And where is it possible, somebody says, that such a one should be found? Because we have not the will, for it is possible. If it were not possible, neither would Christ have commanded it; he would not have discoursed so much concerning love. A great thing is friendship, and how great, no one can learn, and no discourse represent, but experience itself…

St. John Chrysostom. Homily 11 on I Thessalonians I. B#57, pp. 329-332.
The Bible and the Holy Fathers, pp.481-482

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Friendship (part 1)

Posted on July 17, 2016 by Administrator

He who loves, ought so to love, that if he were asked even for his soul or life, and it were possible, he would not refuse it. I do not say, ‘if he were asked,’ but so that he would even run to present him with the gift. For nothing, nothing can be sweeter than such love; nothing will fall out there that is grievous. Truly ‘a faithful friend is the medicine of life’ (Ecclus. 6:16). Truly ‘a faithful friend is a strong defense’ (Ibid. 14). For what will not a genuine friend perform? What pleasure will he not afford, what benefit, what security? Though you should name infinite treasures, none of them is comparable to a genuine friend…

A friend rejoices at seeing his friend and expands with joy. He is knit to him with a union of soul that affords unspeakable pleasure. And if he only calls him to remembrance, he is roused in mind, and transported. I speak of genuine friends, men of one soul, who would even die for each other, who love fervently. Do not, thinking of those who barely love, who are table-companions, mere nominal friends, suppose that my discourse is refuted. If anyone has a friend such as I speak of, he will acknowledge the truth of my words. He though he sees his friend every day, is not satiated’ For him he prays for the same things as for himself …so dear a thing is a good friend, that times and places are loved on his account. For as bodies that are luminous spread their radiance to the neighboring places, so also friends leave a grace of their own in the places to which they have come. And oftentimes in the absence of friends, as we have stood in those places, we have wept, and remembering the days which we passed together, have sighed…

St. John Chrysostom. Homily 11 on I Thessalonians I. B#57, pp. 329-332.
The Bible and the Holy Fathers, pp.481-482

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Your names are written in heaven

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Administrator

But in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. LK 10:20

But He also further benefits them by immediately adding; “But in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”: ‘Do Thou not, O Lord, permit those who have been honoured by Thee to rejoice in their honours? And yet it is written of those who were appointed to the apostleship: “They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance, and in Thy name shall they exult all the day, and in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For Thou art the glory of their strength, and in Thy good pleasure shall our horn be exalted.” How then didst Thou command them not to rejoice in the honour and glory which Thou didst Thyself bestow?’ What can we say to this? I answer, that Christ raises them to something greater, and commands them to account it their glory that their names were written in heaven. For it is of the saints that God is thus addressed, “And in Thy book they are all written.”

St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke, Sermon LXIV.

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What is the purpose of the fasts?

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Administrator

VI.iv.5.     A brother asked Abba Moses, “What is the purpose of the fasts and vigils which a man undertakes?” And the old man replied, “These are the means whereby the soul learns humility. For it is written, ‘Look upon my lowliness and labour and forgive me all my sins.’ (Psalm 25.18). If a soul does these things the Lord will have mercy on him because of them”.

VI.iv.6.    A brother asked what he should do in all the temptations which came upon him, and in every thought from the devil. And the old man said to him, “With the goodness of God before his eyes he ought to weep and ask for help. He will soon find peace if he asks in total awareness, for it is written, ‘The Lord is my helper. I shall not fear what men can do to me.” (Psalm 118.6)”

Abba Moses, De Vitis Patrum Book IV, Libellus 4, Parag. 5,6

 

 

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He will guide you

Posted on June 26, 2016 by Administrator

“When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all the truth”. John 16:13

For it is from the Spirit that the powers derive their close relationship to God, their inability to change to evil, and their continuance in blessedness. Is it Christ’s advent? The Spirit is forerunner. Is there the incarnate presence? The Spirit is inseparable. Working the miracles, and gifts of healing are through the Holy Spirit. Demons were driven out by the Spirit of God. The devil was brought to naught by the presence of the Spirit.

Remission of sins was by the gift of the Spirit, for ‘you were washed, you were sanctified …in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit of our God.’ There is close relationship with God through the Spirit, for ‘God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father.’

The resurrection from the dead is effected by the operation of the Spirit, for ‘You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the earth’ (Ps. 104:30). If here creation may be taken to mean the bringing of the Spirit, who is to us the dispenser of the life that follows on the resurrection, and attunes our souls to the spiritual life beyond?

St. Basil the Great, On the Holy Spirit, Ch. 9, parag. 49, NPNF 2nd Series, Volume 8.

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Like the rays of the sun

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Administrator

“He is simple in nature, manifold in powers, wholly present in each single one, and whole and entire in all places. Impassively divided, yet wholly bestowed, like the rays of the sun whose favor each enjoys as though it shone for him alone. So the Spirit, to each one who received Him, as though given to Him alone, pours forth sufficient and perfect grace to each one. He is enjoyed by each one, not in the measure of His power, but of each one’s capacity.

The Spirit is not united to the soul by drawing near to it in place, but through the withdrawal of the passions…. Through His aid, hearts are lifted up, the weak are led by the hand, those going forward are perfected. He shines upon those who have been purified of every stain, making them spiritual in heart, through union with Himself. Thus the souls containing the Spirit within them become themselves spiritual and their brightness shines forth on others. From this comes the knowledge of the future, the understanding of mysteries, the seeing of things hidden, the apportioning of gifts, heavenly association with the angelic choirs, joy without end, abiding with God, being made like to God, and highest of all, to become God.’”

St. Basil the Great, On the Holy Spirit, Ch. 9, parag. 22, 23, NPNF 2nd Series, Volume 8.

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