Whoever has mercy upon the poor lends to God. Let us lend to God almsgiving so we may receive from Him clemency in exchange. Oh, how wise is this statement! "Who-ever has mercy upon the poor lends to God.” Why did he not say, “Whoever has mercy upon the poor gives to God" instead of… Continue reading Do You Want God as a Judge or Debtor?
Tag: Poetry
God Hears Your Prayers by Not Responding
Cease saying, "I prayed for many things and was not heard." For even this occurs often to your advantage. Since He realizes that you lose heart and are indolent, and that when you attain your need you depart and no longer pray, God protects you with the pretext of need so that you may converse… Continue reading God Hears Your Prayers by Not Responding
He Has What He Will
He who does not hold to his own will always has what he will; for externally he does not get his own way but whatever happens, no matter what it is, gives him quiet satisfaction and he discovers for himself that he has what he will. For he does not want things to happen as… Continue reading He Has What He Will
Three Stages of combating Passions
A man who gives way to his passions and suffers for it is like a man who is shot at by an enemy, catches the arrow in his hands, and then plunges it into his own heart. A man who is resisting his passions is like a man who is shot at by an enemy,… Continue reading Three Stages of combating Passions
Bury Not Your Conscience
When our conscience says to us, ‘do this!” and we despise it and it speaks again and we do not do it but continue to despise it, at last we bury it and it is no longer able to speak clearly to us from the depths where we have laid it. St. Dorotheos of Gaza
The Fruits of Humility—St.Basil
The story is told of Blessed Basil that, making a visitation of his monasteries, he said to one of the Heads, ‘Have you any saints here?’ The Abba said, ‘Through your prayers, my Lord, we all desire to be saints.’ And again Blessed Basil said to him, ‘No! I mean have you got any saints… Continue reading The Fruits of Humility—St.Basil
Little One in Malice
As the Apostle says, ‘Do not be little ones in understanding, be little ones in malice.’What is being a little one in malice? A baby has no malice. If he is not treated with honor he is not angry; if he is honored, he is not subject to vainglory. If what he has is taken… Continue reading Little One in Malice
True Fasting
Do no fast with bread and salt whilst you eat the flesh of your brethren through judgment and slander. Abba Yousaab El Abah
All Becomes Obstacle in Desire of God
Despite all this, few people come to church. How grievous! We run eagerly to dances and amusements. We listen with pleasure to the foolishness of singers. We enjoy the foul words of actors for hours without getting bored. And yet when God speaks we yawn, we scratch ourselves and feel dizzy. Most people would run… Continue reading All Becomes Obstacle in Desire of God
If Unwilling, Increase The Amount 2 Fold
A monk asked Abba John, "If I would like to give alms, but my thought has doubts about giving, what should I do?” Abba John replied, "Examine yourself, and if you find that you are doing this out of stinginess, then give something even beyond what you should have given, for example an additional small… Continue reading If Unwilling, Increase The Amount 2 Fold
Fathers in Iconography 