An Arrow

Sin, to one who loves God, is nothing other than an arrow from the enemy in battle. The true Christian is a warrior fighting his way through the regiments of the unseen enemy to his heavenly homeland. According to the word of the Apostle, our homeland is in heaven; and about the warrior he says: we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph.6: 12)]. -St. Herman of Alaska

Sin-Addiction

“First there is provocation; then a coupling with the provocation; then assent to it; then captivity to it; then passion, grown habitual and continuous. This is how the holy fathers describe the stages through which the devil gets the better of us.” -St. Philotheos of Sinai, Forty Texts on Watchfulness, the Philokalia

Never Be Idle pt.2

From St. Dimitri of Rostov’s “Instructions; Seek Diligently the Things of Salvation”

“True life is not relaxation, but battle and war, a time for enterprise, a school, a navigation across the sea. There can be no tranquility during a war, nor rest in commerce; no leisure in school, nor ease when sailing upon the sea. Who sails on the sea without fear and sobriety? Who is in the midst of war without dread? Who goes to market or school for rest?
No one. Be not slothful in the things of God, nor despondent, but resolutely ready yourself and labor. For you the harvest is now; now is the time for trading, now is the time for buying. Reap and buy now so that you will not be found with empty hands, a stranger to God’s grace, and turned over to severe judgment.
The Lord rebuked the lazy servant not for receiving and preserving the talent, but for failing to multiply it, “You wicked and lazy servant … you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at My coming I would have received back my own with interest” (Mat. 25:26-7). Not only have you not multiplied your talents, but through sloth and carelessness have lost everything. What will you say on the Fearful Day of Judgment when every detail of your life will be tested? Therefore, be watchful.”

Never be Idle pt.1

From St. Dimitri of Rostov’s “Instructions; Seek Diligently the Things of Salvation” I will post each paragraph as a separate part. The whole chapter is really wonderful. -Fr. P

“Be zealous, O man, and always be ablaze in your soul; flee despondency and coldness so that you will not hear: since “you were neither cold nor hot … I will vomit you out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:15, 16).
Strive to be watchful and do not waste the time of your life in vanity, for time has been given to you for the correction of the soul and the acquiring of eternal good. Look to it that not one day would pass in vanity – for if you lose the day to vanity,(i.e. wasting time ~Fr. P) then you will never have it again. If a day has passed, it has passed; it is not within your power to return it. Therefore, do not waste your day on emptiness; instead use the given flow of time to perfect yourself. True life is not given to you for vanity, but for this: that you would use each day for profit and be accomplishing the contest for the virtues; never be idle.”