http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/03/29/the-fourth-sunday-of-great-lent-the-healing-of-the-boy-with-a-dumb-and-deaf-spirit/ McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:35:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/03/29/the-fourth-sunday-of-great-lent-the-healing-of-the-boy-with-a-dumb-and-deaf-spirit/comment-page-1/#comment-1639 Natalia Arzhantseva Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:43:31 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=781#comment-1639 I think here is another problem - we are used to receiving everyting for granted, and are sincerely amuzed that sometimes it suddenly occurs that we do not receive, immediately, what we want. We fix all our attention to this "fixed idea", ceising noticing all other blessings. Even this idea is not prevailing in the meaning over other more important & vital things we receive from God, and we have from Him. And when we want something, we think that God MUST do it, but not that He WILL do it. And when we do not receive - we start doubting...Here is the boarder between the right understanding & our vision. When we count on His capability of doing anything, we mostly reply on the understanding that He should definitely do as we want Him to do - at the time we want, in the way we prefer. To show us how incorrect & selfish we are He, aiming at teaching us, lets the things go the way we want, and having got it all we feel terrified - of what our wish looks like, and into what it may turn in reality. And we also forget when we ask Him something, that He does everything with the only goal - to save us. If the fulfilment of our wish does not correspond to this goal, we cannot expect this favour from Him. Of course, He lets is fall down & be hurt, make mistakes, but also - only if the bitter lessons serve for our humility & lead to salvation. He means our salvation, we mean - whatever occurs into our poor head:-) A parent will not give matches to his baby, no matter how loudly & bitterly he weaps asking for it - because it's dangerous for his health...Our Faher in Heaven will also not give us what is dangerous for our soul & threatens to our salvation. And we, being stubborn & demanding, insisn that He must do anything. There is no belief in this way of asking, in this attitude to God. If we start learning to be at least a little bit grateful to Him, a little bit more patient, believe Him & ask with humility....we'll see He will change us & save us. I think here is another problem – we are used to receiving everyting for granted, and are sincerely amuzed that sometimes it suddenly occurs that we do not receive, immediately, what we want. We fix all our attention to this “fixed idea”, ceising noticing all other blessings. Even this idea is not prevailing in the meaning over other more important & vital things we receive from God, and we have from Him. And when we want something, we think that God MUST do it, but not that He WILL do it. And when we do not receive – we start doubting…Here is the boarder between the right understanding & our vision. When we count on His capability of doing anything, we mostly reply on the understanding that He should definitely do as we want Him to do – at the time we want, in the way we prefer. To show us how incorrect & selfish we are He, aiming at teaching us, lets the things go the way we want, and having got it all we feel terrified – of what our wish looks like, and into what it may turn in reality. And we also forget when we ask Him something, that He does everything with the only goal – to save us. If the fulfilment of our wish does not correspond to this goal, we cannot expect this favour from Him. Of course, He lets is fall down & be hurt, make mistakes, but also – only if the bitter lessons serve for our humility & lead to salvation. He means our salvation, we mean – whatever occurs into our poor head:-) A parent will not give matches to his baby, no matter how loudly & bitterly he weaps asking for it – because it’s dangerous for his health…Our Faher in Heaven will also not give us what is dangerous for our soul & threatens to our salvation. And we, being stubborn & demanding, insisn that He must do anything. There is no belief in this way of asking, in this attitude to God. If we start learning to be at least a little bit grateful to Him, a little bit more patient, believe Him & ask with humility….we’ll see He will change us & save us.

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