By: Natalia Arzhantseva

Natalia Arzhantseva — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:26:35 +0000

Father, bless!
How often we really dive into the deep waters hardly able to swim…How often we take up anything that we hardly can do…We are anxious to take up a "heroic deed" – like fasting for the angels, but we put aside the main things we are called for. How often we try to help the humanity, paying no attention to the ones who are near us & who need our support & help, at least – understanding & compassion…
My "good deeds" are so much connected with the "boiling blood" & pride, that might more do harm than use to people.
St Ignatius (Brianchaninov) spoke much about this – how careful we should step in our spiritual life, as everything that exceeds our abilities is from demons. And it is really so – because the deeds without repentance lead to enhancing of our pride, and this takes us more & more far away from God, from our salvation. If we give it to this, we'll enhance our "opinion", not the Christian life itself.
Everything that is really done from humility, without the pollution of pride, i.e. done for God and in the Name of God to people without any & not for ourselves to show off, is connected with sorrow, difficulties, it is not executed easily.
Our love costs something only in case if it costs us something. To do the real good we should fight with our fallen nature, should stand beyond our favourite "me" – and this is always difficult.
They distract our attention from what we should do, displaying in front of our eyes attractive pictures of of our "enournous spirituality", and they screen from us the real state of things – which is far from those rose-coloured fabrics, which is able to turn into a curtain, closing us from God.
Holy Fathers teach us that those good deeds are accepted by God, which had been done out of repentance. If we lose repentance, if our pride grows – it signs that we are doing something in a wrong way.
Our deeds, our actions & thoughts should be the fruits of repentance. I pray that God will improve my soul in this way. I hope, and ask you to pray for that, Father. And Deborah…

By: Deborah

Deborah — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:01:25 +0000

Father, Bless,

I, too, have asked what I must do to be saved. And when I hear what the Lord is telling me that I must give up in order to follow Him, I, too, often wander away in despair—it is so much.

But I am given hope by the fact that the Lord looked on this poor young man with love and pity. And as the rich young ruler walked away, the Lord told His disciples that although it would be difficult and painful (like pulling a camel throught the eye of the needle!), with God all things are possible and even those 'rich' with passions can be saved.

Bless and Pray for,

Deborah

Comments on: The Rich Young Ruler The main points are about hidden passions, ignorance About God and self and, yes, money too. New Text Homily.

By: Natalia Arzhantseva

By: Deborah