the toil that God undertakes

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Theotokos surrounded by blossoming trees

Think about the toil that God undertakes on your behalf. Think of His concern and anxiety for you, along with His patience, and long-suffering. Consider His wisdom, and His great strength. He has become everything entwined with all things, interwoven with all things, in the clouds, in the pillars of fire, on the mountain tops, in the low places, in our sins, in our cries, in everything. He is everywhere. And since I know that I can’t live without Him, I will never forget Him, or live apart from Him.

The Way of the Spirit, page 177-178

Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

catch hold of Him

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One example of God stooping down to our level is given to us in the Psalms. Do you remember the wonderful image of Christ stooping down in order to drink from a running stream? He shall drink of the brook in the way, it says, therefore shall He lift up His head. (Psalm 109.7). What does this mean? That “although you forget me, I, the heavenly God, stoop down just as you do. I share in your life, so that you can share in Mine. I move and act like you do to show you that I’ve become like you, so that you can become like Me.

Do you grow weary on your journey? So do I. (John 4.6) Do you thirst? (John 4.7, 19, 28) So do I. Do you stoop down to drink water? I do the same. I humble Myself. I empty Myself. (Phil 2.7). I drink and refresh Myself. What more can I do? What do you do that I don’t?

And since I am so close to you stooping down alongside of you, can’t you catch hold of Me?

Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

walk humbly with God

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goodness and mercy

O come ye faithful, let us work the words of God in light. Let us walk honestly as in the day, let us cast away from ourselves every unjust writing against our neighbor and not put a stumbling block as an occasion for his falling on the way.

Friday Vespers : First Week of Great lent

love humility and prudence

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Be free, though your are bound in a body, and for Christ’s sake, show forth obedience in your freedom. But also be prudent in your simplicity, lest you be plundered. Love humility in all your activities that you be delivered from the imperceptible snares that are always found outside the pathways of humble men. Do not reject afflictions, for through them you will enter in the knowledge of the truth, and do not fear temptations, because therein you find precious things.

The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian

Homily Three

comforting the sick

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You should rejoice because you are a daughter of Christ our God. What a great honor, and a great joy that we are called brothers of god. This indicates His great love for us. Those whom God loves are tested and those who are tested a little receive crowning honors. The Holy Spirit tells us, those who are sick, whom God loves, He witnesses to see their patience, faith and love and He will reward them greatly. He will give them the Eternal Kingdom and all the goodness of Paradise.

“Spiritual Advice of the Elder Philotheos Zervakos”

Translated by Archimandrite Polycarpos Rameras


the mercy of God towards man

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“…great is the mercy of God towards man. If all the people of the earth knew how deeply the Lord loves man, their hears would be filled with love of Christ and Christ’s humility, and they would seek to be like Him in all things. But man cannot do this by himself, for it is only of the Holy Spirit that he can become like unto Christ. Man that is fallen purified himself through repentance, and is made new by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and in all t things become like unto the Lord.

So great is God’s mercy towards us.”

The Writings of Staretz Silouan Wisdom from Mount Athos

page 67

offering {loaves and fishes}

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First you must consider Christ. You will ask me what need does Christ have, but the need is not His, it’s yours. Give to Him the treasure that He gave to you and He will increase it a hundred, a thousand and a million more times.

“Spiritual Advice of the Elder Philotheos Zervakos”

Translated by Archimandrite Polycarpos Rameras

good works are by grace

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“It is for us to confess with contrition of heart that all the good words are done by the grace and help of God. We people, without God can do nothing. Whatever we have, our being, our life, health, strength, wisdom, and riches are gifts of God. We ourselves are nothing, for out of nothing were we created. Every good thing, therefore that we do is by the grace of God. The Apostle Paul, who worked and suffered greatly said in humility, not me but the grace of God that is in me. We may labor, but if we do not have the Grace of God or the intercessions of the Saints our labors will amount to nothing.

Let us then humble ourselves and ask the Lord to give us true and fervent faith…

“Spiritual Advice of the Elder Philotheos Zervakos” Translated by Archimandrite Polycarpos Rameras