affirmations of goodness

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Gratitude is an affirmation of goodness, for in our being grateful we affirm that there are good things in the world, and good people that are part of our lives. Our being grateful does not mean that everything in life is perfect, but it does mean that we look at life as a whole, and receive with gratitude all the goodness that is in our life. In turn, our gratitude becomes the foundation for building up those around us, for in being happy ourselves, we are more likely to bring about happiness in others.

Being happy nurtures those random acts of kindness that everyone loves to experience, and promotes goodness and kindness among even strangers. People love it when other people are good to random people. This happiness becomes like a magnet, and even strangers are drawn to us, and our list of friends proliferates. There is nothing that brings about satisfaction like being grateful for our life, for the lives of those around us, for the things in our lives, and for the love God has for us. Remember, it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.

Abbot Tryphon : the morning offering

come Lord Jesus

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The Grace of God, that comes with the sweetest name of Jesus, softens the soul. The world could be upside down, and inside a person there is meekness, self control, peace and a spiritual state of great delight.

blessed Gerontissa Makrina

this fasting

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A clear rule handed down by the Fathers is this: stop eating while still hungry and do not continue until you are satisfied.

Saint John Cassian, Philokalia, Vol. 1 Faber & Faber, 1986, p.74

This fasting is in regard to food. Living in an age in which man much too easily lives for the sake of exterior effects, we can be fooled into thinking that fasting from food should be sufficient for spiritual growth. But in the holy Gospel, our Lord Jesus Christ says, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come….all these evil things,… and they defile a man.” (Mark 7:21-23) Here the Savior teaches us that most important is the purification from within of our heart and soul. Fasting of soul is the defeat of egotism, the renunciation sins and the abstention from passions. It is a a humble realization within ourselves emulating the example of Saint John the Baptist, the greatest man born frogwoman and the greatest faster. He says, He [Christ] must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30) In order to receive Christ in our hearts… we must work to destroy all that separates us from Him. We have the means close at hand to accomplish this”

  • repentance and sincere Confession, which are the hyssop which makes our souls whiter than snow (Psalm 50:7)
  • love of God and fellow creatures who are made in the image of God” this is the great commandment of God, making us like Him Who is true Love
  • charity, which covers a multitude of sins and changes the vanity of this world into eternal glory
  • spiritual hymns and pure prayer, which is the center from which all good deeds draw their power and strength
  • and above all, participation at Holy Liturgy and receiving of Holy Communion

When we join these efforts to bodily fasting, then our fast truly becomes a knitting together of ascetically effort in both body and soul. All these things we must accomplish with joy of heart as the Lord teaches us when He says: “but when you fast, anent your head and wash your face that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:17-18)

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“Life Transfigured”

A Journal of Orthodox Nuns, Volume 50 #3

justice through mercy

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Christmas Truce of World War I
http://bgindependentmedia.org/christmas-truce-was-moment-of-peace-in-brutal-wwi/

One of the saints spoke of this saying, “The merciful man, if he be not just, is blind. That is to say, he must give to another man what he has gained by his own labors and hardship and not what he has through fraud, injustice and trickery.

And the same saint said in another place, “If you wish to sow your seed among the destiute, sow from your own seed, for if you wish to sow from other men’s seed, know that what you sow is the most bitter of tares.”

But I say that if the merciful man does not rise above what is just, he is not merciful. That is to say, he is merciful who not only shows mercy to others by giving from his own means, but who also suffers injustice from other men with joy (voluntarily, and who not merely keeps and requires justice in his dealings with his fellow men) but also shows them mercy.

The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian

Homily Four

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1144861/Original-letters-detailing-WW1-soldiers-Christmas-truce-sold.html

overcome justice by mercy

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big city horse farm

When a man overcomes justice by mercy, he is crowned though not with crowns awarded under the Law to the righteous, but with the crowns of the perfect who are under the Gospel. For the ancient Law also dictates that a man must give to the poor from his own means, and clothe the naked, and love his neighbor as himself, and forbids injustice and lying. But the perfection of the Gospel’s dispensation commands the following, “Give to every man that asketh of thee, and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.” And further, a man must not merely with joy suffer injustice as regards his possessions and the rest of the external things which come upon him, but he must also lay down his life for his brother.

The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian

Homily Four

within our hearts a lamp

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there is a light that never goes out

“And Christ crucified rejoices when He sees us following Him, undaunted and not turning back. Then you should know that in pain and in mourning, in death and in poverty there is, within our hearts a lamp, a light that nobody can ever extinguish.”

Abbot Ephraim of Vatopedi Monastery : Mount Athos Greece

Video  sermon on Lent’s Third Sunday Vespers

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on the love of God

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Shenandoah Mountains

The sufferings of this present age undertaken for the truth can not be compared with the delights that is prepared for those who labor in good works. And just as the sheaves of gladness follow for those who sow with tears, so joy follows for those who suffer hardship for the sake of God. Bread procured with much sweat seems sweet to the husbandman, and sweet are works for righteousness sake to the heart which has received the knowledge of Christ.

Suffer contempt and humiliation with good will, that you may have boldness before God. The man who with knowledge endures all manner of harsh words without having previously wronged his chide, at that moment places a crown of thrown on his head, and he is blessed, for he is crowned with an imperishable crown in a time he knows not.

The Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac of Syria

Homily Four : On the Love of God and Renunciation and the Rest Which is in God

a joy {His promises are true}

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Jesus Christ did not promise us an easy time nor even a harmonious one. But He promised us a joy that no man could take from us. He promised us ultimate victory and sure place in His Kingdom. He promised us His companionship,

“Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). That His companionship is worth more than all else, those who have experienced it know for a fact – it is the pearl without price for the possession of which a man might well sell off all that he has.

As we stand on the brink of this new year, which seems to be filled with foreboding, let us face up to whatever it may bring in a truly Christian frame of mind. That is to say, with quietude and confidence, because we trust God with all our joys and sorrows. Putting His will first, we know we have nothing to fear, even if we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4) for if the Lord is with us, whom shall we fear?

Let us start the new year with a cry of joy, praise and thanksgiving “Praise God in His sanctuary, praise Him in the firmament of His power… Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:1-6)

Princess Ileana (Mother Alexandra) December 12, 1956

“Life Transfigured” A Journal of Orthodox Nuns

volume 50 #3

soul word {smile}

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“Three things that are necessary and soul saving I want to tell you my beloved children that you should watch and guard always. They are great patience, True Orthodox faith and above all love for God and your neighbors, even for your enemies.

Do these things and keep the commandments of the Lord and as many times as you sin, repent and confess. Thus in this way you will be saved and inherit the kingdom. Without the sacrament of confession, very few will be saved.

Our whole life is a time of preparation, a time for repentance and salvation.

Blessed and joyful is he who dies in repentance.

I pray that the Lord will save us all. Amen.”

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