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Wisdom from Our Holy Fathers
"Christ does not need us, for He has thousands of angels who serve Him impeccably. In addition, by a word He is able to create thousands more of these holy beings. But His infinite love constrains Him to be concerned about us, without being disgusted by our stench and our festering wounds. So let us remember this love of God at every moment of our life, so that we shall do our worthless deeds solely for the love of God.
Just think-we were not crucified for our Christ, our Savior, whereas on behalf of us monstrosities, He endured death on a cross for the sake of obedience.
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- Elder Ephraim
"To what end do fasting and penitence lead? For what purpose is this trouble taken? They lead to the cleansing of the soul from sins, to peace of heart, to union with God; they fill us with devotion and sonship, and give us boldness before God. There are, indeed, very important reasons for fasting and for confession from the whole heart. There shall be an inestimable reward given for conscientious labor. Have many of us the feeling of son-like love for God? Dare many of us, without condemnation and with boldness call upon the Father in Heaven and say: "Our Father!"... Is there not, on the contrary, no such son-like voice to be heard in our hearts, which are deadened by the vanities of this world and attachments to its objects and pleasures? Is not our Heavenly Father far from our hearts? Is it not rather an avenging God that we represent to ourselves, we ho have withdrawn ourselves from Him into a faraway land? Yes, by our sins all of us are worthy of His righteous anger and punishment, and it is wonder how long-suffering and forbearing He is to us - that He does not strike us like the barren fig tree. Let us hasten to propitiate Him by repentance and tears! Let us enter into ourselves; let us consider our unclean hearts in all strictness, and when we see what a multitude of impurities are keeping them form the reach of Divine Grace, we shall ourselves acknowledge that we are spiritually dead. "
- St. John of Kronstadt
"Always seek in your prayers first and foremost that God grant you humble-mindedness. Persist in this request of yours, for without true humble-mindedness nothing good or worth a reward is achieved. "
- Elder Ephraim
"Anger is by nature designed for waging war with the demons and for struggling with every kind of sinful pleasure. Therefore angels, arousing spiritual pleasure in us and giving us to taste its blessedness, incline us to direct our anger against the demons. But the demons, enticing us towards worldly lusts, make us use anger to fight with men, which is against nature, so that the mind, thus stupefied and darkened, should become a traitor to virtues. "- Abba Evagrius the Monk
"There is no higher virtue than love, and there is no vice or passion worse than hatred, which - to someone who is not attentive to himself - seems of little importance; but in spiritual significance, it is likened to murder (I John 3:15). Kindness...to your neighbors, and forgiveness of their shortcomings, is the shortest path to salvation. "
- St. Ambrose of Milan
"The Scripture tells of different ways of how God has fought on our behalf to attain the good so that we might have abundant occasions to thank Him for His benefits. Psalm 106 immediately begins with 'Give thanks to the Lord because he is good, for His mercy endures forever.' This verse is an acknowledgment of thanksgiving, they are not merely words, for we are bidden to glorify God for His goodness only. Both the good and salvation for mankind come from God, for all things come through His grace and goodness. "
- St. Gregory of Nyssa