From Saint Maximus There are many people in the world who are poor in spirit, but not in the way that they should be; there are many who mourn, but for some financial loss or the death of their children; many are gentle, but towards unclean passions; many hunger and thirst, but only to seize what does not belong to them and to profit from injustice ; many are merciful, but towards their bodies and the things that serve the body; many are pure in heart, but for the sake of self-esteem; many are peace-makers, but by making the soul submit to the flesh; many are persecuted, but as wrongdoers; many are reviled, but for shameful sins. Only those are blessed who do or suffer these things for the sake of Christ and after His example. Why? Because theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and they shall see God (cf. Matt. 5:3-12). It is not because they do or suffer these things that they are blessed, for those of whom we have spoken above do the same; it is because they do them and suffer them for the sake of Christ and after His example. As has been said many times, in everything we do God examines our motive, to see whether we are doing it for His sake or for some other purpose. Thus when we desire to do something good, we should not do it for the sake of popularity; we should have God as our goal, so that, with our gaze always fixed on Him, we may do everything for His sake. Otherwise we shall undergo all the trouble of performing the act and yet lose the reward. In time of prayer clear your intellect of both the passion-free conceptual images of human things and the contemplation of creatures. Otherwise in imagining lesser things you may fall away from Him who is incomparably greater than all created beings. Through genuine love for God we can drive out the passions. Love for God is this: to choose Him rather than the world, and the soul rather than the flesh, by despising the things of this world and by devoting ourselves constantly to Him through self-control, love, prayer, psalmody and so on. If we persistently devote ourselves to God and keep a careful watch on the soul’s passible aspect, we are no longer driven headlong by the provocations of our thoughts. On the contrary, as we acquire a more exact understanding of their causes and cut them off, we become more discerning. In this way the following words come to apply to us: ‘My eye also sees my enemies, and my ear shall hear the wicked that rise up against me’ (Ps. 92:11. LXX). 400 Chapters on Love, 3.47-51 Troparia and Kontakia for Sunday, June 29 Resurrectional Troparion, tone 2 When Thou, didst descend to death, O Life Immortal / Thou didst slay Hell with the lightning-flash of Thy Divinity, / and, when from the nether regions Thou didst raise the dead, / all the powers of Heaven cried out: / ‘O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to Thee!’ SS Peter and Paul, Troparion, tone 4 O foremost in the ranks of the Apostles, Peter and Paul, / and teachers of the world, / intercede with the Master of all, / to grant peace to the world, // and to our souls great mercy. Resurrectional Kontakion, tone 2 Thou didst rise from the grave, all –powerful Saviour; / and Hades, seeing the wonder, was affrighted; / and the dead arose; and creation, beholding, rejoiceth with Thee; / and with Thee Adam also is glad; / and the world, O my Saviour, hymneth Thee forever. SS Peter & Paul, Kontakion, tone 2 The steadfast and divinely eloquent preachers, / the foremost of Thine apostles, O Lord, / hast Thou received into the delight of Thy good things and into rest; / for thou hast accepted their pangs and death // as greater than any wholeburnt offering, O Thou who alone knowest the hearts of men.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 00:21:31 +0000
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