Oblate Daily Saturday, October 11, 2014 / September 28, 2014 [East] St. Chariton the Confessor, abbot of Palestine Synaxis of the Saints of the Kiev Caves whose incorrupt relics rest in the Near Caves of St. Anthony Saints Cyril and Maria, parents of St. Sergius of Radonezh Prophet Baruch Holy Passion-bearer Wenceslaus (Vyacheslav), prince of the Czechs [West] St. Machan, disciple of St. Cadoc St. Lioba, abbess of Bischofsheim, English missionary to Germany Martyr Eustathius (Eustace) of Rome St. Faustus, bishop of Riez [SB: Holy Rule] Chapter 7 - Of Humility (cont.) We are thus forbidden to do our own will, since the Scripture saith to us: And turn away from thy evil will (Sir 18:30). And thus, too, we ask God in prayer that His will may be done in us (cf Mt 6:10). We are, therefore, rightly taught not to do our own will, when we guard against what Scripture saith: There are ways that to men seem right, the end whereof plungeth into the depths of hell (Prov 16:25). And also when we are filled with dread at what is said of the negligent: They are corrupted and become abominable in their pleasure (Ps 13[14]:1). But as regards desires of the flesh, let us believe that God is thus ever present to us, since the Prophet saith to the Lord: Before Thee is all my desire (Ps 37[38]:10). [Lectio Divina] Luke 5:19 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. [Daily thoughts from St. Theophan the Recluse] If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins (John 8:24). There is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). We must receive remission of sins, and we can receive it in no other way than by faith in the Son of God, Who was crucified in the flesh for our sake -- but on the condition that we do not desire to indulge in sinful habits and deeds. For when we sin, we have only Him as an intercessor before the Father. He who has given his word to abstain from sins must accept the helping grace of the Most Holy Spirit. However, this grace descended to the earth after the Lord ascended to sit at the right hand of God the Father, and is only given to those who believe in this marvelous economy of our salvation, and who with this faith approach the Divine Mysteries -- the Mysteries which were established in the Holy Church of the Lord through the Apostles. Thus, he who does not believe in the Lord as He is, cannot be pure of sins. Because he has not been cleansed of sins he shall die in them, and shall be judged of them according to their weightiness. If someone wants to do a good deed for someone that is of eternal value, guide him in faith in the Lord, in true faith, not allowing philosophizing or wavering. Those who directly or indirectly impair faith in the Lord must be considered everlasting evildoers, for they wreak an evil that nothing can correct, and its power stretches to all eternity. Their ignorance does not justify them, for how can they not know the truth that is known to the whole world? Their opposing beliefs do not justify them, for if you should only start strictly testing them you would immediately shake their strength; a person cannot rely on anything other than faith in the Lord. Those who do not properly examine the foundations, faith, and teachings to which they adhere, go astray in faith. An exact investigation of the conditions for salvation will lead to the conviction that they can only be met through God Incarnate, Who died on the Cross and sent the Holy Spirit down to the earth. In this lies the essence of the Christian Faith. He who sincerely believes this way will not die in his sins, for he bears within himself the power which brings forgiveness. The unbeliever is already condemned, for he bears this condemnation within himself.
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 03:08:34 +0000
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