Inward and outward righteousness

June 6, 2012 | Saint Theophan, Uncategorized

Wednesday. [Rom. 1:18–27; Matt. 5:20–26] Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heav?en (Matt. 5:20). Characteristic of the scribes is knowledge of the law without concern for life according to the law. Characteristic of the Pharisees is correctness of outward behaviour without particular con?cern for correctness of thoughts and feelings in the heart. Both attitudes are condemned to remain outside of the heavenly kingdom. Let every?one receive from this the lesson he needs. If you want to learn the Gos?pel law, do so — but in a way that enables you to establish your life ac?cording to this knowledge. Try to be correct in your behaviour, but keep your inner feelings and dispositions correct at the same time. If you have gained some knowledge, do not stop there, but go further and understand the demands such knowledge makes of you — then act appropriately. Let your behaviour show that your feelings and disposi?tions are not the result of externals, but such that your external behav?iour proceeds from your feelings and dispositions, and actually expresss them. If you gear yourself this way, you will be higher than the Scribes and Pharisees, and the doors of the kingdom will not be closed to you.

Saint Theophan the Recluse

Temptation

June 5, 2012 | Saint Theophan, Uncategorized

[Rom. 1:1–7, 13–17; Matt. 4:25–5:13] After the Lord’s baptism, when the Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove, He was brought down into the wilderness to be tempted. Such is the path com?mon to all. Saint Issac the Syrian notes in one place that as soon as you taste grace-filled consolation, or receive some gift from the Lord —await temptations. Temptations conceal the brightness of grace from one’s own eyes which usually con?sume every good with self-opinion and self-exultation. These tempta?tions are sometimes external — sor?rows, humiliation; and internal —passionate thoughts, which pur?posely are released, like beasts un?chained. Therefore, we must heed ourselves and strictly sort out what occurs with us and in us, to see why it is happening, and what obliga?tions it brings.

Saint Theophan the Recluse

Is the Spirit Within You?

June 4, 2012 | Saint Theophan, Uncategorized

Monday. [Eph. 5:9–19; Matt. 18:10–20] Comforting His disciples, the Lord said that it will be better for them if He rises to heaven, for upon rising, in place of Himself He will send the comforter — the Spirit. The Holy Spirit has descended and a?bides in the Church, accomplishing in each believer the work of Christ. Each Christian is a communicant of the spirit. This is something so nec?essary, that in fact whoever does not have the Spirit is not of Christ. Look closely at yourself — is the Spirit of grace within you? For it does not remain in everyone; it can depart. Here are the signs of its presence: first it finds a spirit of re?pentance and teaches a Christian to turn to God and correct his life; the spirit of repentance, accomplishing its work, passes the Christian on to a spirit of holiness and purity, which is succeeded, at last, by a spirit of Sonhood. The characteristic of the first is a work-loving zeal; the char?acteristic of the second is warmth and a sweet burning of the heart; the characteristic of the third is a feeling of Sonhood whereby the heart sighs to God: Abba, Father! (Mk. 14:36). Examine which of these levels you are on. If you are not on any of them, take care for yourself.

Saint Theophan the Recluse

Commemoration

June 2, 2012 | Saint Theophan, Uncategorized

[Acts 28:1–31; John 21:15–25] Nobody is lazy in commemorat?ing his own parents; but it is also necessary to commemorate all Or?thodox Christians, and not only on this day, but at all times, in every prayer. We ourselves will be there, and will need this prayer like a poor person needs a piece of bread and a glass of water. Remember that prayer for those who have passed a?way is strong through its commu?nality, in that it comes from the en?tire Church. The Church breathes prayer. Just as it is in nature, when during pregnancy a mother breathes and the strength she re?ceives from this breath passes on to the child, so also in the order of grace, the Church breathes a prayer which is shared by all, and the pow?er of the prayer passes on to those who have passed away, held in the bosom of the Church, which is made up of the living and the dead, the militant and the triumphant. Do not be lazy — zealously commemorate all of our departed fathers and brothers whenever you pray. It will be your alms for them.

Saint Theophan the Recluse

Abide in Me

June 1, 2012 | Saint Theophan, Uncategorized

[Acts 27:1–44; John 17:18–26] As thou, Father, art in me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us… I in them, and thou in Me (John 17:21–23). This is the golden chain tying us with Divinity! We have fallen away — the Mediator has a?risen, Who is one with God the Fa?ther, and has become one with us. Becoming one with Him, we are u?nited in Him, and through Him with God the Father. Glory to Thy bound?less mercy toward us, O Three-Hypostatic God, Who was well-pleased to establish for us such a bright path to deification! The Lord raises us up high; do not refuse His good gift. Confess His mercy and praise His unspeakable goodness! You think it humble to refuse such a height, but you are actually reveal?ing crude ingratitude and careless?ness toward a lofty gift. Know, that there is no middle ground: it is ei?ther all or nothing. If you do not want this height, you will remain outside in bitter abasement, both temporally and eternally.

Saint Theophan the Recluse

A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me

May 30, 2012 | Saint Theophan, Uncategorized

[Acts 23:1–11; John 16:15–23] The Lord says to the holy apostles before His sufferings: A lit?tle while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me (John 16:16). The Lord’s suf?ferings and death so struck the holy apostles that the eyes of their mind became dim, and they no longer saw the Lord as the Lord The light was hidden, and they sat in a bitter and wearisome darkness. The light of Christ’s resurrection dispersed this darkness — and they again saw the Lord. Thus the Lord Himself ex?plained His words: ye shall weep, He said, and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy (John 16:20). It is said that every soul on the way to perfection expe?riences a similar defeat. Universal darkness covers it, and it does not know where to go; but the Lord comes, and changes its sorrow into joy. It is truly as necessary as it is for a woman to suffer before a man be born of her into the world. Can’t we conclude from this that he who has not experienced this has not yet given birth to a real Christian with?in himself?

Saint Theophan the Recluse

Power of the Lord’s Ascension

May 24, 2012 | Saint Theophan, Uncategorized

[Acts 1:1–12; Luke 24:36–53] Saint Paul expresses the power of the Lord’s Ascension in this manner: When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men (Eph. 4:8). Hav?ing satisfied God’s righteousness, the Lord opened for us all the trea?sures of God’s goodness. This is in?deed a capturing or taking of spoils after victory. The beginning of the distribution of these spoils to people is the descent of the Holy Spirit, Who, having descended, always a?bides in the Church and gives every?one that which he needs, receiving all from that captive captivity (cf. Eph 4:8). Come everyone and take. But prepare for yourself guardian of that treasure, which is a pure heart; have hands to take it, which is unreflecting faith. Then step forth searching hopefully, and praying re?lentlessly.

Saint Theophan the Recluse

If you want to be fruitful, die

May 22, 2012 | Saint Theophan, Uncategorized

[Acts 17:19–28; John 12:19–36] Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit (John 12:24). And so, if you want to be fruitful, die. Die in a real way, bearing always the feeling in your heart that you have already died. Just as a dead man does not respond to anything surrounding him, so do the same: if they praise you — be silent, and if they rebuke you — be silent, and if you make a profit — be silent; if you are full —be silent, or hungry — be silent. Be this way to all external things; in?wardly abide in the place where all the dead abide — in the other life, before the all-righteous face of God, preparing to hear the final sen?tence. You may say, what fruit can come everything dying? No, nothing will die. Rather, abundant energy will appear! “I have but one minute remaining,” you will say to yourself. “Now will come the verdict; let me hurry to do something;” and you will do it. And thus continue every minute.

Saint Theophan the Recluse

They Which See Not May See

May 17, 2012 | Saint Theophan, Uncategorized

[Acts 14:20–27; John 9:39–10:9] And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind (John 9:39). They which could not see were the simple people who be?lieved the Lord in simplicity of heart, while they which saw were the scribes and learned men of that time, who due to their pride of mind did not believe, and held back the people. Our clever ones think that they see, and, this is why they are a?lienated from that faith in the Lord that the simple in heart and mind firmly hold to. Therefore, according to the truth of the Lord they are blind, whereas the people see. They are exactly like those birds which can see at night, but not during the day. The truth of Christ is dark for them, whereas what is contrary to this truth — falsehood — to them seems clear: here they are in their element. This is so obvious, but nev?ertheless they are ready to ask: Are we blind also? (John 9:40). There is nothing to hide; you are blind. But since it is your own fault that you are blind, the sin of blindness and not seeing the light lies on you. You can see, but you do not want to, be?cause you came to love a deceptive, yet tempting lie.

Saint Theophan the Recluse

The Truth Shall Set You Free

May 14, 2012 | Saint Theophan, Uncategorized

[Acts 12:12–17; John 8:42–51] What means, do you think, did the Lord use to explain to the Jews the reason for their not believing in Him? The means he used was to tell them the truth. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not (John 8:45). The lie became, as it is said, their flesh and blood, and made them unable to receive the truth. Why do people not believe today? For the same reason; the Lord speaks the truth; this is why they do not believe. But how can this be? Are they not all scientists, and don’t they talk only about the truth? They have many words, but no deeds. They spin their systems as a spider spins its web, only they don’t notice the flimsiness. The principles of their systems are groundless, and their conclusions cannot be proved; but they are satisfied with them nevertheless. There has become such a demand for hypotheses that it seems they alone make up the en?tire content of their minds, and this is reputed to be solid education. They apply the fog of their dreams to the few facts they have procured; and these facts appear in this fog to?tally different from what they are in reality. Nevertheless, this is all reputed to be the sphere of immuta?ble truth. So their mind has gone rotten, and its taste has been ruined! How can it contain the truth? And so they do not believe the Lord, Who speaks only the truth.

Saint Theophan the Recluse