Gratitude & grace

The mouth, which is continuously giving thanks, receives blessing from God.  In the heart that always shows gratitude, grace abides. 

 

How can I find God?

 

It is not necessary to roam heaven and earth after God or to send our mind to seek Him in different places.  Purify your soul, O son of man, remove from yourself the thought of memories outside of nature; hang the veil of chastity and humility before your impulses.  By means of these you will be able to find Him who is within you. 

 

Gain control over the passions

The man whose tongue is inclined to silence will acquire a humble discipline in all his habits and will thus gain control over his passions without toil.  The passions are uprooted and driven away by unceasing study of God and this is the sword that slays them.  

Help from God for entering within

At the door of Your compassion do I knock, Lord; send aid to my scattered impulses which are intoxicated with the multitude of the passions and the power of darkness. You can see my sores hidden within me: stir up contrition—though not corresponding to the weight of my sins, for if I receive full awareness of the extent of my sins, Lord, my soul would be consumed by the bitter pain from them.  Assist my feeble stirrings on the path to true repentance, and may I find alleviation from the vehemence of sins through the contrition that comes of Your gift, for without the power of Your grace I am quite unable to enter within myself, become aware of my stains, and so, at the sight of them be able to be still from great distraction. 

In the presence of God

 

 

Sit in the presence of the Lord every moment of your life, as you think of Him and recollect Him in your heart.  Otherwise, when you only see Him after a period of time, you will lack freedom of converse with Him, out of shame; for great freedom of converse is born out of constant association with Him.  St. Isaac the Syrian

 

Finding God within

It is not necessary to roam heaven and earth after God or to send our mind to seek Him in different places.  Purify your soul, O son of man, remove from yourself the thought of memories outside of nature; hang the veil of chastity and humility before your impulses.  By means of these you will be able to find Him who is within you. 

A fruit of good works

 

Spiritual knowledge is a consequence of the practice of good works.  Both are preceded by love and fear. 

Approach the Scriptures prayerfully

Do not approach the mystery-filled words of the Scriptures without prayer and a request for assistance from God.  Say, Lord grant me to become aware of the power in the words.  Consider prayer to be the key to insights into Truth in the Scriptures. 

On regaining spiritual comfort

 

Just as the sun’s rays are sometimes hidden from the earth by a thick cloud, so for a while a person may be deprived of spiritual comfort and of grace’s brightness; this is caused by the cloud of the passions.  Then, all of a sudden, without that person being aware, it is all given back.  Just as the surface of the earth rejoices at the rays of the sun when they break through the clouds, so the words of prayer are able to break through to drive the thick cloud of the passions away from the soul. 

Blessed Feast of Holy Pentecost



The power to bear Mysteries, which the humble man has received, which makes him perfect in every virtue without toil, this is the very power which the blessed apostles received in the form of fire.  For its sake the Savior, commanded them not to leave Jerusalem until they should receive power from on high, that is to say, the Paraclete, which, being interpreted, is the Spirit of consolation.  And this is the Spirit of divine visions.  Concerning this it is said in divine Scripture: ‘Mysteries are revealed to the humble,’ (Ecclesiastics 3:19).  The humble are accounted worthy of receiving in themselves this Spirit of revelations Who teaches mysteries. 

 

 

On partaking of the Holy Mysteries

The angel who is always near us is by nothing so distressed and made indignant as when, without being constrained by some necessity, we deprive ourselves of the ministration of the Holy Mysteries and of reception of Holy Communion, which grants remission of sins. For at that hour the priest offers up the sacrifice of the Body of Him Who gives us life, and the Holy Spirit descends and consecrates the Body and Blood and grants remission to creation.  The cherubim, the seraphim, and the angels stand with great awe, fear, and joy.  They rejoice over the Holy Mysteries while experiencing inexpressible astonishment.  The angel who is always by us is consoled, because he also partakes in that dread spectacle and is not deprived of that perfect intercourse. 

The salt of the spiritual life

As salt is needed for all kinds of food, so humility is needed for all kinds of virtues.  St. Isaac the Syrian

When darkness prevails

At the time of darkness, more than anything else, kneeling is helpful.  St. Isaac the Syrian

Thirsting after Christ

Thirst after Jesus and He will satisfy you with His love. St. Isaac the Syrian

Be mindful of God and stay near Him

Be mindful of God, so that in every moment He may be mindful of you.  If He is mindful of you, He will give you salvation.

Do not forget Him, letting yourselves be seduced by vain distractions.  Do you want Him to forget you in your times of temptation?

Stay near Him and obey Him in the days of your prosperity.  You will be able to rely on His word in difficult days, because prayer will keep you safe in His continual presence.

Remain constantly before His face, think of Him, remember Him in your heart.  Otherwise, if you only meet Him from time to time, you risk losing your close friendship with Him.

Familiarity between people comes about through physical presence.  Familiarity with God, by contrast, is built on meditation and self-abandonment to Him during prayer.

Those who would see the Lord should purify their hearts with the continual remembrance of God.  They will reach the contemplation of God in every moment, and within Him all will be light.  St. Isaac the Syrian

Walk in simplicity

Walk before God in simplicity, and not in subtleties of the mind.  Simplicity brings faith; but subtle and intricate speculations bring conceit; and conceit brings withdrawal from God.  St. Isaac the Syrian 

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