My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
+
CHRISTIANS MUST WITNESS THEIR FAITH, SPEAK UP, AND RESIST EVIL
By Saint Paisios the Athonite
If Christians do not begin to witness their faith, to resist evil, then the destroyers will become even more insolent. But today's Christians are no warriors. If the Church keeps silent, to avoid conflict with the government, if the metropolitans are silent, if the monks hold their peace, then who will speak up?
The spirit of lukewarmness reigns. There is no manliness at all! We have been spoiled for good! How does God still tolerate us? Today's generation is the generation of indifference. There are no warriors. The majority are fit only for parades.
Godlessness and blasphemy are allowed to appear on television. And the Church is silent and does not excommunicate the blasphemers. And they need to be excommunicated. What are they waiting for? Let us not wait for someone else to pull the snake out from its hole so that we can live in peace.
They are silent out of indifference. What is bad is that even people who have got something inside have begun to grow cool, saying: "Can I really do anything to change the situation?" We have to witness our faith with boldness because if we continue to be silent we will have to answer in the end. In these difficult days, each must do what is in their power. And leave what is out of their power to the will of God. In this way, our conscience will be clear.
If we do not resist, then our ancestors will arise from their graves. They suffered so much for the Fatherland, and we? What are we doing for it?...
MAKE WAR AGAINST EVIL
You see, if we do not begin to make war against evil, to expose those who tempt believers, then the evil will grow larger. If we throw aside fear then the faithful will be emboldened a bit. And those who wage war against the Church will have a harder time.
In the past our nation lived spiritually, so God blessed her, and the Saints helped us in miraculous fashion. And we were victorious against our enemies, who always outnumbered us. Today we continue to call ourselves Orthodox Christians, but we do not live Orthodox lives...
BEWARE OF LUKEWARM CLERGY
A lukewarm clergy lulls the people to sleep leaves them in their former conditions so they will not be upset. "Look", they say, "By all means do not say that there will be a war or the Second Coming, that one must prepare oneself for death. We must not make people alarmed!"
And others speak with a false kindness, saying: "We must not expose heretics and their delusions, so as to show our love for them." Today's people are water-soluble. There is no leaven in them.
If I avoid upsetting myself to protect my fleshly comfort the I am indifferent to holiness! Spiritual meekness is one thing, and softness and indifference are quite another. Some say: "I am a Christian and therefore I have to be joyful and calm." But they are not Christian. They are simply indifferent. And their joy is only a worldly joy.
He in whom these worldly seeds are present is no spiritual person. A spiritual person consists of nothing but pain. In other words, he is in pain at what is going on, he is in pain for people's condition. And divine comfort is bestowed upon him for his pain. (Source: Orthodox Heritage)
_________________________
"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos
+++
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George