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.
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SUFFERING AS UNAVOIDABLE ASPECT OF THE LIFE IN CHRIST (Part II)
According to Saint Silouan the Athonite
The Fruits OF Suffering
Suffering and the spiritual struggle that come with it must be viewed in a positive light since they offer such a wide variety of virtues and rewards. Biblical and Patristic reference to the benefits of suffering is numerous. Let it suffice to cite just a few isolated examples. The Apostle Paul teaches, "...we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint..." (Romans 5:3-5).
Saint John Chrysostom, in his homily devoted to this same verse, distinguishes between the future rewards of suffering from those benefits enjoyed in the present. Among those benefits-oriented more to the present, he mentions 'the increase of faith', which in itself leads to many other benefits. Saint Mark the Ascetic writes that pain and suffering lead to the fear of God and to repentance and that voluntary suffering is "by nature the enemy of sensual pleasure." Such views are shared by Saint Maximos the Confessor who sees suffering as 'blunting' sensual pleasure, while Saint Isaac the Syrian refers to it as 'killing the sweetness of passions", as well as 'purifying the heart'. Saint Symeon the New Theologian writes that such trials benefit the believer because they lead to greater recognition of the compassion and mercy of God and that they also turn one's love toward Him. Another interesting observation is made by Saint Thalassios. He notes that one practical benefit of such trials is that they reveal who your true friends are.
There are also those blessings of suffering that await the believer in the life to come. Among these eternal and everlasting blessings are joy and glory. It is interesting that Elder Sophrony considers these future rewards of suffering an "inalienable possession" referring also to the fact that the fruit of such labors "stay engraved in us for eternity". Thus, suffering provides the believer with this opportunity for spiritual progress and the acquisition of a wide variety of benefits and virtues.
The Importance OF Courage
One of the well known, although perhaps extreme, examples showing how suffering can lead to deeper prayer and spiritual progress is described by Saint Athanasius in The Life of Anthony. Saint Silouan refers to the example of Saint Antony (Saint Anthony the Great) when he discusses the importance of courage in the spiritual struggle. Saint Athanasius records how Saint Anthony, having devoted himself totally to Christ, went to live in an enclosed tomb in pursuit of pure prayer. His progress was a great provocation to the enemy (Satan). One night a multitude of demons attacked him and began to beat him so viciously that he could not speak or get up off of the ground on account of the intensity of his pain. But even this could not deter Saint Anthony's desire for prayer. Having been taken to the village by a friend in order to recover, he then went back and enclosed himself again in the tomb. Still unable to stand because of the severity of his injuries, he prayed while lying on the ground. Such perseverance provoked the enemy to even more violent rage. As if crashing through the walls of the tomb, according to the narrative of Saint Athanasius, the demons now assumed the forms of various wild animals: "... the sounds of all the creatures that appeared were terrible, and their raging was fierce. Struck and wounded by them, Antony's body was subject to yet more pain...and he groaned because of the pain felt in his body."
Of course, such suffering in the spiritual life is rare. The point is that one wonders why God would allow such severe testing and torments. The answer is that God allows such suffering as an opportunity for man to acquire the virtue of courage, which is vital for spiritual progress...
Christ Himself calls the believer to courage, "in the world you will have trouble; but have courage! I have overcome the world." As the Lord teaches, to have courage is to have hope in His victory. Without such courage, there is no hope of overcoming the inevitable onslaught of spiritual warfare. Saint Silouan makes the analogy: "The spiritual struggle has much in common with ordinary warfare; and in this battle, we must likewise be brave...the courageous soul thereby vanquishes her enemies; whereas the cowardly soul is disconcerted, despairs and so perishes..."
The virtue of courage is so vital in the face of the endless sufferings encountered in spiritual warfare that it is pointless to enter the battle without it. So significant is the virtue of courage that Saint Silouan sees it as inciting the Lord's love toward the believer, "Do not be cast down over the struggle--the Lord loves a brave warrior" and elsewhere he writes, "The Lord loves the soul that is valiant." Courage could thus be considered as one of the greatest gifts--not only to have but also to give to others. For without it, even that which has already been attained may be lost. Courage is not something to be taken for granted. Rather, it must be acquired and preserved. (Source: Orthodox Spiritual Life According to Saint Silouan the Athonite by Harry Boosalis)
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George