I have been bombarded recently with troubling news of "falls" and my soul is very heavy.
Today is the feast of St. Irenaeus Bishop of Lyons who was a disciple of St Polycarp of Smyrna who was an disciple of Apostle John the Theologian.
The first quote I heard of St. Irenaeus, I must admit was not from Orthodox sources but from John Eldredge's book, "Wild at Heart". The quote, "The Glory of God is man fully alive", has stuck with me just like Elrond's words to Aragorn, "Put aside the ranger. Become who you were born to be!". (Any "Orthodorks" out there who know the source of the Irenaeus quote please let me know")
This "putting off" of the "Old Man" or the "false self", and living out of that deep calling of who God called us to be is a great mystery, but even a greater reality.
Fr. Hopko quoted a church father(I will try to find out who), who said, "He who see's himself as he truly is has seen a miracle greater than raising the dead. In fact he who see's himself as he truly is has in fact been raised from the dead".
This is the great struggle to which we have all been called, and to which we will all give account. Some much of the journey is in accepting the struggle as the path of salvation.
So badly the world wants Christianity to be a message of health, wealth, and happiness detached from struggle, perserverance, suffering, and even martyrdom.
What do we do with these following quotes if not to accept that the true path of salvation is in fact guaranteed to be filled with pain, suffering, and difficulty.....for our salvation.
27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:27 (New International Version)
" The endurance required from one who climbs a mountain physically is required likewise from those who would ascend the mountain of God."
- Bishop Kallistos Ware
" God demands everything from a man--his mind, his reason, all his actions...Do you wish to be saved when you die? Go and exhaust yourself; go and labour; go, seek and you shall find; watch and knock, and it shall be opened to you."
- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers
Abba Anthony said to Abba Poemen, 'this is the great work of a man: always to take the blame for his own sins before God and to expect temptation to his last breath.'
-4th saying of St. Anthony of Egypt
He also said, 'Whoever has not experienced temptation cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 'He even added, 'Without temptations no-one can be saved.'
-5th saying of St. Anthony of Egypt
17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Corinthians 4:17 (New International Version)10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:10-11 (New King James Version)
33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33 (New International Version)
I have no credibility to speak because I myself am a sinner, and yet I must speak that which is a groaning of my heart.....KEEP FIGHTING! Do Not Give Up! Do not believe the Lies! Do not fall prey to Delusion! If you fall...get back up. If you fall again....get back up. Yes, even if you fall again....get back up! You must...for your own salvation, and for those around you! Do not think yourself greater than you are, but accept yourself a sinner Loved by God, and keep struggling. Pick up your cross daily and follow! Do not think you are free from temptation, but humble yourself! Do not trust in your own wisdom, but lean on the scriptures, the mind of the Fathers, the very wisdom of God. DO NOT QUIT FIGHTING!!
Live radically in opposition to the world! Pray for discernment that we do not confuse the message of the world with the message of the Kingdom! Do it now....now is the time of salvation!
Lord Jesus Christ, Have Mercy on me a sinner!
