Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Alms and Prayers for the Deceased ( St. Nikolai Velimirovich )
Through their prayers and alms for the deceased, Christians display the relationship between this world and the world to come. The Church in this world and the Church in the other world are one and the same - one body, one in being - as does the root of a tree beneath the earth comprise one organism with the trunk and the branches of the tree above the earth. It is clear from this how we who comprise the Church on earth can receive help from the saints and the righteous ones from the Heavenly Church as well as the deceased sinners in the other world can receive help from us on earth. St. Athanasius says: "As it happens with wine inside a barrel which, when the vineyard blooms in the field, senses it and the wine itself blossoms together with it, so it is with the souls of sinners. They receive some relief from the Bloodless Sacrifice offered for them and from charity" performed for their repose. St. Ephraim the Syrian cites that same example with wine and the vineyard and concludes: "And so, when there exists such mutual sensitivity even among plants, is not the prayer and sacrifice felt even more for the departed ones?"
St. Nikolai Velimirovich
Life’s Difficulties are Beneficial for us(Part 3)—from the book The Salvation of Sinners—
The Holy Scriptures describe that the stones used to build the Temple of Solomon were first shewn
and chiseled outside of the Temple. Once the stones had been prepared and carved with utmost attention and diligence, they were then transported to the Temple and set in place gently, without being struck by a
hammer or other tool again: “And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither; so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building” (3 Kings 6:7).
Similarly, it is necessary for the people who will be placed as precious stones within the framework of the
divine manor found in Jerusalem above to be struck here in this present world with the hammer and chisel
of discipline and sorrow. This is because in the heavenly manor on high, there is no sorrow, trouble, hunger, thirst, punishment, or pain, as St. John the Evangelist describes in the book of the Revelation(cf. Rev. 21:4)
. This is why God allows His friends to suffer and face various sorrows here in this present life. Thus,we
must be extremely happy when adversities appear: we should receive them as a gift, as a blessing, and as medicine, which our Heavenly Father sends to us with much love.
Our Lord censured the Apostle Peter when he attempted to prevent Him from being apprehended and led to
death: “Put thy sword into the sheath! The cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?” (Jn.18:11). If the Lord referred to the imminent ridicules, torments, and death itself (that He would endure for our salvation) as a cup sent from His Father, why shouldn’t we repeat the same words, “Shall I not drink it?”
and believe that all the sorrows and difficulties that we encounter area therapeutic cup containing medicine sent to us by the Heavenly Physician with paternal love for our salvation?
Behold, dear reader, how every sorrow (whether it originates from the devil, people, or some other source) is in fact a therapeutic remedy sent to you by your Heavenly Father, in order to purify your soul. Do not become upset if the drink tastes bitter,because this bitterness will help you acquire your cherished health, just as bitter and unpalatable medications prescribed by physicians help us get better.
All the sorrows and difficulties we are faced with in this life are spiritual medications sent to us by the Heavenly Physician for the benefit of our soul. According to St. Gregory the Theologian, the gall that Tobit placed on his eyes,through which he regained his sight (cf. Tob. 11:8-14), signified this truth—that every sinful person is delivered from spiritual blindness through bitter sorrows. Indeed, eyes that have been blinded by sin are enlightened and recover their vision through suffering.
Ο διάβολος σακατεύετε με ταπείνωση ( Γεροντας Παϊσιος )
Πως συμβαίνει, όμως, Γέροντα, ένας μάγος να πη για τρεις κοπέλες ότι η μία θα αποκατασταθή, η άλλη θα ατυχήση και η άλλη θα μείνη ανύπανδρη, και να γίνη έτσι;
- Ο διάβολος έχει πείρα. Όπως, π.χ. ένας μηχανικός , όταν δη ένα σπίτι που κινδυνεύει να πέση, είναι σε θέση να πη πόσο θα κρατήση κ.λπ., έτσι και αυτός βλέπει κάποιον πώς βαδίζει και με την πείρα που έχει, λέει πώς θα καταλήξη.
Ο διάβολος δεν έχει εξυπνάδα είναι πολύ κουτός. Είναι όλος ένα μπέρδεμα, άκρη δεν του βρίσκεις. Κάνει και εξυπνάδες και χαζομάρες.
Τα τερτίπια του είναι χονδρά. Ο Θεός οικονόμησε έτσι, για να τον καταλαβαίνουμε. Πρέπει να είναι κανείς πολύ σκοτισμένος από υπερηφάνεια, για να μην το καταλαβαίνη.
Όταν έχουμε ταπείνωση, μπορούμε να καταλάβουμε τις παγίδες του διαβόλου, γιατί με την ταπείνωση φωτίζεται ο άνθρωπος και συγγενεύει με τον Θεό.
Η ταπείνωση είναι που σακατεύει τον διάβολο.
Από το βιβλίο: «ΓΕΡΟΝΤΟΣ ΠΑΪΣΙΟΥ ΑΓΙΟΡΕΙΤΟΥ
Υπερηφάνεια! Να μην πιάνει,να μην κολλάει επάνω σου ο έπαινος.( Γεροντας Παϊσιος )
- Γ έ ρ ο ν τ α ,την υπερηφάνεια συνήθως την καταλαβαίνω εκ των υστέρων,όταν πέσω.
- Σκοπός είναι να την καταλάβης πρίν πέσης.΄Οταν σου λέη κάποιος ότι έκανες κάτι καλό,να μην αισθάνεσαι ικανοποίηση.Να μην πιάνη,να μην κολλάη επάνω σου ο έπαινος.
- Τι θα με βοηθούσε σ΄αυτό ;
- Το να γνωρίσης τον εαυτό σου.Αν ο άνθρωπος γνωρίσει τον εαυτό του,τελείωσε.Οι έπαινοι είναι μετά ξένα σώματα΄δεν κολλάνε επάνω του.΄Οταν λ.χ. ένας ξέρη ότι είναι γύφτος,δεν μπορεί να του κολλήση ο λογισμός ότι είναι βασιλιάς.Κι εσύ,αν νομίζης ότι είσαι πριγκίπισσα,θα είσαι λειψή.
- ΄Αν είμαι έτοιμη εκ των προτέρων να μην δέχωμαι τον έπαινο,αυτό θα με βοηθούσε;
- Αυτό φυσικά πρέπει να γίνεται,αλλά άλλοτε θα είσαι έτοιμη άλλοτε όχι.Σκοπός είναι να γνωρίσης τον εαυτό σου.Αν δεν γνωρίση κανείς τον παλαιό του άνθρωπο,δεν ταπεινώνεται και δεν μπορεί να γίνη η πνευματική διάσπαση του ατόμου του,για να μπη στην πνευματική τροχιά,και παραμένει στην κοσμική τροχιά.
- Μπορεί,Γέροντα, να γνωρίζω τον εαυτό μου λανθασμένα ;
- Μα δεν μιλάμε για λανθασμένη κατάσταση.Αυτός που γνωρίζει σωστά τον εαυτό του έχει ταπείνωση.Και όταν ο άνθρωπος ταπεινωθή,θα έρθη οπωσδήποτε η Χάρις του Θεού.-
ΓΕΡΟΝΤΟΣ ΠΑΊΣΙΟΥ
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