be their example, not their legislator.Abba Poemen

March 28, 2014 by iconandlight

“A brother asked Abba Poemen, ‘Some brothers live with me; do you want me to be in charge of them?’ The old man said to him, ‘No, just work first and foremost, and if they want to live like you, they will see to it themselves.’ The brother said to him, ‘But it is they themselves, Father, who want me to be in charge of them.’ The old man said to him, ‘No, be their example, not their legislator.’”

Our heart is like the darkened earth; the Gospel is like the sun, enlightening and giving life to our hearts. May the true sun of Thy righteousness shine in our hearts, O Lord!
St. John of Kronstadt

Sometimes during a lengthy prayer only a few minutes are really pleasing to God, and constitute true prayer, true service to Him. The chief thing in prayer is the nearness of the heart to God.
 St, John of Kronstadt

“Acquire a peaceful spirit and around you thousands will be saved.” To put it another way: become a fire and all those around you will be warmed and enlightened.

Humility proved the “gateway to God” for him and the key to that saying of Christ from the Gospel: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). And that is reason for great joy.

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