Sunday, February 28, 2010

Wisdom of the Fathers

10. Do not cast off brotherly love lightly, for there remains no other way of salvation for human beings. Observe yourself with care, and see if the evil which separates you from your brother has its cause, not in him, but in you, and make haste to be reconciled with him, let you transgress the commandment of love. Do not despise the commandment of love, because through it you will become a son of God, whereas, when you transgress it, you will become a son of Gehenna.

11. Do not seek to please yourself, and you will not hate your brother; do not indulge in self-love, and you will love God. If you have chosen to live with spiritual brothers, renounce your will from the moment you pass through the doors of the monastery; for in no other way will you be able to live in peace, either with God or with those with whom you dwell.

St Maximos the Confessor, The Evergetinos: A Complete Text, Volume I, p. 351

No comments:

 
.......