Why do men learn through pain and suffering, and not through pleasure and happiness? . . . ( Fr. Seraphim Rose )

“Why do men learn through pain and suffering, and not through pleasure and happiness? Very simply, because pleasure and happiness accustom one to satisfaction with the things given in this world, whereas pain and suffering drive one to seek a more profound happiness beyond the limitations of this world. I am at this moment in some pain, and I call on the Name of Jesus—not necessarily to relieve the pain, but that Jesus, in Whom alone we may transcend this world, may be with me during it, and His will be done in me. But in pleasure I do not call on Him; I am content then with what I have, and I think I need no more. And why is a philosophy of pleasure untenable?—because pleasure is impermanent and unreliable, and pain is inevitable. In pain and suffering Christ speaks to us, and thus God is kind to give them to us, yes, and evil too—for in all of these we glimpse something of what must lie beyond, if there really exists what our hearts most deeply desire.”

 Fr. Seraphim Rose

Sometimes the devil deceives us and makes us unable to be pleased with anything ( St. Paisios )

Grumbling is caused by misery and it can be put aside by doxology (giving praise). Grumbling begets grumbling and doxology begets doxology. when someone doesn’t grumble over a problem troubling him, but rather praises God, then the devil gets frustrated and goes off to someone else who grumbles, in order to cause everything to go even worse for him. You see, the more one grumbles, the more one falls into ruin.

Sometimes the devil deceives us and makes us unable to be pleased with anything; however, one can celebrate all things in a spiritual manner, with doxology, and secure God’s constant blessing. 

 

St. Paisios

Have no anxiety about anything . . . ( St. Paul )

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
 

St. Paul, Philippians 4:6

How often our church life is just a matter of habit! ( Fr. Seraphim Rose )

 Every Orthodox Christian is placed between two worlds: this fallen world where we try to work out our salvation, and the other world, heaven, the homeland towards which we are striving and which, if we are leading a true Christian life, gives us the inspiration to live from day to day in Christian virtue and love.But the world is too much with us. We often, and in fact nowadays we usually forget the heavenly world. The pressure of worldliness is so strong today that we often lose track of what our life as a Christian is all about.

Even if we may be attending church services frequently and consider ourselves “active” church members, how often our churchliness is only something external, bound up with beautiful services and the whole richness of our Orthodox tradition of worship, but lacking in real inner conviction that Orthodoxy is the faith that can save our soul for eternity, lacking in real love for and commitment to Christ, the incarnate God and Founder of our faith.


How often our church life is just a matter of habit, something we go through outwardly but which does not change us inwardly, does not make us grow spiritually and lead us to eternal life in God.

Fr. Seraphim Rose

God's grace through divine healing

We appeal to God for the healing of our souls and bodies only as a last resort. God’s healing is always a miraculous act, and we are afraid of facing the manifestation of the almighty power of God. Although the healing we receive from God is a gift, we also know that its implications are many and everlasting.

There is a price tag on divine healing, and the price is a complete change of life. It is indeed a serious price – for change does not come easily. For this reason, divine healing can only take place when it is really wanted. It also requires a total submission and a full commitment to the relationship of faith with God’s divine power.



In order to understand this process, we can look closely at the healing performed by our Lord, Jesus Christ at the pool called Bethesda by the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem. An angel of the Lord would come down at a certain time and stir the waters of the pool. Then, “whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had” (John 5:4).

At the pool, there was a man who had suffered from an infirmity for thirty-eight years. “When Jesus saw him lying there,” says the Gospel, “and knew that he already had been in that condition for a long time, He said to the him, ‘Do you want to be made well’ ” (complete, whole)?

At first, this question seemed superfluous to the sick man as suggested by his answer: “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

But the Lord’s question had a deeper meaning. The Lord asked the sick man if he really wanted to be made well and if he were ready to pay the price of the divine healing that the Lord was about to perform. Was he committed to the relationship that would be established by the divine intervention about to take place? Was he ready to submit totally to the will of God?

Divine healing would not only take away the man’s infirmity, but would also change his life forever. It would change his heart and his mind. It would also make him spiritually well. So, in other words, the Lord was asking the sick man, “Are you ready to be touched by God in this special way?”

When he agreed, Jesus commanded him, “Rise, take up your bed, and walk.”

The man obeyed the Lord, even though he knew it was the Sabbath day.

Those who saw him carrying his bed, reminded him, “It is the Sabbath day, and it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” Showing his complete submission to the Lord, he answered them: “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

After the healing, the Lord disappeared among the multitudes of people.

The Gospel says that, at this point, the healed man did not know who Jesus was. It was only after awhile that the Lord met him in the temple and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing will happen to you.”

First of all, in the healing process, the sick man obtained the forgiveness of his sins. Secondly, the healing that he accepted changed his life so much that he could not go back to his old ways of understanding or leading his life. In fact, it was as if the sick man was arraigned and placed on divine parole. “If you break your parole,” the Lord seemed to say, “you will not only go back to your old situation, but to an even worse one.”

Divine healing as a gift from God, still has a spiritual price. When we pay it, however, we help ourselves. It changes us more drastically then anything before has ever changed us.

It calls us to a new life, a renewed relationship with our fellow man, and a total submission to God. That’s why it often seems much easier to take a pill and go to bed, or to see a doctor and then complain about the bill.

Nonetheless, have courage my friends. Don’t be afraid to appeal to God’s healing and to accept His purifying power that changes everything within you. Divine healing erases our sinful past, makes well of our present and helps save our souls. We must also remember that His healing will place us on divine parole, and that we must sin no more. Amen.