Do not think that almsgiving is an expense, but an income; not a cost, but a profitable exchange. for you receive greater things than you give. You give bread and reeive eternal life. You give clothing and reeive the garment of incorruptibility; you give a little shelter and receive the Kingdom of Heaven. You give things that perish and receive things that remain forever. - St. John Chrysostom

 Image: British painter Edward Lear: Monk is facing the mountain on the left Stavronikita

It is very easy to perish, even by constantly reciting the Jesus Prayer.

 

When I was in the hospital, there was a monk with me who constantly read the Jesus Prayer out loud.

Everyone considered him a saint.

And one day he said to me: "I put one bishop in his place, let him know. And I also said a few kind words to another cleric. If they repent, they can count on my support!"

I say: "Wait! You have three years of education and tuberculosis, what kind of support do you get?!"

And he replied: “If only all people were like me, the world would be saved!”

See!

By constantly reciting the prayer, he imagined himself to have attained holiness. It is very easy to perish, even by constantly reciting the Jesus Prayer.

— Saint Paisius the Athonite

Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov) "Patericon"

 

In a certain city, there lived a beautiful harlot who had many lovers. The prince proposed to her: "Promise to live a chaste life, and I will accept you as my wife." She promised. The prince married her and took her into his home.

Upon learning of this, her former lovers conferred among themselves: "Such and such a prince has married her and taken her into his house. If we go straight into the house, the prince will torture us.

Here's what we'll do: go behind the house and whistle for her. She'll recognize our whistle and come out to us: then we won't be guilty." And so they did. But when she heard the whistle, she covered her ears, ran into the inner room, and locked the doors behind her.

The Abba explained the parable thus: "The harlot is the soul; her lovers are the passions; the prince is Christ; the inner chamber is the eternal abode; the whistling lovers are demons.

If the soul constantly resorts to God, then the demons and passions, fearing it, will flee from it."

"Listen to me all you harsh critics of others' sins. If it is true, and indeed it is, "With what judgment you judge, you shall be judged" (Matthew 7:2), then it is certain that for whatever sins we blame others for, whether spiritual or carnal, we will also fall into them urselves. It cannot be otherwise."- St. John Climacus

 

Feast of St. Paisios the Athonite, July 12

Let us praise the lover of holy silence, and the imitator of God's mercy, the holy Paisios; for he, on Athos and Sinai and Stomios, having lived as a man of flesh, was seen as a chosen vessel; and now he is the protector and guide of all, and an ambassador to the Lord.

Said an elder. "God still speaks to those who have the time to listen."

 

Church Breathes a Prayer

Keep in mind that prayer for the reposed is strong through its communality, in that it comes from the entire Church. The Church breathes prayer.

In nature, when a pregnant mother breathes, the strength she receives from this breath passes on to her child. So also in a Grace-filled way the Church breathes a prayer that is shared by all, and the power of the prayer passes on to the reposed, who are held in the bosom of the Church, which is made up of the living and the dead, the militant and the triumphant.

Do not be slothful, but zealously commemorate all of our departed fathers and brothers whenever you pray. It will be your alms for them. - St. Theophan the Recluse