These days, the Church reminds us of the mystery of deification: how it is possible for a created being to unite with the Uncreated. This enlightenment begins here, with the ascetics of piety, and continues to a greater degree in the future life. Saint Seraphim of Sarov, in a conversation with Motovilov, was granted the grace of God; his face shone like the sun. Through the prayers of the holy elder, Motovilov felt such warmth in the midst of winter, such a fragrance of flowers, and such love for all people that he could not describe or explain. This is what God's grace does to people.

We all sin, we all violate the commandments of Christ...

We all sin, we all violate the commandments of Christ and the canons of the Holy Church, however, some confess that they are sinners and repent of their iniquities, while others reject the Holy Canons, claiming that they are outdated and no longer necessary.
The latter behave as if they were more spiritual than those who handed down to us the church Canons, which the Lord Himself gave to His Holy Apostles and Holy Hierarchs.
Two paths stretch before us:
the path of the wise robber who repented
and the path of the robber who was cast into hell under the weight of his blasphemy.
St. John Maximovich

Joy in the life of a Christian is proof that the Lord is at work in us!

 

A pre-revolutionary pilgrim

A pre-revolutionary pilgrim at the Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery. He holds a walking stick for the long journey, a vessel for boiling water on his shoulder, a modest load, and simple clothing, but everything is clean and tidy.
The wanderer arrived at the monastery cemetery inside the Holy Canal. Behind him, on the left, is the nearby hermitage of St. Seraphim, transported from the Sarov forest.
Apparently, he had just been there, venerated the Seraphim's relics, and was now heading to a distant hermitage that serves as the altar of the Transfiguration Cemetery Church.

"If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the door of the Church, you will not find Him in the Holy Chalice." - St. John Chrysostom

 

How to find the Kingdom of Heaven by St. Innocent of Moscow

Saint Innocent of Moscow (Veniaminov) explained to his parishioners how to find the way toThe Kingdom of Heaven, in parables.

Imagine that, unexpectedly, you suddenly find yourself the sole heir of a wealthy distant relative. Before his death, this relative bequeathed to you his luxurious dacha on the top of a picturesque mountain.

Loving his solitude, this relative did not build a road to his dacha, but rather walked there himself along a path. To help you take possession of the dacha, he left you a map of the mountain, marking the necessary path on it. Thus, to reach the bequeathed dacha, you must follow the path marked by your loving relative.

Something similar must be done for us who wish to reach the heavenly abode prepared for us by the Lord Jesus Christ. We must thoroughly understand the path that leads there, how not to lose our way, what to beware of, and so on.

Our map is the Holy Scriptures and Orthodox books; the foresters are the shepherds of the Church, whose duty it is to assist the faithful and guide them toward paradise. Provisions are God's grace, strengthening our spiritual strength.

Perhaps in places the path leading to paradise will prove narrow, overgrown with bushes, and difficult to navigate, while other paths will seem wider and more comfortable. But it's best not to trust appearances. The Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles repeatedly warned that only one path, the one indicated in the Gospel, leads to the Kingdom of Heaven. 

God is so generous that He gives you the opportunity to plant whatever you want! But He is also so fair that you reap exactly what you plant! Gerontikon