If the saints, having attained dispassion, had to be vigilant over themselves lest they fall from their blessed state, then all the more so do we sinners need daily attention and concern for our eternal salvation. The fact that we are still alive means that the Lord bears with our sins and awaits our correction, and if someone lawfully strives for salvation, the Lord takes them at the time when they become worthy of God's mercy. The lazy and negligent are taken by death after they cease to offer any hope for their salvation. We are given the freedom to choose eternal joy or sorrow; let us strive to choose the former. Saint Joseph of Optina

"Taking the Long View" - Fr. George Schinas. With English subtitles

Woe to us, because althoug6h our conscience continually reproves and accuses us, we neither feel ashamed nor are we horrified by the responsibility of our actions before the Judment Seat of God. Woe to us, because, although we stink from our deeds we rejoice when people praise us. - Abba Isaiah

 

We are all called to holiness!

 

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."