Godly advice from Elder Joel Giannokopoulos (1901-1966)

Once, a villager met Fr. Joel Giannakopoulos and mentioned to him some serious reasons, in his opinion, that prevented him from reconciling with his brother. So he said to him

"I cannot, my father, speak first. My brother must speak to me first. It was his fault and not mine. And then, he is younger and I am older..."

"Then tell me", Fr. Yoiel asked: "Who is older? Us or God?'

"But what kind of question is this father? God of course!", replied the villager.

"And who blamed the other?" God to us or we to God?

"We blamed God," said the villager confidently.

"And who initiated the reconciliation? Did we go to God or did God come to us?", the wise elder asked again.

"God has come to us!" said the villager.

And then, as if enlightened, he said to Father Joel:

"Ahh! Well…, thank you. You are right! I will go to my brother!"!!