A collection of scriptural meditations from Saints and Fathers of the Church.

Fire and water do not mix, neither can you mix judgment of others with the desire to repent. If a man commits a sin before you at the very moment of his death, pass no judgment, because the judgment of God is hidden from men. It has happened that men have sinned greatly in the open but have done greater deeds in secret, so that those who would disparage them have been fooled, with smoke instead of sunlight in their eyes.

A vigilant eye makes the mind pure; but much sleep hardens the soul.

Be concentrated without self-display, withdrawn into your heart. For the demons fear concentration as thieves fear dogs.

A servant of the Lord is he who in body stands before men, but in mind knocks at Heaven with prayer.

Meekness is the fellow-worker of obedience, the guide of the brotherhood, a bridle for the enraged, a check to the irritable, a minister of joy, the imitation of Christ, something proper to angels, shackles for demons, a shield against bitterness.

I wish I could persuade spiritual persons that the way of perfection does not consist in many devices, nor in much cogitation, but in denying themselves completely and yielding themselves to suffer everything for the love of Christ. And if there is failure in this exercise, all other methods of walking in the spiritual way are merely a beating about the bush, and profitless trifling, although a person should have very high contemplation and communication with God.

Our good Redeemer, by speedily granting what is asked, draws to His love those who are grateful. But He keeps ungrateful souls praying a long time before Him, hungering and thirsting for what they want, since a badly trained dog rushes off as soon as it is given bread and leaves the giver behind.

Love and humility form a holy pair; what the first builds, the second binds, thus preventing the building from falling asunder.

Offer to the Lord the weakness of your nature, fully acknowledging your own powerlessness, and imperceptibly you will receive the gift of chastity.

Do not allow human respect to get in your way when you hear someone slandering his neighbor. Instead, say to him, 'Brother, stop it! I do worse things every day, so how can I criticize him?' You accomplish two things when you say this. You heal yourself and you heal your neighbor with one bandage.

A holy man told us one day, that the source of all heresies and schisms in the church was, loving God too little, and ourselves too much.

The demons, murderers as they are, push us into sin. Or if they fail to do this, they get us to pass judgment on those who are sinning, so that they may defile us with the stain which we ourselves are condemning in another.

It is a great work to shake from the soul the praise of men, but to reject the praise of demons is greater.

Let us monks, then, be as trustful as the birds are; for they have no cares, neither do they gather into barns.

Most of us call ourselves sinners, and perhaps really think it; but it is indignity that tests the heart.

A man who has embraced poverty offers up prayer that is pure, while a man who loves possessions prays to material images.

Meekness consists in praying calmly and sincerely for a neighbor when he causes many turmoils.

People of high spirit bear offence nobly and gladly, but only the holy and righteous can pass through praise without harm.

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Archangel Michael Orthodox Church
5025 E. Mill Rd
Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147

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440-526-5192 (Phone)