Trials and Temptations
“Trials should be distinguished from temptations. Trials come directly from the God of Providence, while temptations come directly from the evil spirits, although they are allowed by God. Trials are neither saving nor leading to spiritual death in themselves; they are only reasons for the manifestation of human will in relation to what the Lord gives us. The purpose of temptations is spiritual death, although they disguise themselves as something harmless and even good. Tempt
Bible/Scripture
“The notion of the “Scriptures” has undergone radical changes across the centuries. Today, we picture them as a single book, the Bible....
God's Will vs Self Will
“…sin lies in the direction of the will…A person sins when he looks upon his life as if it belonged only to him…It is necessary for...
Mercy, Judgement and Justice
“Divine justice is radically different from human justice. There is no equal exchange remotely possible;…“the whole moral order as we...
Obedience (and Stillness)
“As Holy Scripture records, “Noah did according to all the Lord God commanded him” (Gn 6:22), never uttering a word of reply to God....
Stewardship and Serving
“The steward of God actively practices virtue and lives quietly and devoutly as God instructs him through holy tradition. By following...
Heart (Losing Heart)
“ ‘Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart’ (2 Corinthians 4:1). In the face of...
God's Will (Knowing and Doing)
“The task of any person is to see to it that every act corresponds to the will of God. To do this one must ask God to reveal His plan for...
Temptation/Troubles and Suffering
“Many think that pain is the exception in the Christian life. When suffering occurs, they say,"why me?” They feel as though God deserted...