“Our reading [Proverbs 10:31-11:12] presents a stark contrast between the path of righteousness and the ways of wickedness. Is it, perhaps, too well-defined? Is there no middle ground, a little bit of evil mixed in with the good, a portion of sin blended with a measure of righteousness? St. Paul answers this question with a question: “For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness” (NKJV 2 Corinthians 6:14)? No, our description of the two ways of life shows that they are irreconcilable opposites. They are two paths, and if we think we can walk down both of them at once, we deceive ourselves. Soon a situation or dilemma will force us to make a choice between one way or the other.” (Fr. Basil)
“We face the choice every day of our lives whether we are going to make the blessings and struggles of this life opportunities to find the healing of our souls or excuses to become further enslaved to our passions. Pursuing our chosen path we will shape us decisively, leading us either to the joy of the heavenly kingdom or the despair of those who waste their lives on what can never truly satisfy them. The question is not whether we will make ourselves perfect by some religious or moral standard, but whether we will gain the spiritual clarity to see our daily cares as points of entrance into the eternal life of the Savior… If we do not, then we will find it impossible to welcome Him into our hearts with integrity, for we will then have embraced an imaginary spirituality that tries to escape the calling to live faithfully amidst the joys and sorrows of life in the world as we know it.” (Fr. Philip LeMasters)
“The various adversities and temptations we encounter, whether they’re from Satan or from the many other things in our life, aren’t any threat to us, an obstacle barring our way, or a cause for doubt, but are the secret, practical means by which the mystery of the Cross is wrought. They’re the ways through which we can demonstrate our proper faith, so that we can justify ourselves as regards His promises. When we see temptations, we rise to our full height and continue on our way, because their presence is a clear indication that Divine grace, which called us and set us on the path of knowledge, is with us at this time and is urging us towards the prize of betterment.” (Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi)
“We, too, do not always understand the path on which God is leading us. We do not always see the purpose behind the suffering which at times may break in upon our lives. We do not know all the details of the Lord’s plan for our future. Like Panagia [Mary], we are given the choice: to trust in Jesus, to say ‘yes’ and follow him even through the darkness, or to go on our own reckless way.” (Fr. Matthew Baker)
“…if we have strayed off course from where God wants us to be, He will reveal it to us. During the deep and quiet times of prayer, a path will be illuminated for us to follow.” (Fr. Joshua Makoul)
“At our birth, we set out on two journeys in life: the biological, here on earth, and the one which leads to heaven. We start off on these two parallel courses which we follow whether we want to or not…The first journey has a specific end at some moment in time which we don’t know, but God alone, our Maker, does. The second is everlasting and leads to eternity. From childhood we’re provided for the first path by our parents and teachers, in order that we may tread it as painlessly as possible, with increased knowledge and goods, so that we may enjoy the changes, the adventures and the experiences with which this life fills us. The second, the everlasting, should be our priority in terms of provisions, but, alas, we’re only very little interested in it, if at all. But success on the first path presupposes concern for the second.” (Dr. Haralambos Bousias)
“We each need to find our path in life – we cannot simply try to imitate what saints in other lands or in past centuries did. We have to find our path in our life and world today. I shouldn’t judge others who perhaps focus on different aspects of the Gospel than I do. Conversely, I don’t need to focus on everything other Christians focus on, and I shouldn’t worry if they judge me. When we are on the path which God wants us on, we will find eternal life. It may be an arduous path, and we may need wisdom to navigate the choices before us. God will guide our hearts, if we have good intentions and good will. The good news is that God loves each of us and has gifted each according to His love. I don’t need to worry that my interests and abilities are different from the saints or from my fellow Christians. God has blessed me with my gifts, talents, resources, personality and expects me to use them according to the abilities He has bestowed on me. I don’t need to be concerned that I don’t have the spiritual gifts of some of the saints, for God gifts me with what I need in my life, my lifetime, my world.” (Fr. Ted Bobosh)
“Failure, disappointment, and loss are our teachers, along with the good that we experience, the grace that carries us along. It is not that we become personally perfected, rather, that as we fall and rise, we enter communion with God and each other. The search for the “true self” is one in which we “fall upwards,”…Shaped by rules and structures, compliant with institutions and standards in the first half of our lives, we become our true selves as we are able to let go of what formed us…the personal journey each of us is on, the path of becoming who we were intended to be, our true selves. But this process always involves Christ. God is within, closer to us than our hearts.” (Fr. Michael P. Plekon)
“There are a variety of ways that this movement towards non-being manifests itself in our lives. Christ describes two of them. He tells us that if we are angry with our brother, we have committed murder. He also says that if we lust after someone, we have committed adultery. Both this “murder” and this “adultery” are true on the level of being. They are actions that attempt to reduce the being of another. As such, they are actions of Satan, “the murderer from the beginning,” and the “father of lies.” We also seek to kill ourselves throughout the day. In subtle ways and choices, we often make moves towards lesser being or even non-being itself. The false identities and consumer-based personalities that often fill our closets or inhabit our anxieties are not part of the path to the truth or the reality of being. When Christ says that He has come to “bring life, and that more abundantly,” He is pointing towards the fullness of being that is grounded in God Himself.” (Father Stephen Freeman)
“The logic is plain. If the Living God gives life, then His ways are the paths of life. Outside His wisdom, truth and righteousness is only the realm of death.” (Fr. Basil)
#DrHaralambosBousias #FrTedBobosh #FrMichaelPPlekon #FatherStephenFreeman #FrBasil #FrPhilipLeMasters #ElderJosephofVatopaidi #FrMatthewBaker #FrJoshuaMakoul