“If it were easy to see our sins, St. Ephraim the Syrian would not have prayed: ‘Lord, enable me to see my transgressions.’ Neither would St. John of Kronstadt have said: “This is truly a gift of God – to be able to see your sins in their multitude and in all their loathsomeness.’
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Our sojourn on this earth is time for us to learn how to die, but unfortunately, nothing we are taught in this life enables us to deal with the end. Our generation has learned to trust in its own intellect, in its own judgment, and this hinders our training for the moment of death – the moment when all of our powers will forsake us. Even our wonderful mind, in which we have put all our trust will abandon us…
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“In order to enter Paradise, one must have a heart as wide as the heavens, a heart that embraces all men. If a heart excludes just one person, it will not be accepted by the Lord because He will not be able to dwell in it.”
- Fr. Zechariah
Adam was driven out of Paradise because in disobedience he had eaten food; but Moses was granted the vision of God, because he had cleansed the eye of Ms soul through fasting.
If then we long to dwell in Paradise, let us abstain from all needless food; and if we desire to see God, let us like Moses fast for forty days…
(Triodion Praises from Forgiveness Sunday)
“The awe inspiring countenance of the Judge will compel you to speak the truth. Even if you are silent, it will convict you. You will rise clothed either in your sins or in your just deeds.” (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Fathers of the Church Series, 64:70).
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Do not think that you will find rest when you speak out seeking justice for yourself. Justice is to endure with bravery the temptations that come to us so that you emerge victorious, whether or not you are at fault. But if you say “But why?” you are fighting against God Who sent the afflictions because of your passionate condition. God disciplines us so that we might reach dispassion. Thus, if you do not endure the temptations, truly you are fighting against God. (Monastic Wisdom, pg. 61.)