External Upheavals<\/strong><\/p>\nBut, apart from external upheavals, man also experiences internal upheavals. Changes occur much more often in the inner, emotional, spiritual-moral state than they do in external life. Here there are even more storms and disturbances ready to destroy one. Our inward condition can change every minute. Thoughts, feelings, and desires constantly replace one another, so that we often cannot remain in any one of them for long. Ludicrous thoughts, indecent feelings, and filthy desires often appear in one’s soul – and this all takes place apart from our own will. Inner passions and predilections torment us, drawing us towards sin – and hence to perdition.<\/p>\n
This warfare is often extremely difficult; we feel an inner dichotomy, a battle between spirit and flesh. The spirit directs our desires to celestial beauty, showing us the path to virtue, while fleshly inclinations relegate us to the earth, enticing us with the pleasantness of sensual pleasures and destroying our good desires and intentions. Here is what the Apostle Paul says concerning this: I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members<\/em> (Romans 7:22-23). In my spirit I love an undefiled life, but there is something tyrannical in me that does not permit me to fulfill my good desires. The Holy Apostle Paul again says: a good will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not<\/em> (Romans 7:18). And again he exclaims: O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?<\/em> (Romans 7:24). Is this condition not the same as that of the drowning that Christ’s disciples experienced?<\/p>\nBut, dear brothers and sisters, the following detail from today’s Gospel is worthy of our attention. When the Apostle Peter asked the Lord’s permission to come to Him on the water, and the Lord permitted him, the Apostle left the boat and walked on the sea as on dry land; the waves did not hinder him and his feet did not sink. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? <\/em>(Matthew 14:30-31). This means that if he had not doubted and feared, he would have freely reached the Lord; however, lack of faith deprived him of grace-filled strength. But when he called out for help, the Lord upheld him, not allowing him to plunge into the depths. Therefore, my dear ones, let us never forget this when it becomes our lot to bear sorrows.<\/p>\nWe may undergo very grievous sorrows, but no matter how grievous they may be, we should never succumb to despondency; we should not think that life is bleak and that there is no way out. Believe firmly that in misfortunes the Lord is near us. Since the Lord himself experienced such sorrows under the weight of His Cross, will He not comfort us in the sorrows that we undergo? He controls everything, sees everyone, and grants blessedness for the tears of all. Just endure your misfortunes, hoping in God, and your sorrow shall be turned into joy <\/em>(John 16:20). After the gloom of night there always comes the rising of the sun; following a storm there comes a time of comforting peace and pleasant calm. If there are tears, there will also be joy. If you have not known bitterness, you will not recognize sweetness.<\/p>\nThe Lord Helps in Difficult Moments<\/strong><\/p>\nJust how quickly the Lord helps in difficult moments of life can be seen from the following story. A certain Elder-monk lived in an abandoned pagan temple. One time unclean spirits came to him and said:<\/p>\n
\n“Get out of our home.”<\/p>\n
“This is not your home,” the monk replied.<\/p>\n
Then the unclean spirits began to scatter about the palm branches that he had prepared for weaving baskets, but the Elder tirelessly gathered them. After this, the enemies of the human race grabbed him by his clothes and dragged him out, but the Elder dug in his heels at the doors and cried out: “Jesus, help me!” The bodiless evildoers immediately fled. The monk wept. But a mysterious voice asked him:<\/p>\n
“Why are you crying?”<\/p>\n
“Because the enemies, who hate faith and virtue, dare mock the Lord’s servant,” replied the monk.<\/p>\n
“You yourself are guilty,” retorted the heavenly voice, “since you had forgotten Me. You yourself see that, when you called upon Me, I was quick to help.<\/p>\n
The Elder, having perceived God’s power, fell upon the ground.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
My dear ones, let us give thanks to the Lord for His Divine love for us, for His care for the whole Church and for each one of us, and for the fact that He saves us from drowning. Let us pray to Him from our soul with love:<\/p>\n
\nLord, Thou art our Creator, Savior, and Redeemer. Thou art our quiet sailing, our miraculous Helmsman, and our secure dock. Thou hast always appeared to us when we have been hit by storms.<\/p>\n
Teach us to come to Thee with faith, undeterred by the turbulent passage of this life with all its dangers; in moments of need stretch out Thy helping hand, as Thou did to Peter when he was drowning. <\/p>\n
If it please Thee to send us temptations, then confirm and strengthen our weak powers to battle with them, that we might not fall under their weight and lose Thy Kingdom, prepared for those who have loved Thee from the creation of the world.” Amen.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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