Endure the trial of yourself and your own faults and sins peacefully, serenely, under the mercy of God. This is very important. St. Seraphim of Sarov said: “To have the Holy Spirit is to see your own wretchedness peacefully, because you know that God’s mercy is greater than your wretchedness.” St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a Roman Catholic saint who died at 24, she wrote to a friend: “If you are willing to bear the trial of your own wretchedness, serenely, then you will surely be the sweetest dwelling place of Jesus.” We have to bear our own faults, serenely. St. Paul said: “Where sin has abounded, grace has superabounded.” And we cannot let the devil rejoice two times. Pythagoras said: “When we fall, the devils rejoice. When we stay down, the devils keep rejoicing.” And nothing puts the devils more to shame than having fallen, we stand up again. So we must bear peacefully, calmly, our own weaknesses, our own failings. Expect them. Don’t make them happen, but expect them. We are not God.
Fr. Thomas Hopko
Fr. Thomas has a lot to say about this Maxim, more than he typically said about the others. I have a hard time adding to it at all.
I do know it is a hard one. As most of them are. But I do have a tendency to fall into despair, the opposite of peace and serenity.
May we all learn to look in the mirror peacefully, repentantly and expectantly.
Expectantly?
Yes, expectant of God’s mercy and love.
Have a blessed week, my friends!
Kindler of Joy! 