By Fr. Andrew Lemeshonok
Together,
we need help. We need strength to overcome all the barriers of sin, ignorance,
indifference, despondency. We need strength to fight for the joy that God gives
to mankind. "Rejoice!" Says the Lord to His disciples.
If we
look at everything that is being done here: a few dozen workshops, our sisters
and brothers who work here, then, of course, we can surely say that this is the
work of the Holy Spirit. But if each one of us begins to look at ourselves, we
will see that during different times we are under a different light, different
colors, different inner states. Sometimes we are filled with life, and we want
to thank God for this life. And sometimes everything suddenly dies, and we need
to remember life and nurture the Spirit of God within us...
Sometimes
it just so happens that a person searches and finds justification for his sins
within the faults of others, within the worries of everyday life. A person
begins to hang on to this and says that he is not to blame, but rather someone
else. Sin finds a foundation while becoming lawful and justified. Then
everything becomes quite vivid in one’s imagination which is infected with sin
and within the heart where sin takes root and in the mind that is congested
with sin. This is why “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who
repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:
7). We believe that repentance will definitely happen. And then a person who
overcome all the barriers and untruths behind which he has been hiding himself,
will truly repent. He will see himself transparent before God, he will see his
guilt, and this in turn will be a resurrection.
It's hard
for us to go toward resurrection because we fall, stray away from the path and
feel sorry for ourselves. We look at the laws of mankind, at earthly situations
and can not ascend from the ground. Remember that the earth was not a place for
Christ. Christ was crucified on earth! This is why all the changes in our inner
condition,which happened and will happen, are all a test which we have to live
through and we can not say: “I can not do it anymore.” God knows the extent of
what we can and can not do.
We
constantly need to say: “Lord help, I can not do anything without you. I can
not say a word, raise my hand or even look at a person. But with you Lord, we
can do anything.” We see this with our own eyes, when a person who does not
understand anything, does not know, did not learn anything, is enlightened by
God and can suddenly surpass any wiseman or teacher. In this, we see the
victory of the church!
Direct my steps by Your word, And let no
iniquity have dominion over me. (Psalm 118: 133). Your hands have made me and
fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. (Psalm
118: 73).
St. Elisabeth Convent
July 9, 2018
CONVERSATION