Once our thoughts are accompanied by images we have already given them our assent; for a provocation does not involve us in guilt so long as it is not accompanied by images. Some people flee away from these thoughts like 'a brand plucked out of the fire' (Zech. 3:2); but others dally with them, and so get burnt. Do not say: 'I don't want it, but it…

When elated by praise, be sure disgrace will follow; for it is said: 'Whoever exalts himself will be abased' (Luke 14:11). When we have freed ourselves from every voluntary sin of the mind, we should then fight against the passions which result from prepossession. Prepossession is the involuntary presence of former sins in the memory. At the stage …

Sin is a blazing fire. The less fuel you give it, the faster it dies down: the more you feed it, the more it bums.By Miron Kerul Kmec

The paralytic let down through the roof (cf Mark 2:4) signifies a sinner reproved in God's name by the faithful and receiving forgiveness because of their faith. It is better' to pray devoutly for your neighbor than to rebuke him every time he sins. The truly repentant is derided by the foolish - which is a sign that God has accepted his repentance…

He who seeks forgiveness of his sins loves humility, but if he condemns another he seals his own wickedness. Do not leave unobliterated any fault, however small, for it may lead you on to greater sins. If you wish to be saved, welcome words of truth, and never reject criticism uncritically. Words of truth converted the 'progeny of vipers' and warne…

The trickster who works mischief in secret is a snake 'lying in wait on the road and biting the horse's heel' (Gen. 49:17. LXX). If you praise your neighbor to one man and criticize him to another, you are the slave of self-esteem and jealousy. Through praise you try to hide your jealousy, through criticism to appear better than your neighbor. Just…

Reaping unwillingly the wickedness we deliberately sow, we should marvel at God's justice. Because an interval of time elapses between sowing and reaping, we begin to think there will be no requital. When you sin, blame your thought, not your action. For had your intellect not run ahead, your body would not have followed. The secret sinner is worse…

Just as God assigns to everything visible what is appropriate, so He does also to human thoughts, whether we wish it or not. If some obvious sinner who does not repent has suffered nothing before his death, you may be sure that judgment in his case will be merciless. He who prays with understanding patiently accepts circumstances, whereas he who re…

'The soldier going to war', it is said, 'does not entangle himself in the affairs of this world' (2 Tim. 2:4). For he who entangles himself with the passions while trying to overcome them is like a man who tries to put out a fire with straw. If one becomes angry with one's neighbor on account of riches, fame or pleasure, one does not yet realize th…

It is because of them that wrath, anger, war, murder and all other evils have such power over mankind. We must hate avarice, self-esteem and sensual pleasure, as mothers of the vices and stepmothers of the virtues. Because of them we are commanded not to love 'the world' and 'the things that are in the world' (1 John 2:15j; not so that we should ha…

Avarice is the root of all evil' (1 Tim. 6:10); but avarice is clearly a product of these two components. The intellect is made blind by these three passions: avarice, self-esteem and sensual pleasure. Scripture calls these three the daughters of the horseleech, dearly loved by their mother folly (cf. Prov. 30:15. LXX). These three passions on thei…

A self-indulgent monk has achieved nothing through his renunciation. For what he once did through possessions he still does though possessing nothing. Moreover, the self-controlled man, if he clings to possessions, is a brother in spirit of this kind of monk; because they both feel inward enjoyment they have the same mother - though not the same fa…

Evils reinforce each other; so do virtues, thus encouraging us to still greater efforts. The devil belittles small sins; otherwise he cannot lead us into greater ones. Praise from others engenders sinful desire, while their condemnation of vice, if not only heard but accepted, engenders self-restraint.…

Never belittle the significance of your thoughts, for not one escapes God's notice. When you observe some thought suggesting that you seek human fame, you can be sure it will bring you disgrace. The enemy, understanding how the justice of the spiritual law is applied, seeks only the assent of our mind. Having secured this, he will either oblige us …

He who neglects action and depends on theoretical knowledge holds a staff of reed instead of a double-edged sword; and when he confronts his enemies in time of war, 'it will go into his hand, and pierce it' (2 Kgs. 18:21), injecting its natural poison. Every thought has its weight and measure in God's sight. For it is possible to think about the sa…

Ignorance of words will do no harm to the truly devout, nor will wisdom in speaking harm the humble. Do not say: 'I do not know what is right, therefore I am not to blame when I fail to do it.' For if you did all the good about which you do know, what you should do next would then become clear to you, as if you were passing through a house from one…

A man advises his neighbor according to his own understanding; but in the one who listens to such advice, God acts in proportion to his faith. I have seen unlearned men who were truly humble, and they became wiser than the wise. Another unlearned man, upon hearing them praised, instead of imitating their humility, prided himself on being unlearned …

Anyone who praises his neighbor out of hypocrisy will later abuse him and bring disgrace upon himself. He who is ignorant of the enemy's ambush is easily slain; and' he who does not know the causes of the passions is soon brought low. Knowledge of what is good for him has been given to everyone by God; but self-indulgence leads to negligence, and n…

If you wish not to incur guilt when men praise you, first welcome reproof for your sins. Each time someone accepts humiliation for the sake of Christ's truth he will be glorified a hundredfold by other men. But it is better always to do good for the sake of blessings in the life to come. When one man helps another by word or deed, let them both rec…

God and our conscience know our secrets. Let them correct us. 70a. He who toils unwillingly grows poor in every way, while he who presses ahead in hope is doubly rich. Man acts so far as he can in accordance with his own wishes; but God decides the outcome in accordance with justice.By Miron Kerul Kmec

To accept an affliction for God's sake is a genuine act of holiness; for true love is tested by adversities. Do not claim to have acquired virtue unless you have suffered affliction, for without affliction virtue has not been tested. Consider the outcome of every involuntary affliction, and you will find it has been the destruction of sin. Neighbor…

Let all involuntary suffering teach you to remember God, and you will not lack occasion for repentance. Forgetfulness as such has no power, but acquires it in proportion to our negligence. Do not say; 'What can I do? I don't want to be forgetful but it happens.' For when you did remember, you cheated over what you owed. Do good when you remember, a…

Distress reminds the wise of God, but crushes those who forget Him.By Miron Kerul Kmec

Even when nothing is going wrong, be ready for affliction; and since you will have to give an account, do not make extortionate demands. Having sinned secretly, do not try to hide. For 'all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we have to give an account' (Heb. 4:13). Reveal yourself to the Lord in your mind. 'For man looks at the ou…

Every blessing comes from the Lord providentially. But this fact escapes the notice of the ungrateful and the idle. Every vice leads in the end to forbidden pleasure; and every virtue to spiritual blessing. Each arouses what is akin to it. Censure from men afflicts the heart; but if patiently accepted it generates purity. Ignorance makes us reject …

He who suffers injustice escapes sin, finding help in proportion to his affliction. The greater a man's faith that Christ will reward him, the greater his readiness to endure every injustice. By praying for those who wrong us we overthrow the devil; opposing them we are wounded by him. Better a human than a demonic sin. Through performing the Lord'…

Cease rebuking a man who has stopped sinning and who has repented. If you say that you are rebuking him in God's name, first reveal the evils in yourself. God is the source of every virtue, as the sun is of daylight. When you have done something good, remember the words 'without Me you can do nothing' (John 15:5). Afflictions bring blessing to man;…

When we are compelled by our conscience to accomplish all the commandments of God, then we shall understand that the law of the Lord is faultless (cf. Ps. 19:8. LXX). It is performed through our good actions, but cannot be perfected by men without God's mercy. Those who do not consider themselves under obligation to perform all Christ's commandment…

By Miron Kerul Kmec

By Miron Kerul Kmec

By Miron Kerul Kmec

By Miron Kerul Kmec

Jn 9: 1-38By Miron Kerul Kmec

Jn 4: 5-42By Miron Kerul Kmec

Jn 5: 1-15By Miron Kerul Kmec

By Miron Kerul Kmec

Jn 20: 19-31By Miron Kerul Kmec

By Miron Kerul Kmec

Jn 12: 1-18By Miron Kerul Kmec

Mk 10: 32-45By Miron Kerul Kmec

Mk 9: 17-31By Miron Kerul Kmec

Mk 2: 1-12By Miron Kerul Kmec

Jn 1: 13-51By Miron Kerul Kmec

Mt 6, 14-21By Miron Kerul Kmec

Mt 25: 31-46By Miron Kerul Kmec

Lk 18: 10-14By Miron Kerul Kmec

Mt 15: 21-28By Miron Kerul Kmec

Just as a thought is made manifest through actions and words, so is our future reward through the impulses of the heart. Thus a merciful heart will receive mercy, while a merciless heart will receive the opposite. The law of freedom teaches the whole truth. Many read about it in a theoretical way, but few really understand it, and these only in the…

A man wanted to do evil, but first prayed as usual; and finding himself prevented by God, he was then extremely thankful. When David wanted to kill Nabal the Carmelite, but was reminded of the divine retribution and abandoned his intention, he was extremely thankful. Again, we know what he did when he forgot God, and how he did not stop until Natha…

To brood on evil makes the heart brazen; but to destroy evil through self-restraint and hope breaks the heart. There is a breaking of the heart which is gentle and makes it deeply penitent, and there is a breaking which is violent and harmful, shattering it completely. Vigils, prayer and patient acceptance of what comes constitute a breaking that d…