“Every day we should stand in awe of Him, as He is with us, and do what is pleasing before Him. If we are unable now to perceive Him with our physical eyes, we can, if we are watchful, see Him continuously with the eyes of our understanding and not just see Him, but reap great benefits from Him.” IfsGivingShouldEyeSpiritualEvilUnderstandingSinVisionBirthBenefitsEternalPerceivePurityAweEternal LifeReapDemolish Author:Gregory Palamas
“You should secretly give from what you have to those in need, so that you receive from God, Who sees in secret, a hundred times more, as well as life eternal in the age to come (cf. Mt. 6:4; Mk. 10:30).” NeedsGivingShouldWellsAgeChristianSecretEternalHundredOrthodoxCfsThose In Need Author:Gregory Palamas
“... whenever Christ, the Bridegroom of pure souls, is mystically united with each soul, He gives the Father occasion to rejoice over this as at a wedding. It is Christ Himself Who says, 'Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner who repents' (Lk. 15:7). For joy, according to the Apostle, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22), Who through conversion brings back to Christ those living in repentance, and reunites them with Him. And this joy embraces both those in heaven and godly men on earth. That is why there is joy in heaven over one repentant sinner.” MenGivingSoulEarthChristianJoySpiritFatherHeavenChristUnitedHolyPureEmbraceFruitConversionOccasionsHoly SpiritSinnerOrthodoxRepentanceRejoiceGodlyRepentApostlesOrthodox ChristianGalsPure SoulBridegroomGodly Man Author:Gregory Palamas
“...the grace of the Spirit takes possession of the quiet soul, and gives it a taste of the unspeakable good things to come, which no passionate and negligent eye has seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of such a man (cf. I Cor. 2:9). This taste is the earnest of these good things, and the heart which accepts these pledges becomes spiritual and receives assurance of its salvation.” MenGivingHeartSoulEyeChristianSpiritualSpiritAcceptingGraceHeardTasteQuietEarsSalvationGood ThingsPassionatePossessionOrthodoxAssuranceEarnestPledgeOrthodox ChristianUnspeakableCfs Author:Gregory Palamas
“Grace comes immediately to meet some of those who strive, giving them assurance of the earnest of their inheritance (cf. Eph. 1:14), letting them taste the promised prizes, as if stretching out a loving hand to welcome them and anointing them for further struggles. With others, however, grace waits for the end of the struggle, and prepares for them the crown of patience as well. As one of the God-bearing Fathers says, 'Some receive holy rewards before their labours, some during labours, and some when they depart' (St. John Climacus).” IfsGivingWellsEndsHandsChristianFatherWaitingStruggleGraceHolyTasteRewardsStriveWelcomeLabourPrizeOrthodoxCrownsAssuranceEarnestInheritanceOrthodox ChristianStretchingCfsAnointingLoving Hands Author:Gregory Palamas
“While He [the Lord Jesus] was sitting alone by the well, 'There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water' (John 4:7). As man, the Lord was thirsty, and saw that someone who was naturally thirsty was coming to quench her thirst. As God, however, He also saw that her heart was athirst for the water of salvation, although she did not know Him Who could give it to her. So He hastened to reveal Himself to her longing soul for, as it is written, He Himself longs for those who long for Him (cf. Ps. 9:10; Prov. 7:15).” KnowsMenGivingWellsHeartLongSoulChristianJesusWaterLordSawsWrittenDrawsSittingSalvationLongingOrthodoxThirstOrthodox ChristianThirstyCfsQuenchSitting Alone Author:Gregory Palamas
