October 7, 2007 Sermon

The reading is from the epistle of the apostle James 3:1-12

"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.  For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.  Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.  Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot deserves.  Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles.  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.  But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.  Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?  Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh."

Reference from, Living without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina. trans. by Archmandrite George (Sharfer). Holy Trinity Monastery: Jordanville, New York, 2005.

If you say something evil about your brother or sister, even if it is true, your soul suffers an unhealable wound. You can reveal the sins of another only when the sole intention in your heart is the benefit of the soul of the sinner.
-St. Nikon

A weak person prays that no one slanders him, a courageous person prays that God will help him not to slander others, neither in word or thought.
-St. Ambrose

He who desires to acquire a good conscience and honesty must not permit himself even the slightest false or crafty word, neither in important matters nor the unimportant,
-St. Nikon

If you take into consideration only your tongue, how much evil has been spoken by it'abuse against God, condemnation of neighbors, complaining, joking, blasphemy, gossip, bad language, swearing, and so on! And has one day in the year passed by in which we have not sinned with our tongue, forgetting that we have to give account for every idle word? Therefore the Lord God, thinking of our correction and salvation, sends sorrows, due to which a person finds it difficult not only to take part in idle chatter, but also to speak about serious matters.
-St. Anthony

Our profit comes not from the quantity of words, but from the quality. Sometimes much is said, but nothing is heard, and at another time you hear only one word and it remains in your memory for your whole life.
-St. Anthony

The Holy Apostle said, Children, love one another (I John 4:7), humble yourselves, humble yourselves. Because you love someone (and you must love everyone because every person is an image of God, and it, i.e., the image of God, is in even a defiled person, he can be cleansed and be pure), then you humble yourself before him. Where there is love, there is also humility; but where there is malice - there is pride. I ask and desire that there be love among you.
-St. Nikon

You must love every man, seeing in him the image of God, disregarding his vises. You must not dismiss people with coldness.
-St. Nikon

He who desires to acquire love must first reject every angry and malicious thought, not to mention action and word, and must forgive all offenses, just and unjust.
-St. Nikon

From kindness, people see things entirely different.
-St. Ambrose

Love covers everything. And if someone does good to his neighbor through the inclination of the heart, and not out of duty, then the devil cannot interfere; but when it is done out of a sense of duty, then he tries to interfere with one or the other.
-St. Ambrose

To one who labors God sends mercy, but to one who loves, consolation.
-St. Ambrose

Love, of course, is above everything. If you find that you have no love, but desire to have it, then perform works of love, although at first without love. The Lord will see your desire and your striving and will put love in your heart. But mainly, when you notice that you have sinned against love, immediately confess it to your elder. This can happen sometimes from a foolish heart, and sometimes from the enemy. You yourself cannot discern this, but when you confess, the enemy will go away.
-St. Ambrose

If you will receive people for the sake of God, then be assured that all will be well with you.
-St. Ambrose

There is no higher virtue than love, and there is no vice or passion worse than hatred, which for someone who is not attentive to himself, seems of little importance, but in spiritual significance is likened to murder (I John 3:15). Kindness and condescension to your neighbors, and forgiveness of their shortcomings, is the shortest path to salvation.
-St. Ambrose

Above all, strive to love your neighbor, for in his love consists love for God.
-St. Macarius

Love for God is proven by love and mercy for your neighbor, and mercy, charity, condescension for your neighbor, and forgiveness of his shortcomings are acquired through humility and self-reproach, when in all grievous and unpleasant situations we place the blame on ourself and not on others, realizing that we did not act as we should have and for this reason the unpleasantness and grief occurred; and if we will reason in such a way, we will grieve much less and will not give in to anger, which does not work the righteousness of God.
-St. Ambrose

They do not love you - you love them. The fact that they do not love you does not depend on you, but your loving them is within your power and is your duty, for the Lord commanded: do not love just those who love you, but also your enemies (Matt. 5:44). But when there is no love in us, so much more must we humble ourselves, drive away pride, and pray about this to the Lord.
-St. Macarius

During conversation with others it is no hindrance to be cautious in speech, and at the same time one can retain the Jesus Prayer in the mind.
-St. Hilarion

Discord destroys people.
-St. Nikon

We should not give free reign to our feelings. We should behave affably towards those with whom we are not pleased.
-St. Nikon

Be silent before everyone and they will all love you.
-St. Ambrose

Regard everyone with simplicity.
-St. Ambrose

Our salvation and our ruin - is in our neighbor. Our salvation depends on how we relate to our neighbor. Do not forget to see the image of God in your neighbor.
-St. Nikon

You should not oppose and struggle against people who cause evil, not only by word and deed, but even in your thoughts. Otherwise the demons will be victorious. You should pray for such people. Then the Lord will help and the demons will withdraw. A monk must prepare for death; therefore you must think about meeting death, at peace with everyone.
-St. Nikon

One should not be angry at others to the point of remembrance of wrongs. In accord with the commandment of the Lord, force yourself to prau for all those who hate and offend you!
-St. Anatoly

We should and must take special care that our self-indulgence does not hinder the salvation of our neighbor, his spiritual peace and spiritual progress. For this, we will give a full account to God, if we are not careful. It is the Christian duty to help in the salvation of our neighbors and not impede it.
-St. Ambrose

One must strive to have a good opinion of everyone. Only God is the Knower of hearts. We cannot infallibly judge others.
-St. Hilarion

God endures all the sins of man, but He does not leave a complainer without punishment.
-St. Macarius

Watch out for complaining and faintheartedness, which worsen and increase sorrows.
-St. Macarius

Complaining against God occurs mostly with people who are haughty or foolish.
-St. Anthony