PATIENCE … AND PERSEVERANCE
“'In your patience you will win your souls”.
Talking with Geronta Pavlos of Sinai
Q Prayer often seems toilsome. But spiritual life is
about joy, not suffering ...
A Having progressed in spiritual life, one acquires
the freedom of peace within. While yet in this life, he is captivated –
overcome – by peace, and gladness.
Q St. Gregory of Sinai says serenity amidst distress
is won by patience, given 'in your patience you will win your souls'.
A Yes. Patience ... and perseverance. We are born in
the image of God; whether faithful or non-believers, Christian Orthodox or
non-Orthodox, we all have the image in our nature, with divine attributes such
as self-determination and ability to rule over the non-rational creation. But
the likeness of God is won only in Christ, with the personal struggle that each
of us conducts to purify our heart from the passions.
Q The difference between patience and perseverance?
A Patience is to say 'Glory to God for all things'
with peace in your soul, accepting with hope that which you cannot understand.
Perseverance is to continue on, no matter what comes. You don’t give up, but
continue to hope and to say, 'God will help me, God will have mercy on me.'
Q 'Neither swords and spears, nor attacking armies,
not even the ranks of demons, nor the dark phalanx of hostile powers, will be
able to do you any harm,' St. Gregory says, 'once you have obtained patience in
Christ Jesus.'
A The problems will exist, we all have them, because
'take away the temptations and nobody is saved'; God is on our side to allow
them, given the benefit they bring to our souls. But the person who has Christ
inside himself confronts difficulties one way, and the person who is not with
Christ, in quite another. Instead of surrendering to despair, even possibly to
the point of taking his own life, the person who lives with Christ confronts
problems with faith, love, and patience. With a heart purified from the
passions he will surpass difficulties more easily, for he has acquired the
stability of a peace within himself that is not easily shakeable.
Q And when the unavoidable temptations arrive, how
will he practice patience and love?
A With the Prayer, 'Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on
me.'
(http://www.mountsinaimonastery.org/q-a/)
Photo: Father Pavlos co-liturgizes with Monastery
fathers in the main Transfiguration Basilica
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