Making Progress
Through Little Victories Progress is Made
The acquisition of holiness is not simply the result of having cultivated virtues, or controlling oneself through asceticism, but rather having a completely organic relationship with Christ. This organic relationship is the result of going through stages of repentance and purity, leading to a remarkable state of union with Christ, seen by the Church as deification, or theosis.
We can feel discouraged when we struggle to change our bad behaviors, or overcome sins that seem to follow us like bad debt. We feel overwhelmed and wonder if we'll ever have victory. During times like these it is good to remember the words of Saint Peter of Damaskos: "It is through victories in small things that the fathers won their great battles."
Because this victory has as its foundation the gradual transformation of self, one must never think any sin too small to be confessed. The more we are truthful with our confessor, the greater the chance of victory over all our sins, including sins that seem incidental. These sins build up over time, helping submerge the will, so that even the big sins are excusable in our minds. The big battles are never won without the little skirmishes leading to victory.
During each celebration of the Divine Liturgy we sing the words, "We have seen the True Light, we have received the Heavenly Spirit; we have found the true Faith, worshiping the undivided Trinity; Who has saved us." Let us commit ourselves anew to living this holy faith as true witnesses to the truths that our Lord has taught us. We have in our possession a Great Pearl, let it be the inheritance we leave our children.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
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