QUOTE: HEARKEN O DAUGHTER AND SEE
Suddenly, Moses was overcome with pangs of conscience and repentance for the misdeeds, which he had committed. He left the group, entered a monastery and gave himself completely in obedience to his spiritual father and to the monastic rule. He benefited much from the teachings of Saints Makarios, Arsénios and Isidore. Later, he withdrew to solitude in a cell where he dedicated himself completely to physical labor, prayer, vigils and godly-thoughts. Tormented by the demon of fornication, Moses confessed to Isidore, his spiritual father, and from him, received counsel to fast even more and never to eat to full satisfaction. When even this did not help, at the counsel of the elder, he began to keep vigil at night and to pray standing; after that, he began the practice of bringing water to the elderly monks from a distant well all night long. After six years of terrible struggles, St. Isidore finally miraculously healed him of fornicating thoughts, fantasies and dreams brought about on him by demons.
Moses was ordained a priest in old age. He founded his own monastery and had seventy-five disciples and lived in this life for seventy-five years. He foresaw his death, and one day, he told his disciples to flee for the barbarians were going to attack the monastery. When the disciples also urged him to flee with them, Moses said that he must die by violence for, at one time, he himself committed violence and, according to the words: "For all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (St. Matthew 26:52). He remained there with six brethren and the barbarians came and slew them. One of the brethren, hidden in the vicinity, beheld and saw seven shining wreaths as they descended upon the seven martyrs.
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
2 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Verse: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear; and forget thine own people, and thy father’s house; and the King shall greatly desire thy beauty.
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As it says: And the King shall greatly desire thy beauty...but there is a precondition.
Contemplate: Only God knows how well I am doing in struggling for my salvation. Yes, as a proclaimed follower of Jesus Christ, I know I NEED saving, but from who? One may ask, who holds me captive that I need to be rescued?
Think about it, just about anyone can hold your body captive but only one can hold your soul captive in this life! Who is it? Its not Satan or a fallen angel, its not Christ because He doesn't enslave. Give up? Its YOU! Why isn't it Satan? Because he cannot force you but he is great at suggestion and temptation - he is of no consequence unless you yield to him!
Contrary to a popular belief we are not guilty of "Original Sin" but we indeed suffer the consequences of it, the consequences our forefather Adam and Eve placed on themselves and on us, their children.
However, from the verse there is something that not only expedites the rescue but in utter joy attracts the ineffable desire of our King and Father Jesus Christ! Think! You can actually unveil the beauty that hides the created image and likeness of God Himself in you and in doing so He will GREATLY desire your beauty! In fact, He already desires you but the psalmist says: GREATLY!
How? Simple. Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear; and forget thine own people, and thy father’s house; and the King shall greatly desire thy beauty.
Don't be confused. To forget our friends, relatives, wives, husbands, children and neighbors, who Christ commands that we love as much as ourselves, simply means to wholeheartedly prefer/love for God over them. In doing so, we will NOT love them less but more, even much like Christ's love for all of us, Who in love for us, took on flesh from the Virgin, Who in love for us allowed Himself to be Crucified, Who in love for us rose from the dead and in love for us Ascended into Heaven.
So, forget all like a dead man does with this life, and you have raised your hand to Him Who reaches and takes you by the hand, hand in hand, into Paradise.
Great art Thou O Lord and marvelous are Thy works, and words cannot suffice to sing the praises of Thy Wonders!
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