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Posted 3/26/2026

On the Difference in Tears

Saint Isaac the Syrian

There are tears that burn and there are tears that anoint as if with oil. All tears that flow out of contrition and anguish of heart on account of sins dry up and burn the body ... At first a man must necessarily come to this order of tears and through them a door is opened unto him to enter into the second order, which is superior to the first; this is the realm wherein a man receives mercy. These are the tears that are shed because of insight; they make the body comely and anoint it as if with oil, but they also alter a man's countenance. 'When the heart rejoiceth'..., 'the countenance gloweth, but when it is in sorrows the countenance is downcast.' [While the thinking is silent these tears are poured forth over the entire countenance. The body receives from them a sort of nourishment, and gladness is imprinted on the face. He who has had experience of these two alterations will understand.]

Posted 3/25/2026

On Love, Self-control and Life
in Accordance with the Intellect
St Thalassios the Libyan

1 . An all-embracing and intense longing for God binds those who experience it both to God and to one another.

2. An intellect that has acquired spiritual love does not have thoughts unworthy of this love about anyone.

Anecdotes

Our Lord descended from heaven and reached down into our sin to pull us up to Him but we must also reach up and take his hand regardless of where we are.

If you say the virtues are too great to acquire, then you haven't asked the Son of God for help.

Arrogance: It doesn’t always claim to be more intelligent than everyone but rather treats everyone else as stupid.

"The heart of an Orthodox Christian is filled with such divine love and radiates it everywhere and upon everyone." St. Philaret

Dear Orthodox Christian, Does the quote above quote from St. Philaret, describe you?

• What cannot be seen, can be revealed.
• I personally think that one reason all the planets are round is to send us a message, the message being that no matter where you go, you end up where you started. If you desire a destination, transcend "mammon" while you have "time".
• Being familiar with the immense power of desire, must we obey?
On occasion, we wake from a dream thankful, thankful that it wasn’t real
• God gave woman a smile that is all her own
• God's love is so deep that He can endure and love all of His creation - past, present and future, men and women, who pay no attention to Him at all.
• Isn't it time to admit and show regret and sorrow? We have a lifetime to do so! How long is that?
• Only He Who is beyond male or female can Create male and female.
• Make no mistake, to put on Christ through Holy Baptist is a wedding garment. We can be no less than be married to our Lord Jesus Christ in order to be one with Him. The pearls, jewels and embroidery on this wedding garment are the jewels and ornaments of self-denial, the Cross lying across our shoulders, the same Cross of the same love and forgiveness Christ showed all mankind no matter how brutal, no matter how hateful, no matter how estranged from Him we are.
• Make no mistake, this is a garment that cannot be put on at the last moment when we meet our Creator Christ - it will not fit over the obesity of our attachments to the temporary life, to the attachments of our desire for material things, all of which must have been shed.
• Make no mistake !! This life, although only somewhat of a facsimile, since it is temporary, is not a life of continual fear but one that can blossom into the love of God and neighbor - our ticket to entry into the bridal chamber called Paradise Eternal. In unfailing love, we remain clothed in our baptismal garment throughout our lives and therefore found to radiantly beautiful in the image of Christ when we meet Him face to face.
• Our Lord inspired those who would hear Him with words and acts that would guard and protect, that would guide us and help us maintain our wedding garments. If you have no use for their words or example, what are you saying to Christ? Are you saying He inspired them in vain?
• En guarde! Satan never sleeps and never prays. He hates God and hates every one of us. He lurks in the shadows,; silently and relentlessly attacking. He doesn't want us to hear God but wants us to hear and obey only him. He knows Christ speaks to us continually but can only be heard in stillness.
• Why do you read what they saints say? Why do you believe what thy say? Simple: because you believe God speaks through the prophets! No? You claim you do! Reread the Nicene Creed!
• Love: Experienced, but has only one definition, obtained by revelation.
• Anyone who has fallen in love knows that once it happens, it needs no reminding, no prompting, no reasoning, no examination because it is unfathomably simple and constantly experienced/treasured and inexplicable. You wake in it, you sleep in it, it never wavers. And in many cases, it is mutual.
• Such it is with Christ. However, when we seek with all our heart to love Him, it tis the ecstasy of worship and is always mutual.
• If and again if desired, a taste is given and one is on the way.
• Christ gave you a head start didn’t He? How? In His love He gave you life didn’t He?
• Don't judge yourself by how well you follow the rules or how poorly others do, simply love God with all your heart and you will follow Him as you should because when you genuinely love Him, He will correct any failure you make, and, in addition He will confirm for you that you have pleased Him and that you really do love Him and all others! Do you want to feel you truly love God or would you rather than He, Himself confirm it for you directly? Can we ask for more?

Now wait just a minute!

Saint John 15:5 KJV

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

• If we can do nothing without Christ why do we credit or glorify ourselves for our accomplishments? He quickens all of us and all things. Pleasing Him is a great form of gratitude.
• From where does fruit get its color, its sweetness, its nutrients? Is it not by accepting what comes from the vine that it becomes beautiful, delicious and nutritious! Are we who follow Christ, expected to be like Him.  Did He not say that we are made in His image? 
  
• We must stop giving ourselves credit. What we have, has been given as a gift otherwise why would our Lord say, "... for without me you can do nothing.". What we do with what He gives, is what's profitable because it glorifies the Giver who is Christ our Father Who in turn glorifies us because it is His pleasure.

Wouldn't you agree that it is easier to motivate yourself than to move a mountain?

Reflect! It only takes a mustard seed of genuine faith/love for God to move a mountain.

Reflect! Where does that leave our so-called love of God?

Reflect! What purpose does an ice cube serve once it has melted?

This LIFE is melting and for a reason. Do you know why?

To have created from nothing such ineffable beauty, in infinite variety and yet, by design, gradually, within time, corrupt that same beauty into nothingness, does it not tell us just how serious our Creator is about our redemption into the Eternal world of incorruption?