From "Thoughts for Each Day of the Year," St. Theophan the Recluse, Wedensday of the 3rd Week After Pentecost.
The Lord showed many signs in Capernaum, Bethsaida, and Chorazin, yet the number of those who believed did not correspond to the power of the signs. That is why He severly denounced those cities and sentenced them: in the Day of Judgment it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, Sodom and Gomorrah, then for these cities.
We need to judge ourselves according to such a model. How many signs has the Lord shown to Russia (let us ask, 'to America'), saving it from the most powerful enemies and subduing peoples under it! How many treasures has He granted it, pouring out unceasing signs - in holy relics and miracle-working icons scattered throughout the land! And yet in our days our countrymen are starting to turn aside from the Faith: one group is falling into total unbelief, another group is falling away into Protestantism, a third group is secretly weaving their own beliefs, thinking to combine Spiritism and theological ravings with Divine revelation.
Evil is growing; evil beliefs and unbelief are raising their head, while faith and Orthodoxy are weakening. Will we not come to our senses? We will end up like many others....
But if that happens, how do you think it will be for us on the Day of Judgment, after God has shown so many mercies to us?
O Lord! Have mercy and save Orthodox Russia (let us pray 'America') from Your righteous threatening which stands before us!
No comments:
Post a Comment