9/19/2016
St. Macarius of Optina
God never abandons those who have the good will to preserve themselves in purity and virginity to fall in this struggle; moreover for their struggle He crowns them with heavenly laurels.
For one’s salvation it is necessary to be a part of the Orthodox Church.
Take care to guard yourself from condemning and judging; you will have to give an answer not for the faults and offenses of your neighbor, but for your own, and especially for judging.
I will also tell you not to seek lofty gifts, spiritual exaltation and consolations—they are granted according to the measure of our humility.
Know that God is taking care of you when He sends sorrows and grief, and wants through them to teach you and make you wise in spiritual reason.
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If we truly labor to cleanse our hearts from the passions, then according to the amount that we have purified ourselves, Divine Grace will open our eyes spiritually to the vision of the true Light; for as it is written, blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matt. 5:8). This is achieved only through humility, for it is in humility that divine mysteries are revealed.
