Against Our Will

Romans 8:28

Paul says to let this be your work: to give thanks in your prayers for the seen and the unseen benefits and for God's goodness to the willing and the unwilling.

I know a certain holy man who prayed this way: "We thank You for all the goodness You have shown us from the first day until now even when we are so unworthy. We thank You for what we know You have done and what we don't know, for gifts seen and unseen, for gifts of word and action, whether we have received them willingly or not—for all these things that have been given to us, the unworthy. We give thanks for tribulations and refreshments, for hell, for punishment, and the kingdom of heaven. We beg of You to keep our souls holy, and our consciences pure, worthy of Your lovingkindness. You who gave the Only-begotten for us and sent Your Holy Spirit to wipe out our sins, if we have willfully or unwillingly disobeyed You, forgive us. Don't attribute our sins to us. Remember everyone who called on Your name in truth. Remember everyone who wishes us well, or the contrary, for we are all human."

He prayed this because God gives us many benefits even against our will and maybe even without our knowing it. When we pray for one thing and He does the reverse, it is plain that He is doing good even when we don't know it.
—Chrysostom

Readings taken from Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers

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Spiritual Exercise

1 Timothy 4:8

Preparing the heart means unlearning evil prejudices. It is dusting off the tablet before attempting to write on it. Now solitude is most useful for this purpose. It quiets our passions and makes room for holiness to cut them out of the soul.

So then, set aside a place for yourself, separate from contact with other people so that your spiritual exercises won't be interrupted. Pure, devoted exercises nourish the soul with godly thoughts. What can be better than imitating angel choruses on earth, or beginning the day with prayer and honoring our Maker with hymns and songs, or, as the day brightens, praying throughout our duties and seasoning our work with hymns, as with salt? Soothing hymns compose the mind, bringing it into a calm, cheerful state.

So then, as I have said, quiet is the first step in our sanctification. It is the tongue that has been purified of the world's gossip. It is the eyes that are unexcited by beautiful color or lovely shape. It is the ear that doesn't relax the tone or mind by sensual songs, nor talk flippantly and joke about people. In this way, the mind is saved from external sensations. It falls back on itself and not on worldly senses. As a result, the mind rises up to contemplating God.
—Basil

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Be Still

Psalm 46:10

The time for confession is now. Confess what you have done in word or action, by night or by day. Confess while it is the acceptable time, and receive heavenly treasure in the day of salvation. Blot out every earthly care from your mind, for you are running for your soul. You are completely forsak¬ing the things of the world. But the things you are forsaking are little, while what the Lord is giving is great. Forsake present things, and trust in the things to come.

Have you run in circles and busied yourself in vain with worldly things? "Be still, and know that I am God," Scripture said. Excuse yourself from saying many useless words. Don't backbite or willingly listen to backbiters. Rather, promptly run to prayer. In exercising self-denial, show that your heart is strong. Cleanse your vessel so that you can receive grace more abundantly.

For although remission of sins is equally given to everyone, communion with the Holy Ghost is given in proportion to each person's faith. If you have worked little, you receive little. But if you have worked hard, the reward is great.
—Cyril of Jerusalem

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Divided Loyalty

Matthew 16:26

One who delights in the world, who is enticed by flattering and deceiving earthly pleasures wants to remain in the world a long time. Since the world hates Christians, why do you love that which hates you? And why don't you follow Christ instead, who both redeemed you and loves you?

John, in his epistle, cries and urges us not to follow fleshly desires and love the world. "Love not the world," he says, "neither the things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but of the lust of the world. And the world shall pass away, and the lust thereof; but he who doeth the will of God abideth for ever, even as God abideth for ever."

Instead, beloved, let us be prepared for the will of God with a sound mind, a firm faith, and strong virtue. Laying aside the fear of death, let us think on the eternal life to come. Through this knowledge, let us demonstrate that we are what we believe. Then we won't delay or resist the Lord on the day He calls us to Himself.
—Cyprian

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Bold Speech

Titus 2:8

It is always time to speak boldly. For the psalmist said, "I spake in Thy testimonies before kings, and was not ashamed." If we happen to be around heathens, we should shut them up without harshness or anger. If we do it in anger, we do it with passion and the boldness of those who are confident of their case. But if we speak with gentleness, this is boldness. Boldness is a success and anger is a failure. And success and failure can't possibly go together.

Therefore, if we want to have boldness, we must clear away our anger so that no one can attribute our words to it. No matter how sound your words may be, no matter how boldly you speak, how fairly you correct, or what not, you ruin everything when you speak with anger.

Look at Stephen and how free his words to his persecutors were from passion. He didn't abuse them but reminded them of the prophets' words. In order to show you that it wasn't done in anger, he prayed as he suffered evil from their hands, "Lay not to their charge this sin." He was far from speaking these words in anger. No, he spoke out of grief and sorrow for their sakes. Certainly, the Bible talks about his appearance, that “they saw his face as it had been the face of an angel,” so that they might believe his words.
—Chrysostom

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Waiting for Us

Philippians 3:20

Always remember that we have renounced the world and are living here as guests and strangers in the meantime. Anticipate the day assigned to each of us for our homecoming. This day will snatch us up, set us free from the snares of the world, and return us to Paradise and the king­dom.

Who, in foreign lands, wouldn't hurry to return to their own country? Who, when rushing to return to his friends, wouldn't eagerly want the winds at his back so that he could embrace those dear to him sooner? We consider paradise as our country. We already consider the patri­archs as our parents. Why don't we hurry and run, so that we can see our country and greet our par­ents?

A great number of our dear ones are waiting for us there. A dense crowd of parents, brothers, and children is longing for us, already assured of their own safe­ty and eager for our salvation. Beloved, let us hurry to these peo­ple eagerly. Let us long to be with them and to come to Christ quick­ly.

May God see our eager desire. May the Lord Jesus Christ look at the purpose of our mind and faith. He will give the larger rewards of His glory to those with a greater desire for Him!
—Cyprian

Readings taken from Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers

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