Episodes
5 days ago
5 days ago
- Reaping unwillingly the wickedness we deliberately sow, we should marvel at God's justice.
- Because an interval of time elapses between sowing and reaping, we begin to think there will be no requital.
- When you sin, blame your thought, not your action. For had your intellect not run ahead, your body would not have followed.
- The secret sinner is worse than those who do evil openly; and so he receives a worse punishment.
Monday Apr 15, 2024
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 111-116
Monday Apr 15, 2024
Monday Apr 15, 2024
- Just as God assigns to everything visible what is appropriate, so He does also to human thoughts, whether we wish it or not.
- If some obvious sinner who does not repent has suffered nothing before his death, you may be sure that judgment in his case will be merciless.
- He who prays with understanding patiently accepts circumstances, whereas he who resents them has not yet attained pure prayer.
- When harmed, insulted or persecuted by someone, do not think of the present but wait for the future, and you will find he has brought you much good, not only in this life but also in the life to come.
- Just as the bitterness of absinth helps a poor appetite, so misfortunes help a bad character. For the first benefits the physical condition, and the second leads to repentance.
- If you do not want to suffer evil, do not inflict it, since the suffering of it inevitably follows its infliction. 'For whatever a man sows he will also reap' (Gal. 6:1).
Monday Mar 18, 2024
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 107-110
Monday Mar 18, 2024
Monday Mar 18, 2024
- 'The soldier going to war', it is said, 'does not entangle himself in the affairs of this world' (2 Tim. 2:4). For he who entangles himself with the passions while trying to overcome them is like a man who tries to put out a fire with straw.
- If one becomes angry with one's neighbor on account of riches, fame or pleasure, one does not yet realize that God orders all things with justice.
- When you hear the Lord saying that if someone does not renounce all that he has he 'is not worthy of Me' (Matt. 10:37), apply this not only to money but to all forms of vice. Two Hundred Texts
- He who does not know the truth cannot truly have faith; for by nature knowledge precedes faith.
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 96-99
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Monday Feb 19, 2024
- A self-indulgent monk has achieved nothing through his renunciation. For what he once did through possessions he still does though possessing nothing.
- Moreover, the self-controlled man, if he clings to possessions, is a brother in spirit of this kind of monk; because they both feel inward enjoyment they have the same mother - though not the same father, since each has a different passion.
- Sometimes a man cuts off a passion in order to indulge himself more fully, and he is praised by those unaware of his aim. He may even be unaware of it himself, and so his action is self-defeating.
- All vice is caused by self-esteem and sensual pleasure; you cannot overcome passion without hating them.
Monday Feb 05, 2024
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 93-95
Monday Feb 05, 2024
Monday Feb 05, 2024
- Evils reinforce each other; so do virtues, thus encouraging us to still greater efforts.
- The devil belittles small sins; otherwise he cannot lead us into greater ones.
- Praise from others engenders sinful desire, while their condemnation of vice, if not only heard but accepted, engenders self-restraint.
Monday Jan 22, 2024
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 89-92
Monday Jan 22, 2024
Monday Jan 22, 2024
- Never belittle the significance of your thoughts, for not one escapes God's notice.
- When you observe some thought suggesting that you seek human fame, you can be sure it will bring you disgrace.
- The enemy, understanding how the justice of the spiritual law is applied, seeks only the assent of our mind. Having secured this, he will either oblige us to undergo' the labors of repentance or, if we do not repent, will torment us with misfortunes beyond our control. Sometimes he encourages us to resist these misfortunes so as to increase our torment, and then, at our death, he will point to this impatient resistance as proof of our lack of faith.
- Many have fought in various ways against circumstances; but without prayer and repentance no one has escaped evil.
Monday Jan 15, 2024
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 86-88
Monday Jan 15, 2024
Monday Jan 15, 2024
- He who neglects action and depends on theoretical knowledge holds a staff of reed instead of a double-edged sword; and when he confronts his enemies in time of war, 'it will go into his hand, and pierce it' (2 Kgs. 18:21), injecting its natural poison.
- Every thought has its weight and measure in God's sight. For it is possible to think about the same thing either passionately or objectively.
- After fulfilling a commandment expect to be tempted: for love of Christ is tested by adversity.
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 83-85
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Monday Jan 08, 2024
- Ignorance of words will do no harm to the truly devout, nor will wisdom in speaking harm the humble.
- Do not say: 'I do not know what is right, therefore I am not to blame when I fail to do it.' For if you did all the good about which you do know, what you should do next would then become clear to you, as if you were passing through a house from one room to another. It is not helpful to know what comes later before you have done what comes first. For knowledge without action 'puffs up', but 'love edifies', because it 'patiently accepts all things' (1 Cor. 8:1; 13:7).
- Understand the words of Holy Scripture by putting them into practice, and do not fill yourself with conceit by expatiating on theoretical ideas.
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 78-82
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Monday Jan 08, 2024
- A man advises his neighbor according to his own understanding; but in the one who listens to such advice, God acts in proportion to his faith.
- I have seen unlearned men who were truly humble, and they became wiser than the wise.
- Another unlearned man, upon hearing them praised, instead of imitating their humility, prided himself on being unlearned and so fell into arrogance.
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 75-77
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Monday Jan 08, 2024
- Anyone who praises his neighbor out of hypocrisy will later abuse him and bring disgrace upon himself.
- He who is ignorant of the enemy's ambush is easily slain; and' he who does not know the causes of the passions is soon brought low.
- Knowledge of what is good for him has been given to everyone by God; but self-indulgence leads to negligence, and negligence to forgetfulness.
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 72-74
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Monday Jan 08, 2024
- If you wish not to incur guilt when men praise you, first welcome reproof for your sins.
- Each time someone accepts humiliation for the sake of Christ's truth he will be glorified a hundredfold by other men. But it is better always to do good for the sake of blessings in the life to come.
- When one man helps another by word or deed, let them both recognize in this the grace of God. He who does not understand this will come under the power of him who does.
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 70-71
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Monday Jan 08, 2024
- God and our conscience know our secrets. Let them correct us.
70a. He who toils unwillingly grows poor in every way, while he who presses ahead in hope is doubly rich.
- Man acts so far as he can in accordance with his own wishes; but God decides the outcome in accordance with justice.
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 65-69
Monday Jan 08, 2024
Monday Jan 08, 2024
- To accept an affliction for God's sake is a genuine act of holiness; for true love is tested by adversities.
- Do not claim to have acquired virtue unless you have suffered affliction, for without affliction virtue has not been tested.
- Consider the outcome of every involuntary affliction, and you will find it has been the destruction of sin.
- Neighbors are very free with advice, but our own judgment is best.
- If you want spiritual health, listen to your conscience, do all it tells you, and you will benefit.
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 56
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
- Distress reminds the wise of God, but crushes those who forget Him.
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 51-55
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
- Even when nothing is going wrong, be ready for affliction; and since you will have to give an account, do not make extortionate demands.
- Having sinned secretly, do not try to hide. For 'all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we have to give an account' (Heb. 4:13).
- Reveal yourself to the Lord in your mind. 'For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart' (i Sam. 16:7).
- Think nothing and do nothing without a purpose directed to God. For to journey without direction is wasted effort.
- Because God's justice is inexorable, it is hard to obtain forgiveness for sins committed with complete deliberation.
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 47-50
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Monday Sep 25, 2023
- Every blessing comes from the Lord providentially. But this fact escapes the notice of the ungrateful and the idle.
- Every vice leads in the end to forbidden pleasure; and every virtue to spiritual blessing. Each arouses what is akin to it.
- Censure from men afflicts the heart; but if patiently accepted it generates purity.
- Ignorance makes us reject what is beneficial; and when it becomes brazen it strengthens the hold of evil.
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 43-46
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Monday Sep 25, 2023
- He who suffers injustice escapes sin, finding help in proportion to his affliction.
- The greater a man's faith that Christ will reward him, the greater his readiness to endure every injustice.
- By praying for those who wrong us we overthrow the devil; opposing them we are wounded by him.
- Better a human than a demonic sin. Through performing the Lord's will we overcome both.
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 39-42
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Monday Sep 25, 2023
- Cease rebuking a man who has stopped sinning and who has repented. If you say that you are rebuking him in God's name, first reveal the evils in yourself.
- God is the source of every virtue, as the sun is of daylight.
- When you have done something good, remember the words 'without Me you can do nothing' (John 15:5).
- Afflictions bring blessing to man; self-esteem and sensual pleasure, evil.
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 33-38
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Monday Sep 25, 2023
- When we are compelled by our conscience to accomplish all the commandments of God, then we shall understand that the law of the Lord is faultless (cf. Ps. 19:8. LXX). It is performed through our good actions, but cannot be perfected by men without God's mercy.
- Those who do not consider themselves under obligation to perform all Christ's commandments study the law of God in a literal manner, 'understanding neither what they say nor what they affirm' (1 Tim. I :7). Therefore they think that they can fulfill it by their own works.
- There are acts which appear to be good, but the motive of the person who does them is not good; and there are other acts which appear to be bad, while the motive of the doer is good. The same is true of some statements. This discrepancy is due sometimes to inexperience or ignorance, sometimes to evil intention, and sometimes to good intention.
- When a man outwardly praises someone, while accusing and disparaging him in his heart, it is hard for the simple to detect this. Similarly a person may be outwardly humble but inwardly arrogant. For a long time such men present falsehood as truth, but later they are exposed and condemned.
- One man does something apparently good, in defense of his neighbor; another, by not doing it, gains in understanding.
- Rebukes may be given in malice and self-defense, or out of fear of God and respect for truth.
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 28-32
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Monday Aug 28, 2023
- Just as a thought is made manifest through actions and words, so is our future reward through the impulses of the heart.
- Thus a merciful heart will receive mercy, while a merciless heart will receive the opposite.
- The law of freedom teaches the whole truth. Many read about it in a theoretical way, but few really understand it, and these only in the degree to which they practice the commandments.
- Do not seek the perfection of this law in human virtues, for it is not found perfect in them. Its perfection is hidden in the Cross of Christ.
- The law of freedom is studied by means of true knowledge, it is understood through the practice of the commandments, and is fulfilled through the mercy of Christ.
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 23-27
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Monday Aug 28, 2023
- A man wanted to do evil, but first prayed as usual; and finding himself prevented by God, he was then extremely thankful.
- When David wanted to kill Nabal the Carmelite, but was reminded of the divine retribution and abandoned his intention, he was extremely thankful. Again, we know what he did when he forgot God, and how he did not stop until Nathan the Prophet reminded him (cf. I Sam. 25; 2 Sam. 12).
- At the times when you remember God, increase your prayers, so that when you forget Him, the Lord may remind you.
- When you read Holy Scripture, perceive its hidden meanings. 'For whatever was written in past times was written for our instruction' (Rom. 15:4).
- Scripture speaks of faith as 'the substance of things hoped for' (Heb. 11:1), and describes as 'worthless' those who do not know the indwelling of Jesus (cf. 2 Cor. 13:5).
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 13-16
Monday Aug 28, 2023
Monday Aug 28, 2023
- Blind is the man crying out and saying: 'Son of David, have mercy on me' (Luke 18:38). He prays with the body alone, and not yet with spiritual knowledge.
- When the man once blind received his sight and saw the Lord, he acknowledged Him no longer as Son of David but as Son of God, and worshipped Him (cf John 9; 38).
- Do not grow conceited if you shed tears when you pray. For it is Christ who has touched your eyes and given you spiritual sight.
- He who, like the blind man, casts away his garment and draws near to the Lord, becomes His disciple and a preacher of true doctrine (cf. Mark 10:50).
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 10-12
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
- Do not become a disciple of one who praises himself, in case you learn pride instead of humility.
- Do not grow conceited about your interpretations of Scripture, lest your intellect fall victim to blasphemy.
- Do not attempt to explain something difficult with contentiousness, but in the way which the spiritual law enjoins: with patience, prayer and unwavering hope. 13. Blind is the man crying out and saying: 'Son of David, have mercy on me' (Luke 18:38). He prays with the body alone, and not yet with spiritual knowledge.
Monday Jun 12, 2023
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 5-9
Monday Jun 12, 2023
Monday Jun 12, 2023
- May He who inaugurates every good thing inaugurate all that you undertake, so that it may be done with His blessing.
- When reading the Holy Scriptures, he who is humble and engaged in spiritual work will apply everything to himself and not to someone else.
- Call upon God to open the eyes of your heart, so that you may see the value of prayer and of spiritual reading when understood and applied.
- If a man has some spiritual gift and feels compassion for those who do not have it, he preserves the gift because of his compassion. But a boastful man will lose it through succumbing to the temptations of boastfulness.
- The mouth of a humble man speaks the truth; but he who speaks against the truth is like the servant who struck the Lord on the face (cf Mark 14:65).
Monday Jun 05, 2023
Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 1-4
Monday Jun 05, 2023
Monday Jun 05, 2023
1. Because you have often asked what the Apostle means when he says that 'the law is spiritual' (Rom. 7:14), and what kind of spiritual knowledge and action characterizes those who wish to observe it, we shall speak of this as far as we can.
2. First of all, we know that God is the beginning, middle and end of everything good; and it is impossible for us to have faith in anything good or to carry it into effect except in Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
3. Everything good is given by the Lord providentially; and he who has faith that this is so will not lose what he has been given.
4. Steadfast faith is a strong tower; and for one who has faith Christ comes to be all.