The Art of Spiritual Life

Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 51-55

51. Even when nothing is going wrong, be ready for affliction; and since you will have to give an account, do not make extortionate demands.
52. 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).
53. 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).
54. Think nothing and do nothing without a purpose directed to God. For to journey without direction is wasted effort.
55. Because God's justice is inexorable, it is hard to obtain forgiveness for sins committed with complete deliberation.

Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 47-50

47. Every blessing comes from the Lord providentially. But this fact escapes the notice of the ungrateful and the idle.
48. Every vice leads in the end to forbidden pleasure; and every virtue to spiritual blessing. Each arouses what is akin to it.
49. Censure from men afflicts the heart; but if patiently accepted it generates purity.
50. Ignorance makes us reject what is beneficial; and when it becomes brazen it strengthens the hold of evil.

Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 43-46

43. He who suffers injustice escapes sin, finding help in proportion to his affliction.
44. The greater a man's faith that Christ will reward him, the greater his readiness to endure every injustice.
45. By praying for those who wrong us we overthrow the devil; opposing them we are wounded by him.
46. Better a human than a demonic sin. Through performing the Lord's will we overcome both.

Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 39-42

39. 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.
40. God is the source of every virtue, as the sun is of daylight.
41. When you have done something good, remember the words 'without Me you can do nothing' (John 15:5).
42. Afflictions bring blessing to man; self-esteem and sensual pleasure, evil.

Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 33-38

33. 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.
34. 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.
35. 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.
36. 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.
37. One man does something apparently good, in defense of his neighbor; another, by not doing it, gains in understanding.
38. Rebukes may be given in malice and self-defense, or out of fear of God and respect for truth.

Sunday - June 26, 2022

 

 

Sunday - June 19, 2022

 

 

Sunday - June 12, 2022

 

 

Sunday - June 5, 2022

 

 

Sunday - May 22, 2022

Jn 9: 1-38

 

Sunday - May 15, 2022

Jn 4: 5-42

 

 

Sunday - May 8, 2022

Jn 5: 1-15

 

Sunday - May 1, 2022

 

 

Sunday - April 24, 2022

Jn 20: 19-31

 

Sunday - April 17, 2022 - Pascha

 

 

Sunday - April 10, 2022

Jn 12: 1-18

 

Sunday - April 3, 2022

Mk 10: 32-45

 

 

Sunday - March 27, 2022

Mk 9: 17-31

 

Sunday - March 13, 2022

Mk 2: 1-12

 

Sunday - March 6, 2022

Jn 1: 13-51

 

Sunday - February 27, 2022

Mt 6, 14-21

 

Sunday - February 20, 2022

Mt 25: 31-46

 

Sunday - February 6, 2022

Lk 18: 10-14

 

Sunday - January 23, 2022

Mt 15: 21-28

 

Mark the Ascetic - On the Spiritual Law 28-32

28. Just as a thought is made manifest through actions and words, so is our future reward through the impulses of the heart.
29. Thus a merciful heart will receive mercy, while a merciless heart will receive the opposite.
30. 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.
31. 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.
32. 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.