2.3: Inspirational Sayings and Teachings of the Fathers
Opening Reflection
The ascetical life is not simply about giving things up entirely. It is
about healing the heart and coming closer to Christ. The Holy Fathers teach
that real spiritual freedom begins when we learn to say “no” to the sinful
desires that control us. By choosing to carry our personal cross each day, we
open our lives to God’s grace, which changes and strengthens us.
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its
passions and desires.” “የክርስቶስ ኢየሱስም የሆኑቱ ሥጋን ከክፉ መሻቱና ከምኞቱ ጋር ሰቀሉ።” ( Galatians 5:24)
The Cross—the spiritual struggle or ascetical life (መንፈሳዊ
ተጋድሎ)—is not just about pain; it is the way to new life, deep joy, and lasting
peace in Christ.
The Heart of the Ascetical Life
🔥 1. What Are the
Passions?
In Orthodox teaching, passions are not just ordinary feelings or
emotions. They are disordered desires that take control when we stop
following God’s guidance.
Some common passions include:
- Gluttony (ሆዳምነት ፣ አለመጾም)
- Lust (ዝሙት፣ ክፉ ምኞት)
- Anger (ንዴት)
- Pride (ኩራት ፣ ትሑት አለመሆን)
- Envy (ቅናት)
- Sloth
(spiritual laziness or apathy) መንፈሳዊ
ትጋት ማጣት-- አለመጸለይ ፣ መልካም ስራን መተው፣ ወደ እግዚአብሔር ለመቅረብ ተነሳሽነት ማጣት
- Greed (ስስት)
- Avarice (ከፍተኛ የገንዘብ ፍቅር)
“The passions are like wild animals. If you don’t feed them, they grow
weak.”— St. John Climacus.
The Fathers taught that restoring or healing the whole person is
the goal, not just stopping our feelings. Crucifying the passions
purifies the soul and strengthens love for God.
⚔️ 2. Crucifying the
Passions: The Ascetical Struggle
This spiritual battle is intense but filled with grace.
“Struggle to enter through the narrow gate. For many… will seek to enter
and will not be able.” “በጠበበው በር ለመግባት ተጋደሉ፤ እላችኋለሁና፥ ብዙዎች ሊገቡ ይፈልጋሉ አይችሉምም።” (Luke 13:24)
How did the Fathers fight?
- Fasting and
Bodily Discipline:
Not punishment, but training the body like an athlete.
“I discipline my body and bring it into subjection.” “ነገር ግን ለሌሎች ከሰበክሁ በኋላ ራሴ የተጣልሁ እንዳልሆን ሥጋዬን እየጎሰምሁ አስገዛዋለሁ።” (1 Corinthians 9:27)
- Vigil and Prayer:
Choosing a conducive time to stay awake for prayer and focus on God.
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” “ወደ ፈተና እንዳትገቡ ትጉ ጸልዩም፤ መንፈስስ ተዘጋጅታለች፥ ሥጋ ግን ደካማ ነው አለው።” (Mark 14:38)
- Confession and
Self-Accusation:
Being honest about our faults to stay humble without losing hope.
“He who knows his sins is greater than one who raises
the dead.” — St. Isaac the Syrian.
✝️ 3. Embracing the
Cross: Daily Death and Resurrection
Every Christian is called to take up their cross daily:
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross daily, and follow Me.” “ለሁሉም እንዲህ አላቸው፦ በኋላዬ ሊመጣ የሚወድ ቢኖር፥ ራሱን ይካድ መስቀሉንም ዕለት ዕለት ተሸክሞ ይከተለኝ።” Luke 9:23
What does taking up the cross mean?
- Enduring
hardship without complaint
- Loving enemies
and forgiving sincerely
- Accepting difficulties
peacefully
- Suffering
injustice while trusting God
These daily actions crucify pride and ego, making room for grace.
We may not be able to practice all of these at once, but over time, and
with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can gradually grow into living them out.
“We ascend to heaven on the Cross.” — St. Gregory of Nyssa.
🌅 4. The Cross Is the
Key to Resurrection
Without the Cross, there is no resurrection.
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me.” “ከክርስቶስ ጋር ተሰቅዬአለሁ፤ እኔም አሁን ሕያው ሆኜ አልኖርም ክርስቶስ ግን በእኔ ይኖራል” Galatians 2:20
The Fathers lived this truth—some spending decades in the desert,
enduring trials joyfully as a way to unite with Christ.
🌿 5. Fruits of
Crucified Passions
When passions weaken, the soul becomes:
- Peaceful and
joyful
- Merciful and
prayerful
- Sensitive to
God’s presence
- Strong against
temptation (ፈተና)
“When you have crucified the passions, then the grace of the resurrection
will be born in your heart.”— St. Theophan the Recluse (Russian Orthodox
Saint)
✨ Conclusion: The
Path of the Fathers
The Fathers succeeded in the ascetical life by embracing suffering and
the Cross, trusting God’s grace to resurrect them. They didn’t merely
control sins—they crucified passions and accepted the struggle, leading to true
transformation.
This path is for every Orthodox Christian, not only for monks. It calls
us to hold the Cross with hope, not fear.
🛠 Practical Tips for
Today
- Begin fasting
with prayer and simplicity
- When passions
rise (anger, lust, pride), call on Christ’s name immediately
- Confess sins frequently
and honestly
- Choose peace
and humility when others hurt you
- Carry your daily
cross (trials) with trust in Christ
💭 Reflection
Questions
- What passions
most often dominate my heart?
- Am I willing to
suffer with Christ to rise with Him?
- How can I begin
to hold my daily cross (trial) with joy?
.jpeg)
No comments:
Post a Comment