Coffee With Sister Vassa: Loving God Without Stress

 

LOVING GOD WITHOUT STRESS

“It is a great art to succeed in having your soul sanctified. A person can become a saint anywhere... At your work, whatever it may be, you can become a saint through meekness, patience, and love. Make a new start every day, with new resolution, with enthusiasm and love, prayer and silence — not with anxiety so that you get a pain in the chest.” (St. Porphyrios, Wounded by Love)

Today is the day of the repose (on December 2, 1991) of Elder Porphyrios Kavsokalivitis, so I’m reflecting on some of the wisdom of this beloved, modern-day saint. I love that he encouraged us to make a new start every day, “not with anxiety so that you get a pain in the chest.” He often advised people to lead their spiritual lives based not on stress or anxiety, but on love. It’s such a useful and consoling tip, as we proceed along the journey of the Nativity Fast.

“We love God without contorting ourselves and without exertion and struggle,” St. Porphyrios says in another passage from the above-quoted book.“What is difficult for man is easy for God. We will love God suddenly when grace overshadows us. If we love Christ very much, the prayer will say itself. Christ will be continually in our mind and in our heart.” 

Let us continue the journey of this Nativity Fast, dear friends, making “a new start every day” and not with anxiety. Holy Father Porphyrios, pray to God for us!

Overcoming Stress - The Orthodox Way

Dear Parish Faithful,

Are you feeling "stressed out" these days? Rather overwhelmed with various cares and anxieties?  Are things pulling apart, rather than holding together? If so, here are some wise words from a Romanian elder that, if put into practice, may bring some consolation to your mind and heart.  

All such counsel is merely an elaboration on the words of Christ concerning anxiety, found in MATT. 6:25-34, culminating in:  "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."

Quotations from the newly reposed (+ Oct. 30) Archbishop Justinian Chira of Romania

When you are distressed, when you are upset, when in temptations, be untroubled. Go to your brother and talk to him:

“How are you, brother?”  Do not tell him you came because you are very troubled. Discuss trivialities. Sadness may scatter and you may receive strength from his strength.

Prayer has the grace to make the eternal fountain of joy sprinkle our soul. The soul from which springs no voice of prayer unto Heaven is like a deserted house, full of cobwebs, inhabited by the birds of darkness alone. A soul that does not know how to pray will never know what happiness is, even when owning all the riches of the earth. True prayer is Holy labor.

Stress is formed from exaggerated concern. From concern, and concern only. Every evil comes from this exaggerated concern.

We must preserve and cultivate our longing for God, our longing for the Mother of God, our longing for Saints. Let us seek to cancel the barriers that cool us off spiritually, that harden our hearts, those that make us forget God.

When Jesus is truly known and obeyed, then peace prevails in our soul, our family, our country and in the world.

I will stand by the gate of Heaven and wait for all of you to arrive!