+ “Let us then give diligent heed to the study of the Scriptures. For if you do this, the Scripture will expel your despondency, and engender pleasure, remove vice, and make virtue take root, and in the tumult of life, it will save you from suffering like those who are...
+ “Lord,” St. Peter answered, “we have fished all night and have caught nothing.” Perhaps if St. Peter had caught some little fish, Jesus would not have performed the miracle, but because he had nothing, Jesust soon filled his net in such a way as almost to break it. This...
+ “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house” (Mark 2:10-11). For the Lord does the same with our spiritual sicknesses. He not...
+ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. (2 Cor. 1:15). Let us then not sink down when tempted… Whoever is in affliction and temptation, whoever is journeying on the narrow and difficult way, this person stands near to Him. For...
+ “Our Lord lifted up for us His hands on the Cross and stretched out were His hands for us. And why were His hands stretched out on the Cross? In order that our hands might be stretched out to do good works since it was through His Cross that...
+ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. (2 Tim. 2:3-4). For when no one exercises in the wrestling school, how shall he [or she] win and...
+ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was (James 1:23-24). Do not let your hands drop the...
+ Blessed Feast of the Martyrs Do you desire to be like the martyrs? Be like Abel was, or Isaac, or Stephen, who chose for themselves the way of the righteous life. First of all, overcome the evil one by your good acts by living well, and when He, your...
+ …that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation (1 Thes. 3:3-4). Let us hear, who have ears to hear. The Christian...
+ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps (1 Peter 2:21). He hung on the Cross for you and still did not want to be an avenger for Himself. Why do you want to take...
