Brethren, it is time for us all to assume our responsibilities before God and history

St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco (+1966)

 

 

The Lord did not promise us thrones of victors for virtue, but He said to us: “In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

The power of God operates when one seeks the help of God, recognizing his weakness and the sinfulness of his nature.

This is the reason why humility and recourse to God constitute fundamental virtues for the Christian.

Holiness is not simply uprightness or honesty, for which the moral will be rewarded in the Heavenly Kingdom of God. It is that height at which men are filled with the Grace of God, which is poured forth from them to all who associate with them.

Their holiness proceeds from the immediate and continual contemplation of the Glory of God.

They are also filled with love for their neighbor, which proceeds from the love they have for God, and therefore they respond to every human need. And to every human request of their neighbor, they act as mediators and intercessors before God.

“In the latter years evil and heresy will have spread so greatly that the faithful will not find priest or shepherd to protect them from delusion and to counsel them unto salvation.”

Then the faithful will not be able to receive safe guidance from men, but their guide will be the writings of the Holy Fathers.

Especially in this age, each believer will be responsible for the entire pleroma of the Church.

Brethren, it is time for us all to assume our responsibilities before God and history. Do not tolerate any more deviations and delusions from your priests and hierarchs! Do not turn a “blind eye”—you are co-responsible! The Saints are warning you…

 

Greek source: https://www.askitikon.eu/agiologio/ofelima-psychis/71113/adelfi-keros-na-analavoume-oli-tis-efthynes-mas-apenanti-sto-theo-ke-tin-istoria/