Keep in mind the existence of your ego: it causes every evil. Humble yourself;
strangle your ego, which comes like a venomous serpent to poison your soul. Do not
allow any proud thoughts to remain within you; only thus will you foil every activity of
Satan.
The holy Triodion† begins with the beautiful example of the Publican and the
Pharisee to instruct us that through a humble mind anyone can acquire justification,
that is, the forgiveness of his sins from God. Likewise this parable also reveals the
great evil—pride—which acts as a mighty obstacle for the forgiveness of sins, in spite
of practicing all the other virtues and especially almsgiving.
From this and from many other Scriptural truths, we are taught that without humility
and true repentance a person cannot be saved, even if he prospers in the other
virtues.
—-
† The Lenten Triodion is a Church Services Book read during the period of fasting
and repentance preceding Pascha. It begins with reflections on the parable of the
publican and the pharisee.
paragraphs: 14, 16, 17, 18 from pages 223-225
From the book
Councels from the Holy mountain
Selected from the letters and homilies of Elder Efraim of Arizona
Selection of passages from the book by Silviu Podariu
