Unless the grace of God penetrates the inner be ing of man to reform him, more often than not a feeling of superiority over others is unconsciously created within him not consciously. And this is cer tainly an unconscious pharisaism.
All the saints –firstly the Martyrs and then the Righteous– surrendered to the grace of God. Wheth er in short term or in the long run, this was not an easy road for any of them. With few exceptions, the burdens, the yoke, this cross fell for years upon them. For years on end, each one of them carried out his obedience. They worked with patience. They fought patiently, not simply watching the difficul ties ahead of them and pulling through all those that fell upon them, but perceiving everything in God’s providence and love.
Archimandrite Symeon Kragiopoulos (†)
From the book: Archimandrite Symeon Kragiopoulos, “SPIRITUAL MESSAGES” Panorama Thessaloniki, 2017
The grace of God
