Βe careful. Τhe Lord does not say to renounce this and that, but your own ego. Ego is what does evil. They come, let’s say, situations in the way that you were a little hurt, a little wronged, they just did not come as you expected. It’s a good opportunity to say. “Better that way, so that my ego stays hungry and slowly dies.” This is exactly what the Lord says, to renounce yourself. However, you do not do that. You complain and make as much “noise” as you possibly can. What kind of Christian life is that? We do not want to understand what Christ said: “Whoever wants to follow me, renounce yourself and bear your cross (Matthew 16:24)”. And this cross is not just the problems you have. The cross is to renounce yourself, to renounce your ego.
Elder Symeon Kragiopoulos (1926 – 2015)
Translated by Dr. Nick Stergiou
