“The most radical thing is to keep always the feeling of our own insufficiency in relation to God. Then we will enter a permanent state of tension between self-condemnation and the love of Christ, between repentance and hope in the mercy of God. On the one hand, we live in anguish at being so far from the God whom we love; on the other hand, this suffering and this love act like an inner fire, and push us with great force towards God. This tension has found its most acute expression in the word of Christ to Staretz Silouan: ‘Keep thy mind in hell, and despair not.’ This word sometimes provokes awe, fear, and even panic; but it should not crush us. It constitutes the fundamental principle of our life in Christ.”
Elder Sophrony Sakharov, Words of Life (published 2010), page 27
Truly, I cannot even imagine how to follow the quote at the end of the above passage, but I can sense the inner tension that occurs in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, between a practiced endeavor of loving God and neighbor, while staying humble. Faith is the belief in that which cannot be seen, what is beyond our worldly senses as, St. Issac the Syrian, relates in Homily 52, Understanding vs. Faith. (I have the entire text of this homily in two of my podcast. Use the search button to access them.)
With Faith combined with hope in Christ, we then strive to weave the garment of our soul with virtuous acts, fasting, alms giving, prayer and repentance, so that when we stand before, Christ, after our death in our wedding garment, it will be a pure, illumined, presentable garment for our participation in the wedding feast, (heaven and eternal life). One of my spiritual Fathers shared this with me. On to Pure Week and weaving a few more luminous threads into the garment of our soul.
In Christ,
Veronica Hughes
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Published by pearlofgreatpricebook
I am a native San Franciscan currently living in Sacramento, CA. Due to health issues in my early 20s, I began a spiritual journey in quest of inner peace and healing. I felt my soul and body were connected and if my soul could heal, perhaps so could my body.
I was a lapsed Catholic who studied Eastern religions. I had a guru and Tibetan lama, practiced prayer and fasting, and meditation techniques. I studied metaphysics, channeling and the life of the soul, which I later taught to others.
Yet, after twenty-five years of seeking within the New Age and Eastern religions, I was left depressed and spiritually unfulfilled. Thanks to my late husband and the grace of God, my spiritual journey ultimately allowed me to convert to back to Christianity, find God and open my heart newly to Jesus Christ through the study of ancient Christianity in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
I am the author of two published books, The Pearl of Great Price and In Christ I am a New Creation, Part I. I am currently working on my third book, A Leap of Faith, and a book about my saint, St. Veronica, my other guardian angel. St. Veronica is the woman with the issue of blood, whom the Lord healed (Matt. 9:20). In 2018, I will be publishing a book about St. Veronica including an Orthodox liturgical service to her.
I am passionate about:
Eastern Orthodox Christianity (Orthodoxy) since my Christian conversion in 1996.
My relationship with Jesus Christ
Striving to live in the world, but not be of the world
Talking about spiritual warfare - there is an unseen battle being fought for the salvation of
our souls
Helping others come to peace with the Church and God
Connecting with other Orthodox Christians about their spiritual experiences
Living a full life while dealing with chronic health issues
My dogs and gardening
My saint, St. Veronica
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