SO GOOD QUOTES

Author: SO GOOD QUOTES

  • A spiritual person, on whose heart peace reigns, never fears death.

    Leading a righteous life removes fear of death from one’s heart. Being ready with such righteousness, a person would rather desire death because it will bring him to the communion of Christ, of angels and of saints.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • Some may feel afraid of death, or of a disease leading to it.

    So, when such a person is attacked by a disease, he will be dispirited and will imagine the utmost danger from that disease.

    Some physicians fall in this fear! Also some people fear infection and take unusual means for protection!

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • Others fear failure:

    Whenever such a person thinks of doing some business, he fears it may fail or face hindrances, plotting of competitors, or dishonesty of partners. If he is poor he fears becoming needy, and if rich fears robbery, and in all cases he keeps afraid.

    Some people fear dangers.

    If such a person takes an aeroplane he fears some calamity would happen, and he remembers such things published in newspapers. In any means of transportation he is in fear of accidents. All dark memories come to his mind in this respect and this makes him always afraid.

    There is a type of people who fear their own weakness.

    Such person fears his inability, his forgetfulness, his weakness before the power of his competitors or adversaries, and his inability to withstand. This makes him lose his self-confidence, the spirit of bravery, and the power to take an initiative. The image of inability and failure is always before his eyes. He even fears sin and feels unable to resist it.

    Such fear causes a person confusion, disturbance and trouble, and may paralyze his ability to work.

    It will have a bad effect on his soul and nerves. Fear will appear on his features, on his looks, on his voice and on his movements. He will tremble, become pale, and his heart beats increase. Everybody will see his fear which appears in his behavior, his hesitation, his inability to take decisions, and his seeking protection.

    Fear may lead some to dejection. They put before them the words, “anyone who finds me will kill me.” (Gen 4: 4). A spiritual person, on the other hand, does not fear, but peace reigns over his heart, giving him confidence.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • He was afraid, like children, of a whim, of something
    that has no existence.

    The child’s mind invents fearful notions, and he becomes afraid of things like darkness, imagining things hidden in it. He may also fear a robber that does not exist in fact, or demons where is none actually. They are whims invented by his frightened heart. The child sometimes fears being alone with no-one protecting him from an unknown danger, so he cries and weeps with no reason except fear.

    Such fears may continue with some even when they
    grow up.

    We find, therefore, some students fear exams and imagine the exams will be difficult, or at least the correction will be hard. Others fear an interview for a job, thinking they would fail!

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • One may feel afraid from some people though they do not think of doing him any harm at all.

    King Saul, for instance, used to be afraid of David, and pursued him everywhere to kill him, though David never thought of doing him harm. Even when Saul was in his hand, and David had the opportunity to kill him, and his followers advised him to do so, nevertheless David said, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”.

    ‘And David rebuked his servants and did not allow them to rise against Saul (1 Sam 24: 6, 7). And see what David said to the king, “After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?” These words made Saul lift up his voice and weep and say to David, “You are more righteous than I.” (1 Sam 24: 14, 16).

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • So many are the causes of fear, and they all come out of
    one’s own heart.

    Some fear slander from others, fear their attacks and plotting; and some fear their envy. One who believes in the envious eye and its harm will keep afraid. The cause of his fear is not the power of the envious eye, but the weakness of his heart that believes in that.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • A frightened person focuses on the cause of fear, not on God who delivers him from it.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • Did someone slander you? Leave it to Me; be attached to Me so that you can hide from the “contradiction of the nations.” I will make your righteousness shine like light and your life like midday noon.

    This was from Me.
    St. Seraphim of Viritsa

  • Leave all human injustices to the Lord, for God is the Judge, but as to yourself, be diligent in loving everybody with a pure heart.

    —St. John of Kronstadt

  • WHEN SOMEONE INJURES US IN WHATEVER WAY, WHETHER WITH SLANDERS OR WITH INSULTS, WE SHOULD THINK OF HIM AS OUR BROTHER WHO HAS BEEN TAKEN HOLD OF BY THE ENEMY. WE HAS FALLEN VICTIM TO THE ENEMY. ACCORDINGLY WE NEED TO HAVE COMPASSION FOR HIM AND ENTREAT GOD TO HAVE MERCY BOTH ON US AND ON HIM, AND GOD WILL HELP BOTH, IF, HOWEVER, WE ARE FILLED WITH ANGER AGAINST HIM, THEN THE ENEMY WILL JUMP FROM HIM TO US AND MAKE A MOCKERY OF US BOTH A PERSON WHO CONDEMNS OTHERS DOES NOT LOVE CHRIST. OUR EGOTISM IS AT FAULT.

    Elder Porphyrios
    Wounded by Love