Word for the New Year

Lest anyone think that any good that I might write in my blog is from myself, I want to warn you that what I say and write is what I have received, what has been handed over to me, from the Holy Scriptures, and from the hands of holy fathers. The following word from Elder Ephraim is a good example of this. As I read his word this morning, I thought within myself, “Thank God! At least I am saying what he says! Now, Lord, give me grace to put it into practice!
‘Lord, all that I long for is known to You. My sighing is not hidden from You.’ Help me, Lord!”

My child, always justify your brother and reproach yourself.
Never justify your deeds.
Learn to say, “Bless,” in other words, “Forgive me,”
and humility will dwell within you.

Have patience and overlook your brother’s faults,
remembering God’s forbearance towards your own faults.

Love as Jesus loves you and as you want others to love you.
Hold onto silence, constant prayer and self-reproach,
and then you will see how much mourning and tears
and joy you will feel.
But if you fail to hold onto them,
in other words, if you neglect to apply them,
then coldness and dryness will replace the above graces.

Love the brethren.
Your love will show when, despite all your brother’s weaknesses,
you count them as nothing and love him.
Love will keep you from all sins.
Think of nothing but your own sinfulness.
Reproach yourself constantly—this is the best path.

Great is our honor—though unworthy—to have been called by God
to serve in the work of saving souls as His tools,
bearing in mind that if others (Apostles, etc.)
had not sacrificed their souls for our sake,
we would not be children of God and heirs of heavenly blessings.
Therefore, let us do whatever we can;
the work will be completed by Him who has the power to perfect it.

Think about how the first Christians struggled
during the times of the catacombs;
with what self-sacrifice,
with what love they sacrificed things dear to them
when Christian duty called.
And in the end, their sacrifices brought them eternal glory.

Oh, we are unworthy and, unfortunately, we lose everything
because of our lack of faith,
and I am the first amongst those of little faith.
But we hope that the Lord’s mercy will strengthen us,
so that we, too, may humbly bear a small cross for our solace.

Elder Ephraim of the Holy Mountain (Athos)

“Remember who your teachers were…”
2 Timothy 3:14