Church Fathers V3 - Fr George Grube - Saint Mina Coptic Orthodox ...

+ Like a thunderclap from the sky, so was the impression made upon the
disciples by the revelation of the Lord regarding the sufferings which awaited
Him. Earlier, He had told them that His path was also their path. “You will be
hated for my name’s sake.”, “The servant is not greater than his master.”, “He
who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” In the lives
of Christ’s true disciples there is a time of suffering, the Passion, when each of
us must enter his own Jerusalem, ascend his own Gologtha and the fateful
Cross, and take- up the fateful cup-even unto death.
- Archbishop John of Riga
+ Show in your ascetic exercise that your heart is strong. Cleanse your vessel,
that you may receive grace more abundantly.
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem
+ All the sons of this world have their Golgotha. Unforeseen and uninvited,
suffering enters one’s house. You must suffer whether you like it or not. This is
the “bitter m ust.
- Archbishop John of Riga
+ Great endeavors and difficult struggles await those who are converted, but
afterwards there is inexpressible joy. If you want to light a fire, you are annoyed
first by smoke, and your eyes water. But in the end you achieve your goal. Now
it is written, “Our God is a consuming fire.” So we must light the Divine fire in us
with both tears and struggle.
- Amma Syncletica
+ The misfortune of evils does not destroy you but instructs you. The
suffering associated with adversity does not degrade you but exalts you.
Human tribulation teaches you but it does not destroy you.
- St. Isidore of Seville
+ Let us strive to enter the Kingdom by the narrow gate. Just as the trees, if
they had not stood before the winter’s storms cannot bear fruit, so it is with us.
This present age is a storm, and it is only through many trials and temptations
that we can obtain an inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven.
-Amma Theodora
+ Unfurl your sails, attach the Cross as a symbol on your prow. The calm that
you speak of, is itself a tempest.
- St. Jerome
+ The Cross of suffering frightened even Jesus. In His soul is heard the voice
of St. Peter; “Be merciful to yourself, do not let this happen, defend yourself.”
And this is not surprising, for after all, the Great Sufferer Himself prayed, “If it
be possible, take this cup from me” (St. Mark 14:36). This is an altogether
necessary “must” and we are powerless to stand against it.
- Archbishop John of Riga
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