Journey Back to Eden.pdf - St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Chicago

discipline, groan because of their awareness of their failure torespond wholeheartedly to your word and to your grace.They weep while they pray, sorry for their smallness andfalsehood of heart, as compared to the greatness and truth ofyour own. Thank you for the sobering challenge they are tome. Thank you for the fundamental truth in which they liveand which they are re-teaching me. For I can see that theirsense of guilt is not a weakness of character in them, or afearfulness of life. I rejoice to see that they are not craven orlacking in self-respect. Rather, they are always before you, andthe impulse of their soul is that humility which expands love,gratitude, admiration, and zeal. They are alive more than Iam because they are restless to be alive fully to you. Teach me,then, their littleness of spirit whereby they have become sogreat in love and so strong in your peace!The desert monk prays again:A TIME OF NEW BEGINNINGS 31“When I consider the multitude of my wicked works, remembrancesof that terrible judgment comes to my heart.Trembling takes hold of me, and I take refuge in Thee, OGod, the lover of mankind. Turn not away Thy Face fromme Who alone art without sin. Grant my wretched soul agodly fear before the consummation, and save me!”