Tag: peace
Evil is due to man’s alienation from the deepest truth
The moral evil in the world is due to man’s alienation from the deepest truth, from the springs of spiritual life within himself, to his alienation from God. Those who realize this try desperately to persuade and enlighten their brothers. But we are in a radically different position from the first Christians, who revolutionized an… Read More ›
When We Follow Our Vocation
We know when we are following our vocation when our soul is set free from preoccupation with itself and is able to seek God and even to find Him, even though it may not appear to find Him. Gratitude and confidence and freedom from ourselves: these are signs that we have found our vocation and… Read More ›
Finding Peace
Abba Joseph asked Abba Nisteros, “What should I do about my tongue, for I cannot control it?” The old man said to him, “When you speak, do you find peace?” He replied, “No.” The old man said to him, “If you do not find peace, why do you speak? Be silent, and when a conversation… Read More ›
Love or Hate?
I have learned that an age in which politicians talk about peace is an age in which everybody expects war: the great men of the earth would not talk of peace so much if they did not secretly believe it possible, with one more war, to annihilate their enemies forever. Always, “after just one more… Read More ›
Peace Be With You
A commitment to peace, to being peaceful, to peacefulness draws from a very deep well. It is a source beyond the corruptions of either ambition or pride. It transcends addiction to either power or personality cults. Once peace comes to a person, the need for power simply disappears and goes to dust inside ourselves. We… Read More ›
Resent Somebody
The moment you start to resent a person you become their slave. They control your dreams, absorb your digestion, rob you of your peace of mind and good will, and take away the pleasure of your work. They ruin your spirituality and nullify your prayers. You cannot take a vacation without them going along! They… Read More ›
Detachment of the Heart and Peace
Very frequently … the Lord asks only an attitude of detachment at the level of the heart, a disposition to give Him everything. But he doesn’t necessarily ‘take’ everything. He leaves us in peaceful possession of many things when they are not bad in themselves and can serve His designs, knowing how to reassure us… Read More ›
Seek Peace within Yourself First
All men seek peace first of all with themselves. That is necessary, because we do not naturally find rest even in our own being. We have to learn to commune with ourselves before we can communicate with other men and with God. A man who is not at peace with himself necessarily projects his interior… Read More ›
The Secret of My Identity
The secret of my identity is hidden in the love and mercy of God. But whatever is in God is really identical with Him: for His infinite simplicity admits no division and no distinction. Therefore I cannot hope to find myself anywhere except in Him. Ultimately the only way that I can be myself is… Read More ›
Moderating the Passions
Abba Nilus said, ‘The person who loves contemplative quiet remains invulnerable to the enemy’s arrows, but the person who mixes with crowds of people continuously receives blows. When the irascible part of the soul is at peace it becomes gentle, and when desire has been stilled by contemplative quiet it is inclined to be more… Read More ›