Make account that thou hast done nothing, and then thou hast done all. For if, being sinners, when we account ourselves to be what we are, we become righteous, as indeed the Publican did; how much more, when being righteous we account ourselves to be sinners.
Interpretation
Recognizing our flaws can lead to greater humility and righteousness.
This quote by Saint John Chrysostom emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and humility in the pursuit of righteousness. By acknowledging our shortcomings as sinners, we can attain a deeper understanding of our moral condition, similar to how the Publican in the Bible became righteous by admitting his status. It suggests that true righteousness arises not from pride or self-deception, but from an honest appraisal of oneself, fostering genuine growth and moral integrity.
In practice
This quote could be shared in a sermon to illustrate the importance of humility in spiritual growth.
No one has ever been accused for not providing ornaments, but for those who neglect their neighbour a hell awaits with an inextinguishable fire and torment in the company of the demons. Do not, therefore, adorn the church and ignore your afflicted brother, for he is the most precious temple of all.
It is simply impossible to lead, without the aid of prayer, a virtuous life.
When we teach our children to be good, to be gentle, to be forgiving (all these are attributes of God), to be generous, to love their follow men, to regard this present age as nothing, we instill virtue in their souls, and reveal the image of God within them.
Abba Moses asked Abba Sylvanus, Can a person lay a new foundation every day? The old man replied, If you work hard, you can lay a new foundation every moment. Abba Pimen said, To throw yourself before God, not to measure your progress, to leave behind all self-will; these are the instruments for the work of the soul. The desire to rule is the mother of heresies.
I hear no one boast, that he hath a knowledge of the Scriptures, but that he owneth a Bible written in golden characters. And tell me then, what profiteth this? The Holy Scriptures were not given to us that we should enclose them in books, but that we should engrave them upon our hearts.
Prayer should be the means by which I, at all times, receive all that I need, and, for this reason, be my daily refuge, my daily consolation, my daily joy, my source of rich and inexhaustible joy in life.
Look, you know i don't wanna come on ungrateful, but that warren report, you know as well as me, just didn't make it. You know, like they might as well have asked some banana salesman from des moines, who was up in toronto on the big day, if he saw anyone around looking suspicious/.
I will never understand people who think that the way to show their righteous opposition to sexual freedom is to write letters full of filthy words.
It is the nature of all greatness not to be exact.
They had both noticed that a life of dissipation sometimes gave to a face the look of gaunt suffering spirituality that a life of asceticism was supposed to give and quite often did not.
I am not among those who fear the people. They, and not the rich, are our dependence for continued freedom.
Coffee makes us severe, and grave and philosophical.
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