Part 1 Chapter 2: The Cross as the True Path to Heaven

尼古拉前执事 · Wed 23 February 2005 11:39 pm

Part 1 Chapter 2: The Cross as the True Path to Heaven, Which All Should Travel

Tessa · Post by **Tessa** » Wed 16 March 2005 1:01 pm

Ok I know it's a book and all but I get thrown off track when the angel appears to her. It brings to mind the story of a monk (I think I read this or someone told me) who was visited by what he thought was an angel. When he told his spriritual Father about it, he was commanded to just lay in bed and not pay attention to the being. It turned out not to be an angel but a demon. I am sure that I am not retelling that exactly right but the point is, I thought so anyways, is that our pride makes us think that we would be worthy to see angels, when really few of us are. That's the only problem I have had so far with this book.

In Christ
Tessa

Reader Benjamin · Post by **Reader Benjamin** » Wed 16 March 2005 8:58 pm

This is an interesting start, telling us that we must take up our cross and follow Jesus in order to be saved. And indeed we can not bear our cross without God's Grace and help.

TomS · Post by **TomS** » Thu 17 March 2005 4:50 pm

Page 15 -

"Angel: ... Do you not yet know that in this tear-stained world there is no time for pleasure and joy, but only toil and sorrow?"

Well, you can certainly tell that this was written by a Russian Orthodox! Life sucks. Kill me!

We are supposed to be joyous in Christ.

Schultz · Post by **Schultz** » Fri 18 March 2005 9:57 am

TomS wrote:
Page 15 -

"Angel: ... Do you not yet know that in this tear-stained world there is no time for pleasure and joy, but only toil and sorrow?"

Well, you can certainly tell that this was written by a Russian Orthodox! Life sucks. Kill me!

We are supposed to be joyous in Christ.

I think what the Angel was getting at was the old adage, "You can't take it with you..." and if you focus on that, the things of "this tear-stained world", then you're bound to be incredibly disappointed. As Reader Benjamin pointed out, however, if all you crave is God, then you will find pleasure and joy, because you won't be part of this world, but a part of the Kingdom of God. And that, my friend, is being joyous in Christ.

Of course, very few, if any, totally crave God while in this world. I'm sure many many saints of the Church were incredibly close and possibly a few even went all the way. It's not for me to comment more than that, though. But once we are free from the physical aspects of this existence, we can see more clearly how we failed to be joyous in Christ and, I imagine, that would be quite sorrowful for us, knowing that we can't go back. I've always been taught that we'll truly have repentance and true sorrow only after we die and are able to see ourselves with God's eyes, so to speak (I don't mean literally).