is available from Amazon
Reflection for April 8
"There is heroism above heroism and asceticism above asceticism.
St. Epiphanius of Cyprus invited Hilarion the Great to dinner and
in order to show the greatest hospitality to his distinguished guest,
placed fried chicken on the table and offered it to him.
Hilarion said to him: "Forgive me, but ever since I was tonsured
a monk, I have eaten nothing butchered." To that Epiphanius
replied: "And I, ever since I was tonsured a monk, have never
laid down in bed until I first forgave my enemy."
Amazed, Hilarion said: "Your virtue is greater than mine, Oh holy
master!" This is a great lesson for all of us. Fasting is an
admirable thing but it is more admirable to forgive
insults.
Through fasting, man is preparing for charity but, by forgiving
insults, man shows charity. Fasting precedes forgiveness but
fasting alone, does not save without forgiveness." Source
Prologue of Ohrid by St Nikolai Velimirovich p.350, Sebastian
Press 2008
Press 2008
No comments:
Post a Comment