Spiritual Insight #5 — St. Paisios of Mt. Athos (23 Insights in 23 Days)
ELDER, sacrifice gives us joy.
— Oh, what joy it brings! Nowadays people don’t savour this joy of sacrifice, that this is why they are tormented. They have no ideals in them; they are too bored to live. A generous heart and self-denial are what drive us. Without this force, we are tormented. In the old days, in the villages, some people would go out at night unseen in order to quietly open up a pathway for others, that they would bless and forgive them when they died. Now one seldom encounters this spirit of sacrifice.
~Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
Elder Paisios speaks a great deal about joy, particularly when it comes to self-denial… Sacrifice is the means to true joy. We cannot realize how such a sacrificial and generous heart can not only benefit others, but bring upon real joy to our souls. The moment we forget ourselves and our own desires, our own passions and selfish endeavors, for others and for God, this the moment we truly benefit ourselves. Can we imagine sacrificing a beautiful day outside in order to help someone else? Can we imagine giving up our own goal to do good for God, or our fellow neighbor? Perhaps there is something you truly want to spend your effort and time doing, but you see your friend or spouse needing or wanting something else from you… Would it not be better to give up that what you have to be there and help them…?
Paisios is right when says we are tormented without self-denial, or a sacrificial spirit, for it is our own ego and desires that drive us into madness… You may notice it in the spirit of the air. Imagine a Friday evening or Saturday morning when its sunny after days of storms and rain… Can you not remember how many people you see driving so fast and aggressive on the roads? They are all dying to get to where they need to be to satisfy their own desires… People may cut in front of others or even honk their horns at slow drivers… If you look into their faces, you see that their eyes are like spoiled fish, distant and cold, empty or angry… There is no joy in them. The light has gone out and turned into a hot pan of fury, or a cold vacant tomb (depending the spirit of the soul that day). There is no light because they have put themselves before others. They do not realize the miniature hell they have set before hearts and minds. They not only torment themselves, but give free reign to demons torment them, because their heart is not set on others, or on God, or anything good really…
That is why sacrifice is good for the soul, and also good for others. Would we not want to make our Father smile? Let us follow the example of Christ, for He sacrifice all to glorify God, and lay down His life for everyone.
Join me in prayer…
Father, teach me Your ways. Provide me wisdom, to sacrifice myself by putting aside my ego and desires to abide by Your words. Show me your ways, in gaining a sacrificial spirit to benefit You and Your Kingdom by loving others, and loving You, God. Lord, help us to experience real joy by giving up what we have, so we are not tormented by our selfish desires and passions. Instead, may we sacrifice all to follow you, Jesus. Amen.
