Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee 2017

A man begins to go astray when he withdraws from humility. He who has abandoned God does the evil spirit oppress, as he did Saul.
The enemy’s snares are smeared with honey. He who is attracted by the sweetness of honey becomes caught in the snares and filled with all manner of woe. Love humility and you will never fall into the devils snare, for, soaring on humility’s swift wings you will always remain above the enemy’s snares.
Arrogance is like a very tall but rotten tree. All of its branches are brittle, and if someone climbs upon it, he immediately falls from the height he has attained.
Blessed is he who is enriched with good hope and illuminated with good thoughts: his glory is great and everlasting.
Let us strive for sober attention, that we might recognize our sins and be constantly humbled, that we might not nurture, like the serpent, a high opinion of ourselves or wickedness. Let us love sobriety, that we might have a pure heart and that we might preserve the temple entrusted to us undefiled by sinful corruption.
Wondrous is prayer accompanied by sighs and tears, especially if the tears arc shed in secret. He who prays in his mind with faith beholds the Lord before himself. For in Him do we live, move, and exist. If your heart has been hardened, weep before the Lord, that He might shine upon you the illumination of knowledge and grant that with an ardent heart you might he carried up to Him.
St. Ephrem the Syrian

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