| | St. Isaac of SyriaAs for me
I say that those who are tormented in hell are tormented by the
invasion of love. What is there more bitter and violent than the pains
of love? Those who feel they have sinned against love bear in
themselves a damnation much heavier than the most dreaded punishments.
The suffering with which sinning against love afflicts the heart is
more keenly felt than any other torment. It is absurd to assume that
the sinners in hell are deprived of God’s love. Love is offered
impartially. But by its very power it acts in two ways. It torments
sinners, as happens here on earth when we are tormented by the presence
of a friend to whom we have been unfaithful. And it gives joy to those
who have been faithful.
That is what the torment of hell is in
my opinion: remorse. But love inebriates the souls of the sons and
daughters of heaven by its delectability.
God’s recompense to sinners is that, instead of a just recompense, God rewards them with resurrection.
Let yourself be persecuted, but do not persecute others.
Be crucified, but do not crucify others.
Be slandered, but do not slander others.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep: such is the sign of purity.
Suffer with the sick.
Be afflicted with sinners.
Exult with those who repent.
Be the friend of all, but in your spirit remain alone.
Be a partaker of the sufferings of all, but keep your body distant from all.
Rebuke no one, revile no one, not even those who live very wickedly.
Spread your cloak over those who fall into sin, each and every one, and shield them.
And if you cannot take the fault on yourself and accept punishment in their place, do not destroy their character.
What
is a merciful heart? It is a heart on fire for the whole of creation,
for humanity, for the birds, for the animals, for demons, and for all
that exists. By the recollection of them the eyes of a merciful person
pour forth tears in abundance. By the strong and vehement mercy that
grips such a person’s heart, and by such great compassion, the heart is
humbled and one cannot bear to hear or to see any injury or slight
sorrow in any in creation. For this reason, such a person offers up
tearful prayer continually even for irrational beasts, for the enemies
of the truth, and for those who harm her or him, that they be protected
and receive mercy. And in like manner such a person prays for the
family of reptiles because of the great compassion that burns without
measure in a heart that is in the likeness of God. |
| | Posted 4/3/2007 7:34 PM - 40 views - 4 comments
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