The Doors of Scripture

“Let the teachings of the Holy Spirit be always with you; and use the virtues as your hands to knock at the doors of Scripture.”

- Evagrios the Solitary

Material Objects

"The material objects to which we attach ourselves in our hearts, which we passionately desire or grudge others, kill the soul by withdrawing it from God, the Source of life. The heart ought to be always in God, Who is the inexhaustible Source of spiritual and material life..."

- Saint John of Kronstadt

Ignorance at Death

“Finally, we should always bear in mind our ignorance of the time of our death, keeping ourselves from anger and recognizing that neither self-restraint nor the renunciation of all material things, nor fasting and vigils, are of any benefit if we are found guilty at the last judgment because we are the slaves of anger and hatred.”

- Saint John Cassian

The Goal of the Spiritual Path

“The goal of all who pursue the spiritual path is to do the will of Christ, their God, to be reconciled with the Father through communion in the Spirit, and so to achieve their salvation. For only in this way is the soul's salvation attained. And if it is not attained, our labor is fatuous and our work vain. Every path of life is pointless that does not lead the person pursuing it to this consummation.”

- Saint Symeon the New Theologian

Reference: Philokalia

The Transitoriness of the World

“With our own eyes we are convinced of the transitoriness of the world: everything in the world moves and revolves, and all the elements are in motion, the seasons of the year change - while with men, some are born and some die, some marry, others lose their wives, some build houses, while others are deprived of their dwellings; some towns extend while others are destroyed. Everything on earth passes away and this shows that the earth itself shall some day also pass away.”

- Saint John of Kronstadt

Exercising the Patience

“[A]ccept with courage any calamity that comes from without, since it provides an opportunity for exercising the patience that leads to salvation, the patience that bestows an abiding-place and repose in heaven.”

- Theoliptos

Reference: Philokalia

Enduring

“He that endureth to the end shall be saved. And do we have anything to endure? In this nobody is lacking. Everyone’s arena of endurance is vast; therefore our salvation is at hand. Endure everything to the end and you will be saved. However, you must endure skillfully; otherwise you may not gain anything by your endurance. First of all, keep the holy faith and lead an irreproachable life according to faith; immediately cleanse every sin that occurs with repentance. Secondly, accept everything that you must endure as from the hands of God, remembering firmly that nothing happens without God’s will. Thirdly, give thanks sincerely to God for everything, believing that everything which proceeds from the Lord is sent by Him unto the good of our souls—thank Him for sorrows, and for consolations. Fourth, love sorrow for its great saving worth and cultivate your thirst for it, like a drink which although bitter, is healing. Fifth, keep in your thoughts that when a misfortune has come, you cannot throw it off like tight clothes; you must bear it. Whether in a Christian way, or in a non-Christian way, you must bear it nonetheless; so it is better to bear it in a Christian way. Complaining will not rescue you from misfortune, but only make it heavier; whereas humble submission to God’s Providence and good humour relieve the burden of misfortunes. Sixth, realize that you deserve even a greater misfortune—realize that if the Lord wanted to deal with you as you rightly deserve, would such a small misfortune really be enough? Seventh, most of all, pray, and the merciful Lord will give you strength of spirit. With such strength, others will marvel at your misfortunes which seem like nothing to you.”

- Saint Theophan the Recluse

Reference: http://days.pravoslavie.ru/en/Days/20120607.htm