Sayings of the Holy Fathers:
Question: What does this mean: “Thy rod and Thy staff, they have comforted me” (Psalm 23:4)?
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Sometimes afflictions are sent to a person even though he is innocent, so that he would suffer for others, as did Christ. The Saviour Himself first suffered for people. His Apostles suffered for the Church and for people. Perfect love means suffering for your neighbor.
St. Ambrose of Optina
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There is a sin which is always 'unto death' [1 Jn 5:16]; the sin which we have not repented. Even a saint's prayer's will not be heard for the unrepented sin. The person who repents correctly does not imagine that his sins are cancelled through his own effort; but knows that through this effort he makes peace with God.
St. Mark the Ascetic
Answer: The rod is the Cross, afflictions and the staff is the Jesus Prayer. The rod is the active part of virtue, and the staff is the noetic part
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Sometimes afflictions are sent to a person even though he is innocent, so that he would suffer for others, as did Christ. The Saviour Himself first suffered for people. His Apostles suffered for the Church and for people. Perfect love means suffering for your neighbor.
St. Ambrose of Optina
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There is a sin which is always 'unto death' [1 Jn 5:16]; the sin which we have not repented. Even a saint's prayer's will not be heard for the unrepented sin. The person who repents correctly does not imagine that his sins are cancelled through his own effort; but knows that through this effort he makes peace with God.
St. Mark the Ascetic
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