On Patience
March 14
(A Word of our Venerable Father Palladios on the Spiritual Struggle.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
March 14
(A Word of our Venerable Father Palladios on the Spiritual Struggle.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
The Lord says: “In your patience possess your souls” (Luke 21:19), and in another place: “He who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 10:22). From these words of the Savior it is revealed that the path to heaven is a sorrowful path and must be passed with patience. But here is the question: will there be a reward for patience? Is there any meaning in enduring? And what is the purpose of enduring to the end?
Our Venerable Father Palladios of Galatia once instructed the brethren who had gathered to him as follows:
“Let us struggle so that we may enjoy great blessings unto the ages. Look at the martyrs, look at the ascetics, how they endured to the end and how courageously they struggled, and how for this they were crowned by the Lord. How can one not always marvel at their constant patience? It seems to have been beyond human strength! Some had their eyes gouged out, others had their hands and feet cut off; others were burned by fire; some were drowned in the seas; others received death in rivers; some were deprived of life as criminals; others were given to be torn apart by wild beasts. And all this they endured while glorifying God. And the more the devil armed himself against them, the more they by their courage put him to shame. And their hope — that God would reward them for their sufferings — was not in vain. Their sufferings were not forgotten by God, but were praised in Heaven and glorified on earth. And the Source of miracles, God, gave them authority to open the eyes of the blind, to cleanse lepers, to cast out demons, and to heal diseases. He opened to them the heavenly doors and led them into eternal life and into the heavenly Jerusalem, where there is eternal rejoicing.”
Thus there is a reward for patience; there is meaning in enduring for the Lord’s sake; and there is a purpose in enduring to the end, because those who sow with tears will reap with joy.
What will they reap?
For death they will reap eternal life; for sorrows, unending joy; for the darkness of prison, an ineffable light in the never-setting day of the Kingdom of Christ; for sufferings they will receive crowns; for bonds, eternal freedom.
Concerning these patient ones the Seer speaks in the Book of Revelation:
“And I saw a great multitude which no one could number, of all tribes and peoples… clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands… And I asked: 'Who are these?' And the answer was: 'These are they who came out of the great tribulation; they washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple, and He who sits on the throne will dwell among them… and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes'” (Rev. 7:9–17).
Such, then, is the reward for patience!
Therefore, brethren, let us endure everything and endure certainly to the end; for it is said not that he who endures somewhat will be saved, but he who endures to the end — only he will be saved. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
