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Your absolute kindness and humility echo in all of your videos. I look forward to them so much. I'm living through a horrible storm brother. Please pray for me. I had a psychotic breakdown four years ago. I lost my career, my marriage, my family. I am naked before Christ and before the Father. I'm in the wilderness brother.
Im praying for you, friend. Your immense strength to endure alongside Christ gives me strength, my friend. I wish I had anything beneficial to say to you, but all i can give you is a passage from St. Sophrony which is far more encouraging than anything I can hope to say: "Prayer is infinite creation, far superior to any form of art or science. Through prayer we enter into communion with Him that was before all worlds. Or, to put it in another way, the life of the Self-existing God flows into us through the channel of prayer. Prayer is an act of supreme wisdom, of all-surpassing beauty and virtue. Prayer is delight for the spirit. But the circumstances accompanying this creative work are complex. Time after time we experience an eager upsurge towards God, followed repeatedly by a falling away from His Light. Time and again we are conscious of the mind’s inability to rise to Him. There are moments when we feel ourselves on the verge of madness. Pain forces the cry, “Thou didst give me Thy precept of love, which I accept with all my being, but there is no strength in me for this love. Thou Who art love, come and abide in me, and perform in me all that Thou hast enjoined, for Thy commandment exceeds my powers. My mind is too frail to comprehend Thee. My spirit cannot see into the mysteries of Thy life. I desire to do Thy will in all things but my days go by in perpetual conflict. I am tortured by the feat of losing Thee because of the evil thoughts in my heart; and this feat crucifies me. I sink. Lord, save me, as Thou didst save Peter who dared to walk on the water, to go to Thee.” At times, prayer seems over-slow in bringing results, and life is so short. Instinctively we cry, “Make haste unto me.” But He does not always respond at once. Like fruit on a tree, our soul is left to scorch in the sun, to endure the cold wind, the scorching wind, to die of thirst or be drowned in the rain. But if we do not let go of the hem of His garment, all will end well. It is vital to continue in prayer for as long as we can, so that His invisible strength may penetrate and enable us to resist every destructive influence. And with the increase of this strength in us comes the joy of hope in final victory. Prayer assuredly revives in us the divine breath which God breathed into Adam’s nostrils and by virtue of which Adam “became a living soul.”2 Our spirit, regenerated by prayer, begins to marvel at the sublime mystery of being. The mind is filled with wonder. “Being, how is this possible?” And we echo the Psalmist’s praise of the wondrous works of the Lord. We apprehend the meaning of Christ’s words, “I am come that [men] might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” “More abundantly”-this is indeed so. But again and again I find myself reflecting that life is full of paradox, like all the Gospel teaching. “I am come to send fire upon the earth; and how I wish that it were already kindled!” All we sons of Adam must go through this heavenly flame that consumes our deathly passions. Otherwise we shall not see the fire transformed into the light of new life, for its is not light that comes first, and then fire: in our fallen state burning must precede enlightenment. Let us, therefore, bless the Lord for the consuming action of His love. We do not know altogether but we do at least know “in part” that there is no other way for us mortals to become “children of the resurrection,” children of God, to reign together with Christ, the only-begotten son of God. However painful this re-creating may be, however it may distress and lacerate-the process, agonizing as it is, in the end will be a blessed one. True prayer uniting us with the Most-High is nothing other than light and strength coming down to us from heaven. In its essence it transcends our plane of existence. . . . True prayer to the true God is contact with the Divine Spirit which prays in us. The Spirit gives us to know God. The Spirit draws our spirit to contemplation of eternity. Like grace coming down from on High the act of prayer is too much for our earthly nature and so our mortal body, incapable of rising into the spiritual realm, resists. The intellect resists because it is incapable of containing infinity, is shaken by doubts and rejects everything that exceeds its understanding. The social environment in which I live is antagonistic to prayer -it has organized life with other aims diametrically opposed to prayer. Hostile spirits cannot endure prayer. But prayer alone can restore the created world from its fall, overcoming its stagnation and inertia, by means of a mighty effort of our spirit to follow Christ’s commandments. The struggle for prayer is not an easy one. The spirit fluctuates-sometimes prayer flows in us like a mighty river, sometimes the heart dries up. But every reduction in our prayer-strength must be as brief as possible. Not infrequently, to pray means telling God of our disastrous state: of our weakness and despondency, our doubts and fears, the melancholy, the despair-in brief, everything connected with our condition. To pour it all out, not seeking to express it elegantly or even in logical sequence. Often this method of approach to God turns out to be the beginning of prayer as communion."
I know how damaging that can be to one's live and one's self, dear brother. Take courage from the fact that God has seen you through it - there is a new purpose for your life, a new beginning. Pray that you may embrace this new life and learn to look forward. It takes humility and acceptance that the past is no longer available to us; but the present and the future are still within your grasp. Be blessed, be strong and have faith in Christ's Love for you. If He got you out of that dark moment, He has a purpose for you.
@mullmonastery thank you my dear brother. I pray for you and your work. It is so crucial. God's blessings and mercy and grace be upon you always. I love you, brother. Thank you.
Stick it out. Been where you are. Keep praying. Hang on even if it's with your small finger being bumped along and dragging in the mud. At some point God will stand you up. All the promises in the Psalms. He lifts us up out of the miry clay. Truelly I've learned that our beautiful Father is still at work. His love is far greater than our misery . There is no depths that we can be in that God is not deeper still. We are overcomes because He overcame.
We will be praying for you brother. Our God is a great and awesome God and has seen me through many trials. Pray, fast and trust he will see you through this and bring you to much holiness.🙏☦️
Perfect message for me. I was at my breaking point this week and I stumbled but did not fall, praise God. I told God yesterday that I was so tired, too tired and couldn't go on with dealing with the situation. I told Him, I needed to rest for a few hours. I had the best sleep and wonderful dreams. Woke up and all was resolved , for this week. (my husband has been briefly laid off and we didn't know how the money was going to happen, but within hours we were covered) We will have to go through the same trust for next week. So thank you Father. I always find comfort in your messages. God Bless
Just tonight, I have been asking, "Why why why did I do this again?" Same sin, over and over...I think I've got it under control, and then boom. Just like that, I open my mouth and sin again. I realize it's happening and I don't stop...I feel so angry and frustrated with myself. The timing of this video could not have been more perfect. Thank-you so much Father, for encouraging me. God Bless You! Thank-you Jesus 🙏
You have no idea how I needed this video. I have literally fell into strongest dispondency in my life just this morning after doing the same sin. I couldnt realise what was happening with me. All 20 minutes it was like I had a personal dialogue with Fr. Seraphim. Truly God showed me this video in the right time.
Amen, amen, amen. This has been a critical lesson for me, one I have to keep relearning. I'm reminded of this quote from Elder Ephraim: “There was once a monk who happened to slip and sin by himself continually, yet he would always arise at once and do his prayer rule. The demon that kept throwing him into sin lost his patience seeing the courage and hopefulness of this brother. So he visibly appeared to him, and said to him with vexation: "Don't you fear God, you defiled wretch? You have just sinned, so with what face can you now stand before God? Aren't you afraid that God will burn you?" But since this brother had a valiant soul, he said to the demon: "This cell is a forge: you hit and get hit. As God is my witness, Who came to save the world, I will not stop fighting you, falling and getting up, beating and being beaten, until my final breath and let's see who will win: you or Christ!" When the demon heard this unexpected reply, he said: "I won't fight you any more, because if I do, I'll make you win crowns." Thenceforth, this brother was delivered from the warfare, and he sat in his cell weeping for his sins.”
Thank you very much for your videos Father. It gives us strength. May God give you strength and inspiration to continue giving us those videos. Hope I will meet you one day!
You touch on unique subjects. I really appreciate you and your ability to express God's word. God has blessed you with a very useful gift, and I am thankful to Him for your gift. God bless your journey.
I am in tears realising the distance I put between God and me, it has become an encrusted wound after repeated falls and failures in life. A blindspot that no amount of doing and efforting could ever heal. It was only by seeing this powerful sermon and video that the veil is being lifted and the blindness is being revealed as to how distant and despondent I have become in the hell of despair. There was no free will before because the conditioning was too deep for me to really know that there is another way, and the meaning of crucifying my own self will through seeing the utterly demoralising and abject failure of its ways. I only came to see a spark of that free will by seeing this message, otherwise it may not have arrived as the distance was reaching the point of no return. So now, I realise the urgent need for humility and repentance, and more importantly, through seeing this distance, that I recognise the failure of my ways and the desperate need to let God manage my life and to turn my will and my life over to Him, with tears from the heart that saves.
Dear brother, your words touched my heart so deeply, I can't stop crying... please pray for me, I'm 50 years old and have 5 children and my life turned to be a hell because of my troubles, continues temptation and distancing from God. Sometimes I don't know how to keep going! Your message is like a called from the Truth and I want to surrender but I feel so tired and lonely and weak...please pray for me ! Thanks for your constant fight in your mission and fidelity to Christ!🙌🇦🇷💙
Father Seraphim, thank you for all your do. I am currently in a very painful and lonely situation, I may not be alone for Christ is with me, but it is painful. I’ve been living with my now ex girlfriend for over a year, longer than i have been a Catechumen, so i have gradually changed over the year leading up to my breakup, well it is best that we go our separate ways, we cannot separate immediately because of our lease. It is so painful, i barely feel at home now in my own home and I’ve been regularly visiting my church brothers who are guiding me through my catechism. I am trying very hard not to fall into despair but I can’t help but feel like I’m trapped in a dark void of loneliness, and the Jesus prayer is my only anchor at the moment. Please keep me in your prayers Father, and God Bless you. -Liam
Thank you Father…this is a beautiful message. The Trappist monk Thomas Keating always said that the idea that God is somewhere else and not with us, is a monumental lie. And a Dominican priest told us more years ago than I can count that there is nothing you can do to make God love you any more than He already does. There is equally nothing you can do to make Him love you any less! These teachings have stayed with me and consoled me all my life. You have reinforced them so wonderfully.
Thank you. Your words are so meaningful. Thank you for helping me understand the meaning of repentance. For helping me understand never to lose hope in God's love and willingness to cover for my sins - again and again.
After a completely devastating summer in my spiritual and personal life, in every way, I have felt very very distant from God. It has nearly destroyed my soul. This video came to me this morning very early. I listen to it and I’ve still listened to it now. It resonates deeply within me And it could not have come at a better time when I am nearly completely hopeless. Thank you for this thank you in the name of the father of the son of the Holy Spirit. God bless you and thank you again.
Hi. It came at the right time, I'd say. I've been for quite a while fearing that God really can't forgive my intrusive thoughts. Though the pastor says God can forgive me. I fear I am so beyond help and that He will leave me behind. I so hope you are right. I am crying as I am writing. Thank you for what you have said. Thank you. Wishing you the best.
I look back on my life, and I have seen so often how I have created distance between myself and God because of frustration, thinking I'm a hopeless cause and why bother....just give up I praise the Holy Spirit who has always drawn me back into the loving arms of Christ, my Savior and Lord, and I thank God, my Father for such faithfulness to a sinner like me Thank you for this wonderful message
So true, so much needed. So fit to what I experience. So welcome a warning about the distance we create between us and God...Only God could do all this for our redemption! Glory to our God and may He take care of you and the monastery and save you!
Your a true warrior. You share so much truth. Truth that can only be learned on the experiences of others from the battlefields of revelation. Your a blessing to those that will listen
Oh Father, over the last few years I have become a praying man, and I got very close to Him until this last year, when I moved house, and fell into idolatry, to come out of the idolatry has been the biggest challenge I’ve come up against in my spiritual life, that distance you talk about seemed like an ocean which I could not cross. Yet after the last week of striving and striving and striving in prayer (not for the first time in this last year), tonight I finally crossed that distance I put myself between myself and Him, and my heart has come back to life. Your words are so true, thank you.
Dear Father Serafim, thank you, this is exactly what I needed right now. And if I may connect to your previous wonderful thoughts: repeating the same sins makes us humble and directs our focus to our own sinfulness, consequently preventing us from condemning other people. We strive not to judge anyone, no one. Humility and non-judgment allow us to have, hopefully, a pure heart. Therefore, we must not despair; Christ knows why He "allows" us certain sins. As long as we are alive, until our last breath, we have the opportunity for repentance, or else Christ would not have left us alive. Let us love each other, refrain from judgment, and always have hope in grace. Thank you, dear father.
it is so good to see you back, my dear father, back to uploading your most beautiful videos that help and shape me in every way. may the lord bless you and your monastery and may you grow in him forever, my dear father!
Fantastic video as always Fr. Seraphim. I hope to visit your monasteries in the future. Keep up the amazing work. Christ have mercy on me - your very sinful, disobedient and lustful servant. 🙏☦️
Father Seraphim, this teaching was full of grace, compassion & wisdom which I have listened to several times now and find both hope & solace - thank you & may God richly bless you!🙏❤️🏴
Amen Amen Amen! Than You Father for our Brother and his tender voice calling Your Loved Ones to thoughts of You...I was missing seeing him here and pray for him and these words You give him for us...
Father for me, this is one of the best and most loved videos you have made. Thanks so much for posting these videos for us. May God bless you and the Monestaries on Mull.
Your amazing Father Seraphim i love the Jesus thats in you. Please keep me in your prayers. My name is Youssef Mallo God bless you❤❤❤ I learnt to say amen amen amen from you. Love you 😘 im so happy your back doing videos.
I am attracted to the Spirit in you. I come from a Reformed Protestant tradition in which free will is de-emphasized in favor of God’s sovereignty and our complete inability to bridge the gap between us and God caused by sin. In that framework, even that distance created by sin would have to be repaired by God through the work of the Holy Spirit, and he is willing to do so in response to a contrite heart, but in this framework even the contriteness of one’s heart is the consequence of the working of the Holy Spirit to regenerate the person. In this, we then give all thanks to God and are, as Paul said, unable to boast in any of our works but only in the gift and work of Christ.
In a sense, there are some nudges of truth in that thinking, even if it is very twisted (according to the Orthodox perspective, very least) and ignores the other half of the topic. Of course we are not able to bridge the gap between us and God - that's why God came in flesh, died, rose from the dead and ascended in flesh. But on the other hand, we are called to receive the whole fulness of Lord's mercy but we will receive just as much as we ask and are capable to receive. That's why need to grow and struggle; we shall decrease, so that there's more room for God and His mercy within us. It's very great to avoid death and we must give thanks to God for that, but what He, the Healer of the souls, would think if we don't strengthen at all but stay at this state - not dead, but too weak to wake up from the sickbed. Followingly, I have heard that the starting point of true repentance is "theophany", and that way God is also the cause of our willing, as St Paul the Apostle writes. But God reveals Himself to people according to how they are "oriented", when they are most willing to open the door. Some people might come to repentance through the fear of darkness, but it is maintained by loving the Light. I guess this has some similarities with adultery: in the act itself, people might not feel nothing special, but when they face their spouses afterwards they feel very guilty and ashamed and they think they don't deserve to be in that relationship anymore. So it is with God. When we live in our sins, we are so stone-hearted and numb that we don't even react. But when we come into contact with the goodness of God, it reveals our own condition and humiliates us. But it's up to a person how she chooses to answer. Others choose to be bitter and scared and run away from God, others run to God like a child runs to her Father after she has done badly.
I was just thinking about how this teaching is basically the opposite of reformed theology. Calvinism is learned helplessness. We must fight the passions.
The protestant theology is that works are inherent in true faith, the two are inseparable. True faith bears good fruit. Its all in the scriptures. Just as faith without works is dead, so are works alone.
Thankyou Fr Seraphim, what blessed wisdom God has given you for us🙏 I can relate so well to much of what you said , communing with God in prayer is vital , when we fall enough it weakens our faith and we slowly become separated , the wicked one uses whatever he can to diminish our faith and pull us away from God. Eph ch 6 take unto you the whole armour of God that you may stand against the wiles of the devil.
This was much needed. I have just experienced a prolonged period of despair and had many thoughts that God will not forgive me and that I am too far away from Him by my own fault. Thank you so much father for bringing me back to Fight, Hope and Love and most importantly for reminding me to stand up again. Love and Prayers from Bulgaria 🇧🇬☦️
It's Christ in us that purifies our soul and gives the power to overcome sin. But deciding to turn from sin is the first step to freedom. And making lifestyle changes to avoid temptation if the sin is sexual
Father I've been watching your content since the dark days of the pandemic and you have brought me much peace and thoughtfulness. Found this video most inspiring and after sending this comment will rewatch it. Bless you Father
Thank you for taking the time to counsel people whom you cannot see. I am enduring the hardest times of my life right now and your kind, humble, patient, thoughtful, firm manner is something I hope I can achieve myself even towards those who spit at me. Maybe one day I will meet you in passing and be able to relay my thanks properly, as videos like these keep me holding on during days where I am so exhausted that I wish to give up for relief from the pain. Thank you again and have a good day.
All to often we see ourselves with this abyss between ourselves and Our loving God. În our journey, we fall and get up, we fall and get up. Let us never dispair of the Love of Christ who CHOOSES to forgive if we repent again, again, and again.
That phrase "Your mountain of sin..." sounds so very cryptic and forboding. Would the us of that phrase be having anything to do with the fact that this world can continue to be called, "A man's world." regardless of that phrase means following the Lord or not? A man's world which could mean both men and women pleasing only one another too instead of the Lord. God's people lived by faith in old testament times and we do the same today. What makes me feel the most humble is how much easier it is for Christian families who have lived in Canada for more than one generation. It is true that I must become more charitable as time goes on while getting better at loving god through prayer and as result loving myself better too -- otherwise I could drift away from god. My mother taught me that just because someone is not a believer for now that does not mean that the Lord has not already written virtuous desires into their heart too. When we allow Satan to get the best of us once he will be back again trying to do the same in bolder ways. The good news is that with our Lord's help we can behave in unexpected to Satan's way making him in that situation feel so frustrated that he in his marriage to only sour grapes will leave us alone from there about that. The key phrase I am going to take away from this video is, "Be blessed." (Meaning that We are all to be blessed).
Thank you Father. These are hard times and youre words are most welcome and wise. We fall and get up. May the Lord leads us all in the path of salvation. God bless.
Im a catechumen and I've fallen once again into the sin of lust. I hate it so much and I want to stop so bad. Ive felt so distant from God the past day, I skipped my prayers as i have felt so far away from him. Im glad I came across this video to understand his forgivness. Thank you. Do you have have any tips on practical ways to overcome lust? I have fallen so many times that i get thoughts like: why even try? You have failed so many times theres no use. You will just fail again.
I am also a Catechumen and in the exact same boat as you. I'm sure Father Seraphim has better advise than I but running back to Jesus Christ in prayer and thought is the only thing that seems to help me. That is why I believe prayer can also become difficult in these times, the demons gain confidence when we don't immediately seek to close that gap as Father mentioned. I become forgetful and fall into this cycle quite often, may God deliver us all from the evil one, take care brother.
I have no right to speak, but first thing to do is *praying.* And I don't mean merely "speaking to God", but also keeping your mind in God and living before His presence. Just like it's impossible to commit adultery and think about your spouse at the same time, similarly it's hard to sin and keep God in your mind at the same time. You cannot worship both God and mammon, and so you cannot both focus on God and sinning. Second thing is *vigilance.* It's very crucial to uproot temptations and passions immediately after noticing them. Some of the desert fathers has said that it's easier to uproot a sapling than a grown-up cedar (or something like that), and it's same thing with temptations. But vigilance also requires *prudence* and wisdom. You are not determined to lust, so there are reasons to it. By understanding the reasons, you can not just learn how to avoid being tempted, but even unhear tempting voices. Third tip could be *confession.* Sin desires to be hidden, and so Adam and Eve tried to hide themselves from God and to cover their nakedness. But confessing our sins exposes it and it looses its power, and confessing sins gives to God a permission to give us medical treatment for our wounds and we are strengthened to continue our fight. Fourth tip is to participate in *Holy Eucharist* as often as possible. Because partaking of these pure mysteries without condemnation is "for the remission of sins, and unto life everlasting" and "to the healing of soul and body". In Holy Eucharist, we partake in the very body and blood of our Lord; we are in Him and He in us. If we steadfastly strive to abide in Him and receive in humility and fear of God these holy gifts, there will always be some progress over time, no matter how small those steps may seem in the beginning of journey.
Some of the Desert Fathers has said that it's better to struggle with same sins, falling and getting back up again and again, than giving up. Because if you keep struggling, you are protected from falling even deeper. Let's say that you are watching porn and masturbating. If you didn't continue struggling but let it go, your lust would grow greater and greater and your mind would become more and more perverted (in all senses of that word), which would lead you to visit prostitutes, have "one-night-stands" and other things. The danger is that even this wouldn't be enough to you, but you would end up to commit both murder and rape. Even more, when your love towards sin grows, you would perhaps come to hate God. But by holding your position on this spiritual battlefield, all of this is prevented - glory to God. It's also possible that God allows these temptations to attack you, because it teaches you patience and humility. It teaches you to rely on Christ's mercy and to long Him over all things and be ready to endure everything in order to be in unity with Him. (How could you be ready to endure the storms of the world if you cannot endure even yourself?) Lust reminds you who you are without God and how much there is still room for growing in the likeness of God. As it is written, *_"God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God"_* (Romans 8:28), but only if we are willing to carry this burden (with the help of God).
I’m a devout Episcopalian (I can’t join any congregation that doesn’t ordain women or has a closed table) but I benefit greatly from reading the Desert Fathers, and following the writings of David Bentley Hart and Paul Kingsnorth, and the kindly, pure sermons of you, brother. Thank you for your service to God.
The main problem is people have made their sins a focal point. Everything they do and say is focused around their own short comings and not on the beauty of Christ and salvation. It's no wonder they get spiritual problems and worn out. Your sins will always be there, hand them over to Jesus daily, and live upbeat and positively.
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May God bless us all!
im 70 n needed to hear this....i struggle everyday with sin...i hate it so....will keep going to the cross....i will not quit😇
Your absolute kindness and humility echo in all of your videos. I look forward to them so much. I'm living through a horrible storm brother. Please pray for me. I had a psychotic breakdown four years ago. I lost my career, my marriage, my family. I am naked before Christ and before the Father. I'm in the wilderness brother.
Im praying for you, friend. Your immense strength to endure alongside Christ gives me strength, my friend. I wish I had anything beneficial to say to you, but all i can give you is a passage from St. Sophrony which is far more encouraging than anything I can hope to say:
"Prayer is infinite creation, far superior to any form of art or science. Through prayer we enter into communion with Him that was before all worlds. Or, to put it in another way, the life of the Self-existing God flows into us through the channel of prayer. Prayer is an act of supreme wisdom, of all-surpassing beauty and virtue. Prayer is delight for the spirit. But the circumstances accompanying this creative work are complex. Time after time we experience an eager upsurge towards God, followed repeatedly by a falling away from His Light. Time and again we are conscious of the mind’s inability to rise to Him. There are moments when we feel ourselves on the verge of madness. Pain forces the cry, “Thou didst give me Thy precept of love, which I accept with all my being, but there is no strength in me for this love. Thou Who art love, come and abide in me, and perform in me all that Thou hast enjoined, for Thy commandment exceeds my powers. My mind is too frail to comprehend Thee. My spirit cannot see into the mysteries of Thy life. I desire to do Thy will in all things but my days go by in perpetual conflict. I am tortured by the feat of losing Thee because of the evil thoughts in my heart; and this feat crucifies me. I sink. Lord, save me, as Thou didst save Peter who dared to walk on the water, to go to Thee.”
At times, prayer seems over-slow in bringing results, and life is so short. Instinctively we cry, “Make haste unto me.” But He does not always respond at once. Like fruit on a tree, our soul is left to scorch in the sun, to endure the cold wind, the scorching wind, to die of thirst or be drowned in the rain. But if we do not let go of the hem of His garment, all will end well.
It is vital to continue in prayer for as long as we can, so that His invisible strength may penetrate and enable us to resist every destructive influence. And with the increase of this strength in us comes the joy of hope in final victory.
Prayer assuredly revives in us the divine breath which God breathed into Adam’s nostrils and by virtue of which Adam “became a living soul.”2 Our spirit, regenerated by prayer, begins to marvel at the sublime mystery of being. The mind is filled with wonder. “Being, how is this possible?” And we echo the Psalmist’s praise of the wondrous works of the Lord. We apprehend the meaning of Christ’s words, “I am come that [men] might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” “More abundantly”-this is indeed so.
But again and again I find myself reflecting that life is full of paradox, like all the Gospel teaching. “I am come to send fire upon the earth; and how I wish that it were already kindled!” All we sons of Adam must go through this heavenly flame that consumes our deathly passions. Otherwise we shall not see the fire transformed into the light of new life, for its is not light that comes first, and then fire: in our fallen state burning must precede enlightenment. Let us, therefore, bless the Lord for the consuming action of His love. We do not know altogether but we do at least know “in part” that there is no other way for us mortals to become “children of the resurrection,” children of God, to reign together with Christ, the only-begotten son of God. However painful this re-creating may be, however it may distress and lacerate-the process, agonizing as it is, in the end will be a blessed one.
True prayer uniting us with the Most-High is nothing other than light and strength coming down to us from heaven. In its essence it transcends our plane of existence. . . . True prayer to the true God is contact with the Divine Spirit which prays in us. The Spirit gives us to know God. The Spirit draws our spirit to contemplation of eternity. Like grace coming down from on High the act of prayer is too much for our earthly nature and so our mortal body, incapable of rising into the spiritual realm, resists. The intellect resists because it is incapable of containing infinity, is shaken by doubts and rejects everything that exceeds its understanding. The social environment in which I live is antagonistic to prayer -it has organized life with other aims diametrically opposed to prayer. Hostile spirits cannot endure prayer. But prayer alone can restore the created world from its fall, overcoming its stagnation and inertia, by means of a mighty effort of our spirit to follow Christ’s commandments.
The struggle for prayer is not an easy one. The spirit fluctuates-sometimes prayer flows in us like a mighty river, sometimes the heart dries up. But every reduction in our prayer-strength must be as brief as possible. Not infrequently, to pray means telling God of our disastrous state: of our weakness and despondency, our doubts and fears, the melancholy, the despair-in brief, everything connected with our condition. To pour it all out, not seeking to express it elegantly or even in logical sequence. Often this method of approach to God turns out to be the beginning of prayer as communion."
I know how damaging that can be to one's live and one's self, dear brother. Take courage from the fact that God has seen you through it - there is a new purpose for your life, a new beginning. Pray that you may embrace this new life and learn to look forward. It takes humility and acceptance that the past is no longer available to us; but the present and the future are still within your grasp. Be blessed, be strong and have faith in Christ's Love for you. If He got you out of that dark moment, He has a purpose for you.
@mullmonastery thank you my dear brother. I pray for you and your work. It is so crucial. God's blessings and mercy and grace be upon you always. I love you, brother. Thank you.
Stick it out. Been where you are. Keep praying. Hang on even if it's with your small finger being bumped along and dragging in the mud. At some point God will stand you up. All the promises in the Psalms. He lifts us up out of the miry clay.
Truelly I've learned that our beautiful Father is still at work. His love is far greater than our misery .
There is no depths that we can be in that God is not deeper still.
We are overcomes because He overcame.
We will be praying for you brother. Our God is a great and awesome God and has seen me through many trials. Pray, fast and trust he will see you through this and bring you to much holiness.🙏☦️
This explains perfectly what has happened with me. It also explains perfectly what I must do. Thank you for this encouragement.
I never have been so happy to see a Mull Monestary Fr. Seraphim video come out again. Blessings to you and the monasteries on Mull/Iona father.
HALLELUJAH JESUS FROM LEBANON BEIRUT ♥️🌲♥️🇱🇧
Perfect message for me. I was at my breaking point this week and I stumbled but did not fall, praise God. I told God yesterday that I was so tired, too tired and couldn't go on with dealing with the situation. I told Him, I needed to rest for a few hours. I had the best sleep and wonderful dreams. Woke up and all was resolved , for this week. (my husband has been briefly laid off and we didn't know how the money was going to happen, but within hours we were covered) We will have to go through the same trust for next week. So thank you Father. I always find comfort in your messages. God Bless
God bless everyone ❤
Just tonight, I have been asking, "Why why why did I do this again?" Same sin, over and over...I think I've got it under control, and then boom. Just like that, I open my mouth and sin again. I realize it's happening and I don't stop...I feel so angry and frustrated with myself. The timing of this video could not have been more perfect. Thank-you so much Father, for encouraging me. God Bless You! Thank-you Jesus 🙏
Thank you, Father.
Bless you Father.
You have no idea how I needed this video. I have literally fell into strongest dispondency in my life just this morning after doing the same sin. I couldnt realise what was happening with me. All 20 minutes it was like I had a personal dialogue with Fr. Seraphim. Truly God showed me this video in the right time.
Romans5: 20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.
Fr Seraphim, you have a knack for knowing exactly what we need to hear. You are such aa blessing, thank you.
You are true and honestly a true believer. Your words help me a lot and give me strenght while im struggling. Thank you from ghe depth of my heart
Amen, amen, amen. This has been a critical lesson for me, one I have to keep relearning. I'm reminded of this quote from Elder Ephraim:
“There was once a monk who happened to slip and sin by himself continually, yet he would always arise at once and do his prayer rule. The demon that kept throwing him into sin lost his patience seeing the courage and hopefulness of this brother.
So he visibly appeared to him, and said to him with vexation:
"Don't you fear God, you defiled wretch? You have just sinned, so with what face can you now stand before God? Aren't you afraid that God will burn you?" But since this brother had a valiant soul, he said to the demon:
"This cell is a forge: you hit and get hit. As God is my witness, Who came to save the world, I will not stop fighting you, falling and getting up, beating and being beaten, until my final breath and let's see who will win: you or Christ!" When the demon heard this unexpected reply, he said: "I won't fight you any more, because if I do, I'll make you win crowns." Thenceforth, this brother was delivered from the warfare, and he sat in his cell weeping for his sins.”
Thank you Father, I needed to hear that
Fr. Seraphim, first of all, welcome back! This is a profound video about our free will, faith and grace.
Благодаримо
Благодаримо
Благодаримо драги оче!!
Thank you Fr. Seraphim.
Thank you very much for your videos Father. It gives us strength. May God give you strength and inspiration to continue giving us those videos. Hope I will meet you one day!
If God blesses that, it will be my joy and my blessing, dear one.
You touch on unique subjects. I really appreciate you and your ability to express God's word. God has blessed you with a very useful gift, and I am thankful to Him for your gift. God bless your journey.
I am in tears realising the distance I put between God and me, it has become an encrusted wound after repeated falls and failures in life. A blindspot that no amount of doing and efforting could ever heal. It was only by seeing this powerful sermon and video that the veil is being lifted and the blindness is being revealed as to how distant and despondent I have become in the hell of despair. There was no free will before because the conditioning was too deep for me to really know that there is another way, and the meaning of crucifying my own self will through seeing the utterly demoralising and abject failure of its ways. I only came to see a spark of that free will by seeing this message, otherwise it may not have arrived as the distance was reaching the point of no return. So now, I realise the urgent need for humility and repentance, and more importantly, through seeing this distance, that I recognise the failure of my ways and the desperate need to let God manage my life and to turn my will and my life over to Him, with tears from the heart that saves.
Amen! The message in this video brought me to tears
Thank you for making yourself available to God to share his words with us. Glory be to God for all things☦
I cannot thank God enough for what he is transmiting through you.Thank you .And you too be blessed always.Your words touch hearts.❤
Dear brother, your words touched my heart so deeply, I can't stop crying... please pray for me, I'm 50 years old and have 5 children and my life turned to be a hell because of my troubles, continues temptation and distancing from God. Sometimes I don't know how to keep going! Your message is like a called from the Truth and I want to surrender but I feel so tired and lonely and weak...please pray for me ! Thanks for your constant fight in your mission and fidelity to Christ!🙌🇦🇷💙
Father Seraphim, thank you for all your do.
I am currently in a very painful and lonely situation, I may not be alone for Christ is with me, but it is painful.
I’ve been living with my now ex girlfriend for over a year, longer than i have been a Catechumen, so i have gradually changed over the year leading up to my breakup, well it is best that we go our separate ways, we cannot separate immediately because of our lease.
It is so painful, i barely feel at home now in my own home and I’ve been regularly visiting my church brothers who are guiding me through my catechism.
I am trying very hard not to fall into despair but I can’t help but feel like I’m trapped in a dark void of loneliness, and the Jesus prayer is my only anchor at the moment.
Please keep me in your prayers Father, and God Bless you. -Liam
Thank you Father…this is a beautiful message. The Trappist monk Thomas Keating always said that the idea that God is somewhere else and not with us, is a monumental lie. And a Dominican priest told us more years ago than I can count that there is nothing you can do to make God love you any more than He already does. There is equally nothing you can do to make Him love you any less! These teachings have stayed with me and consoled me all my life. You have reinforced them so wonderfully.
Thank you.
Your words are so meaningful.
Thank you for helping me understand the meaning of repentance.
For helping me understand never to lose hope in God's love and willingness to cover for my sins - again and again.
Thank you!
After a completely devastating summer in my spiritual and personal life, in every way, I have felt very very distant from God. It has nearly destroyed my soul. This video came to me this morning very early. I listen to it and I’ve still listened to it now. It resonates deeply within me And it could not have come at a better time when I am nearly completely hopeless. Thank you for this thank you in the name of the father of the son of the Holy Spirit. God bless you and thank you again.
Hi. It came at the right time, I'd say. I've been for quite a while fearing that God really can't forgive my intrusive thoughts. Though the pastor says God can forgive me. I fear I am so beyond help and that He will leave me behind. I so hope you are right. I am crying as I am writing. Thank you for what you have said. Thank you. Wishing you the best.
I look back on my life, and I have seen so often how I have created distance between myself and God because of frustration, thinking I'm a hopeless cause and why bother....just give up
I praise the Holy Spirit who has always drawn me back into the loving arms of Christ, my Savior and Lord, and I thank God, my Father for such faithfulness to a sinner like me
Thank you for this wonderful message
So true, so much needed. So fit to what I experience. So welcome a warning about the distance we create between us and God...Only God could do all this for our redemption! Glory to our God and may He take care of you and the monastery and save you!
Thank you.
Thank you ,Father. As always, I needed to hear this. I have trouble accepting the idea of unconditional love. Please pray for me. Thank you. ❤
Your a true warrior. You share so much truth. Truth that can only be learned on the experiences of others from the battlefields of revelation. Your a blessing to those that will listen
Thank you father for this beautiful encourging message...
I feel blessed because of you
Thank you for your encouragement father. You’re truly doing Gods work!
Thank you
Thank you, Father, for your videos. I seek holiness and humility of heart, to draw closer to the Lord and make Him my first Love❤
Oh Father, over the last few years I have become a praying man, and I got very close to Him until this last year, when I moved house, and fell into idolatry, to come out of the idolatry has been the biggest challenge I’ve come up against in my spiritual life, that distance you talk about seemed like an ocean which I could not cross. Yet after the last week of striving and striving and striving in prayer (not for the first time in this last year), tonight I finally crossed that distance I put myself between myself and Him, and my heart has come back to life. Your words are so true, thank you.
It is always an encouragement to hear from you and be challenged.
Be blessed Father Seraphim as well
Thank you, Father. Your words are so important, and always give me hope. God bless you.
Thank you father. God bless you.
Thank you ❤❤❤
I didn't realize how much I missed these videos until I saw this pop up on my feed. Thank you for being a part of my faith journey.
Dear Father Serafim, thank you, this is exactly what I needed right now. And if I may connect to your previous wonderful thoughts: repeating the same sins makes us humble and directs our focus to our own sinfulness, consequently preventing us from condemning other people. We strive not to judge anyone, no one. Humility and non-judgment allow us to have, hopefully, a pure heart. Therefore, we must not despair; Christ knows why He "allows" us certain sins. As long as we are alive, until our last breath, we have the opportunity for repentance, or else Christ would not have left us alive. Let us love each other, refrain from judgment, and always have hope in grace. Thank you, dear father.
Thank you for this wonderfull video Father, it's really nice to see you back❤
Thank You for the post. 😊
i dont go to chuch and i am not chatecumenized but i show up to a few of these a day and i weep. im so grateful for orthodox youtubers.
Thank you Fr. Seraphim for this important message, what a blessing your teachings have been to me ☦
The timing on this video is excellent, Father.
it is so good to see you back, my dear father, back to uploading your most beautiful videos that help and shape me in every way. may the lord bless you and your monastery and may you grow in him forever, my dear father!
Thank you so much for this video, praying for you and the Monastery
God bless.
Thank you..
Fantastic video as always Fr. Seraphim. I hope to visit your monasteries in the future. Keep up the amazing work.
Christ have mercy on me - your very sinful, disobedient and lustful servant. 🙏☦️
Great you're back with us! My prayers for you and all yours
Father Seraphim, this teaching was full of grace, compassion & wisdom which I have listened to several times now and find both hope & solace - thank you & may God richly bless you!🙏❤️🏴
Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou. God bless you Father.
I´m so thankful for this message that I cannot put it to words. Glory be to God forever! Please save us, o God!
Father thank you for your beautiful words of inspiration and I look forward to many more..God bless and keep
Thank the Lord for your videos. Please keep your viewers in your prayer, and we should keep you in ours. All ways timely.
Very much needed father ❤
I thought something happened to you. So glad to see you back, Father! 🙏🏼
Thank you for this and all you do. God Bless and keep you under His wings.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. It means so much to me❤
Thankyou for your wisdom
Thank you, Father, for these beautiful and powerfull words!!
From Brazil.
Amen Amen Amen! Than You Father for our Brother and his tender voice calling Your Loved Ones to thoughts of You...I was missing seeing him here and pray for him and these words You give him for us...
Welcome back, Fr. Seraphim. It is good to hear and see you again.
Father for me, this is one of the best and most loved videos you have made. Thanks so much for posting these videos for us. May God bless you and the Monestaries on Mull.
Wondeful message. I need tot hear that.
Your amazing Father Seraphim i love the Jesus thats in you. Please keep me in your prayers. My name is Youssef Mallo God bless you❤❤❤
I learnt to say amen amen amen from you. Love you 😘 im so happy your back doing videos.
Thank you and God bless you.
Thank you so much
I am attracted to the Spirit in you. I come from a Reformed Protestant tradition in which free will is de-emphasized in favor of God’s sovereignty and our complete inability to bridge the gap between us and God caused by sin. In that framework, even that distance created by sin would have to be repaired by God through the work of the Holy Spirit, and he is willing to do so in response to a contrite heart, but in this framework even the contriteness of one’s heart is the consequence of the working of the Holy Spirit to regenerate the person. In this, we then give all thanks to God and are, as Paul said, unable to boast in any of our works but only in the gift and work of Christ.
In a sense, there are some nudges of truth in that thinking, even if it is very twisted (according to the Orthodox perspective, very least) and ignores the other half of the topic. Of course we are not able to bridge the gap between us and God - that's why God came in flesh, died, rose from the dead and ascended in flesh. But on the other hand, we are called to receive the whole fulness of Lord's mercy but we will receive just as much as we ask and are capable to receive. That's why need to grow and struggle; we shall decrease, so that there's more room for God and His mercy within us. It's very great to avoid death and we must give thanks to God for that, but what He, the Healer of the souls, would think if we don't strengthen at all but stay at this state - not dead, but too weak to wake up from the sickbed.
Followingly, I have heard that the starting point of true repentance is "theophany", and that way God is also the cause of our willing, as St Paul the Apostle writes. But God reveals Himself to people according to how they are "oriented", when they are most willing to open the door. Some people might come to repentance through the fear of darkness, but it is maintained by loving the Light. I guess this has some similarities with adultery: in the act itself, people might not feel nothing special, but when they face their spouses afterwards they feel very guilty and ashamed and they think they don't deserve to be in that relationship anymore. So it is with God. When we live in our sins, we are so stone-hearted and numb that we don't even react. But when we come into contact with the goodness of God, it reveals our own condition and humiliates us. But it's up to a person how she chooses to answer. Others choose to be bitter and scared and run away from God, others run to God like a child runs to her Father after she has done badly.
I was just thinking about how this teaching is basically the opposite of reformed theology. Calvinism is learned helplessness. We must fight the passions.
Bless you and your community.
Appreciate the high quality!
The protestant theology is that works are inherent in true faith, the two are inseparable. True faith bears good fruit. Its all in the scriptures. Just as faith without works is dead, so are works alone.
Thankyou Fr Seraphim, what blessed wisdom God has given you for us🙏
I can relate so well to much of what you said , communing with God in prayer is vital , when we fall enough it weakens our faith and we slowly become separated , the wicked one uses whatever he can to diminish our faith and pull us away from God.
Eph ch 6 take unto you the whole armour of God that you may stand against the wiles of the devil.
This was much needed. I have just experienced a prolonged period of despair and had many thoughts that God will not forgive me and that I am too far away from Him by my own fault. Thank you so much father for bringing me back to Fight, Hope and Love and most importantly for reminding me to stand up again. Love and Prayers from Bulgaria 🇧🇬☦️
Every video you make seems to come to me exactly when I need it in my spiritual journey.
It's Christ in us that purifies our soul and gives the power to overcome sin. But deciding to turn from sin is the first step to freedom. And making lifestyle changes to avoid temptation if the sin is sexual
Father I've been watching your content since the dark days of the pandemic and you have brought me much peace and thoughtfulness. Found this video most inspiring and after sending this comment will rewatch it. Bless you Father
This was exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you and may God bless you
Thank God you are recording, Father! Best wishes with love and prayers! La multi ani!
Thank you for taking the time to counsel people whom you cannot see. I am enduring the hardest times of my life right now and your kind, humble, patient, thoughtful, firm manner is something I hope I can achieve myself even towards those who spit at me. Maybe one day I will meet you in passing and be able to relay my thanks properly, as videos like these keep me holding on during days where I am so exhausted that I wish to give up for relief from the pain. Thank you again and have a good day.
All to often we see ourselves with this abyss between ourselves and Our loving God. În our journey, we fall and get up, we fall and get up. Let us never dispair of the Love of Christ who CHOOSES to
forgive if we repent again, again, and again.
Father Seraphim, I needed this so much! Thank you.
The Father in the Prodigal Son Parable ran when he saw his son returning. God running. Good news.
Thank God!
That phrase "Your mountain of sin..." sounds so very cryptic and forboding. Would the us of that phrase be having anything to do with the fact that this world can continue to be called, "A man's world." regardless of that phrase means following the Lord or not? A man's world which could mean both men and women pleasing only one another too instead of the Lord. God's people lived by faith in old testament times and we do the same today. What makes me feel the most humble is how much easier it is for Christian families who have lived in Canada for more than one generation. It is true that I must become more charitable as time goes on while getting better at loving god through prayer and as result loving myself better too -- otherwise I could drift away from god. My mother taught me that just because someone is not a believer for now that does not mean that the Lord has not already written virtuous desires into their heart too. When we allow Satan to get the best of us once he will be back again trying to do the same in bolder ways. The good news is that with our Lord's help we can behave in unexpected to Satan's way making him in that situation feel so frustrated that he in his marriage to only sour grapes will leave us alone from there about that. The key phrase I am going to take away from this video is, "Be blessed." (Meaning that We are all to be blessed).
Thank you Father. These are hard times and youre words are most welcome and wise. We fall and get up. May the Lord leads us all in the path of salvation. God bless.
The aerial judgement is now
Im a catechumen and I've fallen once again into the sin of lust. I hate it so much and I want to stop so bad. Ive felt so distant from God the past day, I skipped my prayers as i have felt so far away from him. Im glad I came across this video to understand his forgivness. Thank you.
Do you have have any tips on practical ways to overcome lust?
I have fallen so many times that i get thoughts like: why even try? You have failed so many times theres no use. You will just fail again.
I am also a Catechumen and in the exact same boat as you. I'm sure Father Seraphim has better advise than I but running back to Jesus Christ in prayer and thought is the only thing that seems to help me. That is why I believe prayer can also become difficult in these times, the demons gain confidence when we don't immediately seek to close that gap as Father mentioned. I become forgetful and fall into this cycle quite often, may God deliver us all from the evil one, take care brother.
I have no right to speak, but first thing to do is *praying.* And I don't mean merely "speaking to God", but also keeping your mind in God and living before His presence. Just like it's impossible to commit adultery and think about your spouse at the same time, similarly it's hard to sin and keep God in your mind at the same time. You cannot worship both God and mammon, and so you cannot both focus on God and sinning.
Second thing is *vigilance.* It's very crucial to uproot temptations and passions immediately after noticing them. Some of the desert fathers has said that it's easier to uproot a sapling than a grown-up cedar (or something like that), and it's same thing with temptations. But vigilance also requires *prudence* and wisdom. You are not determined to lust, so there are reasons to it. By understanding the reasons, you can not just learn how to avoid being tempted, but even unhear tempting voices.
Third tip could be *confession.* Sin desires to be hidden, and so Adam and Eve tried to hide themselves from God and to cover their nakedness. But confessing our sins exposes it and it looses its power, and confessing sins gives to God a permission to give us medical treatment for our wounds and we are strengthened to continue our fight.
Fourth tip is to participate in *Holy Eucharist* as often as possible. Because partaking of these pure mysteries without condemnation is "for the remission of sins, and unto life everlasting" and "to the healing of soul and body". In Holy Eucharist, we partake in the very body and blood of our Lord; we are in Him and He in us. If we steadfastly strive to abide in Him and receive in humility and fear of God these holy gifts, there will always be some progress over time, no matter how small those steps may seem in the beginning of journey.
Some of the Desert Fathers has said that it's better to struggle with same sins, falling and getting back up again and again, than giving up. Because if you keep struggling, you are protected from falling even deeper. Let's say that you are watching porn and masturbating. If you didn't continue struggling but let it go, your lust would grow greater and greater and your mind would become more and more perverted (in all senses of that word), which would lead you to visit prostitutes, have "one-night-stands" and other things. The danger is that even this wouldn't be enough to you, but you would end up to commit both murder and rape. Even more, when your love towards sin grows, you would perhaps come to hate God. But by holding your position on this spiritual battlefield, all of this is prevented - glory to God.
It's also possible that God allows these temptations to attack you, because it teaches you patience and humility. It teaches you to rely on Christ's mercy and to long Him over all things and be ready to endure everything in order to be in unity with Him. (How could you be ready to endure the storms of the world if you cannot endure even yourself?) Lust reminds you who you are without God and how much there is still room for growing in the likeness of God. As it is written, *_"God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God"_* (Romans 8:28), but only if we are willing to carry this burden (with the help of God).
I’m a devout Episcopalian (I can’t join any congregation that doesn’t ordain women or has a closed table) but I benefit greatly from reading the Desert Fathers, and following the writings of David Bentley Hart and Paul Kingsnorth, and the kindly, pure sermons of you, brother. Thank you for your service to God.
Lord have mercy
Find Orthodoxy, the original church that Christ founded 2000 years ago
No apostle in the book of Acts ever ordained women as priests.
There is no Eucharist apart from a male priesthood. I say this in love for your soul. Please seek a true church with true sacraments.
The main problem is people have made their sins a focal point. Everything they do and say is focused around their own short comings and not on the beauty of Christ and salvation. It's no wonder they get spiritual problems and worn out. Your sins will always be there, hand them over to Jesus daily, and live upbeat and positively.