Therefore, the Lord helps created beings with His Providence to become a temple (receptacle) of the fullness of the Holy Spirit, helps to “sell” everything, to renounce oneself and all one’s own, to “hate” everything created, and “buy” – accept as (undeserved) Gift-Mercy the Pearl of Christ, and in Christ all the Love-Truth of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and all the saints, and everyone, and everything!!!
Christians are those who have realized God’s Love (by the Holy Spirit), believed-experienced that God is Love, those who have this Orthodox faith-knowledge-trust as the basis of all their Eucharistic deeds-feats (everything that is without this Orthodox faith-trust is sin). All Christians are ascetics, warriors!!! The essence of all feats, battles – is the Eucharist, to respond with reciprocity to God’s inexpressible Love for me (for each one, for all), to love God with all one’s heart, with all one’s mind, with all one’s soul, with all one’s strength, and in Christ to love one’s neighbor as oneself (to love Christ in everyone and in everything, to love everyone with the Love of Jesus Christ)! And Love is God’s Gift, which can be accepted-received only by a humble heart. Therefore, all efforts to cleanse one’s heart from passions, malice, deceit, pride, by diligently keeping all God’s commandments, the person realizes their weakness (that they are nothing (poor, having nothing) and can do no good), humbles themselves, and becomes capable of receiving Love as a Gift and, as a result, Giving Thanks, partaking of the Eucharist. Only a humble person can give thanks, who knows they are nothing – have nothing of their own and can do no good, but everything they have and are (“you are not your own”) is a Gift of Love from Others!!! An egoist, proud person, who has much of their own (what belongs to them, their property, wealth) and even belongs to themselves, cannot give thanks (they have nothing to thank for)! A rich person is one who has something of their own, something appropriated, something they have the right to possess and use as they please (mine – I do what I want with mine)! Therefore, it is impossible for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Humble Love, the Kingdom of Giving and Thanksgiving, the Kingdom of Freedom, where there are no rights (I have the right…), no property (mine…), but only mutual self-giving of everyone to everyone (no one belongs to themselves – everyone exists as a Gift of Love from Others) and all of “their own” (all created reality – everything that exists – a Gift given to me, but it is not mine, because having accepted the Gift, I already entirely belong to the Givers of the Gift) to Others! Therefore, only the “poor in spirit” can give thanks, partake of the Eucharist, only they are capable of receiving (not for judgment and condemnation) the Thanksgiving-Love of the Holy Eucharist! If you open the heart of a Christian, you will find there mercy, humility, gratitude, that is, love for Jesus Christ! Orthodoxy = Eucharist = Humility = Love!
God is Love! In the Church, there are no more “must,” “you should,” “you are obligated” in the legalistic pagan religious sense. In the Church, everything stems from the Eucharist, from Thanksgiving, from Love for God. And Love is Freedom (where there is no freedom, there is no love, no Christianity!), not a law of “must” and various selfish consumer “needs.” The essence of all efforts is the Eucharist—thanksgiving to God the Father through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit for everyone and everything, for the entire universe, and God’s Providence for us, and for God Himself, who has given Himself to us!!! No one owes anything to anyone anymore, except Love.
Let us be vigilant about the reason for our (those who call themselves Christians) labors and efforts—whether it is dedicating ourselves to God or something else, non-Eucharistic, i.e., non-Church. Let us be vigilant!
God-Love does not impose Himself on anyone, nor His commandments! Live as you know, as you wish—you are free; I respect every choice you make, every step you take. But if you want to Live-Love, here is the Way, the Truth, the Life—the Lord Jesus Christ!!! Those who have realized God’s Love for themselves seek to Eucharistically know the entire will of God, so as not to offend (by acting contrary to God’s will, God’s commandments) such Love, to bring joy—to love the Beloved, to fulfill His will-desire. With God, nothing can be earned or deserved. God the Father does not sell anything to His children. You cannot buy anything from God-Love; no trade is possible with Him (what can you offer God if everything you have and are is God’s Gift to you?!). The work of our salvation consists of the following: to accept everything as a Gift (with a humble and merciful heart), and immediately in this Gift, Eucharistically give yourself and everything you have to Christ God!
A Christian (= grateful to God for everyone and everything) at all times strives to know the will of God: teach me, Lord, Your commandments, reveal to me Your will, Your desire, so that by fulfilling them, I may glorify You, thank You. God’s will for the beginner (catechumen) is to become My (Jesus Christ’s) servant. You yourself ask what pleases Me. You want to do this for Me, but I want you to do that for Me! If you want to do something for Me, to serve Me, then renounce your will (your desires, projects, plans, “good” deeds) and joyfully fulfill My will! This is true Eucharist, Gratitude! Therefore, whoever wants to follow Me, let them deny themselves (their will, the will of their being, the desiring will, and with the choosing will (personal) let them choose (with discernment and counsel if they are a catechumen; for perfect Christians know God’s will, being taught by the Holy Spirit) My will, My desire).