ST DOROTHEOS OF GAZA QUOTES

ST DOROTHEOS OF GAZA QUOTES

1. That which is already within

 “There is the case of a man minding his own business, sitting at peace and quiet; and when a brother comes up and says an annoying word to him, he is put out by it. And from the circumstances he thinks that he is justifiably angered, and he speaks against the one who troubled him, saying, ‘If he had not come and spoken to me and annoyed me I should not have been at fault.’ This is a delusion: this is false reasoning! It was not the one who spoke that put him in a bad mood. He only showed that it already existed in him; so that he could, if he chose, make reparation for his fault. But the man referred to above is like clean-looking winter wheat, externally good and ready to use; but when someone crushes it, its corruption is revealed. He was sitting at peace but he had this anger inside him and he did not know it. One word to him from the other and the corruption hidden inside him leapt out.”


2.  Attain virtue by believing

He who wishes with the help of God to reach good state must not say of the virtues that they are too great and that he cannot achieve them. For this is said by one who does not hope in the aid of God or who out of sloth, lacks the eagerness zealously to Grapple with what is good. Let us take as an example any virtue that you like. You will see that it is in your grasp to acquire it. We are told for example Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Do not desist because of how far you are away from that virtue or say with a Flinch how can I love my neighbor as myself how can I imagine his worries to be my own, let alone those hidden within him which I neither see nor know in the way I do my own do not concern yourself with such thoughts and do not imagine that virtuous something Supernatural or beyond your ability to achieve instead start trying to attain it from this moment on believing in God. Show him your interest and your intention and he will give you his help so that you can succeed.