treasures in heaven

St John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent Steps 16&17 Avarice and NonPossessiveness
Ladder of Divine Ascent

St John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, On Avarice and Non-Possessiveness, Steps 16 & 17

04/11/2025 Bruce Strom 0

Avarice is the worst kind of drought and famine, for it is drought and famine in the midst of plenty. A Jewish story tells of a man taken on a tour of Hell, where he sees a huge banquet hall, with long tables lined with souls, each one ogling their plate heaped with roast beef, sausage, breads, fruits and pies. This sumptuous meal tormented each one, all were starving, for they had no elbows to feed themselves. Then he was shown the banquet hall in Heaven, same type of banquet hall, same meats, breads, fruits and pies, but here the mood was joyous. Like those souls in Hell, they had no elbows, but they were joyous because they were feeding each other. […]

Was St Basil WOKE? St Basil the Great On Social Justice, Parable of the Rich Fool
Cappodocian Church Fathers

Was St Basil WOKE? St Basil the Great On Social Justice, Parable of the Rich Fool

10/03/2024 Bruce Strom 0

St Basil teaches us that whether we receive sufferings or blessings, both these should increase our two-fold Love of God and love of neighbor. St Basil teaches us:
“Temptations come in two forms. Sometimes affliction proves the heart like gold in a furnace, testing its purity by means of suffering. But for many, it is prosperity of life that is the greatest trial. For it is equally difficult to preserve one’s soul from despair in hard times, and to prevent it from becoming arrogant in prosperous circumstances.”
Who benefits more, those who contribute, or those who receive? St Basil teaches us, Through the fruits of your good works, “you produce for yourself, since the grace of good works redounds to those who perform them. You gave to the poor, and in so doing not only did you make what you gave truly your own, but you received back even more. For just as grain, when it falls upon the ground, brings forth an increase for the one who scatters it, thus also bread cast to the hungry yields considerable profit at a later time.” […]