Sunday, May 8, 2011

Responsibility

"God did not spare for our sakes even His Only Begotten Son. How, then, after this can we grudge anything to our neighbor: either food, drink, clothing, or money for his various needs? The Lord gives much to some and little to others in order that we may provide for each other. The Lord has so ordered that if we willingly share the bountiful gifts of His mercy with others, then they serve to benefit our souls and bodies, by opening our hearts to the love of our neighbor, whilst our moderation in using them serves to benefit our body, which does not become satiated and overloaded by them. But if we use these gifts selfishly, avariciously, and greedily, for ourselves only, and grudge them to others, then they become injurious to our soul and body--injurious to the soul, because greediness and avarice close the heart to the love of God and our neighbor, and make us repulsive, self-lovers, increasing all our passions; and injurious to the body, because greediness produces satiety in us, and prematurely impairs our health." -St. John of Kronstadt

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