Saint Silouan the Athonite speaks to us († September 24)
Glory be to God that He did not leave us orphans, but gave us the Holy Spirit on earth. The Holy Spirit teaches the soul unutterable love for the people, and sorrow for all those who go astray. The Lord had pity on those who went astray, and sent His Only-Begotten Son to save them; and the Holy Spirit teaches the same mercy for those who go astray, who go to hell. But whoever has not acquired the Holy Spirit does not want to pray for enemies.
Venerable Paisius the Great prayed for his disciple who had renounced Christ and, while he was praying, the Lord appeared to him and said: “Paisius, for whom are you praying? He has indeed renounced Me.” But the Venerable one did not cease to lament for his disciple, and then the Lord said to him: “Paisius, you have resembled Me in love.”
Thus peace is acquired, and apart from this there is no other way.
If someone prays and fasts much, but has no love for enemies, he will not be able to have spiritual peace. And I would not be able to speak about this, had the Holy Spirit not taught me love.
You must rebuke your brother gently and with love. Peace is lost if the soul becomes proud, or if it exalts itself above its brother, or condemns someone, or rebukes its brother not gently, nor with love; if we eat much, or if we pray sluggishly ‒ for all these things peace is lost.
But if we accustom ourselves to praying diligently for enemies and loving them, peace will always remain in our souls, but if we hate or condemn our brother, our mind will be darkened, and we lose peace and boldness towards God.
Whoever carries within himself the peace of the Holy Spirit, he pours it out upon others as well; and whoever carries within himself an evil spirit, he pours it out upon others as well.
“If we do not love our enemies, there will be no peace in the soul”
It is impossible for the soul to have peace, if we do not ask the Lord with all our might to love all people. The Lord knew that if we do not love our enemies, there will be no peace in the soul, and that is why He gave us the commandment:“Love your enemies”(Matthew 5:44). If we do not love our enemies, the soul will only occasionally be as if peaceful; but if we love our enemies, peace will remain in the soul day and night.
Keep in your soul the peace of the grace of the Holy Spirit; do not lose it for trifles. If you inspire peace in your brother, the Lord will give you immeasurably more, but if you grieve him, then sorrow will surely befall your soul as well.
If a thought of fornication comes to you, banish it immediately, and you will preserve the peace of your soul; but if you receive it, the soul will lose love for God and you will no longer have boldness in prayer.
If you cut off your will, you have overcome the enemy, and as a reward you will receive the peace of the soul; but if you do your will, you are overcome by enemies and carelessness will torment your soul.
Whoever has the passion of acquisitiveness will not be able to love God and his neighbor; the mind and heart of such a person ceaselessly pursue riches, and there is not in him the spirit of repentance and contrition for sins, and his soul cannot know the delight of the peace of Christ.
I pray to You, Merciful Lord, grant to the whole world, from Adam until the end of ages, to know You, that You are good and merciful; may all peoples be sweetened by Your peace, and may all see the light of Your Face. Your gaze is serene and gentle, and it draws the soul to You.
From “Venerable Silouan the Athonite” by Arch. Sophrony (Accent Print Publishing House, 2013)
Translated by Hieromonk Rafail Noica