Christ calming the storm (source)
"Come now let me relieve the wound of your despondency,
and disperse the thoughts which gather this cloud of care around you. For what
is it which upsets your mind, and why are you sorrowful and dejected? Is it
because of the fierce black storm which has overtaken the Church, enveloping
all things in darkness as of a night without a moon, and is growing to a head
every day, travailing to bring forth disastrous shipwrecks, and increasing the
ruin of the world? I know all this as well as you; none shall gainsay it, and
if you like I will form an image of the things now taking place so as to
present the tragedy yet more distinctly to you. We behold a sea upheaved from
the very lowest depths, some sailors floating dead upon the waves, others
engulfed by them, the planks of the ships breaking up, the sails torn to tatters,
the masts sprung, the oars dashed out of the sailors' hands, the pilots seated
on the deck, clasping their knees with their hands instead of grasping the
rudder, bewailing the hopelessness of their situation with sharp cries and
bitter lamentations, neither sky nor sea clearly visible, but all one deep and
impenetrable darkness, so that no one can see his neighbour, while mighty is
the roaring of the billows, and monsters of the sea attack the crews on every
side.
"But how much further shall I pursue the unattainable? For
whatever image of our present evils I may seek speech shrinks baffled from the
attempt. Nevertheless even when I look at these calamities I do not abandon the
hope of better things, considering as I do who the pilot is in all this — not
one who gets the better of the storm by his art, but calms the raging waters by
his rod. But if He does not effect this at the outset and speedily, such is His
custom — He does not at the beginning put down these terrible evils, but when
they have increased, and come to extremities, and most persons are reduced to
despair, then He works wondrously, and beyond all expectation, thus manifesting
his own power, and training the patience of those who undergo these calamities.
Do not therefore be cast down. For there is only one thing, Olympias, which is
really terrible, only one real trial, and that is sin; and I have never ceased
continually harping upon this theme; but as for all other things, plots,
enmities, frauds, calumnies, insults, accusations, confiscation, exile, the
keen sword of the enemy, the peril of the deep, warfare of the whole world, or
anything else you like to name, they are but idle tales. For whatever the
nature of these things may be they are transitory and perishable, and operate
in a mortal body without doing any injury to the vigilant soul. Therefore the
blessed Paul, desiring to prove the insignificance both of the pleasures and
sorrows relating to this life, declared the whole truth in one sentence when he
said — “For the things which are seen are temporal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 Why
then do you fear temporal things which pass away like the stream of a river.
For such is the nature of present things whether they be pleasant or painful.
And another prophet compared all human prosperity not to grass, but to another
material even more flimsy, describing the whole of it “as the flower of grass.”
For he did not single out any one part of it, as wealth alone, or luxury alone,
or power, or honour; but having comprised all the things which are esteemed
splendid among men under the one designation of glory he said “all the glory of
man is as the flower of grass.” Isaiah 40:6
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world (source)
"Nevertheless, you will say, adversity is a terrible thing
and grievous to be borne. Yet look at it again compared with another image and
then also learn to despise it. For the railings, and insults, and reproaches,
and gibes inflicted by enemies, and their plots are compared to a worn-out
garment, and moth-eaten wool when God says “Fear ye not the reproach of men,
neither be ye afraid of their revilings, for they shall wax old as does a
garment, and like moth-eaten wool so shall they be consumed.” Isaiah 50:7-8
Therefore let none of these things which are happening trouble you, but ceasing
to invoke the aid of this or that person, and to run after shadows (for such
are human alliances), do thou persistently call upon Jesus, whom you serve,
merely to bow his head; and in a moment of time all these evils will be
dissolved. But if you have already called upon Him, and yet they have not been
dissolved, such is the manner of God's dealing (for I will resume my former
argument); He does not put down evils at the outset, but when they have grown
to a head, when scarcely any form of the enemy's malice remains ungratified,
then He suddenly converts all things to a state of tranquillity and conducts
them to an unexpected settlement. For He is not only able to turn as many
things as we expect and hope, to good, but many more, yea infinitely more.
Wherefore also Paul says “now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 Could He not, for example, have
prevented the three children at the outset from falling into trial? But He did
not choose to do this, thereby conferring great pain upon them. Therefore He
suffered them to be delivered into the hands of barbarians, and the furnace to
be heated to an immeasurable height and the wrath of the king to blaze even
more fiercely than the furnace, and hands and feet to be bound with great
severity and they themselves to be cast into the fire; and then, when all they
who beheld despaired of their rescue, suddenly, and beyond all hope, the
wonder-working power of God, the supreme artificer, was displayed, and shone
forth with exceeding splendour. For the fire was bound, and the bondmen were
released; and the furnace became a temple of prayer, a place of fountains and
dew, of higher dignity than a royal court, and the very hairs of their head
prevailed over that all devouring element which gets the better even of iron
and stone, and masters every kind of substance. And a solemn song of universal
praise was instituted there by these holy men inviting every kind of created
thing to join in the wondrous melody; and they uttered hymns of thanksgiving to
God for that they had been bound, and also burnt, as far at least as the malice
of their enemies had power; that they had been exiles from their country,
captives deprived of their liberty, wandering outcasts from city and home,
sojourners in a strange and barbarous land; for all this was the outpouring of
a grateful heart. And when the malicious devices of their enemies were
perfected (for what further could they attempt after their death?) and the
labours of the heroes were completed, and the garland of victory was woven, and
their rewards were prepared and nothing more was wanting for their renown; then
at last their calamities were brought to an end, and he who caused the furnace
to be kindled, and delivered them over to that great punishment, became himself
the panegyrist of those holy heroes, and the herald of God's marvellous deed,
and everywhere throughout the world issued letters full of reverent praise,
recording what had taken place, and becoming the faithful herald of the
miracles wrought by the wonder-working God. For inasmuch as he had been an
enemy and adversary what he wrote was above suspicion even in the opinion of
enemies.
"Do you see the abundance of resource belonging to God?
His wisdom, His extraordinary power, His loving-kindness and care? Be not
therefore dismayed or troubled but continue to give thanks to God for all
things, praising, and invoking Him; beseeching and supplicating; even if
countless tumults and troubles come upon you, even if tempests are stirred up
before your eyes let none of these things disturb you. For our Master is not
baffled by the difficulty, even if all things are reduced to the extremity of
ruin..."
-Excerpt from St. John Chrysostom's letter to St. Olympia
Icon of Christ calming the sea (source)
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
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