On Patience and Humility

One must always bear with patience everything that happens, for God’s sake and with thanksgiving.

Our life is but a single minute compared to eternity, and therefore, as the Apostle says, “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).

Bear in silence when the enemy insults you, and at that time open your heart to the Lord.

When someone humiliates you or takes away your honor, strive by every means to forgive him, according to the word of the Gospel: “From one who takes away your goods, do not demand them back” (Luke 6:30).

When people revile us, we ought to consider ourselves unworthy of praise, reflecting that if we were truly worthy, everyone would bow to us.

We must always and before everyone humble ourselves, following the teaching of Saint Isaac the Syrian: “By humbling yourself, you will see the glory of God within you” (St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 57). Therefore let us love humility and we shall behold the glory of God, “for where humility grows, there the glory of God flows forth” (ibid.).

When there is no light, everything is dark: so too without humility there is nothing in a person but darkness.

Just as wax that has not been warmed and softened cannot receive the seal pressed upon it, so a soul that has not been tried by labors and infirmities cannot receive upon itself the seal of God’s virtue. When the devil left the Lord, “angels came and ministered to Him” (Matt. 4:11). So it is with us: if during temptations the angels of God withdraw from us for a little while, they are not far away, and they soon come and minister to us with divine thoughts, tender compunction, consolation, and patience. The soul, having labored, acquires the remaining virtues as well. This is why the holy Prophet Isaiah says: “But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not grow faint” (Isa. 40:31).

So too the most meek David endured: for when Shimei reviled him and threw stones at him, saying:

“Come out, come out… you man of bloodshed,” he was not angry; and when Abishai, indignant at this, said to him, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?” he restrained him, saying, “Let him alone, and let him curse—for the Lord will see and will repay me with good” (2Sam 16:7,9-10,12). And therefore afterwards he sang: “I waited patiently for the Lord, and He turned to me and heard my cry” (Ps. 39:2).

“The furnace tests the potter’s vessels, and the trial of a man is in his reflection” (Sir. 27:5). But “woe to you who have lost your patience: what will you do when the Lord visits?” (Sir. 2:14).

Just as a loving father, when he sees that his son is living disorderly, chastises him, but when he sees that he is faint-hearted and bearing the punishment with difficulty, then consoles him—so our gracious Lord and Father deals with us, using everything for our benefit, both consolations and chastisements, according to His love for mankind. And therefore we, being in afflictions as obedient children, ought to give thanks to God. For if we thank Him only in prosperity, we will be like the ungrateful Jews who, having been satisfied by the wondrous table in the wilderness, said that Christ was truly a Prophet and wanted to take Him and make Him king; but when He said to them, “Do not labor for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life” (John 6:27), they said to Him, “Then what sign do you do? Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness” (John 6:30–31). Directly upon such people falls the word: “He will give thanks to you when you do him good, and he will not see the light forever” (Ps. 48:19–20).

Therefore the Apostle James teaches us: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience; and let patience have its perfect work” (James 1:2–4); and he adds: “Blessed is the man who endures temptation—for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life” (James 1:12).