The blessed Elder Joseph of Vatopedi (1921-2009). The Elder of our hearts (part a)

It has been a year today since the passing away of our blessed Elder and spiritual father from earth towards the Heaven. In many synaxaria we also read this: “ If you want to call me ‘father’ you must imitate my life and my deeds”. If however,we cannot imitate him, let us at least remember his conforting words, his love and his advice, his efforts and his trials, his infinite patience but mostly his merciful attitude, his tolerance, his charity, his total respect for the personalities of each and everyone of us in his struggle for perfection and spiritual transformation.

We have chosen some specific pieces from his writings and his advice which show the richness and the wonder of his fatherly heart, his merciful attitude and the magnitude of his fatherly embrace which was roomy enough to engulf everyone and everything, in an abundance of love.

Words of solace, Words of Love ( part a)

• “ All Merciful Lord, You who have not despised us in our deficiencies, but instead wore our nature and lowered Yourself to our level and even down to Hell to pull us out of there. Please transfer unto us the essentials of Your love, All Merciful, and banish the malicious wickedness which the enemy has pressed inside us”.
• Every Crucifixion is followed by the Resurrection, like spring follows winter. But if our times are only the preamble of what is coming, how much more difficult will the future be?
• Man’s divided personality which was the result of the expulsion from Paradise, creates divisions and separations. This is the whole point: To be able to stand other people’s weaknesses and not to judge them, no matter who he is and what he believes in. He needs our forbearance and our patience.
• The various temptations neither get sleepy nor tired! Even thought they are always beneficial, they are intense and tiring. It is only after our souls open up with the love for trials and head towards humility, that temptations somehow become more tolerable and even desirable.
• Had we been able to use self contempt we would perhaps be able to derive some benefit, because nothing happens without God.
• There is scorching heat in the world, inside us and outside, morally and physically. The All Merciful Lord forced even nature to comply with human purposes, in order to show responsibility in human intentions.
• Distress is everywhere, temptations have increased during our difficult times and everywhere you go you hear cries of anguish. We pray, but for whom first, for how much and when? May the Lord have mercy on all of us.
• Beware, believe, pray and get on with the struggle. There are difficult times ahead. May our Lord save us from “the events which will take place to tempt those living on earth”.
• This is the great injury which befell on man: he lost his faith as a basis and as a principle. Therefore he has no recourse to remedy!
• Everything is resolved by patience and perseverance. The more people forget the meaning of the cross, the more wickedness increases and is amplified by the different pressures which occur both naturally and by various means. Blessed is he who remains alert and prays.
• What can one say about temptations? Which ones? The present or those coming? The present ones have either passed or are still at work, but they are softer than those on the way and therefore, we must realize that it is necessary to be prepared more now than we have done in the past.
• We now live in the times for which the Fathers prophesized that “those living on earth will be tempted”. Everything points to the fact that we must love Christ and understand the meaning of the cross, which nowadays has special relevance.
• All that is human is changing and shifting and transformed… but we remain the same and sometimes we fight with…. ourselves.
• Persecution and sorrow are distinctive of our times, in this unjust world we live in. These are not even the preamble of what the future has in store for us in order to promote social justice. Therefore, do not wonder why all these are taking place, but face everything with perseverance, patience and prayer.
• In each and every day there are temptations, sicknesses, divorces and adventures. One hears of them and is constantly distressed! What has the world come to, by denying God! We have become a jungle, a human butchery shop. May the Lord have mercy on us.
• I am watching how evil has assumed an immense force which consumes everything day by day. Sin is not only committed but has control over and has everything enslaved. How much care and courage we need!
• We need to have courage and turn wholeheartedly and firmly towards God because it won’t be long when even the prudent and the sensible will be deceived.

Α.-Μ.

Translated by vatopaidipress