The Wise Thief

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Humility

...Christ comes to teach men the humility they had forgotten and the obedience they had transgressed. He gives us a perfect example in His humility and obedience towards His heavenly Father. And His Forerunner teaches us by his example of humility and obedience - in his sinless humility and obedience to Christ.

Men who have no humility or obedience, have no wisdom or love. And he who does not have these does not have God. And he who does not have God does not have himself, but is as if he did not exist, being in darkness and the shadow of death.

If any among us were to say: Christ is too high an example for me; I cannot look to Him - then here is John the Forerunner who is, as an ordinary man, closer to mortal men. Let him look to John's humility and obedience. But, alas, if a man does not want to do good, he will always find an excuse to flee from it.



Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic
"Homilies"

The Purpose of Man

Man's purpose, from the moment he is born, is to find God. However, he cannot find Him unless God finds him first. "In Him we live and move." (Acts 17:28) Unfortunately, the passions have shut the eyes of our soul and we cannot see. But when our very loving God turns an affectionate eye towards us, then we awake as if from sleep and begin to seek salvation.



Elder Joseph the Hesychast
"Monastic Wisdom" (Letters...)

Foundations of Sand and Rock

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell.

And great was its fall.

Matthew 7:24-27