Gleanings from Orthodox Christian Authors
and the Holy Fathers
On the Parallel Gospel - Matthew
7:5
The Lord did not require ten talents
from him who had received only two; and as He distributed them according
to the strength of each, so He also collected them according to the strength
of their upbringing. And we, as merciless torturers of each other, often
ask from our fellow creatures that which we cannot even fulfill ourselves,
and certainly would not have fulfilled if we had been in their place. And
so, seek any correction first of all in yourself; and when with the help
of God's blessing you attain this in proportion to your strength, then
surely you will see your fellow creatures...as favorable, good and kind:
"First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see
clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye (Matt. 7:5)."
Abbess Thaisia, Letters to a Beginner
Used with the permission of Fr Seraphim Holland from his
website.
