Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Rejoice in the Lord! Now and forever! I would like to share with you a few excerpts that I have read today from the book: "Mother Gavrilia: The Ascetic of Love." Her wisdom is of true Godliness and Faith and I pray that her words are taken directly to heart in each of us, so that we may better attain to the unity of the Faith
Mother Gavrilia is of Greek origin and was at first a "dedicated" (a lay person living in the real world like a monastic) person following the will of God, and was later tonsured a nun, and later on became Gerondissa (Greek word for "Abyss," and pronounced Yerondissa) Gavrilia whom many turned to for counsel and guidance. She is known as the Ascetic of Love because of the life she lived for Christ, expressing His love in everything she did and to everyone whom she touched
The following is the excerpt
On the Cross
Gerondissa Gavrilia [says]: We believe that the Gospel says: First, that God does not let anyone be tempted more than he can endure. Second, that Christ Himself endures with us. I hear some people say: "Ah! She bears such a Cross!" But the Cross is not carried by her: He who carried His Own Cross bears it within her soul. As for ourselves, we only bear small <<Crosses>>.
On the Love that is on the Cross
Gerondissa Gavrilia [says]: The Cross is the symbol of self-sacrifice for others. That's how it is. Yet, he who loves and gives his own self to help others, does not feel this as self-sacrifice. When Love is given, it is not given by man. It is the Love of God that flows through the heart of the giver. He doesn't feel it as a <<sacrifice>>, because he is not aware of it. He feels it as his natural condition - without any change in his own life or health. On the contrary, he is in a state of permanent joy, for he is at the same time both giver and receiver of Divine Love and Power. Christ has shown us this, with His Life, His Teaching, His Crucifixion and His Resurrection. This is why true love is always on the Cross; but, at the same time, it rejoices in the Light of the Resurrection
?and does it always stay on the cross
Always. Yet, man cannot stay on the Cross without Love. Because Love has within itself the seed of sacrifice. We cannot possibly love unless we are willing to give. Isn't it so? and when sacrifice is carried to the end, it becomes a Cross. Occasionally, the persons to whom you give your love may not appreciate it, and then you are left alone with god. Still, God has His Own, and He will always send them to you. The moment you approach the way of living He wants you to follow, immediately God's people will start coming to you...Well, what can I say, I am really astonished at this! In the old days, I had to choose my friends... I was wondering: <<Will this person suit my way of living, care for the things I care for>>? And so on. Today, I have no need of such thoughts. I know that anyone who comes to wish me "good morning" is sent by god - as if he were personification of an Angel. God selects whom He will send
On Daniel the Prophet
Question posed to Mother Gavrilia: "Mother, I have noticed that quite often the people we meet do not greet us with the usual "How are you"
Gerondissa Gavrilia [says]: No, they do not; because they understand that we do not have any problems. And, indeed, a man of God has no problems. He cannot have problems. Truly, if you were to ask me now to tell you how things are with me, I wouldn't have anything to say. I do not have anything that is mine to tell you. What I think about is: "What does God want me to say? What does He wish me to do"? I tell Him: "Take my eyes and make them yours. Take my hands. Take my feet". You know, yesterday I had to walk a long distance - from a Clinic in Alexandra's Avenue, I walked the uphill road to Kallidromiou Street, then Skoufa Street, to Kolonaki. But I did not feel tired, because all the time my mind was on the sick lady I was going to visit next. As the Psalm says: "They word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (PS. 119:105). When your mind is on God and His Words, you do not realize distances. "Aren't you tired"? they ask me. "No"! And when my day is over, I can start again from the beginning, without break. I do not feel tired. this happens gradually though, when you come to realize that His Hand protects you at every step and guards you even against the least of things, the very least of things. This is how it is. The Spirit of God guides you. Why, if you ask a man which way you should take, he will tell you. All the more so God, for Whom we are His <<spoiled children>>! This is how they used to call me in India: <<the spoiled child of God>>. For I keep saying to friends: "Do you know what I am? I am the spoiled child of God"! And they reprove me. "Shame on you! Such pride"! Then I tell them: "Do you know what a spoiled child is? To begin with, a naughty child; yet one that is loved and spoiled by its parents. This is what I am. And God loves me"! This is my attitude towards life, my child. Since I know how much God loves me, I cannot help but love, in turn, all His creatures, a the Angels do. One day, Father Lev Gillet gave us a fine lecture on the Prophet Daniel, to whom an Angel came and said: "Daniel...this I have come to pass on to you, for you are a man greatly loved by the Lord"...And Father Lev Gillet added: "Have you ever thought of that? God sends to us also with His Angel, every day, the same message that He sent to the Prophet Daniel". This is why we should not walk in low spirits. We should not be anxious about anything. We should walk and dance! And if asked: "Why do you dance"? We should answer: "Because we are the spoiled children of God"! I remember that, when I was in London, I was teaching French to some children whose father was a rather pessimistic person. Whenever he saw me arriving at their house, he would ask: "What's up? Why so cheerful"? And I would answer: "Because it's the 20th of May and I am alive. That's all"! That is enough. This gift of life is a great gift if we only knew how to make the best of it...
On Divine Dispensation
Gerondissa Gavrilia [says]: I believe that nothing can happen without the Will of God or His Permission...For He is Almighty. This is why I am never anxious, in spite of all the terrible things that go on around us. I do not feel any stress or strain, because I am always submitted to God's Will.
Question posed to G.G.: Indeed...Do you consider, then that anxiety is the result of human pride and lack of faith
Gerondissa Gavrilia [says]: Yes...lack of absolute confidence. The same is true of human worries. Worrying is really saying to God: "You didn't do things as they should be, as I would like them to be"...Who am I do say that? Or, again: "Why did they tell me this? Why did they do that to me"? Yet, could these things happen without Him, without His <<Permitting>> them to happen? No! So, we can be at peace...We can have inward tranquility permanently. Without this permanent tranquility god cannot send His Holy Spirit to help us. The Holy Spirit comes and gives guidance only when man is at peace. Christ has said: <<I will send the Comforter unto you, and He will guide you, and He will show you things to come>>...This is why, at times, He tells us: <<Do not go there>>. Why? Because it would not be to His Glory
I pray that the Peace of Christ dwells in your hearts and becomes the essence of your beings, so that the Holy Spirit may guide you in every moment of your lives and so that you may one day be unified with our Heavenly Father in Heaven
May God bless your life long journey with Him
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, Amen
Your brother in Christ, always
سليمان
