shed blood and receive the Spirit

“It is necessary to avoid disputes and discussions that begin ostensibly for the sake of spiritual benefit, but lead, more often, to a headache. Do not expect spiritual understanding from people who do not believe in God. It is better to pray for such people, that God forgive and enlighten them. Each person speaks in a language which he understands, and it is not necessary for believers to put forth before others those great truths in which they believe and which they are experiencing, for the other can not understand because he speaks in a different frequency, on another spiritual wave length.” 

“As a person becomes more spiritual, so much fewer rights does he have in this life. It is obligatory to be patient, to accept injustice, to accept evil words from others. A crooked stick (perverted person) who is distant from God has many rights: to strike and shout and act unrighteously. God keeps our rights for the other life. Out of ignorance however we often seek our rights here. Let us not damage things at all. If they say anything to us, immediately we give them the right. And later we think we trust in God. That is a big joke. Human justice doesn’t mean anything to a spiritual person. But it is a great concern for the perverted person.”

~St. Paisios the Athonite  

“As health comes from bitter medicine, so too does salvation of souls come from bitter experience.”

“So in every tribulation, let us say, ‘Thank you, my God, because this was needed for my salvation.’”