June 22, 2014 - Το the sick brother who said “I am a burden to him”

June 22, 2014 - Το the sick brother who said “I am a burden to him”

June 22, 2014

Το the sick brother who said “I am a burden to him”

“In the name of Jesus Christ: My brother, we do not have any rights over our neighbor. We must overcome this and swallow it with love. Nobody says to his neighbor, “why don’t you love me”, but, by doing what is worthy of love, draws his neighbor into loving him.

As for the needs of the body, if a person is worthy of comfort, God will even inform a Saracen heart to show mercy, according to his needs. However, if he is not worthy or it is not beneficial for him to be comforted then, even if he creates a new Heaven and a new Earth, he will not find comfort.

Concerning what you say about being a burden to your neighbor, it is evident that this is a demonstration of righteousness. No one who wants to be saved and wants to give the chance to one’s neighbor to fulfil God’s commandments can say “I am a burden”. The person who hates people who irritate hates gentleness. The person who flees from those who distress him, flees the consolation of Christ. May God, Who loves Man, shield us with His grace, though the prayers of the saints. Amen.”

ABBA DOROTHEOS
“TO A MOST WEAK BROTHER WHO ADMITTED VARIOUS THOUGHTS ABOUT THOSE MANAGING HIS NEEDS”
LETTER 16
Translation by Constantine Scouteris, Athens 2000, p. 319