Be Humble, or you’ll stumble
focus quote
If you would be simple-hearted like the Apostles, would not conceal your human shortcomings, would not pretend to be especially pious, if you would walk free from hypocrisy, then that is the path. While it is easy, not everyone can find it or understand it. This path is the shortest way to salvation and attracts the grace of God. Unpretentiousness, guilelessness, frankness of soul – this is what is pleasing to the Lord, Who is lowly of heart. Except ye become like children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of God (Matt. 18:13).”
Elder Leonid of Optina
“If you deprecate yourself in order to be honored, the Lord will expose you… And if you censure yourself aiming at truth, the Lord will make his creatures open in front of you the door of his glory of which He speaks from eternity, and they would glorify you and glorify the Creator, because in truth you would be to His image and His resemblance.”
Saint Isaac the Syrian