The 400 Chapters of Love, by St. Maximos the Confessor
Talk by Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen), part 8

Chapters 351-400. 
Quotations: 
"A person with spiritual knowledge must, then, also acquire love, so that he may always keep his intellect in a healthy state. He who has been granted the grace of spiritual knowledge and yet harbors resentment, rancor or hatred for anybody, is like someone who lacerates his eyes with thorns and thistles. Hence knowledge must be accompanied by love." 
"It is for this reason that the Savior says, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God’ (Matt. 5:8) for He is hidden in the hearts of those who believe in Him. They shall see Him and the riches that are in Him when they have purified themselves through love and self-control; and the greater their purity, the more they will see."
"One should love every man from the soul, but one should place one’s hope only in God and serve Him with all one’s strength."

Includes discussions of 
1. Concentrating on the inner life and finding the hidden treasure; 
2. Commandments vs. voluntary offerings; 
3. Laziness; 
4. Dealing with slander without falling; 
5. Being a true friend; 
6. "Abandonment" by God; 
7. Bridling our passions: "Do not react; do not resent; keep inner stillness".

Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Washington, DC
April 20, 2021
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