by St. Nikolai Velimirovich
The slothful man says: A lion is outside; in the streets I might be slain! (Proverbs 22:13)
In order to justify his slothfulness, the slothful man emphasizes the difficulties and obstacles of a certain task and magnifies them beyond measure. If a man annoys him, he will say that the entire village annoys him; if the leaves rustle, he will justify that he is unable to go to work because of a storm; if a rabbit is in front of his house, he will say it is a lion! He says this in order not to leave the house and to delay his work.
Slothfulness is completely contrary to the nature of man. The nature of man is activity; the nature of man seeks to be occupied, to work and to build. Slothfulness is the sure sign of a distortion of the nature of man. That slothfulness is a terrible vice is clear in that an active man is never envious of the slothful man, while the slothful man is envious of the active man; in the same manner a sober man is not envious of the drunk, while the drunk is envious of the sober man.
O Lord, ever-active Creator, save us from the dull and sinful slothfulness by which we distance ourselves from our primordial nature [created] from Your image and likeness, Master of all things! Inspire us, with Your Holy Spirit, all-compassionate and joy-creating.
To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.
The Prologue of Ohrid: Lives of the Saints, All Sebastian Press Publications, June 22nd.
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St. Sisoes the Great
Troparion, Tone 5
From your youth you followed the angelic life and were therefore filled with many godly gifts. O Sisoes, emulator of the angels, in the hour of your going forth from this life, you shone resplendently as the sun, revealing your glory and illuminating our souls!
Kontakion, Tone 4
In asceticism you were revealed to be an earthly angel, continually enlightening the thoughts of the faithful with divine signs. Therefore we honor you with faith, venerable Sisoes.
Readings and Inspiration from the Diocese of Charleston Homepage
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