Spiritual Words of St. Peter of Damaskos
"What is the point of amassing riches? Despite his unwillingness, the seeming possessor will have to surrender them, not just at the moment of his death, but often before this, with much shame, tribulation and pain. Wealth breeds innumerable trials - fear, anxiety, constant worry and troubles sought and unsought - and yet many have endured even death for its sake. But God's holy commandment saves every man from all this and gives him complete freedom from anxiety and fear; often, indeed, it confers inexpressible delight on those who deliberately choose to rid themselves of possessions. For what brings more delight than to achieve dispassion, and no longer to be under the sway of anger or the desire for worldly things? Regarding as nothing the things that most people value and rising above them, we live as in paradise, or rather as in heaven, set free from all constraints through our untroubled devotion to God."
St. Peter of Damaskos.
St. Peter of Damaskos.
Comments
When I have talked about this at other times, I am almost always told that means I would have to give away everything I had. Noone seems to like it when I answer yes that is exactly what we are called to do. Their follow up questions is usually,noone has ever done that. Yes they have, and I give them examples of real people who are willing to give up everything to risk loosing everything and just pray to God and have faith that God will provide what them need.