“We are here for God’s Glory”

“Look at the trees of the forest. See how sturdy and beautiful they are, how tall they grow, and how smooth their bark is. Yet when we plant a garden, we prefer other kinds of trees, such as pomegranate and olive trees. This is because we want trees that bear fruit. We are the trees that God has planted in his garden. He is not concerned with how sturdy and beautiful we are, how tall we grow, or how smooth our skin is. As trees in his garden, he is concerned that we only bear fruit. And the fruit which he wants us to bear is spiritual: peace and love, faith and gentleness, patience and self-control, generosity and loyalty. Think again of the trees of the forest. From time to time, we go and cut down one of those trees to provide wood for building and houses and fuel for our fires. If we do not bear fruit, God will cut us down and cast us on the fire. He has planted us on this earth not for our sakes, but for his glory; and we can only glorify him by the spiritual fruits that grow in our souls.”

St. John Chrysostom, On Living Simply - The Golden Voice of John Chrysostom

Sunday before the exaltation of the holy cross

Icon of the Birth of the Theotokos