Keep a Careful Eye on their Motives

I have watched farmers sowing the same type of seed, and yet each one had different ideas of what he was doing. One was planning to… pay off his debts. Another was hoping to get rich. Another wanted to be able to bring gifts to honor the Lord. Another was hoping to earn praise for his work from passers-by.  Someone else wanted to irritate a jealous neighbor, while there was yet another who did not want to be reproached by men for laziness.  And as for the seeds thrown into the earth, their names are fasting, keeping vigil, alms-giving, service, and such.  So let our brethren in the Lord keep a careful eye on their motives.

Based on St. John of the Ladder

In the photos: fathers are harvesting medicinal herbs (marigolds – calendula).  In background, two chapels near Vatopaidi.

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