site logosite logo
  • The Spiritual Gift of the Day
  • Gallery
  • About
  • [RO]
SIDEBAR

The economic and moral crisis that has arisen in most nations and states is linked to obvious root causes which have a name and particular forms

0 comments
  • Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana
  • Avarice (Love of Money) and Self-Imposed Poverty
  • Discernment, Experience and Enlightenment
  • Insensibility (Death of soul)
  • Justice, lying and patience in injustices
  • Love
  • Obedience
  • Patience, trials and peaceful living
  • Remembrance of wrongs
  • Repentance
  • Slander
Sep 02 2015
Post's featued image.

1. Avarice. 2. The elimination of the sense of justice. 3. distortion of the truth. 4. ego-centrism, captivity to ourselves, worship of our personal interest, or that of our family, our place or, if you like, our nation.

1. Avarice. That’s according to Saint Paul. It’s idolatry, because, in the end, let’s be honest with ourselves, we’ve turned to idolatry wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. Avarice is typical of our age. It’s a rejection of the worship of the true God. People who are avaricious are indifferent to the legitimacy of the methods they employ. Lack of faith takes on new and increasingly uncontrolled forms. The virus of greed in today’s world has mutated and been transmitted to all strata of society. Let us not fool ourselves that it’s only the rich who belong to this category. It’s all classes. It’s just that the have-nots live in the hope of acquiring things themselves. What we call the consumer society has ended up as consumer hysteria. The ideal and aim of people today in all social classes is to accumulate material goods, unthinkingly, even though these are often superfluous. This greed, which is at the root of today’s ecological crisis, was denounced 16 centuries ago by a great theologian, the Father and Teacher of our Church, Saint Gregory of Nyssa. He stressed that we should use, but not misuse. We should allow ourselves to enjoy, but within reason. We should not become the ruination of all the creatures which live on land and in the sea.

2. The elimination of the sense of justice. In theory, we’re all against injustice; it’s a pastime that we all, to some extent enjoy. But in our everyday lives, if we think that something’s in our interest, we find a variety of pretexts to go along with it. During Great Lent, the insistent voice of the Prophet Isaiah urges us to ‘Remove the iniquities from your souls… learn to do good, seek judgement (i.e. justice), deliver those who are being wronged, plead for the orphan and seek justice for the widow… and come, let us reason together, says the Lord’. Holy Scripture is full of clear commands for us to be just in every facet of our lives, especially in our dealings. But it’s not only about employers who might not treat their employees fairly. When the injustice is perpetrated by certain employees, this is often overlooked. In the public sector, for example, when they work fewer hours than those agreed, but still think it their right to be paid a full wage. You might think these are mere details. But such minor injustices undermine the general sense of fairness, responsibility and dignity within a society.

3. Another root of corruption is distortion of the truth. A lie in all its forms. ‘Woe to you who call evil good and good evil’. The Prophet raises his voice also against those ‘who present darkness as light and light as darkness’, who ‘present the sweet as bitter and the bitter as sweet’. ‘Woe to those who consider themselves wise and knowledgeable in their own opinion.’ At another point in the Old Testament it is stated most expressively: ‘Those whose support is lies are shepherding the winds’ (Prov. 9, 12). The first book of Holy Scripture tells us that our Fall was the result of a lie, while the last informs us that ‘all those who love and practice lies’ will remain outside the Kingdom of Heaven. Lies, in general, undermine our ability to love. This may seem a little strange, but I’m referring to a thought of Dostoevsky, who puts into the mouth of Starets Zosima the following words: the main thing is not to lie to yourself. People who lie to themselves and believe in their own lies reach the point where they can see no truth, either in themselves or in others. So they lose respect for others and for themselves. If you don’t value others, you cease to love. I believe that this relationship between lying and the truth is most revealing. Starets Zosima concludes that people who lie to themselves are the first to be offended, because at times it’s very pleasant to feel you’re being affronted, isn’t it?

4. But the most egregious danger is ego-centrism, captivity to ourselves, worship of our personal interest, or that of our family, our place or, if you like, our nation. The antidote to this remains justice, together with support and self-sacrifice. The secret to discovering your true self is to offer it to others. Emphasizing and experiencing this value remain the Church’s greatest contribution. Drawing on the best pages of its history, the Church adds to the classic ‘cogito ergo sum’ – ‘I think therefore I am’- ‘I love therefore I am’. In accordance with the model of existence of the Holy Trinity, that of love and reciprocity.

based on Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana

If you want to pray for you or to donate, click here.

Related Portfolio Items:

  • We have always the leaders which we deserve
    We have always the leaders which we deserve
  • Which is the sign of a person which loves wisdom?
    Which is the sign of a person which loves wisdom?
  • The question of forgiveness is not a moral issue
    The question of forgiveness is not a moral issue
  • Crisis in Church: How to solve - Photo Journal from the feast of Vatopedi Saints (2019)
    Crisis in Church: How to solve - Photo Journal from…
  • How to have a peaceful and serene mind
    How to have a peaceful and serene mind
  • Saint Paisios of Mount Athos: his most dire temptation - photo journal with his cell and feast
    Saint Paisios of Mount Athos: his most dire…
  • Why the Skull of Saint John Chrysostom has one ear incorrupt after more than 1600 years? - A Photo Journal
    Why the Skull of Saint John Chrysostom has one ear…
  • He who has lost sensibility
    He who has lost sensibility
  • Saint Eprhaim of Katounakia: Everyone has a cross to carry
    Saint Eprhaim of Katounakia: Everyone has a cross to carry
  • Fr. George Metallinos has reposed ...in this world - small photo journal
    Fr. George Metallinos has reposed ...in this world -…
  • Anxiety, fear and cowardice: causes and treatment
    Anxiety, fear and cowardice: causes and treatment
  • A person cannot choose the time and the nation in which he is born - but what really matters is something else
    A person cannot choose the time and the nation in…
« The span of a raven
Crowned humbleness »

Submit a Comment Cancel Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Spiritual Gift of the Day

The photo is featured here as well as in the full portfolio and the spiritual subject categories so you can find the photos in any way you want.

Search

Popular Posts


Recent Posts

  • The mystery of the Holy Unction: Miracles
  • When will the trial we go through be over?
  • What Does the Bible Say About Doctors?
  • Saint Mary of Egypt and the Holy Communion
  • The types of sadness – photo journal from the Akathist Hymn
  • Who are the patron saints? (St. Charalampos, St. Corona, St. Nikephoros)
  • The Akathist Hymn: ode to the Invincible General
  • Which is the Beginning of the Gospel?
  • Prophecies about the pandemic – Photo journal with a great schema service
  • Fear: how to deal with it

Categories

  • === Body ===
    • Avarice (Love of Money) and Self-Imposed Poverty
    • Baptism, Tonsure, and Funerals
    • Gluttony and Fasting
    • Motivation, toil, diligence and laziness
    • Obedience
    • Renunciation of the world
    • Sleep and vigil
    • Vices and virtues
    • Victory over death
  • === Heart ===
    • Anger, Meekness, Simplicity and Innocence
    • Dispassion
    • Faith, Anxiety, Uncertainty and Cowardice
    • Insensibility (Death of soul)
    • Joy, mourning and joy filled mourning
    • Love
    • Passion, purity and chastity
    • Patience, trials and peaceful living
    • Remembrance of death
    • Repentance
    • Stillness of body and soul (Hesychia)
  • === Mind ===
    • Despair and Discouragement
    • Discernment, Experience and Enlightenment
    • Humility, pride and unclean thoughts
    • Justice, lying and patience in injustices
    • Prayer
    • Remembrance of wrongs
    • Slander
    • Tradition, learning and education
  • === Other ===
    • Informational
    • Miracles
    • Mount Athos
  • ==== Authors ====
    • Abba Efprepios
    • Abba Isaiah
    • Abba Sisoes
    • Abbess Gavriïlia
    • Abbess Makrina
    • Abraham Lincoln
    • Aimilios Polygenis
    • Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
    • Alexandru Mironescu
    • Ancient Patericon
    • Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana
    • Archbishop Seraphim Sobolev
    • Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papadakis
    • Archimandrite Gabriel Dionysiates
    • Avva Agathon
    • Barbara Johnson
    • Bishop Nektary Kontzevitch
    • confessor Răducă Marin
    • Diadochos of Photiki
    • Dimitrios Panagopoulos, preacher
    • Edsger W. Dijkstra
    • Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra
    • Elder Amphilochios Makris of Patmos
    • Elder Arsenie Boca
    • Elder Arsenie Papacioc
    • Elder Charalambos of Dionysiou
    • Elder Cleopa Ilie
    • Elder Ephraim of Arizona
    • Elder Ephraim of Vatopaidi
    • Elder Georgios Kapsanis
    • Elder Ilarion Argatu
    • Elder Ilarion of Kalamitsi
    • Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi
    • Elder Philotheos Zervakos
    • Elder Tadej Vitovnički
    • Elder Thaddeos of Vitovnica
    • Elder Zacharias of Essex
    • father Dumitru Staniloae
    • father Elias Minjatios
    • Father George Calciu
    • Father Seraphim Rose
    • Father Stephen Freeman
    • Father Vasileios Kalliakmanis
    • Father Vasileios Thermos
    • Fotis Skhinas
    • Fyodor Dostoyevsky
    • Gerontissa Philothei of Karea
    • Ioan Ianolide
    • Ken Kesey
    • Kostas Nousis
    • Metropolitan Amphilochios of Montenegro
    • Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol
    • Metropolitan Augustinos (Kantiotis) of Florina
    • Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patra
    • Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos) of Nafpaktos
    • Metropolitan of Diokleia Kallistos Ware
    • Nele Weduwen, Postgraduate student at Theology
    • New Testament
    • Old Testament
    • Patriarch of Constantinople Gregory V
    • Paul Saffo
    • Prof. Georgios Mantzaridis
    • Protopresbyter George Metallinos
    • Protopresbyter John Romanides
    • Robert Capa
    • Saint Ambrose of Optina
    • Saint Anthony the Great
    • Saint Apostle Paul
    • Saint Barsanuphius of Optina
    • Saint Barsanuphius the Great
    • Saint Basil the Great
    • Saint Cyril of Alexandria
    • Saint Diadochus of Photice
    • Saint Dionysius the Areopagite
    • Saint Dorotheos of Gaza
    • Saint Dyonisius the Aeropagite
    • Saint Ephraim of Katounakia
    • Saint Ephraim the Syrian
    • Saint Gennadius of Constantinople
    • Saint George Karslidis
    • Saint Gregory of Nyssa
    • Saint Gregory Palamas
    • Saint Gregory the Sinaite
    • Saint Gregory the Theologian
    • Saint Hesychius the Priest
    • Saint Ignatios of Antioch
    • Saint Ignatius Brianchaninoff
    • Saint Isaac the Syrian
    • Saint Isidore of Pelusium
    • Saint John Cassian
    • Saint John Chrysostom
    • Saint John Colobus
    • Saint John Jacob of Hozeva
    • Saint John of Damascus
    • Saint John of Kronstadt
    • Saint John of the Ladder
    • Saint John the Prophet from Gaza
    • Saint John the Russian
    • Saint John the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco
    • Saint Joseph the Hesychast
    • Saint Justin Popovich
    • Saint Luke of Crimeea
    • Saint Makarios
    • Saint Mark the Ascetic
    • Saint Maximos the Confessor
    • Saint Moses of Optina
    • Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis
    • Saint Nektarios of Aegina
    • Saint Nicholaos Velimirovich
    • Saint Nicodemus the Athonite
    • Saint Nikephoros the Leper
    • Saint Nikodimos the Athonite
    • Saint Nikon of Optina
    • Saint Paisios the Athonite
    • Saint Peter of Damaskos
    • Saint Philaret of Moscow
    • Saint Poimen the Great
    • Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalivia
    • Saint Porphyrios the Athonite
    • Saint Seraphim of Sarov
    • Saint Silouan the Athonite
    • Saint Simeon the New Theologian
    • Saint Sophrony of Essex
    • Saint Symeon of Thessaloniki
    • Saint Symeon the New Theologian
    • Saint Thalassios the Libyan
    • Saint Theophan the Recluse
    • Saint Theophylactos of Ochrid
    • Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk
    • Seneca
    • Soren Kierkegaard
    • Stanislav Lem (Solaris)
    • Theodoros Kolokotronis
    • Valeriu Gafencu

Archives

  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • June 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014

The images are copyrighted.
SHARE, don't steal!
Contact us.
Get it on Google Play