Our Fathers call for frugality in order to be able to spend on the poor. Saving for charity purposes is not the one that the Gospel forbids, for proper saving implies austerity and love. From this perspective, God calls us to economize in everything. At a time when newspapers pervade every aspect of our lives, we cannot spend a great deal of our time reading them since this prevents us from reading books, which are deeper and more meaningful for they comprehend human history and the best among them have the power of purifying. We should also limit watching and listening to audio-visual media without eliminating it, since it has some benefits, but it is also a waste of time. In fact, the mass media are based on political guidance from Great Powers. Through the media, the Powers exploit us for their own advantage, until they control us sooner or later, and our minds are inculcated with this gradually.

Moderate eating is also an essential component of our humanitarian endeavor and our liberation from the bondage of pleasures, in order to dedicate our lives to God and His poor.

In addition, we should limit parties in which dinner starts late at night. In fact, banquets, which are common in some communities, can last for three or four hours, without true communication between people, with clothes being objects of pettiness and seduction, and with waste of precious time. Of course, building friendships is a must. However, in such instances, there is no sentimental meeting between you and your friends. And if you want to share feelings with them, you do not need all this time. Some people attend many parties in one week, thus they lack time for real emotional exchange. Undoubtedly, these recurrent long occasions are an escape from real life. Full of talks, these occasions lead to gossip and several desires that distract the heart from other righteous things.

These errant parties do not comply with the Lord’s commandment: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation”. The Lord is asking us to be vigilant; and vigilance is achieved through economy and frugality.

One of the key aspects of austerity is to economize in talking, which is to abstain from speaking ill of anyone and to avoid all that hurts people.

All this can help us lead a life away from opulence and the concept of consumer society. We shall economize in everything to offer what we have and what is in our hearts to the others. We shall open our hearts for God so that He prevents us from gossip and profusion, and makes us silent, speaking in a good manner, and caring for all people in order to give them gentle words and service. If God dominates us and offers us a quiet love, others “may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”.

A virtuous ecclesiastical community is one composed of people who talk little and serve a lot, so that people will feel that Christ is among us, alive in what we say and alive in what we do.

Translated by Amani Haddad

Original Text: “الاقتصاد” – 17.09.95

Gossip is a talk about others aimed at divulging their misdeeds and defaming. It is a widespread sin that involves telling lies about someone and putting their reputation at risk. People believe what they hear and their good opinion of others is damaged, which leads to despair, for they would be convinced that virtues are rare. Consequently, they would cease dealing with the person whose image has been ruined.

This is the sin of the tongue which the Apostle James wrote about: “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body… The tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.” He then added that the tongue sets on fire the course of nature and it is set on fire by hell.

One may die if they knew that people became against them and that they talk about their weaknesses. Gossips offend themselves first of all, for they do not see their transgressions to overcome them. They look instead at the misdeeds of others, though revealing a misdeed does not rectify it. Virtue should begin with the tongue. When you notice someone’s trespasses, you shall pray for them and reproach them kindly so that they repent; and beware of falling into the sin you attribute to them.

Against this sin God said in the Psalms: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered”. If God covers the sins of people in order for them to repent, you should as well prevent your tongue from divulging their misdeeds.

It may occur to you that if you reveal others’ faults you are being zealous for virtue. On the contrary, you should talk about virtues of others for it consoles. Gossiping would be even worse if it was slander. Passing on true but offensive information hurts, and slander is far more prejudicial, for it can lead a soul to hell, and it undoubtedly leads the offender’s soul to hell.

It is essential that you do not believe everything you hear about someone. There is no need to make sure if the information was true. A better attitude is to ignore what we hear to prevent it from leading us into corruption. However, if we had to know the truth, a careful examination is a must. For instance, we need to know everything about people we hire or we deal with. If we knew about their transgressions, we should remain silent and take a position, rather than divulging the bad information. And if we were asked about a sin we know that someone has committed, we should not answer unless the asker has the right to know the truth.

A virtuous tongue paves the way for great purity.

Translated by Amani Haddad

Original Text: “النميمة” – 10.09.95

The struggle against the Christ is largely ever-increasing. The world is now connected through traveling, mass Medias and arts, which further promotes harm. These communication vectors can be employed in both good and bad manners; and we have no complaint about their use. Nevertheless, this reality explains the prevalence of sins. Thus, everyone needs to keep an eye on themselves and their children. They cannot live outside this world and form pure groups; because the ways of survival exist within this world and through dealing with the wicked and sinners. You are building your world within the existent humanity and the latter is trying to spread its corruption, while you are attempting, through good potency and words, to make it know God. This is an everlasting battle between light and darkness that you can find almost everywhere; in your workplace, at home, and during social gatherings, in which you are present to fulfill your responsibilities.

            However, this does not mean that you are obliged to attend the sinners’ parties and gatherings, or to adopt their social lifestyle. You have to know how to choose your friends and discuss with your children their social groups and the places they go to. You can also choose the TV program you want to watch without being a slave to the screen. In fact, both our eyes and ears have their pureness. You also ought to ask your wife and daughters to be dressed decently, especially if you were responsible for their living.

            You also have to be modest as to what you eat and drink, and avoid extravagancy; and the same applies for your clothes and home furniture. The world glory also come from these; for if you desire glory and boast, you shall be void of the true existence on which rely the resistant. The more you have such desires, the more they control your mind and become your ultimate goal, so you shall fall in the bondage of jealousy and pride, and you will boast because you possess living means and power more than the others, and you will impair your soul after it has been enlightened in Christ.  While men are proud of their money and power, women are rather conceited because of their beauty, clothes, cars, and much other superficiality. This leads to arrogance and recognizing the family as wealthy, therefore being haughty towards the poor who are, above all, the Christ’s loved ones.

            Do not even think that you can show off all your glory and be at the same time passionate about modesty. This behavior contradicts the principle of sharing. If we yearn for glory, we get closer to it; and not only will it grow in vain, but also it will hurt those of weakness and cause in them the desire of this glorious life.

            Do not reassure yourself by saying that not all of us are like that. One can seem chaste out of incapacity, but his heart is filled with pleasures. To be free of your wealth by great generosity and free of your poverty by the divine wealth, this is what believers have in common.

            Facing this largely widespread corruption – and I did not enumerate all its aspects – I have no solutions to propose. You cannot be freed from extravagancy by decreasing the same. It is not a matter of quantity. Should you purify your soul, you shall be freed from inside. “For by grace you have been saved”. Everything in you must be changed. You have to like the face of God, because He is good solely, and you are far from Him because of the faces of devils hidden behind various desires. Their fight is great, and it needs a greater power to overcome them. When you become convinced that the divine joy is greater than any pleasure, and that the Lord provides consolations, you shall be leaving your world pleasures to the everlasting spiritual enjoyment. So has been the experience of the pure.  

Translated by Amani Haddad – 08.02.10

Original Text: “من العالم الى الحب الإلهي” – 05.02.1995

Patience is not cowardice in the face of reality, or neutrality towards defects. The believer seeks to change the world. However, his preaching may take too long, and people may not listen to him if he testifies and talks. In fact, there is the factor of time, and we cannot possibly dictate the truth to the others. Why do those whom we try to guide insist on their sins? There is something Paul called “the mystery of lawlessness”, for no one knows when grace will come upon the one we pray for, or when  he will accept it. The spirit has both “wheat and weeds”, and you cannot always uproot weeds.

Apparently, most people remain in the evil state which they have been accustomed to while growing up. Moreover, true repentance is scarce, and all that you can do is to wait and love. This means that, in the parish and in the world, you live with people of different degrees of piousness and devotion. Hence, you have to accept them the way they are, for they are your brothers. And maybe their only chance of getting back to righteousness is to see your sense of fraternity and your tolerance of what annoys or shocks you about them. Some people may hurt you constantly because of a deep-rooted enmity or a pathological jealousy. They would be nervous when they see, and they might seek to humiliate you out of hatred and injustice. If you resent their attitude or return like for like, you will cause the rancor and trouble to increase. But you are capable of healing them through meekness and patience. God has chosen you to be the healer of that person who hurts you, just because you know his wound. God is the great healer, for He has the greatest patience. He awaits our return, He calls us to come back, but He does not compel us to be virtuous. He gives us time, hoping that the sin would “disgust” us one day, or that we would opt for Him and realize that our comfort lies in Him. Patience is based on hope. In confrontations, you need kindness and peace to tolerate impoliteness, abuse, maliciousness and intentional oppression. Accepting others as they are and with all their sins, starts by admitting that you cannot change anything about people if they did not change themselves. The New Testament teaches us about the patience of the Christ and saints. This is patience in Christ. If you are in Christ, you have no spite, petulance, indignation, slapping, or reaction. You would rather retreat and recognize the truth in order to get out of the darkness in you.

Patience is not about saying that you are doomed to live with this or that, but rather thanking God that you live with whomever you live with, for if you were patient with them, you will save yourself and them, and you will be kind so that they can see God. God has made a time for the salvation of mankind, followed by the Kingdom, and He also prepared a way for every one of us to be saved. You shall accompany the other throughout all the steps he needs in order to understand and rejoice.

Translated by Amani Haddad

Original Text: “الصبر المقدّس” – Raiati n^o 42-16.10.94

I wrote about demure clothing in churches, especially at weddings, but in vain. Now I wonder whether our young and middle-aged ladies are neglecting this aspect of their chastity which requires demure clothing in all places. In fact, purity is necessary not only in religious buildings but also in all venues and on the streets. The pretext, of course, is that our weather is hot, although men also suffer from this hot weather, and nobody died because of the heat. And when we ask “why this nudity?”, we hear the shocking answer “this is fashion”, as if women are doomed to slavery to fashion.

We are not against women’s beauty. But does beauty mean that women have to be provocative for those who look at them? They are certainly aware that they are exposing their beauty, and they are seeking to draw attention as well, which includes causing obscene imagination for men. Aren’t women responsible for their male companions? According to what I heard from some young ladies, I know that mothers sometimes urge their daughters to wear indecent clothes. So our ethical situation is worse than I thought.

It is not a matter of fashion, because people are saying that there is a different fashion trend this year. Thus women wearing short clothes are following last year’s fashion. So this clothing style is based on an intention to be provocative, and on the perception that sexual arousing is a good thing that gives body pride for the young lady and lets the young man be subjugated so that she feels he is a slave to her. Is this a kind of revenge for the chastity that men have required from women since the dawn of time to control them? Studies show that men wanted to dominate women; then women tried to reverse this situation and take control. Do relationships between humans have to be shaped as master-slave? Did women feel that they are in bondage, and they wanted consequently to make men slaves to them?

I agree that women do not think in such a complex way. But isn’t this pattern of thinking inherent in us? Aren’t they mounting this challenge as if they were saying: you wanted to enslave me, and now I want to enslave you? Dare to resist if you were a man. If the young or middle-aged lady said: “this is not how I think”, then this would be a disaster. And if she thought and resolved, then it would be a total disaster. The disaster lies in the fact that many people consider that the body is separated from the personality, which means that it does not represent a human relationship anymore, and it became a spot of contact between flesh and flesh, or eyes and flesh.

The greatest disaster is that we hear some non-Christian citizens saying: nearly-nude women are Christians, and Christian women are characterized by indecent clothing. Where do some of our women stand on the Lord’s words: “whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart”? How do our indecent young ladies want men not to commit adultery in their eyes? Don’t we have a girl or lady that would say: I am a person having a soul and a body; my contact with people is, first and foremost, a spiritual one that would be damaged by arousing instincts? If my soul was gracious and sublime, I will be loved. Then, I would know that the person who is fond of me appreciates my qualities. His heart would be attracted to me; and if our hearts met, our bodies will definitely meet within a pure relationship that we, the Christians, call “marriage”. For us, marriage is not about surrendering to a body; it is an act of accepting the body of a girl to whom we are engaged in an eternal commitment.

Beauty paves the way for the meeting; but debauchery is not a meeting. Whoever wants only a body knows that there would always be a more beautiful one. As for those who seek a union based on uniqueness, on internal magnificence and on one sincere commitment, they would be more faithful. All generations have tasted beauty, but they have also tasted the soul. Why would this generation be contented with bodies and clothes partially hiding them? Has the soul vanished and nobody has patience anymore to wait for a sublime meeting? More surprising is the fact that some married women are not more decent than single ones. After vowing to make her body a means of communication between her and her husband, which means that her body would be only for her husband who seeks the heart lying inside, why would the married woman expose her body to voracious eyes as if she was available to all, and not to one partner only? I want to be convinced.

Translated by Amani Haddad

Original Text: “الأزياء العارية” – Raiati n^o29 –

Translated by Amani Haddad

Original Text: “الأزياء العارية” – Raiati n^o29 – 17.07.94

Some people are keen on being present in other’s eyes, in their admiration, while very few seek to be present in God’s eyes and satisfaction. Some people are eager to be respected for what they show and spend, while others try to respect people through their politeness, attention, and care, without looking for any reward or credit. Some cause distress, hurt, are arrogant and impose their authority and power; whereas some hide until God’s wrath ceases, and pray for others if they failed to advise them. Some offer affection, while others seek affection and they would blame and punish others if they did not give them as much as they want.

Some are present if they are forgotten, and most are present if they are revered, praised and supported. Some fear God, and most are frightful. Some exercise the power of love, while most exercise the power of vigor. Some are wealthy by their poverty, and most are poor by their wealth. Some believe that the more far they are, the closer they get to God, and many think that their manifestation enables them of existing.

Some people eat a lot and drink due to the fear of death, and few do not eat or drink much because they fear God. Few pray for they believe in salvation, while most do not pray deeply because they are content with themselves. Few see beauty everywhere, and most perceive the prevalence of ugliness. Most reveal weaknesses of others to avoid seeing their own, and few hide the weaknesses because they know nothing is hidden before the Lord. Few do not talk much for fear of gossip, while most gossip because they refuse to reform themselves. Most are furious because they do not love, while few love in silence. The irate has no peace, and the meek has a purified soul. Some might think that their furor can help them prove their rights, while some live in an everlasting sympathy for they believe that it can heal their souls and protect others from their anger.

The majority brags because they have no deepness, whereas the deep people opt for silence for they are looking for repentance. The majority entices to control, while the minority chooses to be decent because they look for divine satisfaction. The majority wants to attract everyone’s attention, whereas the minority tries to avoid glory. Many organize sumptuous banquets to be known for their generosity, while others have few banquets, because they hate excessiveness. Many people believe that lavishness makes them more respectful, whereas those who do not spend much save their money for those who are in need. The majority gives to be known, and the minority gives to be known by God.

Many discuss to be known for their intelligence, while those who are really intelligent do not discuss much. Many show their knowledge so that others know they are cultivated, while those who have extensive knowledge do not talk much, and are rather reticent.

The majority is proud of their deeply rooted families, while few recognize the grace of God on them and their families. The majority is fanatic about their families because they are fanatic about themselves, and the minority is modest about their lineage. Most people are tribes, and have tribal feuds, and few yearn for divine compassion. The majority wishes to have a high rank in life, and the minority seeks divine forgiveness to be present in the Kingdom only. The majority is superficial, and the minority is deep. The majority lives in illusions, and the minority asks for the reality. The majority is motivated by the glare of their world, and the minority longs for a glare from above. The majority is made of bodies, while the minority is made of faces. The majority is nurtured by the desire, while the minority is nourished by austerity. The majority is trivial, and the minority lives in the world of meanings. The majority is from the world, and the minority is from God.

Translated by Amani Haddad Original Text: “الأكثرية والأقلية”

Sacred laws are very strict for he who buys his ordination for money, so that he would “put to sale a grace which cannot be sold, and for money ordain a bishop, or chorepiscopus, or presbyters, or deacons… let him who is convicted of this forfeit his own rank; and let him who is ordained be nothing profited by the purchased ordination or promotion; but let him be removed from the dignity or charge he has obtained for money” (Canon 2 of the Council of Chalcedon in year 451).

The ethical rule states that anyone should deserve a position in order to obtain it. The second rule stipulates that anyone in charge of a job shall fulfill it and content themselves with their salary. As for the ones who earn low pay, the society as a whole is responsible for them, as well as philanthropists. They should not ask for a certain amount of money as a condition to carry out the job, for it is a duty based on the concept of serving the citizens who have a right to be respected by those in charge of delivering the work; a right that must not be compromised. Whoever accepts a position within the governmental sector – whether it is a high-ranking position or a law-ranking one – has a responsibility to serve all people, especially the poor who should not be extorted and whose interests should not be ignored.

Every service is provided gratis, and the political community provides for those who are at its service. The government may default, especially in times of hardship. This situation requires us to strive for raising salaries or curbing price hikes. Society is based on justice, and this includes being fair to those in positions of responsibility. Before this war, we knew judges who lived in poverty, died and left nothing. Humanity also knew senior rulers in the past whose families did not inherit anything from them after their death. Those are greats in the church and in the world, who lived in severe austerity and did not defile themselves by ill-gotten money.

If you encounter an employee who fails to meet your rightful demands, you should urge upon them or their superior, to fulfill their duty. You can wait, but you should not sin. There is no worse than the senior or junior employee who is tempted to be bribed and who relies on gifts, for the gift weakens the will of the person in charge who accepts it, and makes them do a dishonest action. It is because some actions harm one of the citizens that they are forbidden by laws, in any field of community life. And employees who do illegal actions are aware that they are harming someone or the government which represents the entire society.

The judge who seeks a gift or who is promised to receive one will issue a judgment that is unfair to one of the parties. And the physician who gives a false report harms the institution to which the fake patient belongs. And those who give a wrong statement harm at least themselves for they undermine themselves, become cowards, and do not teach people honesty.

Ministers, deputies or politicians in general, fail to love their country if they accept bribery, because they would say what they wanted them to say, and they would keep silent on an unjust law and an unfair political position. Desire of money can lead to high treason.

Without virtue, who can defend the oppressed? Who protects the country from infringements if it weren’t for groups of pure people whom money does not tempt? Who would say we want in the church a righteous and pure bishop who would be a great teacher, if bribery was spread among those in charge? Who is the orthodox man who would ensure the safety of his family if spiritual judges are tempted to receive gifts? How can a judge consider a lawsuit carefully according to the laws if one of the litigants promised to offer him money?

“The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”, as Paul taught us. It ruins the society, the church, the government and the conscience. With your integrity, you can encourage those who are in charge to be honest also. Lebanon will be established only by pure people. The Lebanese will have no value if they did not learn that some things should not be done, and sometimes “there isn’t a way out”. The truth on which we insist in every responsibility is God Himself.

Translated by Amani Haddad

Original Text: “الرشوة” – 09.01.94- Raiati n^o2

Suspicion is one of our commonest sins. How can we commit it, and “the righteous God tests the hearts and minds”? (Psalm 7: 9) Occasionally one of those who listen to my homilies would ask me: “Why did you talk about me?”, and my answer is that I did not talk about anybody. The Divine Word has tested you, and this is good. Relationships between people are originally based on confidence, on the simplicity that is in Christ, as stated by Paul. Isn’t it mentioned in the Bible: “Do not judge according to appearance” (John 7: 24)? In fact, no one can possibly enter others’ hearts. You should content yourself with what you hear, rather than interpreting it. “God will judge the secrets of men” (Romans 2: 16). Indeed, the words we hear can mislead us. We can interpret and examine the motivations behind people’s behaviors, but how could we possibly know their intentions? Only God can uncover hearts on the last day. He who suspects intentions is impersonating The Judge; a power God has confined to Himself.

He who throws people into hell is throwing himself into hell, and he shall be overtaken in sins he ascribed to other people. You are entitled to test your heart, and you see it by the rules of God. Take care of yourself and do not be preoccupied with other people. Turn a blind eye to people’s trespasses, and leave them to God; in other words, pray for them. This will benefit you and them. Do not be cruel lest you bring the wrath of God.

“If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” (Galatians 6: 1) Only gentleness can reform others. What does Paul say after that? He says: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”, which means that you shall bear patiently people’s sins for this is the only way that will enable them to reform themselves.

Seek to be reformed by people. Accept advices and do not be hurt. Do not say: “Why did you rebuke me in front of people?” Why do you consider that you should not be blamed? Do not be upset if one of your brothers wanted to reform you, even if he had to do it in others’ presence. If the one who blames you is right, then you should accept what he is saying, for truth can save you. Do not ask about his intentions. Maybe he loves you and he is saying this for your own good. If it was fair, then you should accept the advice no matter how severe he is. He may have harsh words, for many people are not kind. The tone is of no importance. Importance lies in sincere and fair words.

Do not consider that you are above the truth. Regarding this the apostle says: “if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Truth can come to you through a little child. Even crazy persons can utter words of wisdom. Accept the advice humbly, because what matters is your improvement and overcoming evil. Be grateful to those who rebuke you, and do not be sad, for they might be God’s messengers to you. “Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (Proverbs 9: 9).

Choose a spiritual father or a friend who would point out your vices. This is what a person who loves you would do, for he wishes you the very best. Others can be objective while testing you. You would be upset if you made an error. Your friend or your spiritual father delivers you from your illusions, whereas your sins will cause you to fall into the trap of illusions. You are blinded by your sins. A spiritual friend knows how you should be guided.

Choose someone who would teach you, for every person, no matter how righteous he think he is, needs to be taught by someone at every stage of his life. If you did not find a guide, let the Bible guide you. Let it control your behavior and your heart, so that the latter would be compliant with the Word of God. If the Bible purifies your heart as fire purifies metals, you shall become blameless. No one is as repentant as God wants us to be. Therefore, you should remove all masks; expose them to light without fear, for not accepting rebuke from the Word of God is equal to loving your sins. Loving sins is death, and liberation from them is resurrection from the dead.

Translated by Amani Haddad

Original Text: “التوبيخ” – 05.09.93

This summer and other summers are seasons of impropriety. In fact, many people consider that summer is a period during which they do not have to control their behavior. Some think that attending the Holy Mass is not essential, arguing that a visit to the countryside exempts them from meeting the Lord during the Eucharist, or that an outing to the beach takes the whole day. Perhaps they did not read about the dangers of sunlight, and about the link between long exposure to the sun and skin cancer.

The problem lies in the fact that the Lord’s Day is a rest day in Christian nations, although the Bible does not mention this. I understand the need for relaxation after a tiring week, but the Bible states that the Eucharist is to be celebrated on Sundays. Thus, we should pray early in the morning in summer, or we shall go to an orthodox church before heading for the beach or the mountains.

As for swimming suits, what can I say? Or what can I say about the gathering of the two sexes in what looks like a scene of nudity? I do not have solutions, and physicians say that swimming is a highly beneficial activity. Of course, honest people say that these indecent clothes are a source of seduction or some kind of seduction. Thus, let everyone be responsible, examine their innermost self, and behave as an adult.

That is not all. In fact, nudity is becoming very usual for many females. I want be naïve and repeat what women say: “these are just clothes”. However, no one is convinced by this. If the woman wanted to honest, she would admit that these clothes involve some kind of temptation, and that she likes it. Eyes are often pleased by these scenes; and most eyes are insatiable. Who believes that a woman wearing short and tight clothes is not doing it intentionally? Is she really convinced that she is not exposing herself and that she is not arousing men’s desires?

Poets have praised the exposed parts of a woman’s body, so you can notice a complete harmony since the sixteenth century in Europe between exposed parts and these in poetry.

Why a woman does not content herself with the spiritual and moral attraction, which is the deep aspect in her, in order for her heart to meet the man’s heart, and for her mind to meet the man’s mind? What does she want to buy him through her body as if she is not confident about her personality? Why does she want to be chosen for her body, which means that the man’s choice would not be free and responsible?

If I accepted, as a way of leniency, to be indulgent with a single lady who looks for seduction because she is despaired of her deep personality, how can I understand that a married lady, before or during middle age, would wear these indecent and tight clothes as if she was totally exposed? Doesn’t she believe that her body is an integral part of her personality which her husband appreciates, and that it is a means of communication between her and her husband?

Why would she make her body a means of communication between her and a stranger? Isn’t she aware that she might be arousing the stranger’s desire as if she was inviting him to stare at her? Everything indicates that she is pleased by all of this. Why is she interested, after marriage, in being appreciated for her beauty? Eyes touch just as hands, thus isn’t this kind of induced touching obscene? Behaving in such a manner and claiming chastity make an apparent contradiction. Perhaps our contemporary period is one where decency is not anymore one of the aspects of chastity.

Translated by Amani Haddad

Original Text: “هذا الصيف” – 01.08.93

Many are those who stain others’ reputation out of envy. Their complex souls do not want to recognize the good deeds of others, for they love to be the only ones to shine. If they heard words of praise for others, they say: but… They prefer to be the only ones to manifest goodness. Therefore, they die in their isolation, for they could not have partners with whom they would share the goodness, the vision. In their deadly aloofness, they do not rejoice at the truth and they only wish to boast to show their achievements and take the credit. It is not by the love of others that they live, but by compliments.

They are surrounded by weak people, for they fear confrontation. Confrontation is when two faces meet, and when I recognize you and you recognize me. To recognize you means to expect the truth to be uttered by you, from your opinion, and to be willing to give up my standpoint if it proved to be faulty. If I gave up, this means you exist; and if you exist, this means I am not the only one on the scene.

A person who is envious in his mind and behavior will try to eliminate you. For this reason, envy has always been associated with rage, for screaming is one of the grades of the mind. I eliminate you with my voice. This is why the Jews were crying out when they were saying to Pilate: Let Him be crucified, let Him be crucified. You crucify the one you envy. You disrupt his work or you do not wish for a work for him. The more the envious person does this, the more he isolates himself. The Bible says about the death of the Lord that they “had handed Him over because of envy” (Mark 15:10). He had proved to the people that the Pharisees and those in charge of the Jewish community are worthless in the eyes of God. Thus, in the hearts of the meek, He represented the unity of the nation. And they ceased to represent the nation. This is why He had to die. If the envious person does not repent, he will undoubtedly die of envy, crumble from the inside and vanish in every spiritual aspect.

God’s wrath is because the Church has become the greatest place for envy, for its activity is prevented or hindered since they do not let you work. Nothing is as destructive to the Church as our envy for each other. They hinder you because they exclude all people except those followers who repeat their principles and stand up for them.

Salvation is only possible if God inspired the envious person so that he would realize that the world has enough places for him and for others, and that goodness is given to him and to others, and that every one of us has a different talent depending on the grace offered. The Church is the beauty of all when they are unified, and the productivity of all when they consult each other. The condition for this is modesty; it is this virtue that makes you value other people and prefer them to yourself. For envy is the result of superiority. And superiority is when you are content with yourself and think this is sufficient for the world. To feel superior and boast is to consider others as minors or incompetent, and think you can neglect them because of their ridiculousness.

We should cry for the envious person rather than make him cry, and offer him our deep prayers so that he opens his harsh soul. The tragedy is that he goes deeper and deeper in his hatred, and the second tragedy is that we leave him to his hatred, which means that we as well have put ourselves in isolation. Only prayers can remove the barrier of enmity and make you realize that the other person is as essential to you as your breath. The other person is your other lung. He teaches you to trust him and yourself, I mean this self that has reached meekness.

Translated by Amani Haddad

Original Text: “الحسد” – 18.07.93