“St. John Chrysostom said that a monk differs from a layman only in the vow of celibacy. The commandments are the same for a monk and a layman. Man’s main task is to serve God in every place. It’s easy for a monk to do, but more difficult for a married man. Every family has temptations, because that life is concerned with material goods. Material goods are not good or bad in and of themselves, but attachment to them is bad. And here is the danger: You can be submerged in the vanity of the world and the seduction of wealth. There are temptations for monks as well. Unfortunately, sometimes monks forget about their vow of poverty. These temptations are overcome only by trusting in the Lord God. It’s even harder for a family man to fulfill the commandments because he bears responsibility for his loved ones. But his reward will be less, because he serves God less. Family men bring a thirty-fold fruit to God, widows sixty-fold, and virgins a hundred-fold. This is the traditional explanation of the fruits brought forth on the good earth. But a thirty-fold fruit to God is already a great fruit, a great harvest. Try to get thirty cucumbers from one seed! It’s a lot, but it’s possible to get even more. Christianity knows two ideas—good and even better. Marriage is a beautiful thing, but even more beautiful is monasticism. “

– Interview in pravoslavie.ru

 

– ***Now and then we include a particularly thought provoking or inspiring excerpt not from one of our regular ‘Elders’***