Venerable Isaac of Syria is the mirror

Concerning the Homilies of Venerable Isaac of Syria
Elder Ieronymus of Aegina (+ 1966)

Forsake not Isaac. Every day one page of Abba Isaac. Not more. Isaac is the mirror. There you will behold yourself. The mirror is so that we may see if we have any shortcoming, any smudge on our face, in order to remove it, to cleanse ourselves. If there is a smudge on your face or on your eyes, in the mirror you will detect it and will remove it. In Abba Isaac you will behold your thoughts, what they are thinking. Your feet, where they are going. Your eyes, if they have light and see. There you will find many sure and unerring ways, in order to be helped. One page of Isaac a day. In the morning or at night, whenever. Suffice it that you read a page.

God's compassion

Venerable Isaac of Syria

As a handful of sand thrown into the ocean, so are the sins of all flesh as compared with the mind of God. Just as a strongly flowing fountain is not blocked up by a handful of earth, so the compassion of the Creator is not overcome by the wickedness of his creatures. Someone who bears a grudge while he prays is like a person who sows in the sea and expects to reap a harvest.

Silence

Venerable Isaac of Syria

Silence is the mystery of the future age, while words are mere implements of this world.

Be crucified

Venerable Isaac of Syria

Be persecuted, rather than be a persecutor. Be crucified, rather than be a crucifier. Be treated unjustly, rather than treat anyone unjustly. Be oppressed, rather than zealous. Lay hold of goodness, rather than justice.

Cross

Venerable Isaac of Syria

The knowledge of the Cross is concealed in the sufferings of the Cross.

Remembrance of death

Venerable Isaac of Syria

Why do you trouble yourself in a house that is not your own? Let the sight of a dead man be a teacher for you concerning your departure from hence.

God within you

Venerable Isaac of Syria

It is not necessary to roam heaven and earth after God or to send our mind to seek Him in different places. Purify your soul, O son of man, remove from yourself the thought of memories outside of nature; hang the veil of chastity and humility before your impulses. By means of these you will be able to find Him who is within you.

Persistent discipline

Venerable Isaac of Syria

A small but always persistent discipline is a great force; for a soft drop falling persistently, hollows out hard rock.

Self-discernment

Venerable Isaac of Syria

The one who is conscious of his sins is greater than the one who profits the world by the sight of his countenance. The one who sighs over his soul for but one hour is greater than the one who raises the dead by his prayers while dwelling among human beings. The one who is deemed worthy to see himself is greater than the one who is deemed worthy to see angels, for the latter has communion through his bodily eyes, but the former through the eyes of his soul.

Death to the world

Venerable Isaac of Syria

The world is the general name for all the passions. When we wish to call the passions by a common name, we call them the world. But when we wish to distinguish them by their special names, we call them the passions. The passions are the following: love of riches, desire for possessions, bodily pleasure from which comes sexual passion, love of honor which gives rise to envy, lust for power, arrogance and pride of position, the craving to adorn oneself with luxurious clothes and vain ornaments, the itch for human glory which is a source of rancor and resentment, and physical fear. Where these passions cease to be active, there the world is dead; for though living in the flesh, they did not live for the flesh. See for which of these passions you are alive. Then you will know how far you are alive to the world, and how far you are dead to it.

Repentance

Venerable Isaac of Syria

Why do you increase your bonds? Take hold of your life before your light grows dark and you seek help and do not find it. This life has been given to you for repentance; do not waste it in vain pursuits.

Interior ladder

Venerable Isaac of Syria

Enter eagerly into the treasure house that lies within you, and so you will see the treasure-house of heaven: for the two are the same, there is but one entry to them both. The ladder that leads to the Kingdom is hidden within you, and is found in your own soul. Dive into yourself, and in your soul you will discover the rungs by which to ascend.