The words of the repentant thief hit me hard .. tears start to go from my eyes... What an amazing message and video and chant in the back .. Good morning. God is Great
This is a tough explanation... Two question arose in me when hearing this: First, if the death of the inoccent was to be for correction of the unrepentant, then should't the one who repents after hearing that also think that now he could be struck for the correction of someone else (which would make him scared and maybe he would't even repent) and the second question is that all this seems so harsh, like God couldn't find a different way to come to the unrepentant person than to let the righteous man die? I know Christ died like this, but Christ is God and he knew from the very begining everything and accepted it with his own free will, but the inoccent person doesn't know anything and yet he dies just as an example for other people who in most cases won't even repent, but say if this is what happens to those who try to be near God, then why should I even try...
@stevanmatavulj3119 Dear brother , this is a very short version , the church can talk about this for hours.. We see our life in a short picture and God sees it on a big screen. God wants us to live with Him forever in His kingdom. That's what God wants firstly. If we want to be closer to Him, the more we will have tempations. beacause there is no other way then true the cross, but we need to take the cross with joyfulness since the whole christian life should be in joy just like repentence. He was wearing the biggest Cross of all of us. It's very easy to show love to God and everybody else, when everything is going well, but when things are not going well then we will show who we really are and how much we have love for Christ and others. however, God is giving us the first years many grace and joy , but after a few years , he will leave us a little bit , so we can fight really for Him , since His main goal is to humble us , do destroy our egoism. the less egoizm we have , the more place we have for Him. Only then He can help us. the more humilty we have the more God gives us His grace , endless love for all , tears , joy.. The Jesus prayer will not stop in our mind and heart. Lord Jesus Christ , have mercy on me.. Pray for me.
@isni261 I understand everything you said and you are right. It is just so hard to act like you see the "big screen" as you said, without actually living it or seeing it. And that is the faith. Some things are more easy to accept, some are more difficult. And for me this one is more difficult and I would be a hypocrite if I said that I don't feel any struggle with this explanation, but that doesn't mean that in the future I would't be able to accept it with no struggle or questions. But for now, this is how I feel and just wanted to post my thoughts...
@@stevanmatavulj3119 I completely understand your struggle and you are not like most, you honestly revealed your struggle, where others would either deny or not reveal so as to not to seem to fit in the group. but you in revealing your struggle, you have partaken in being truthful and therefore are further sanctified and in the group you want to be, the group receiving mercy.
If I have understood correctly, the suffering of the righteous is an occasion to practice mercy by those who lead a bad life? Are there no other reasons?
Suffering is a profound mystery. It cannot be reduced to a single purpose or reason. The suffering of the righteous is multifaceted, serving not only as an occasion for others to practice mercy but also as a means of spiritual growth, purification, and participation in the life of Christ. The righteous suffer as they follow Christ, who Himself was the ultimate righteous sufferer. Their suffering unites them with Christ's Passion and becomes redemptive, not only for themselves but for others. St. Paul writes: "If we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified with Him" (Romans 8:17). Through their suffering, the righteous bear witness to Christ and participate in His work of salvation. Suffering can also serve as a means of purification for the righteous, helping them to grow in humility, patience, and love. The Church Fathers often speak of suffering as a "fire" that purifies the soul, much like gold is refined in a furnace. St. Isaac the Syrian teaches: "Without affliction, there is no spiritual progress." The suffering of the righteous can be a powerful testimony to the love and power of God. Their endurance, faith, and forgiveness in the face of suffering often inspire others to repent, believe, and turn toward God. In this way, their suffering becomes a means of evangelism and transformation for those around them. Yes, the suffering of the righteous can indeed serve as an occasion for others to practice mercy, as you have suggested. This reflects God’s providence in turning even difficult situations into opportunities for the salvation of others. Christ Himself taught that caring for those in need-"the least of these"-is an act of love toward Him (Matthew 25:40). Sometimes suffering serves to reveal the glory of God, as seen in the story of the man born blind (John 9:1-3). Christ explains that his condition was not due to sin but so that "the works of God might be displayed in him." In a similar way, the suffering of the righteous can manifest God's grace and power. From an eternal perspective, the suffering of the righteous is temporary and serves a greater purpose in the divine plan. It prepares them for eternal life and contributes to the restoration of all creation. As St. Paul writes: "The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18). While the suffering of the righteous may provide an occasion for others to practice mercy, this is only one aspect of its purpose. Suffering is a profound mystery that serves many roles: uniting the righteous with Christ, purifying their souls, bearing witness to the world, revealing God’s glory, and contributing to the ultimate restoration of creation. The Orthodox Church approaches suffering not with simplistic explanations but with faith in God’s providence, trusting that all things work for the salvation of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
'...allow the innocent to suffer so that even the arrogant may benefit'?! [The arrogant and who else?] Doesn't Christ say: "He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike]."? God is not the one separating and making judgments on who is wicked and who is good, righteous and wrongdoers- these are man made distinctions. 'Those who suffer are the truly beloved children of God'. Suffering means enduring with patience and without judgment [seeking causes and justifications], without lamentation by comparison with 'times of no suffering', or with other's perceived happiness, accepting 'what is' and not wishing it was different/ wishing 'what is not'.
A lot of times we say we are good or we are innocent or we did nothing wrong why me? In reality we may have ex: some unforgiveness and hatred in our heart towards ex: our ex or family member or person who did something to us many many years ago.
Orthodox Christianity understands sin not primarily as a legal transgression but as a condition-a rupture in our relationship with God, others, and creation. When humanity fell through sin, the entire cosmos was affected, and suffering, death, and corruption entered the world (Romans 8:20-22). While Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross definitively defeated sin and death, the full effects of this victory will only be realized at the end of time. In the meantime, the consequences of sin-including suffering-remain part of the human experience. Christ’s death and resurrection paid the ultimate price for sin, reconciling humanity to God and opening the path to salvation. However, this does not mean that suffering is eradicated in this present age. Instead, Christ transforms the meaning of suffering. Through His own suffering, He sanctified it, showing that it can be a means of union with Him and a path to eternal life. Innocent suffering, then, is not meaningless; it can be redemptive when united with Christ's own suffering. As St. Paul writes: "I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the Church" (Colossians 1:24). This does not imply that Christ’s sacrifice was insufficient but that Christians are called to participate in His redemptive work through their own struggles and crosses. Orthodox theology emphasizes human freedom. God allows the consequences of human choices, including sin, to unfold because He respects our free will. The suffering of the innocent often results from the misuse of this freedom by others. For example, violence, injustice, and neglect cause harm, and God does not override human agency to prevent these. This freedom, however, is also the basis for true love and repentance. God works through even the worst situations, bringing good out of evil and healing out of suffering (Romans 8:28). Christ Himself, the sinless One, suffered innocently. By entering fully into human suffering, He shows that He is not distant from those who suffer but shares in their pain. His suffering gives profound meaning to the suffering of the innocent, uniting it to His redemptive work. St. Silouan the Athonite beautifully expresses this mystery: "The Lord gives grace according to the suffering of the soul. The greater the love, the greater the suffering." Suffering is not the end of the story. The Cross always points to the Resurrection. The suffering of the innocent, while painful and mysterious, is temporary in light of eternity. God’s ultimate promise is the restoration of all things, where “God will wipe away every tear” (Revelation 21:4) and where there will be no more suffering, death, or sin. it is important to approach this question with compassion and humility. The question often comes from a place of deep pain. While theology provides an intellectual framework, the mystery of suffering ultimately requires a personal encounter with Christ. Through prayer, the sacraments, and the love of the Church, those who suffer can find comfort and hope.
@@holyresurrectionofchrist You give an answer only a man of study could give. Its not often i can say this, but i think you are one human on earth that could be a good companion. And there are rare humans on earth that are innocent and suffer. To understand Christs sacrifice is deeper than the mojo wojo christians says. Its more like he did pay for our sins, like putting a seed into the ground, not eradicading our sins. Are you not using money and enslaving your own brother to wage-slavery just today? How could you think holy christ could take that from YOUR brother 2000 years ago, when even you are not ready to do so? Better pray to god that wage-slavery is replaced with a way to life our life for free, like it is in heaven! Do that 10 fold- 100 fold-1000 fold, untill it happens, or your orientation about our prayergoal is reached!
The story of Job is about an innocent family who God kills to prove His deal to test mankind? Job gets his land taken away and his skin is covered in sores but he has praise of God? Then God restores all He took- what a terrible God to do this harm, kill His children, wife for a bet with the devil. So many contradictions exist in the Bible that has been edited over 30,000 times but we're told to have blind faith not to use our critical thinking and reasoning. Sorry, but I honestly find this story to be so creepy and so are many others in the Bible. So God breaks His own Ten Commandments? I don't think the Bible is written by an all loving and merciful God.
What innocent people? Who is innocent ? For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.
By seeking justification (from men) we can lose our peace and our reward.
Αμήν ❤
Thank you for the videos , I learn a lot with them . God bless you ALL , my brothers.
Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on us
Thank you!
The words of the repentant thief hit me hard .. tears start to go from my eyes... What an amazing message and video and chant in the back .. Good morning. God is Great
Lord help me to forgive
What is this Chant? its beautiful !
It’s the Canon to the Theotokos
This is a tough explanation... Two question arose in me when hearing this: First, if the death of the inoccent was to be for correction of the unrepentant, then should't the one who repents after hearing that also think that now he could be struck for the correction of someone else (which would make him scared and maybe he would't even repent) and the second question is that all this seems so harsh, like God couldn't find a different way to come to the unrepentant person than to let the righteous man die? I know Christ died like this, but Christ is God and he knew from the very begining everything and accepted it with his own free will, but the inoccent person doesn't know anything and yet he dies just as an example for other people who in most cases won't even repent, but say if this is what happens to those who try to be near God, then why should I even try...
@stevanmatavulj3119
Dear brother , this is a very short version , the church can talk about this for hours.. We see our life in a short picture and God sees it on a big screen.
God wants us to live with Him forever in His kingdom. That's what God wants firstly.
If we want to be closer to Him, the more we will have tempations. beacause there is no other way then true the cross, but we need to take the cross with joyfulness since the whole christian life should be in joy just like repentence.
He was wearing the biggest Cross of all of us. It's very easy to show love to God and everybody else, when everything is going well, but when things are not going well then we will show who we really are and how much we have love for Christ and others.
however, God is giving us the first years many grace and joy , but after a few years , he will leave us a little bit , so we can fight really for Him , since His main goal is to humble us , do destroy our egoism. the less egoizm we have , the more place we have for Him. Only then He can help us. the more humilty we have the more God gives us His grace , endless love for all , tears , joy.. The Jesus prayer will not stop in our mind and heart. Lord Jesus Christ , have mercy on me..
Pray for me.
@isni261 I understand everything you said and you are right. It is just so hard to act like you see the "big screen" as you said, without actually living it or seeing it. And that is the faith. Some things are more easy to accept, some are more difficult. And for me this one is more difficult and I would be a hypocrite if I said that I don't feel any struggle with this explanation, but that doesn't mean that in the future I would't be able to accept it with no struggle or questions. But for now, this is how I feel and just wanted to post my thoughts...
@@stevanmatavulj3119 I completely understand your struggle and you are not like most, you honestly revealed your struggle, where others would either deny or not reveal so as to not to seem to fit in the group. but you in revealing your struggle, you have partaken in being truthful and therefore are further sanctified and in the group you want to be, the group receiving mercy.
@@SnatchnHalos Thank you for kind words
Amen , glory to theos!!!
☦️
One question leads to another and another….
It is easiest for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich unsuffering individual to reach heavenly kingdom.
I still do not understand. What does struck mean in this context? What is a pure wage? How does innocent death cause the unrepentant to repent?
If I have understood correctly, the suffering of the righteous is an occasion to practice mercy by those who lead a bad life? Are there no other reasons?
Suffering is a profound mystery. It cannot be reduced to a single purpose or reason. The suffering of the righteous is multifaceted, serving not only as an occasion for others to practice mercy but also as a means of spiritual growth, purification, and participation in the life of Christ. The righteous suffer as they follow Christ, who Himself was the ultimate righteous sufferer. Their suffering unites them with Christ's Passion and becomes redemptive, not only for themselves but for others. St. Paul writes:
"If we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified with Him" (Romans 8:17).
Through their suffering, the righteous bear witness to Christ and participate in His work of salvation. Suffering can also serve as a means of purification for the righteous, helping them to grow in humility, patience, and love. The Church Fathers often speak of suffering as a "fire" that purifies the soul, much like gold is refined in a furnace. St. Isaac the Syrian teaches:
"Without affliction, there is no spiritual progress." The suffering of the righteous can be a powerful testimony to the love and power of God. Their endurance, faith, and forgiveness in the face of suffering often inspire others to repent, believe, and turn toward God. In this way, their suffering becomes a means of evangelism and transformation for those around them. Yes, the suffering of the righteous can indeed serve as an occasion for others to practice mercy, as you have suggested. This reflects God’s providence in turning even difficult situations into opportunities for the salvation of others. Christ Himself taught that caring for those in need-"the least of these"-is an act of love toward Him (Matthew 25:40). Sometimes suffering serves to reveal the glory of God, as seen in the story of the man born blind (John 9:1-3). Christ explains that his condition was not due to sin but so that "the works of God might be displayed in him." In a similar way, the suffering of the righteous can manifest God's grace and power. From an eternal perspective, the suffering of the righteous is temporary and serves a greater purpose in the divine plan. It prepares them for eternal life and contributes to the restoration of all creation. As St. Paul writes:
"The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18).
While the suffering of the righteous may provide an occasion for others to practice mercy, this is only one aspect of its purpose. Suffering is a profound mystery that serves many roles: uniting the righteous with Christ, purifying their souls, bearing witness to the world, revealing God’s glory, and contributing to the ultimate restoration of creation. The Orthodox Church approaches suffering not with simplistic explanations but with faith in God’s providence, trusting that all things work for the salvation of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
Thank you!! ❤🙏
'...allow the innocent to suffer so that even the arrogant may benefit'?! [The arrogant and who else?]
Doesn't Christ say: "He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike]."? God is not the one separating and making judgments on who is wicked and who is good, righteous and wrongdoers- these are man made distinctions.
'Those who suffer are the truly beloved children of God'. Suffering means enduring with patience and without judgment [seeking causes and justifications], without lamentation by comparison with 'times of no suffering', or with other's perceived happiness, accepting 'what is' and not wishing it was different/ wishing 'what is not'.
A lot of times we say we are good or we are innocent or we did nothing wrong why me? In reality we may have ex: some unforgiveness and hatred in our heart towards ex: our ex or family member or person who did something to us many many years ago.
There is no innocent ppl! All human have both side good and bad
I still don’t fully understand.
because there are no innocent people?
Why do the innocent have to suffer for sin when Christ already payed for our sins on the cross
Orthodox Christianity understands sin not primarily as a legal transgression but as a condition-a rupture in our relationship with God, others, and creation. When humanity fell through sin, the entire cosmos was affected, and suffering, death, and corruption entered the world (Romans 8:20-22).
While Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross definitively defeated sin and death, the full effects of this victory will only be realized at the end of time. In the meantime, the consequences of sin-including suffering-remain part of the human experience.
Christ’s death and resurrection paid the ultimate price for sin, reconciling humanity to God and opening the path to salvation. However, this does not mean that suffering is eradicated in this present age. Instead, Christ transforms the meaning of suffering. Through His own suffering, He sanctified it, showing that it can be a means of union with Him and a path to eternal life.
Innocent suffering, then, is not meaningless; it can be redemptive when united with Christ's own suffering. As St. Paul writes:
"I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the Church" (Colossians 1:24).
This does not imply that Christ’s sacrifice was insufficient but that Christians are called to participate in His redemptive work through their own struggles and crosses.
Orthodox theology emphasizes human freedom. God allows the consequences of human choices, including sin, to unfold because He respects our free will. The suffering of the innocent often results from the misuse of this freedom by others. For example, violence, injustice, and neglect cause harm, and God does not override human agency to prevent these.
This freedom, however, is also the basis for true love and repentance. God works through even the worst situations, bringing good out of evil and healing out of suffering (Romans 8:28).
Christ Himself, the sinless One, suffered innocently. By entering fully into human suffering, He shows that He is not distant from those who suffer but shares in their pain. His suffering gives profound meaning to the suffering of the innocent, uniting it to His redemptive work.
St. Silouan the Athonite beautifully expresses this mystery:
"The Lord gives grace according to the suffering of the soul. The greater the love, the greater the suffering." Suffering is not the end of the story. The Cross always points to the Resurrection. The suffering of the innocent, while painful and mysterious, is temporary in light of eternity. God’s ultimate promise is the restoration of all things, where “God will wipe away every tear” (Revelation 21:4) and where there will be no more suffering, death, or sin. it is important to approach this question with compassion and humility. The question often comes from a place of deep pain. While theology provides an intellectual framework, the mystery of suffering ultimately requires a personal encounter with Christ. Through prayer, the sacraments, and the love of the Church, those who suffer can find comfort and hope.
@@holyresurrectionofchrist You give an answer only a man of study could give. Its not often i can say this, but i think you are one human on earth that could be a good companion.
And there are rare humans on earth that are innocent and suffer. To understand Christs sacrifice is deeper than the mojo wojo christians says. Its more like he did pay for our sins, like putting a seed into the ground, not eradicading our sins. Are you not using money and enslaving your own brother to wage-slavery just today? How could you think holy christ could take that from YOUR brother 2000 years ago, when even you are not ready to do so? Better pray to god that wage-slavery is replaced with a way to life our life for free, like it is in heaven! Do that 10 fold- 100 fold-1000 fold, untill it happens, or your orientation about our prayergoal is reached!
Everything g is random. There is not such thing as justice
The story of Job is about an innocent family who God kills to prove His deal to test mankind? Job gets his land taken away and his skin is covered in sores but he has praise of God? Then God restores all He took- what a terrible God to do this harm, kill His children, wife for a bet
with the devil.
So many contradictions exist in the Bible that has been edited over 30,000 times but we're told to have blind faith not to use our critical thinking and reasoning. Sorry, but I honestly find this story to be so creepy and so are many others in the Bible.
So God breaks His own Ten Commandments? I don't think the Bible is written by an all loving and merciful God.