"Life's lessons" (Saint Ephraim the Syrian)

Life's lessons

hen you see life’s pleasures, beware that they might not distract you, for they conceal death’s snares. Likewise a fisherman casts not his hook to no purpose.

As bait for his hook, the enemy uses the delusion of sensuality to arouse desire, that he might thereby catch men’s souls and subject them to himself.

A soul which has been caught to serve the enemy’s will then serves as a snare for other souls, for it conceals the grief of sin with its apparent delight.

While exercising the virtues, be not dejected by the labors involved, for there can be no virtue without labor.

While laboring, lift up the eye of your soul and, as you contemplate that joy which is on high, you will not shrink from any task.

The labors of the righteous cultivate the fruit of life, but the labors of sinners are filled with ruin. Join yourself to the former and withdraw from the latter; avoid empty labors that do not produce good fruit.

Suffer for God the sorrows of the present life and your hope in the saints will not be in vain.

Those who labor for the vain things in life strive to make those who labor for God’s sake stumble, that they might not be confronted with examples that accuse their conscience; but in so doing they only embellish the crowns of conscientious laborers.

Maintain an humble attitude, that you might not lose the fruits of good works. If you cast them away, you will be numbered with those who labor in vain.

Do you want to become a guardian of your soul? Withdraw from every place to a safe harbor, that sensual thoughts might not steal aboard and load your ships.

If you want your harbor to be safe, fence it off with ramparts that cannot be shaken by the storm of passions; otherwise, your harbor will become the site of your downfall.

If passionate words find a place in a soul, they drag it as if by hooks into evil, into the pit of ruin.

Avoid soul-corrupting gatherings and your soul will ever enjoy peace.

From A Spiritual Psalter or Reflections on God, compiled from the works of Saint Ephraim the Syrian