St. Sophrony: Humility Requires Discernment, Not Naivety
The post shares a saying of St. Sophrony of Essex: humility requires discernment. It is not always wise to show humility before those who do not value it or who perceive it as weakness, because spiritually blind people may take meekness as an opportunity to impose their will. The accompanying video summary explains repentance as arising from blessedness and dissatisfaction with one's sinful state when standing in the presence of God, who is light, grace, truth, and sinless love.
The speaker desires communion with God but recognizes that cleansing is necessary first. In this context, repentance means purification, a condition called the state of weeping. The speaker contrasts this true repentance with "historical tears," which encompass everything that is not this genuine repentance.
Key moments
- The speaker says repentance is caused by blessedness and dissatisfaction with oneself in the presence of God who is light, grace, truth, and love without sin.
- The speaker says he wants communion with God but knows he cannot have it until he is cleansed.
- The speaker says repentance in this context means cleansing and is called the state of weeping.
- The speaker says "historical tears" are everything that is not this true repentance.