Global Orthodox

Responding to Unbelief with Love and Patience THURSDAY How should we treat those who do not believe, those who do not confess the Lord? In the same way that the Lord treated the village that refused to receive Him. Showing great fervor, the youthful zeal of the disciples wanted to call down fire from heaven upon them. But the Lord restrained them, saying: “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of…” (Luke 9:55). The Lord and Savior did nothing to those who refused to receive Him, even though to receive Him is to receive salvation. Instead, He passed them by and went to another village (Luke 9:55–56). He left them to themselves. We should act in the same way today. Let unbelievers follow their own path, and believers theirs. God Himself will order all things in His own time. We must pray for unbelievers and have compassion for them. We should desire that they, too, come to know the truth and seek opportunities to speak to them about it. However, when they openly begin to attack the truth, we should respond with love and instruction. And that is enough. + St. Theophan the Recluse - Thoughts for Every Day of the Year