It comforts the good
17 January 2021
Pain is sent from heaven for salvation, for testing, for the forgiveness of sins and for spiritual progress. But we have to accept it gratefully, as coming from the hand of God. As the Prophet David says: ‘Your rod and your staff have comforted me’ (Ps. 22, 5). So the rod and staff of pain comforts the good and the faithful; it gives them progress in good works, it cleanses them from sin, and makes them worthy of a greater crown and reward in heaven. For the wicked, the rod of pain is a call to repentance, it’s punishment instead of punishment, and it’s a rein on them, because they don’t want to be closer to the Lord (Ps. 31, 10).
Elder Cleopas Ilie
