The Lord loves us, and meekly, without reproach, receives us, just as the father of the Gospel did not reproach the prodigal son, but commanded to give him new clothes, and a precious ring on his hand, and boots on his feet, and commanded to kill a well-fed calf and rejoice, and did not rebuke him in anything.

Oh, how meekly and patiently we must correct our brother, so that there may be a feast in our souls about his return.

The Holy Spirit teaches the soul to love people inexpressibly.

Oh, brethren, let us forget the earth and all that is in it. It distracts us from the contemplation of the Holy Trinity, Which is incomprehensible to our minds, but Whom the saints see in heaven by the Holy Spirit.

And we will remain in prayer without any imagination, and we will ask the Lord for a humble spirit, and the Lord will love us and give us on earth everything that is useful for soul and body.

O Merciful Lord, give Thy grace to all the peoples of the earth, and they shall know Thee, for without Thy Holy Spirit man cannot know Thee, nor understand Thy love.

Little children, know the Creator of heaven and earth.

Lord, send Thy mercy upon the children of the earth whom Thou lovest, and let them know Thee by the Holy Spirit. With tears I beseech Thee; Hear my prayer for Thy children, and let them all know Thy glory through the Holy Spirit.

* * *

From a young age, I liked to think: the Lord has ascended to heaven and is waiting for us to Himself; but in order to be with the Lord, one must be like Him, or like children, humble and meek, and serve Him; then, according to the word of the Lord: "Where I am, there will My servant be," and we will be with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. But now my soul is very gloomy and despondent, and I cannot raise a pure mind to God, and I have no tears to weep over my evil deeds; my soul is withered and weary from a gloomy life...

Oh, who would sing me the song that I have loved since my youth, about how the Lord ascended to heaven, and how much He loves us, and how longingly He waits for Him. I would listen to this song with tears, for my soul is bored on earth.

What happened to me? How did I lose joy, and will I find it again?

Weep with me, all animals and birds. Weep with me, forest and desert. Weep with me, all creatures of God, and hear me in grief and sorrow.

This is what my soul thinks: If I love God so little, and my soul yearns for the Lord so much, then how great was the sorrow of the Mother of God when She remained on earth after the Ascension of the Lord?