Only in a humble and empty vessel can divine grace be poured out

A man burdened by the cares of this world decided one day to go to a hermit, seeking peace and spiritual advice. He had heard of the wisdom of Saint Paisios the Aghiorite and hoped to find solace for his troubled soul.

After a long journey, he found the abbot in a humble hut, devoid of any worldly adornments, but full of peace.

“Blessed are you, father,” said the man, bowing respectfully. “I have come from afar to ask for a word from you…”

“Sit down, my son,” the old man answered him gently. Let me first make you some tea.

The man sat down, but instead of being silent, he began to talk about himself:

– I have studied abroad for many years, I have gathered knowledge, I have seen a lot…

– Let’s drink tea first, the abbot told him again, calmly.

But the man continued:

– Now I run a large company, I have many responsibilities…

Meanwhile, the hermit was pouring tea into his cup. The cup was full, but the abbot continued to pour, and the tea began to spill onto the table and the floor.

– Father, the man hurried to say, you see it is full! It is overflowing! It can’t hold any more!

Then the old man looked at him gently and said:

– That is how your soul is, my son. It is full to the brim. Full of worries, thoughts, opinions about yourself and the world.

And he added wisely:

– If you do not empty yourself at least a little of all this, how will you be able to receive anything that God wants to give you through humility?

The man remained silent…

Because he understood that the lack of answers was not his problem, but the fact that there was no longer room for them.

It is the same with us.

When the heart is full of pride, anxieties and the rush of the world, the grace of God cannot work.

Therefore, we are called to humble ourselves, to calm ourselves and to empty ourselves, so that God can work in us.

For only in a humble and empty vessel can divine grace be poured out.

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