27 November 2007

Patristic Quote of the Day

The kindhearted God gives us what we ask for not because of our prayers; rather does He nourish us according to His compassion, for it is He Who created us... For who asked the Father to give His own Son up to death on the cross? Or who entreated the Son to die for sinners? To which righteous man did the thought occur to ask the Father to give up His Son for transgressors? It is truly an unprecedented event, and the thought occurred to no one. The Father gave up His Son to death on the cross, and through His death sinners obtained life. And if He gave away His greatest treasure, can there be any obstacle to prevent a man who asks such a Lover of mankind from receiving all that he needs? -- St. Ephrem the Syrian, *A Spiritual Psalter* #138

3 comments:

Steven G. said...

That is an awesome quote. So much is packed into that little paragraph.

William Weedon said...

Isn't that a gem, Steven! What an incentive to pray! Pax!

Steven G. said...

I will be using this quote in my Sunday School class. We are discussing prayer.