Fr. Ghelasie: We cannot change ourselves
We must cry like little children for divine help. With tears, we must call on Him Who gave us our being to change us as only He knows.
Father Ghelasie once told his disciples the following parable:
“When a child is little, he dirties himself, feels uncomfortable, but cannot change himself. He has to wait until his mom comes to change his diapers. And he cries unceasingly for her to come. He doesn’t stop crying until she comes. And when his mom comes and changes him, his tears turn into joy.”
“The same thing happens,” the Abba said, “with the spiritual child, who is the person seeking to be purified. He cannot change himself. His efforts to improve himself by his own strength cannot purify him. The filth of sin darkens the root of his existence. And only the Lord can effectuate his purification. Through His sacraments; through His providence; through His very chastisement; through the grace that reveals His active, purifying presence within us. We must cry like little children for divine help. With tears, we must call on Him Who gave us our being to change us as only He knows. We must not stop crying until we receive the consolation of grace, which turns sadness into joy.”
From:
Carpathian Patericon, ed. Diana Caragiu
Translation of excerpt is my own.
See full translation of text by Roxana Berger and Natalia Muntean here:
https://www.chipuliconic.ro/2019/06/20/carpathian-patericon-2/