One elder told his disciple that when he was still a layman, he came to his acquaintances and, among other things, began to talk about God, about the faith of Christ and about other spiritual subjects. One of those present did not agree with his reasoning and even expressed her disbelief and, in any case, disagreement with the teaching of the Orthodox Church.
Unable to convince his heated interlocutor, he said: “What if your deceased parent or someone else close to you, having appeared to you, testified to the truth of what the Holy Church affirms - would you then believe it or not?” - “No,” she answered. - “Well, there you go! This is only confirmed by the Holy Gospel, which says: "If anyone rises from the dead, they have no faith" (Luke 16:31) - this was required to be proven." This is the kind of madness a person can reach who wants to live according to his own will, and not in obedience to the Holy Gospel teaching. He who does not want to accept the Holy Gospel with his heart and live according to it, will not understand the best sermons and edifications, the most convincing proofs. The spiritual saving work consists in the assimilation of the Holy Gospel teaching by the mind and heart. To great regret, people (both monks and laymen who consider themselves Christians), who love to read the Holy Gospel, go to Church and generally belong to the Holy Orthodox Church or consider themselves as such - do not want or do not try to apply the Gospel commandments to themselves in all matters and circumstances of life, knowing them; as if they, that is, the commandments, were given for everyone except them. For example, it is well known that the Gospel requires that we forgive each other's offenses. But we do not want to forgive, we find it fair to repay the one who caused us grief in one way or another and thus renounce Christ's teaching, if not in words, then in our hearts.
What madness! St. Mark the Ascetic writes: "The Lord is hidden in His commandments and is found by those who seek Him according to the measure of their fulfillment of His commandments." (Spiritual Law, ch. 190). These words have a profound meaning. Only he who fulfills the commandments of Christ in his personal life can find the Lord. And if someone's own will - "so that it may be my way" - is more precious than the teaching of Christ - I will remain silent... Everyone will reap what he sowed.
One must not only know the Holy Gospel, but also live according to it, otherwise one cannot be a Christian, much less a monk. It is necessary for a person to begin life personally according to the mind of the Holy Gospel and the Holy Church of Christ - both in external actions and in the soul. Only the personal feat of cleansing the heart from passions according to the commandments of Christ can clarify this issue.