ON SPIRITUAL LIFE. BEFORE THE GREAT LENT. ARCHPRIEST SERGIY BARANOV

ON SPIRITUAL LIFE. SERMON BEFORE THE GREAT LENT “The Kingdom of God is within you” (Lk. 17:21), - Our Lord says. “Within you” is a definite place. The Lord talks about our hearts. He means that the Kingdom of Heaven is deep down in human hearts. That is the point where spiritual life and meeting with Christ take place, as long as a human leads a proper spiritual life. Our Lord speaks of a deep heart. The Holy Fathers have a notion of an “outward” heart, which is the center of emotions, impressions and passions. This heart is very unstable, and very often Christians, being inexperienced in their spiritual lives, rely on it. It kindles and cools in an instant, some good idea may fire it and, a few moments later, it bursts into a rage. It may be kindled by love and then turn on judgment. When people do not realize that the deep spiritual heart differs from the outer emotional heart, they come to spiritual confusion. They hear our Lord’s words and look for the Kingdom of Heaven within their hearts, but r