"Elizaveta Iurievna Kuzmina-Karavaeva Skobtsova, later known as Mother Maria, was a Russian Orthodox religious thinker, poet and artist. Her multi-faceted legacy includes articles, poems, art, and drama. In the 1910s she was part of the literary milieu of St. Petersburg and was a member of the Socialist Revolutionary Party. She fled Russia soon after the Bolsheviks' takeover and lived in Paris, where she became a nun. In 1935, she participated in organizing the so-called Orthodox Action, which was designed to help Russian immigrants in France. She and her fellow-workers from Orthodox Action opened a house for homeless and sick immigrants in Paris. During the Nazi occupation of the city, the house was transformed into a refuge for Jews and displaced persons. Mother Maria and her son were arrested by the Gestapo in 1943 and died in the Ravensbruck camp in Germany. Mother Maria's selfless devotion to people and her death as a martyr will never be forgotten. In 2004, the Holy Synod confirmed the glorification of Mother Maria." - from Columbia University Libraries Special Collection link

Let Love be the Way

"But one thing which this way of life does not achieve is, of course, love. One can  speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love" (1 Cor. 13:1). To be sure, acts of love and benevolence enter into the rhythm of the strict ritualist's life. The  strict ritualist knows that he must help the poor, especially during Great Lent. In his time he has sentkalachi [wheatmeal loaves] to those confined in prison. He might even organize a benefit, build almshouses and put on dinners for his poorer brethren. But he basic motive for such activity is that it is prescribed, that it enters into the general  rhythm of his life, that it has become part of his ritualist concept of things. In this sense he has a greatly developed feeling of obligation and obedience. Thus his relationship to others is determined by a self-imposed obligation and not on a spontaneous feeling of love toward them."  - Mother Maria of Paris

The distinction is quite clear.  Much of the battle with helping the poor and the sick (once the initial habit of being has been regularly introduced and upheld in our lives) is in disengaging our feeling of caring for others because we are commanded to; because we are affraid.

At some point in the life of the faithful, the shift of intention must occur.  We must move from following the LORD Jesus because we fear death, hell and separation.  We must move from obeying because we have been called.  We must intend to love, because we love - both Jesus and those in need.  Once this shift has occurred we have moved from obedience to compassion.

Obedience must come first.  But, as we know, love must win out: for, perfect love casts out all fear.

Love is love's own reason.

Ciao!

+Tom


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