”In this world there is nothing more difficult than to be saved.”
Elder Sophrony
The force of the truth of these words struck deep in my heart. We often encounter, in ourselves and in others, the attitude which suggests that Salvation is something that we can leave until later; once, that is, we have taken care of more pressing matters. Father Sophrony’s perspective was quite different, however.
By pointing to the incomparable difficulty of attaining to Salvation, he was clearly placing it at the very top of our list of urgent priorities. And when one pauses to consider all the great achievements of mankind, past and present, whether they be of a scientific or literary character, in the world of politics or finance or physical endeavour. Father Sophrony’s words seem bold and even provocative – ”a hard saying” (John 6:60) – but nevertheless fundamentally quite true.
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