Courage does not consist in defeating and oppressing one's neighbor, for this is overbearingness, which oversteps the bounds of courage. Nor again does it consist in fleeing terrified from the trials that come as a result of practicing the virtues; for this is cowardice and falls short of courage. Courage itself consists in persisting in every good work and in overcoming the passions of soul and body.
For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, that is, against men, as was the case with the
Jews of old, where to conquer other nations was to do the work of God;
it is against principalities and powers, that is, against the unseen
demons (Ephesians 6:12). He who is victorious conquers spiritually;
otherwise he is conquered by the passions. The warfare described in the
Old Testament prefigures our spiritual warfare.
These two passions of overbearingness and cowardice, though they appear
to be opposites, are both caused by weakness. Overbearingness pulls one
upwards and is outwardly something startling and frightening, like some
powerless bear, while cowardice flees like a chased dog. No one who
suffers from either of these two passions puts his trust in the Lord,
and therefore he cannot stand firm in battle, whether he is overbearing
or cowardly.
But the righteous man is as bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1)
in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion throughout the
ages. Amen.
from G.E.H. Palmer, Philip Sherrard, and Kallistos Ware, trans., The Philokalia -- vol. III, (London: Faber and Faber, 1984), pp. 258.
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