–Matthew 10 :16 – “Look, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

What does it mean to be as wise as a serpent?

When a serpent is attacked, it is willing to have much of its body severed, as long as it saves its head. So to be as wise as a serpent means to be willing to lose everything: your wealth, your reputation, your friends, as long as you save your faith. Your faith is your head, by which you learn all truth, and by that truth, your soul is set free.

We should, however, recognize that the wisdom of the serpent is not enough, we must be as honest and as innocent as doves. Indeed it is the combination of wisdom and innocence that creates virtue.

The person who is wise as a serpent can sustain the most terrible attacks and still continue to flourish as a disciple of Christ. The person who is innocent refuses to retaliate against those who make the attacks. To be as innocent as a dove means never to take revenge on those who wrong you or undermine you.

Unless wisdom is tempered by innocence, one attack provokes another, and conflict continues without end. Unless innocence is tempered by wisdom, a person is so vulnerable that he will not even survive a single attack.

Rest assured that no one can take away your faith, your wisdom guard against that. But be careful never to bear a grudge against anyone who does you wrong.

-We must not mind insulting men if by respecting them we offend God.

– Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward and learning to enjoy whatever life has to offer and this requires transforming greed into gratitude.

-When, then, you make the sign of the cross on the forehead, arm yourself with a saintly boldness, and reinstall your soul in its old liberty; for you are not ignorant that the cross is a prize beyond all price. Consider what is the price given for your ransom, and you will never more be a slave to any man on earth. This reward and ransom is the cross. You should not then, carelessly make the sign on the forehead, but you should impress it on your heart, with the love of fervent faith. Nothing impure will dare to assault you on seeing the weapon, which overcometh all things.

-God likes humility for the evil we have done more than pride in the good we have accomplished

-After sin comes shame; courage follows repentance. Did you pay attention to what I said? Satan upsets the order; he gives the courage to sin and shame to repentance

-To extinguish the fire of sins not with much water, but with a few tears. The fire of sin is great, but with a few tears it is extinguished.

-” this world is only a temporary inn – our home is in heaven…”

note : in Orthodox Christian church Saint John Chrysostom is considered to be the successor of Apostle Paul.