By St. Theophan the Recluse
The Lord did not only come to preach the acceptable year, but He brought it as well. Where is it? In the souls of believers. The earth will never become paradise under the current state of affairs; but it is and will be an arena of preparation for the heavenly life. The rudiments of heavenly life are placed in the soul, the possibility for it lies in God’s grace, while grace was brought by our Lord Jesus Christ — who brought, consequently, the acceptable year for souls. He who listens to the Lord and fulfills all that is commanded by Him, receives grace, and with its power enjoys the acceptable year within himself. This truly occurs in all who sincerely believe and act according to faith. You will not fill your soul with this acceptableness by thinking; you must act, and it will enter in on its own. There might not be any outer peace, just inner, and yet it cannot be separated from Christ. But it always happens that as soon as inner peace is established, outer disturbances are neither bitter nor heavy. Thus, this aspect is also acceptable — it only seems like a cold winter on the outside.
