I could have asked, ‘Why then was He not called Immanuel, but Jesus Christ? The angel did not say You will call, but they will call, that is, the multitudes of people and the deeds accomplished by Christ. In this text, the name Immanuel is given by the deeds done by Christ… Therefore, the words They will call Him Immanuel mean nothing other than that they will see that God is with mankind. God has always been with mankind, but never so clearly as now.
St. Ioannis Chrysostomos
I have seen and experienced in many ways that if the grace of God does not enlighten a person, no matter how much you speak to him, you cannot help him. For a moment he will listen, but then the next minute he is re-captivated by his old ways. If, however, grace acts at once through your words, a change occurs at that time with the help of his good intentions.
Elder St Joseph
When your mind does wander during prayer, bring it back. When it wanders again, bring it back again. Each and every time that you read a prayer while your thoughts are wandering (and consequently you read it without attention and feeling,) then do not fail to read it again. Even if your mind wanders several times in the same place, read it again and again until you read it all the way through with understanding and feeling. In this way, you will overcome this difficulty so that the next time.
St Theophan the Recluse
God created woman equal with man, not inferior… Both of you have the same Faith, the same Baptism, the same Book of the Gospels, the same Holy Communion, the same Paradise to enjoy. God does not regard her as inferior to you.
St. Cosmas of Aitolos