Беседа на Апостольское чтение, положенное в день Св. Духа (Еф. 5:9–12). Св. Иоанна Златоустого, архиепископа Константинопольского

Brothers! Walk as children of light and do not associate with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, and even more so, expose them. The apostle said that you are light; the light reveals everything that happens in darkness: so if you, he says, are virtuous and worthy of admiration, the wicked will not have the opportunity to hide. And truly, just as when the lamp stands, everyone is illuminated, and the thief cannot approach: so, when the light shines from you, the convicted wicked will be amazed. Therefore, it must expose. But in what way does Christ say: Judge not, lest ye be judged (Matthew 7:1)? To reprove, said the Apostle, that is, to admonish, and not to condemn. The words of the Apostle mean the following: just as a bodily wound is hidden until it is covered from the outside, and until it deepens further, it does not benefit from any treatment, so sin, while it is hidden, as it were, in darkness, continues to act boldly and very freely; but as soon as it is discovered, it becomes light: not sin itself, for how is this possible? - But the one who made it. For if he is brought into the midst of the meeting, if he is admonished, if he repents, if he receives absolution, then have you not driven away his darkness? Didn't he heal his wounds then? Did it cause infertility to the fetus? Either this is what he says, or the fact that your life, being open, is light: because no one hides an impeccable life. Yet what is hidden is hidden because it is obscured. For this reason he says: Arise from sleep, and rise from the dead, and Christ will illuminate you. It is said about the sleeping and the dead, that is, the one who is in sins: because he also emits a bad smell, like a dead person, and he is motionless, like a sleeping person, and he does not see anything, like that one, but he is delirious and dreams. As there is death for the body, so for the soul: the soul that sins, says Scripture, will die. The death of the soul is not the same as the death of the body, but it is much more important. For that death is physical, having separated the soul and body from each other, one relieves one from many worries and labors, while the other transfers to a certain place; and then the body, separated for a time and removed, is again united with incorruption, and again receives its soul. Such is this death; but the death of the soul is terrible and terrible. For this death does not transfer the soul to a certain place, as happens with the body, after its separation from it, but, bound again by the incorruptible body, it plunges into unquenchable fire. Just as the body dies when the soul leaves it deprived of its life, so the soul is mortified when the Holy Spirit leaves it without His power. And do not associate yourself with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Convict your brother, tell the truth, out of love for Christ, out of love for him: stop him if he is going into the abyss, because communication in a meal, in kind speeches, friendliness and tenderness is a small matter of love. When we denounce, we give our friends gifts that would deliver their souls from the wrath of God. Let us raise them up, seeing them cast into the furnace of wickedness. “However, he is not improving”? - you say. But you do your part, and you are right before God. Do not hide your talent: for this you have a mind, for this you have a tongue and a mouth, to correct your neighbor. Some dumb people do not care about their neighbors and have no idea about others. But you, calling God Father and your neighbor brother, seeing him commit many evils, prefer your disposition towards him to his benefit? Let it not be, I beg you. There is no greater proof of love than to despise erring brothers. If you see those at war, make peace. If you see someone deceiving you to acquire property for yourself, stop him. If you see those who are offended, protect them. By this, you first expressed love for yourself, and not for them: for this reason we are friends, so that we can benefit each other. A friend listens differently to a friend, differently to someone from outside: he may not trust a stranger, just like a teacher, but not so to a friend. All those who are exposed appear from the light, that is, some of the sins are committed here secretly, and others openly. Everything that appears, says the Apostle, is light. Therefore, I beg you, do not refuse to reprove others, nor be embarrassed when you are reproached. For as long as anything is done in darkness, it is done with greater boldness; but as soon as there are many witnesses to what is happening, then it is illuminated. Therefore, let us do everything we can to remove deadness from our brothers, to dispel darkness, to bring the Sun of righteousness closer. And in fact, if there are many lights, then the path of virtue will be convenient for us, and those who are in darkness will be better convicted: since the light, spreading, drives away the darkness. And if we do not do this, then we can fear that they will fade away from the predominance of gloomy and sinful darkness over the light, which drives away the brilliance of the light. Be careful how dangerously you walk. The Apostle knew his Teacher that, sending his disciples like sheep among wolves, He commanded them to also be like doves. And the goals, they say, be like doves (Matthew 10:16). So, since, on the one hand, Christians were among wolves, and on the other, they were instructed not to avenge themselves, but to endure insults: that is why they needed such instruction. Entire cities waged war against the Apostles; this war spread into the homes: father armed himself against his son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother. So what? Where do these divisions come from? They heard that Christ said: whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me (Matthew 10:37). Therefore, so that they would not think that He was introducing wars and strife in vain, since great enmity could have occurred if they themselves had decided to arm themselves, therefore the Apostle says: watch how dangerously you walk, that is, with the exception of preaching, do not give yourself any reason for enmity. For when they see you submissive to others, they themselves will be ashamed. Not as if you are not wise, but as if you are wise: time redeems, - the Apostle admonishes, not wanting us to be resourceful and dexterous, but his words mean: “time is not yours: now you are strangers and strangers, strangers and outsiders. Do not seek honor, do not seek fame, do not seek power, or be vindictive. Endure everything, and thereby atone for time; pay a lot, whatever they want from you.” Let us imagine that someone has a magnificent house; then that some come to him to ruin him, and he gives them a lot and thereby delivers himself: then we say that he redeemed himself. Likewise, you have a great house and true faith; they come to take everything: so, give everything that anyone demands of you, only save the main thing, that is, faith. For the days, they say, are evil. In what sense does the Apostle call the days evil? It is not the essence, not the creation that he calls so, but what is done in continuation of them; just as we have a custom of saying: “I spent a hard day, a bad one.” Meanwhile, how could a day be difficult if not because of what happened during it? And what happens during it, good - from God, evil - from vicious people. Consequently, people are the creators of what is vicious in time, and therefore they say: “vicious times.” This is how we call times vicious. For this reason, do not be foolish, but understand that there is the will of the Lord. And do not get drunk with wine, it contains fornication, since intemperance in this also makes us hot-tempered, and impudent, and impetuous, and irritable, and intolerable. Wine is given for fun, not for drunkenness. And now - not getting drunk is considered effeminate and ridiculous. What hope of salvation is there? “It’s funny,” you say, “not to get drunk,” when drunkenness should be ridiculed most of all. Do you want to know where the wine is good? Listen to the words of Scripture: Give strong drink to those who are sorrowful, and drink wine to those who are sick (Proverbs 31:6). And rightly so, for it has the power to soften grief and melancholy, and remove sadness: Wine makes glad the human heart (Ps. 103:15). How does wine lead to drunkenness? For nothing can produce something contrary to itself. This means that drunkenness is not from wine, but from immoderation. Wine was given to us not for anything other than for the health of the body, but even this is prevented by intemperance! For this reason, God created our bodies to be moderate, requiring little for their saturation, in order to teach us from here that we were created for another life. This is the kind of life He wanted to give us at first; but since we ourselves have become unworthy of it, He postponed it and during the postponement does not allow us to enjoy without measure. “Do not get drunk,” says the Apostle, “with wine, for there is fornication in it: it does not save, but destroys not only the body, but also the soul. But above all, be filled with the Spirit. “Do you want,” he says, “to have fun?” Do you want to spend the day? I give you spiritual drink. Drunkenness destroys the euphony of our speech, causing us to stutter; equally distorts the eyes and everything. Learn to sing psalms, and you will see the sweetness of this matter, because singing psalms are filled with the Holy Spirit, and singing satanic songs are filled with the unclean spirit. What do the words mean: the Lord is in your hearts? This means - approach this task with attention: for those who are inattentive sing uselessly, uttering only words, while their heart wanders elsewhere. But be filled, they say, with the Spirit. Is it in our power? - Yes, in ours. When we cleanse our souls from lies, cruelty, fornication, impurity and covetousness - when we become good-natured, compassionate, caring about ourselves - when there is no blasphemy in us - when we become worthy of this: what will prevent the Holy Spirit from approaching and flying to us? And He will not only come closer, but will fill our hearts. When there is such light within us, then after that virtue will no longer be difficult, but easy and pleasant. Always, says the Apostle, giving thanks for everyone. How should one give thanks for everything that happens? “It’s truly so, even if it was illness, or even poverty.” Even if you don’t understand the reason for something, give thanks: that’s what gratitude is. There is nothing important or surprising if you give thanks when you are blessed and healthy, when everything works out for you and you are happy. Here it is required that you give thanks in misfortunes and sorrows. Do not say anything other than the words: “thank you, Lord”! But what am I talking about the disasters that happen here on earth? For Gehenna itself, for the punishments, for the torment that will be there beyond the grave, we must thank God. If we are careful, this matter will bring us great benefit when the fear of Gehenna puts a bridle on our hearts. And not only for obvious benefits, but also for secret ones sent against desire, we must give thanks. God does a lot of good to us when we don’t want or don’t see it. What else is characteristic of God, if not to be beneficent both in punishment and in good deeds? So, it is not only in happiness that we should give thanks, because there is nothing important here. When poverty, illness, and misfortune befall us, then we should give more thanks. I mean gratitude not in words, not in language, but in actions, deeds, thoughts and hearts - let us thank God with all our souls. The Lord loves us more than our parents, and God’s love is as different from parental love as straightforwardness is from guile. Let us strive in all our deeds to bring glory to the loving God, through the grace and love for mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory, power, honor, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen 234. You might be interested in: