Беседа (во вторник Светлой Седмицы) о явлении воскресшего Спасителя мира двум ученикам на пути в Эммаус. Святого Григория Двоеслова

One should converse a little with those who labor during the daily celebration, and this may be more beneficial (because often food, which is not enough, is taken with greater greed). So, I decided to explain the meaning of the Gospel reading in general, and not each word (individually), so that a lengthy word of explanation could not burden your love. Behold, you, beloved brothers, have heard that the Lord appeared to two disciples on the way, although they were still unbelievers, nevertheless, talking about Him, but did not show them a form by which they would recognize Him. The Lord outwardly - before the eyes of the body - did what was happening inside them - before the eyes of the heart: for they loved (the Lord) within themselves and doubted, but the Lord was outwardly and inherent in them and did not reveal who He was. So, the Lord revealed His presence to those talking about Him, but hid the way of knowing Him from those who doubted Him. Although He uttered words, reproached them for the stubbornness of their minds, revealed the secrets of the Holy Scriptures about Himself, however, He showed them the appearance that He wanted to go further, because in their hearts He was still far from faith. So, simple Truth, through duality, revealed itself to the apostles in the body as it was in their minds. It was necessary to test: those who did not yet love Him as God could not love Him, at least, as a traveler. But since those with whom the Truth walked could not be strangers to love, they invite Him as a Stranger to the inn (to the village to which they were going - to Emmaus) - and why do we say: “they invite” when it is written: and His need (they kept Him)? They (the travelers to Emmaus) provide a table, offer food, and God, Whom they did not recognize from the explanation of the Holy Scriptures, recognize in the breaking of bread. So, by listening to the commandments of God, they (those who traveled to Emmaus - Luke and Cleopas) were not enlightened, but by fulfilling them, they were enlightened - as it is written: Those who are not hearers of the law are righteous before God, but the creators of the law, these will be justified (Rom. 2:13). Therefore, whoever wants to understand what he has heard must hasten to put into practice what he could already understand. The Lord was not recognized when He spoke, but He allowed Himself to be recognized during the breaking of bread. So, beloved brothers, love hospitality, be diligent in deeds of love. That is why it is said through Paul (the apostle): let brotherly love abide (in you): do not forget love of strangers: therefore, without seeing some angels who welcome strangers (Heb. 13:1-2), that is, because through it - hospitality, some, not knowing, showed hospitality to the angels. That is why (the Apostle) Peter commands: (be) lovers of love to one another, without murmuring (1 Pet. 4:9); That’s why the Truth Itself testifies: I was strange, but you knew Me (Matthew 25:35). Here is an event that deserves our attention and was handed down to us by the elders. One householder with his entire household was very welcoming, and since he received strangers to his meal every day, one day a stranger comes and is invited to the meal. And when the householder, out of ordinary humility, wanted to pour water into his hands, and turned around and took a vessel with water, he suddenly did not find the one on whose hands he wanted to pour water. And when he himself was surprised at this event, that same night the Lord said to him in a vision: “On other days you received Me in My members, but yesterday you received Me personally.” The One who is coming to judgment will say: Because you have made one and the least of these brothers of Mine, you have made them together with Me (Matthew 25:40). Even before judgment, received in His members, He Himself seeks out His hosts - and, despite this, we are lazy in the cordiality of strangers... Receive Christ at your meals so that you have the dignity of being accepted into eternal feasts... Provide shelter to the wandering Christ, so that at judgment He will not know you as strangers, but will accept you into the kingdom as His own, the living God and reigning forever and ever. Amen 55. Conversations on the Gospel - like the saints of our father Gregory Dvoeslov, in two books, translated from Latin into Russian, Archimander. Clement. Book two. St. Petersburg. 1860, pp. 30–33. You might be interested in: