Слово на Сретение Господне. Святого Софрония, патриарха Иерусалимского

Now there is another sacrament of Christ, another glorification of Christ our God. But His miracles are always so great that they overcome the possibility and power of any word and surpass the valor of all wisdom, not only human, but also angelic. Therefore, let us loudly exclaim with the great Paul: where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the companion of this age (1 Cor. 1:20)? Where is the eloquence of rhetoricians? Where is the philosophizing of philosophers? Where is the refined art of grammarians? In truth, God took away the wisdom of this world (1 Cor. 1:20) and showed it to be vain and useless, since this wisdom, as a gift of mercy, was given to unbelieving nations. so that they would seek God and, through vain wandering, understand their powerlessness. Because in the wisdom of God, not in the understanding of the world, by the wisdom of God, God deigned to save those who believe by the violence of preaching (1 Cor. 1:21). Rightfully exclaiming this with Paul, we will now begin to exclaim with amazement the following: O the depth of the riches and wisdom and understanding of God! for his judgment has not been tried, and his ways have not been explored. Who understands the mind of the Lord? or who was His counselor (Rom. 11:33)? Indeed, how can a created thing comprehend the thought of the Creator or know His mind? How can a vessel give advice to the one who made it, even if (the poor man) agreed to it and needed the imperfect for his perfection? And so, human wisdom is turned into madness. Athens was rejected because, having abandoned God, the Creator of everything, they deified the objects created by Him, because they fought against God and Divine wisdom, considered visible things higher than God and did not want to see the Creator of these things Himself. That is why they fell silent and were consigned to deep oblivion. Therefore, now, first of all, they are glorified: Nazareth, where the gospel of God was proclaimed, - Bethlehem, where the Lord was born in the flesh, - Jerusalem, where He lived, working miracles. Therefore, now Calvary, where the Lord suffered on the cross, is primarily remembered - the resurrection of the Lord from the tomb is sung, Zion is glorified, the ribs of the north are praised (Psal. 47:3), where Christ appeared when he rose from the dead, the Mount of Olives is glorified, from where the Lord ascended to heaven along with human nature. So, the first (pagan wisdom) disappeared, and the other (Christian teaching) appeared; then it became false, but this was revealed as the truth; this was cast into the dust, and this shone; that was rightly recognized as of little importance, since there was no reverence for God there, but this rightfully and gradually acquired glory, since here glory was given to God, as it should be. This brought misfortune to people, carried them away to destruction and cast them into the abyss of hell; and this serves people for salvation, leads them from death to life and lifts them from earth to heaven. This is consigned to oblivion, and this we honor with festivals. And on this day throughout the entire universe we celebrate a solemn celebration. For festivals and sacraments belong to God and, performed decently and in relation to human conditions, mysteriously raise those who celebrate to perfection. What is now the sacrament, and what is the glorification of Christ? The eternal Christ was born in the flesh and, according to our nature, had a Mother, who truly and ineffably gave birth to Him. After this, on the eighth day, according to custom, he received circumcision of the flesh. Now a new sacrament has occurred, and the Lord has given mortals a different gift. What kind of sacrament, exactly, is now being glorified by us, befitting of God? A very amazing appearance of Christ. His coming, filled with perfect success, the sacrifice of Christ, is very difficult to explain. That Christ who appeared from Divine Bethlehem and arrived in this Jerusalem, His transition from one place to another. And who can explain this migration of God from one place to another? The mysteries of Jesus Christ are ineffable to such an extent that even a river of eloquence cannot explain them. And truly, the indescribable One appears, He who, like God, is not subject to natural movement. Who is infinite in His nature and power, yet He appears according to human custom. But let us all hasten to meet Him - all who piously honor His sacrament and revere Him, let us all go with perfect readiness. Who will be the first to meet Him? Who will be the first to see God with his eyes? Who will accept God first? Who will be the first to carry Him in their arms? Let no one be slow to meet the Lord, let no one turn out to be indifferent to this sacrament, alien to the light that it brings. Let us increase the light of our lamps, both to indicate the Divine radiance of the One who came, from Whom everything receives light, by Whom deep darkness is dispersed and everything is abundantly illuminated by eternal light, and especially to testify to the light of our soul, without which it is impossible to meet the Lord. For just as the Mother of God and the Immaculate Virgin brought the true Light in Her arms and gave It to those who were in darkness, so we, enlightened by His radiance and holding in our hands the light visible to all, will hasten to meet Him Who is the true Light. For, truly, as light came into the world (John 3:19) and enlightened him who was completely surrounded by darkness, and since the East from above visited us: to enlighten in darkness and the shadow of death that sits (Luke 1:78-79), - this is our sacrament. Therefore, let us go, having lamps, let us hasten, carrying light, - thereby pointing to the Light that has shone for us, and to the radiance that will be given to us by Him; Let us hasten together and begin to greet God all, so that no one will be accused by Him of ingratitude or fear of Him. Let us understand what was previously said to those sitting in darkness and to the unenlightened Jews: for light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light; for they had done evil (John 3:19), and that light shines in the darkness, and its darkness is not comprehended (John 1:5). And this is the true light, which enlightens every person coming into the world (John 1:9). So, brothers, let us all be enlightened, let us all shine. Let none of us find ourselves not participating in this light, let no one remain enveloped in the dark night, but let us all emerge in radiance and, enlightened, go to meet Him and, together with Elder Simeon, accept this clear and eternal light. Rejoicing in spirit, together with this Simeon, let us sing with gratitude hymns to the Father of light, Who sent the true light, dispersed the darkness and illuminated us all. For God belongs to salvation, which He prepared before the face of all nations (Luke 2:31) and revealed for the glory of us - the new Israel, and through him we came to know ourselves, since we were in that ancient and dark sin, as if in the shackles of this life, but were freed from it after Simeon saw Christ. Having accepted with faith Christ, who came to us from Bethlehem, we became the people of God, saw God in the flesh, became the new Israel, and we glorify His presence among us with annual celebrations. Christ appeared from Bethlehem to Jerusalem in order to fulfill the prescription of the Law of Moses, according to which every male child, opening his womb, will be called holy to the Lord (Exodus 13:2; Luke 2:23), since He alone was born of a Virgin, without however violating Her virginity. And Simeon took God, who had taken flesh, into his arms. Having taken Him by Divine inspiration, he placed Him before the Father, and thus fulfilled the law. With grateful lips he said: now dost thou let thy servant go, O Master, according to thy word, in peace (Luke 2:29), because it was foretold by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he saw Christ the Lord (Luke 2:26) and was freed from the bonds of the law. And this old man held the Executor of the Law: for, he says, my eyes have seen Your salvation (Luke 2:30). For the law of Moses was not salvation, but this ancient, old and weak law was raised from imperfection to salvation by Christ - the Salvation of God and was freed by Him from its inherent decay through renewal, since Christ is the light that liberates ancient Israel from all decay and brings the nations to Himself. Therefore Simeon exclaimed: now dost thou let thy servant go, O Master, according to thy word in peace, because mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all men: a light for revelation by the tongue, and the glory of thy people Israel (Luke 2:29-32). He saw in Christ a new light emerging from the ancient. And all of us who think right will go out to meet Christ our God and receive Him together with the elder Simeon and the widow and prophetess Anna. We have become the new Israel from among all the multitude of nations and are called the new people of God, therefore let us confess this, proclaiming psalms and singing a new song to the Lord (Psalm 97:1). We have been completely renewed and raised to heights by Christ, therefore, having rejected the old light and everything that deceives the flesh and is unworthy of the brilliant light of Christ, let us sing a new song to the Lord. We have been renewed, we have become new from the old, and we are prompted to sing a new song to God and the Father, who renewed us all by the presence of Christ among us and revealed us as His new people. Let us sing a new song to the Lord, since He performed miracles and, through the presence of Christ, not only miraculously renewed everything, but returned to Himself the lost old things. About this the Prophet says: his right hand and his holy arm will save him (Psalm 97:1). And who is this, the right hand of God the Father and His holy arm, if not the Son, through whom are all things, by whom He created what did not exist before, and brought everything from non-existence into being? Through Him we too are preserved, freed from our former old age, reacquired and made a new mixture (1 Cor. 5:7). In truth, the Lord has spoken His salvation, revealing His righteousness before tongues (Psalm 97:2). And the righteous Simeon proclaimed something similar to this, as if saying: “The prophecy was fulfilled, the promise was fulfilled; that which was in error was enlightened; that which was inglorious was covered with glory; and I (since the Light is in me - Christ) was freed from old age, appeared renewed, having seen Thy, O Lord, true light and having seen Thy glory with old eyes, and acquired youthful strength, since Christ became a light for the nations and with His amazing glory created a new Israel, giving it unfading glory and undiminished light.” The aged Simeon, seeing the Salvation of the Lord and taking It in his arms, after uttering words of thanksgiving, turned to the Virgin, who gave birth to this Salvation of God in the flesh, and said: This destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel (Luke 2:34), that is, for the fall of the servants of the letter and for the rising of the sons of grace, for the fall of those who hitherto revere the old law and for the rising of those who love The Gospel new law, for the fall of those who boast of carnal birth from Abraham and for the rebellion of those who became sons of Abraham by faith, for the fall of those who philosophize about the corruptible and earthly and for the rebellion of those striving for the sublime and heavenly. For the first Adam, created from the earth, was corruptible and had a desire for earthly things; This second Adam appeared to us from heaven and generously bestowed a desire for heavenly things on all who welcomed this appearance of Him, who rejected their former attire and desired rebirth: and when those who received Him gave them the realm to become children of God, who believe in His name: who were not born of blood, nor of carnal lust, nor of manly lust, but were born of God (Jn. 1:12, 13). And a weapon will pierce your very soul, Simeon further said to the Mother Virgin: for let the thoughts of many hearts be revealed (Luke 2:35), that is, your soul, struck by amazement and fear, will, as it were, be pierced by a sword, when you see Him voluntarily nailed to the cross and hanging among the thieves, in order to put to death the death by which we were put to death, to give us life and free a person from bonds sins with which the devil bound him from ancient times. In fact, how did God, who by nature cannot die or suffer, be crucified on the cross? How did He, who was surrounded by the constant praise of angels, end up among the reproaches of robbers? How does He who gives food to all who are hungry and drink to those who are thirsty drink gall and ocet? How does Life Itself, which gives life to all who love it, accept death and then burial? You, Virgo, will be amazed to see this, and a weapon will pierce your soul; but You will not remain in this state, and the sword will very soon be torn out from Your soul. The thoughts of many hearts will be revealed to those who cannot perceive Your Divine and wondrous mysteries, Virgin, and contemplate the heavenly virtues. Therefore, the one who does not believe in Your glorification perishes, but the one who recognizes You as the Mother of God is elevated and enlightened to eternal life. - Anna the prophetess, who had reached a ripe old age, was also present at this, and she at that hour confessed to the Lord, and spoke about Him to all those who hoped for deliverance in Jerusalem (Luke 2:38). What, finally, do the turtle doves and pigeon chicks mean, which Christ sacrificed when he came to Jerusalem to present himself before God the Father? These chicks are recognized as pure, moreover, turtle doves are distinguished by extreme moderation, chastity and solitude, and pigeons are distinguished by simplicity (Matthew 10:16), gentleness, harmlessness and affection for people. So, by this Christ was pleased to show very clearly that those who come to Him should have moderation, purity, kindness, splendor and shine primarily with these qualities, and that Christ Himself, who created all people and in His mercy came to earth to serve them, rejoiced contemplating this, and willingly accepted all those coming to meet Him. For the worship of God is not rewarded by anything other than gradual improvement in abstinence, purity and complete gentleness. And to cleave (as far as possible) to God is a respectable, pleasant, calm thing, free from business worries and worldly pursuits. Be abolished, says the Psalmist, and understand that I am God (Psalm 45:11). Also venerable are meekness, unity and mutual love, with which compassion and humanity are united and through which perfect likeness to God is achieved. Why did Christ bring a pair of birds? Because the law commanded so, since Christ had two natures. And we ourselves consist of body and soul, therefore we must fulfill with both body and spirit what is virtuous; Christ, the Giver of every good, taught us this, saying: Be ye perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). – And when they (the Virgin Mary and Joseph) completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their city of Nazareth (Luke 2:39).