43. Удерживаемый слепой

It happens that when a blind man walks on his own, he comes to a ditch or some other dangerous place, where great misfortune can happen to him. Another person, seeing this and wanting to warn him against this disaster, shouts after him: “Come back! you went the wrong way,” or, taking him by the hand, leads him away from that dangerous place. Beloved Christian! Your brother and your neighbor, one creation of God with you, created in the image of God and in the likeness, goes like a blind man into the pit of destruction when he commits lawlessness. The fornicator and adulterer go into the pit of destruction. Angry, vindictive, and the murderer goes into the pit of destruction. A thief, a kidnapper, and a covetous man goes into the pit of destruction. The foul-mouthed, blasphemous, and reckless speaker walks into the pit of destruction. The slanderer, the slanderer and the scolder go into the pit of destruction. Every lawbreaker goes into the pit of destruction, and eternal destruction. Ah, he walks like a blind man, and may fall and not come out! Shout after him, beloved, when you see him coming, shout: “Brother! You’re going the wrong way,” - there’s a ditch dug in front of you, into which you can fall and never come out. Hold him, beloved, hold him before he falls! He is your brother, he is your neighbor, his nature is dear to you, a man, like you, respected by a rational soul, goes into the ditch of destruction. Have mercy on him and return him as best you can! He himself does not know where he is going. The enemy darkened his eyes with his charm. You feel sorry for the blind man walking into a visible ditch, to whom only a temporary disaster will happen. Moreover, one should feel sorry for such a blind man who walks and strives into the ditch of eternal destruction. This work, although every Christian should do it, as Christian love requires, but first of all - church pastors, bishops and priests, parents, authorities, gentlemen. For every ruler, if he is a Christian and is placed over Christians, is their shepherd. And he must, as far as possible, keep the people entrusted to him, who are striving for destruction, from it, and with the rod given to him from God, return them to the path of salvation. Thus it is written about David, the King of Israel: “And he chose David his servant, and took him from the flock of sheep, and from the milking ones he took him to feed Jacob his servant, and Israel his inheritance. And he shepherded them in the gentleness of his heart and guided them wisely with his hands” 8 (Ps. 77:70-72). Beloved shepherds! The Lord has entrusted His flock to you. Shepherd him and protect him from spiritual wolves. Parents! The Lord gave you children. Raise them in the fear of God and instruction, and return their youth, prone to evil, from evil. Authorities! The Lord has placed you over His people and given you a sword. Cut off to them all evil from your subordinates. Gentlemen! You must not only shear Christ's sheep, but also feed them. But what if the shepherd and ruler himself, like a blind man, goes into the ditch of destruction, and drags the people entrusted to him with him? “If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness?” (Matthew 6:23). Oh, Most Gracious and Merciful God! Turn this evil away from Israel. “Shepherd of Israel, look out!... Do not remember our first iniquities. May Your compassions soon precede us, O Lord, as we are so poor. Help us, O God, our Savior, for the glory of Your name. God! Deliver us and cleanse our sins in Your name, so that the pagans may never say: “Where is their God?”... Lord, God of Hosts! Turn us and illuminate Your Face, and we will be saved” (Ps. 79:2, 4, 78:8–10)! Translation by P. Yungerov – Editorial “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: