58. Горе

Woe to the place where there is no light. There people wander around like blind people, there they do not distinguish between what is harmful and what is useful, and often there is a stumbling block, then a fall, in a word, all kinds of misfortune, misfortune and harm happen there. Moreover, woe to those souls in whom there is no Christ, the true Light! There is nothing there except darkness, the shadow of death, disaster, damnation and destruction! “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). “But arise, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!” (Eph.5:14). Woe to that house in which there is no prudent owner, all kinds of disorder can happen there. Moreover, woe to the souls in whom Christ the Lord does not dwell! There is all sorts of true disorder and confusion, there is the dwelling of all kinds of evil spirits. Woe to that ship that does not have a good helmsman, for it is close to sinking. Moreover, woe to the soul floating on the sea of ​​this world, in which there is no Wise Ruler Christ, for it is close to drowning. “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” (Rom. 8:9). Woe to those people who do not have bread and water, for they melt and die from hunger and thirst. Moreover, woe to those souls who are deprived of the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, for they melt away from hunger and may die. “I am the Bread of Life. The bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33, 35). “And whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst; But the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life” (John 4:14). The body is satisfied with bread and watered; without bread and water it becomes weak and dies. The true Food and Drink of the soul is Christ. With this Food and Drink she revives and lives. Without this Food and Drink, he becomes exhausted and dies. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not have Christ either. In whom Christ lives, in him the life of Christ is manifested, in him His humility, love, patience and meekness are manifested. The dwelling of Christ in man cannot be idle: it will certainly appear through such deeds as Christ wants, just as the rising sun is manifested through rays, or like a furnace warmed by fire through warmth, or like a good tree through sweet fruits. In whom Christ lives, the Light of life, in him His light appears, and darkness is driven away, and dark deeds do not appear. In whom Christ lives, the purifying, enlightening Fire, in him the warmth of love and mercy is felt. In whom Christ lives, “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29, 36), humble and meek, in him His humility, meekness and patience are manifested. In whom Christ lives, the Tree of Life and Thought, in him His sweet fruits are manifested; as is the tree, so is its fruit. He who is united to Christ, like a member to the head, or like a rod to a vine, creates fruit like Him. Thus, the dwelling of Christ in a person cannot be idle, but it is certainly felt through internal spiritual movements and manifested through external similar deeds. Let us turn, Christians, with all our hearts to Christ, let us sigh and cry before Him, and with a contrite heart we will repent, and pray to Him fervently. May He come to us sinners and “dwell ... in our hearts by faith” (Eph. 3:17), and prevail over us. And until then we will not cease to ask, and to seek, and to knock on the doors of His mercy, “until Christ is formed in us” (Gal. 4:19). You might be interested in: