74. Зеркало

We see that people have mirrors in their chambers for their needs. Christians! As a mirror is to the sons of this age, let us have the Gospel and the immaculate life of Christ. They look in the mirrors and correct their bodies and cleanse the blemishes on their faces. We will do the same. Christ, the Son of God, gave Himself and His holy life to us as an image, as we saw above: “I have given you an example, that you also should do the same things that I have done to you” (John 13:15). Let us also present this pure mirror before the eyes of our souls and look into it, is our life consistent with the life of Christ? It is imperative that it be consistent. Just as we were made conformable to the old Adam, so we must be made conformable to the New Adam, Jesus Christ, if we want to enter into eternal life. And just as we were likened in evil to that first man, so we must become like in good character to the second Man, the Lord from heaven - Jesus Christ - so that by faith we may become a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). “Like the earthy, so are the earthy; and as is the heavenly, so are the heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of earth, we will also bear the image of heavenly things” (1 Cor. 15:48–49). Look often into the pure mirror of the immaculate life of Christ, and erase the vices that have stuck to your soul with repentance and contrition of heart, and, as much as you can, conform to Him. Be conformed to Christ, the Son of God, in humility, meekness, patience, love and other virtues now, and you will be conformed there. But don’t conform to today’s Christians. Today's Christians, for the most part, live their lives in opposition to Christ, rather than in conformity. Christ lived in humility - today's Christians love to live in pride and pomp. Christ treated everyone sincerely and simply, but today’s Christians treat everyone cunningly and craftily. Christ lived in great poverty, so that he had nowhere to lay his head, although he could have everything, because He is the Lord of all, and today’s Christians only think and care about how to collect great wealth, and if it were possible, they would have all the treasures of the world. Christ, worthy of all veneration and glorification, avoided honor and glory, and today’s Christians put all their strength and effort into this in order to be respected and glorified in this world. Christ lived in love and mercy, but today's Christians hate each other, slander each other, slander each other, blaspheme, steal from each other, kidnap, take away from each other, weave intrigues and snares for each other. Christ did not take revenge on anyone for an insult, although He could defeat all His enemies with one wave, and today’s Christians take revenge on each other in both word and deed. Christ was meek with His detractors; they reproached Him, but He did not reproach in response. And today's Christians reproach each other, and cut each other with their tongues, like with a sharp sword. Christ lived in great patience, and today's Christians, even if some small misfortune or misfortune happens, grumble and blaspheme. Christ tried only to fulfill the will of His Heavenly Father and to complete the work of our salvation—he fulfilled and accomplished it. But with today's Christians, everything is different - they do not care about the will of God, but they make every effort to please the world and fulfill their desires. You see, Christian, what Christ did in this world, you see what Christians do. Find out for yourself what kind of Christianity today's Christians have! You see for yourself that it is false. Do not conform to today's Christians, since all their plans, undertakings, efforts and deeds are contrary to Christ. But just as you look into a mirror to correct your face, so look more often into the mirror of the immaculate life of Christ, and correct your character and cleanse your soul. “For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). “I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service; and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:1-2). You might be interested in: