76. Скотское следование

We see that where one cattle goes, other cattle follow, although harm will come to them from there. This is what many people do recklessly, and act according to their feelings, and not according to their reason, and follow each other like cattle, without thinking whether it will be useful or harmful. We see this lawless and destructive jealousy in the world. One began to organize frequent banquets, drink, walk, get drunk, and intoxicate others - the other and the third do the same. One began to show off - others will follow him. One has collected a lot of wealth - and others care about the same. One shameless woman smears her face with white and paints - others follow her, and do everything disastrously, as one. One lawless merchant asks the merchant for a price higher than the goods are worth, and takes an oath to that effect, and invokes the holy and terrible name of God in that lawless deed. Others like him do the same. So in other things, poor people imitate each other. They imitate, but to their own detriment and destruction. This is a reckless thing! This is bestial following! This is a pestilence with which Christian souls, redeemed by the Most Holy Blood of Christ, become infected and perish! This is a soul-destroying fire, which, having started in one, burns down other spiritual houses! Alas, trouble! Alas, woe! Evil begins in one place, and everyone does it, and it becomes a custom, and is strongly established in such a way that it is impossible to eradicate it, like an old disease. “People will laugh at me if I don’t do as they do.” Answer: 1) Wickedness always laughs at piety and scolds it. Let any rich man sell his rich house, all his belongings, and let him squander all his property, and give it to the poor, and love the poverty of Christ. He will see for himself what will happen to him from the evil world. “What a fool he did! What people collect, he squanders.” So to the sons of this age piety seems riotous! 2) Christ, our Savior, Lord and King of glory, was mocked and mocked by those who loved the world. Let the world laugh and curse at you too. Know your own and do what pleases Him, not the world. Conform yourself to Him, as to your Leader, and not to this world. 3) Are we really supposed to do everything that the world does? Many kill, commit adultery, fornicate, steal, kidnap, etc. And should we do this? Let this not happen! They are going to destruction. And should we go? May the Lord protect us from this! 4) We not only have feelings, but also reason, and we can judge what is good and what is evil, what is useful and what is harmful. And so, when we see what people do, we should follow reason, not feelings, following the example of animals. Those who follow only feelings and not reason are not people, but animals. 5) We are Christians. We have the holy word of God. We see in it what is good and what is evil, what is useful and what is harmful. Thus, God forbids what is evil and what is harmful to us, and commands what is good and useful to us. What are people doing? Let us apply this to Holy Scripture, as to a clean mirror, and look into it. Do people do similar or opposite things to him? If they do something similar, it’s good, and it’s good for us to do it. If it’s disgusting, let’s turn our eyes away from it and listen to what the Holy Book teaches. 6) Even if the whole world does what is disgusting to God and harmful to itself, you do what pleases God and is beneficial for you. The whole world will not intercede for you before the Court of God. You can’t say: so-and-so did this. You will hear one thing from the Judge: “Why didn’t you do what I commanded you?” God alone, more than all the world, must be revered incomparably. Be in peace, like Lot in Sodom, where everyone committed lawlessness, but he did not imitate them, but did what was pleasing to the holy will of God. Do this too, do not imitate what the evil world does. If you see or hear that people are doing bad things, you will be like one who does not see and is deaf and does not hear. Always turn your heart's eyes to eternity, and all worldly affairs will be behind you, and you will live in the world, as if alone, knowing your Creator and His holy will. “Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God; Set your mind on things above, and not on earthly things” (Col 3:1–2). You might be interested in: