88. Ты чего остановился?

It happens that when people gathered for some task are working and toiling, and one of them, lazy, stands. Then the other one says to him: “Why did you stop?” So to someone who has begun, but is weakening in the feat of piety, one can say for encouragement: “Other Christians are working in their work, but why have you stopped?” Others repent with zeal and groan for their sins - why did you stop? Others are fighting against sin, the devil, the world and passions - why did you stop? Others diligently cultivate the grapes of the Lord - why did you stop? Others serve the Lord with zeal - why did you stop? Others fervently pray, ask and knock on the doors of God’s mercy - why did you stop? Others sow their spiritual seeds - why did you stop? Others generously give alms - why did you stop? Others do good to their neighbors - why did you stop? Other wealth, honor, glory and all the vanity of this world, despising, look at eternal bliss and rush towards it - why did you stop? Others humble themselves before God and people - why did you stop? Others serve their neighbors with love - why did you stop? Others go and hurry to the honor of the highest rank - why are you looking, why did you stop and not go? Others strive for eternal life - why have you stopped and are not striving? Others, having renounced themselves and taken up their cross, follow Christ, follow Him with patience, love, meekness, humility and follow Him into eternal life, where “the dwelling of all who rejoice” (Ps. 86:7) where there is joy, gladness, sweetness, honor, glory and eternal bliss, where they see God face to face, from where “sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled,” where a voice is heard joy and joy, one hears the voice and noise of those celebrating and having fun, where they continually and sweetly sing the song: “Hallelujah”, where there is sweet and blissful friendship with the Angels - those who follow Christ go there, like sheep following a shepherd: “My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them; and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand,” says the Lord (John 10:27–28). Why did you stop? Why aren’t you in a hurry to go there, to a calm, peaceful and sweet place? All the saints went and entered there, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, saints, martyrs, saints and everyone who has pleased God from the ages by faith entered, and settled there, rejoicing and having fun, and awaiting the general resurrection and perfect bliss, according to God’s true promise. Why did you stop? Why aren't you in a hurry to get there? They are waiting for us with great desire to go there and come. The Heavenly Father is also waiting, Who did not spare His Son for our sake, but betrayed Him to death. He waits for those whom He created in His image and likeness. He is waiting, may He bless us with eternal bliss in His kingdom. Why did we stop? Why do we doze? Why don't we go? Why don't we rush there? What bliss do we see in this world? What peace, peace and goodness? What fun and joy? “Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity” (Ecc.1:2)! Trouble in cities, trouble in villages, trouble in deserts, trouble on land, trouble at sea. Troubles from obvious ones, troubles from secret enemies, troubles from the tongue, troubles from the hands of men, troubles from the flesh and passions that war with the soul, troubles from the devil, who “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Trouble from lying charmers and deceivers, trouble from relatives and false brothers, trouble from the whole world. “The whole world lies in evil” (1 John 5:19). What in the world is not sad? Wealth is associated with poverty, glory with infamy, honor with dishonor, peace is not without anxiety, peace is not without confusion and rebellion, love is hypocritical, friendship is not without suspicion, sweetness is dissolved by sorrow. There is fear everywhere, fear, suspicion, danger and sadness. No truth, no loyalty. The truth has diminished among the sons of men. Truly “the whole world lies in evil.” What good things do we expect from this world? “Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity! Each one spoke vain things to his neighbor” * (Ps. 11:3). Flattering lips are in the heart, and evil is spoken in the heart. Alas for me! That my life in exile is long. O Jesus, the sweetness of life, the joy and joy of those who love You! To You, who lives in heaven, I lift up my weeping eyes from this bitter and deplorable vale: draw me after You! Let's run to where all the merrymakers live. “I have lifted up my eyes to You, Who dwells in heaven! Behold, as the eyes of slaves are turned to the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a slave are turned to the hands of her mistress, so our eyes are turned to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we are full of humiliation and our soul is full of reproach from those who are prosperous and humiliation from the proud” (Ps. 122:1-4). Translation by P. Yungerov – Editorial office of “The ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: