9. Преступники и радостная им весть

If some people had gravely sinned before the Tsar, and were sent to prison or exile by him, and some messenger from the Tsar would come to them and announce to them that the Tsar forgives them, and leaves their crime to them, and returns them to their Fatherland and home again, and lets them live in peace and quiet, what joyful news would that be for those poor condemned people! Our forefather Adam and I all sinned before God, the King of Heaven, and were sent from paradise to this world as if into imprisonment and exile. Christ, the Son of God, the Angel of great counsel, came to us, exiled and condemned, and brought sweet news from His Heavenly Father, and announced to us that God forgives us and again accepts us into His mercy. “And he came and preached peace to you, both far and near,” says the apostle (Eph. 2:17). And Christ Himself preaches to us about Himself. “He (the Father) has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor, and He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to preach the year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18–19). As if he said: “Do not be afraid, do not be horrified, poor and outcast people! I brought you good news from My Heavenly Father. You have sinned - He forgives your sins. You have turned away from Him - He turns you to Himself again. If you have withdrawn and been expelled from Him, He brings you back to Himself again. If you are lost, He saves you through Me. They kicked you out of paradise for sin - He, by His grace, gives you heaven instead of paradise. Accept Me as His Messenger. “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, and believe in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions" (John 14:1-2). I call you, the exiled ones, to that monastery and return you.” O news, most dear, sweetest and most favorable for the whole world! Truly, nothing could be more pleasant than this news for us, poor sinners! Food is not as pleasant for the hungry, cold water for the thirsty, freedom for the captive, light for those sitting in darkness, rest for the weary, and health for the sick as this news is pleasant for us, the poor, removed from God, rejected, condemned and lost sinners. Don't be afraid, don't despair, poor sinner! Christ, the Son of the Living God, the King and King of Heaven, the beloved and only begotten Son, sent from His Heavenly Father, came to save you and bring you into His heavenly kingdom. “The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:16–17). We thank You, Lover of Mankind, Only Begotten Son and Word of God, that You brought us such sweet and comforting news from Your Heavenly Father, and thereby sweetened our hearts, saddened by the poison of the ancient serpent! We believe in You, the Son of the Living God, and Your Heavenly Father who sent You, and through You, Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, we hope to come to Him. And we will glorify You forever and ever with Your Father and the Holy Spirit! “Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have trusted in You” (Ps. 32:22). “In You, Lord, we put our trust, let us not be ashamed forever, amen!” With this sweet news, or the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, take comfort, sad soul, sinner and repentant! It will be a coolness in your life, during spiritual heat, and a living consolation in the hour of mortal deed. The Son of God came to save sinners, not such and such, but everyone, no matter what they were. If only they repented and believed in Jesus Christ who came to save sinners, heaven would be revealed to them by the hand of the Cross of the crucified Christ. Repent, sinner, and believe in this holy and sweet Gospel, and, without a doubt, you will enter heaven with the thief. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that he hath visited his people, and wrought deliverance unto them, and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he declared by the mouth of his holy prophets that have come of old” (Luke 1:68–70). You might be interested in: