Поучение 35. Должно скорбеть и молиться о тех, которые по безрассудности отделяются от братства.

My fathers, brothers and children! Our work, according to the Divine Scriptures, is likened to what else if not the position and duties of a helmsman? Usually the helmsman, when he swims across this great and mental sea, encounters many things: stormy winds, that is, unclean spirits, various waves, confusion and irresistible noise. “Besides the noise of its waves,” as the Prophet says, “who can stand?” ( Ps. 64:8, 106:23–27 ). For our humble spiritual ships ascend, as it were, to heaven, and descend to the abyss. If this is so, and it happens many times that we are subject to waves, we are flooded with water, the ship is tossed, the rigging is torn, and we are driven aground; however, we should not grieve about this, despair and leave the ship, but we should make even more efforts, and then the pilot and the miracle of salvation will appear. For if the helmsman is afraid of the contrary winds, the waves covering the ship, and the water in the ship, and although with one word he reveals fear, and the appearance of his face changes from fear, then before the crash he becomes the cause of death for himself and others in the ship, bringing them into despair. Therefore, my children, if sometimes one of the brethren is indignant, like the waters of the sea, or another is shaken, like the ropes of a ship, or resists and contradicts some, like contrary winds, and we, the accursed, are afraid, then we harm both ourselves and you, and we suffer, as if without a helmsman. It is unfortunate when someone recklessly separates from the brotherhood, as happened now with the humble Tarasius. Isn’t it also unfortunate if someone creates disorder and is embarrassed? It is truly regrettable, but not as much as if someone is separated from our care. On the contrary, we must try to gather those who are scattered, pacify those at war, and do everything and make efforts for the benefit of our society 39 and yours for the sake of salvation. Thus, let us always pray for those who have fallen into sin, and especially for the damned Thalassia. For God hates no one so much as the proud, just as the brother of God says: “The Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). So, let us guard ourselves, let us strengthen ourselves and flee from the mouth of the serpent, who seeks to devour us, separating us from brotherhood; Let us dwell in the courts of the Lord’s commandments, serving there and eating there, where there are no bitter and deadly pastures, but only life-giving, nourishing, fattening and strengthening your honest souls. Get drunk there, where there are no bitter and harmful sinful waters, but only sweet, quiet and God-blessed waters. God opened the stone for us; drink now the saving waters. Manna is sent down from heaven; gather and eat. The sea is divided; go, cross over, and march to the land of eternal blessings. In order not to prolong the words, for the sake of the brevity of the night (I will say in general); observe all this, and shun every evil deed, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom belongs glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. You might be interested in: