Поучение 37. О том, чтобы любить последним быть, и с благодарением переносить бесчестия и укоризны.

My fathers, brothers and children! Leaders of warriors, teachers of children, artists of students, and we must instruct you and give you, as our children, proper advice. So, my children, continue in exploits, in your suffering obedience and in your martyrdom obedience, force yourself day by day during this life, gain 41 your souls in virtues, betroth the kingdom of heaven to yourself and treasure the blessings kept in the promises. The path of God is narrow and sorrowful, and I say the same, but in the future we will be greeted by breadth, space and tranquility. Temptations from demons are frequent, trying to burn down our spiritual home, but the dew of the spirit extinguishes them and gives us water flowing into eternal life. Tightness and sorrow, despondency and laziness, doing and vigil, desire and non-receipt, labor and feat, suffering and tension, thin clothing 42, languor 43 and sweat, reproof and reproach, excommunication and expulsion, this is a regrettable path. But for all this, indescribable joy and endless joy await us. So, come, my children, let us bravely endure these small days, like 44 inches, and let us be worthy to wear the crown of righteousness. How much our blessed fathers labored in fasting, vigils, tears, prayers and all kinds of ascetic living! And now for them there is no sorrow from past labors, but they have received indescribable joy and blessed pleasure. In the same way, I beg you, we will not be afraid of sorrows that are short-lived and pass in a short time, like a dream and like a shadow; Let us not be lazy, but let us fulfill God’s commandments with zeal. Do not grieve when reproached, do not be ashamed of reproaches, do not be embarrassed by grief. Don't be overcome by pride; but let us fix our gaze on the valley, and our soul on grief; Let us be meek and quiet towards each other, patient and merciful. It will happen that someone will say a rude word to you. Why are you embarrassed, child? Our Lord Jesus Christ heard: “demons... imashi?” (John 7:20), and was silent, and: “about Beelzebub... he will cast out demons” (Matthew 12:24), and was not embarrassed. And we, who are by nature humiliated and worthy of reproach, will really become ferocious like pigs? Why don’t we rather taste the sweets of humility? Why don't we carefully study the art of obedience? Why don’t we acquire the tools of true monks? But these tools do not consist in penmanship, nor in art, nor in washing one’s hands, nor in heightening one’s height, nor in good clothing, nor in decoration and grooming, nor in verbosity, insolence and back-talk, or anything else similar to this; but in considering yourself lesser, and considering everyone greater than you, not being quick to speak, and especially not being rude, not being vain and proud, but on the contrary, loving humility, as we said, and forcing yourself to humility, confessing, having love for everyone, not quarreling and not envying. But you, as those taught by God, already know everything pleasing to Him. So, fulfill this, my children, and courageously endure in this life to the end, including the illnesses that you encounter, for many fall ill, and accept what is given with thanksgiving. If you need anything, ask humbly; and be blameless in everything, undeceitful, bright in complexion and filled with joy, so that you may all be one in the one hope of the calling, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom belongs glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. In Greek κτί´σασθε, create. In Greek add. πλῆθος ψηρῶν. Additional, from Greek. and glory handwritten In Greek παλαιστὰς (Ps.38:4) In glory. Borative. You might be interested in: