Поучение 61 73 . В среду пятой недели. О том, чтобы не предаваться лености во время приготовления к причащению Пречистых Таин.

Brothers and Fathers! Yesterday, when the ambassador from Caesar arrived at our monastery, confusion and confusion immediately occurred in all of us, and due to the unexpectedness of the matter, many thoughts arose. Then, when we learned that he had not arrived for our sake, we were immediately freed from fear and trembling. I ask your love: why were we so afraid and embarrassed when we saw the ambassador from Caesar? Of course, because we consider ourselves not friends of Caesar, but his great enemies, for we do not fulfill his will and command to have fellowship with him in the iconoclastic heresy. If we were his friends and favorites, we would rejoice greatly, knowing that the one sent from him came to us in every possible way for the sake of some kind of benefit and gifts. Why did we tell you this, brothers? Moreover, every soul that, for a good life and Divine virtues, is worthy of having God as merciful and merciful, during separation from the body, when the Angel sent from God comes to take it, will not be embarrassed and will not be afraid, but will look at him with love, and will go with joy to its Master. And the soul, which at that hour turns out to be unprepared and faulty, will be confused and bitterly cry in vain and without benefit, seeing that there is no help or consolation from anyone. For here both a friend and brother can comfort a person in distress and sorrow, and somewhat encourage him in the fear that comes over him; there he will receive no help from anyone or anything, but the Angel will indisputably and mercilessly capture that accursed soul. And as soon as we heard about this and remembered the tightness, we were afraid. So, let us think, brethren, if our word and one memory of that terrible hour led us into fear and trembling, then what will happen when that time comes? And how will this soul appear before the terrible throne of Christ? Listen to what the Prophet Daniel says about this judgment seat: “a river of fire flowed... before Him, thousands of thousands serving Him, and ten thousand stood before Him” (Dan 7:10); The judge is terrible; nothing is hidden from Him; torture is subtle and terrible even to the point of an idle word, as the Gospel says. How then will this soul endure this? It is truly terrible to fall into the hands of God; but it’s even more terrible when she hears this most righteous saying, consigning her to eternal torment. Therefore, I ask and beseech you, brothers, let us correct ourselves and prepare ourselves before we die; by repentance let us make God merciful and merciful to us; Let us make friends of the angels who come to take us; Let the eyes of our mind always be awake, and let our mind stand courageously against passions and sins and not at all obey them. And if he happens to waver a little in his standing, then let him immediately return to his former dispensation, quenching with his tears the kindled arrows of the devil, and embrace the desire and love of Christ. The Apostle James says: “much... the prayer of the righteous may be made haste” (James 5:16); Therefore, we have a need for prayers for each other, especially for the priests; We still need the guidance and advice of teachers, that is, Bishops, who have great power; We especially and even more need tears and tenderness; and above all, holy communion. I am very surprised to see that we do not have zeal and zeal to receive communion often. We receive communion only on Sunday, and if there is a liturgy on another day, no. Meanwhile, monks, especially cenobitic monks, if it were possible, should each and every one receive Holy Communion every day; and now it is rare and rare that people receive communion like this. And I’m talking about those who cleanse both soul and body, and not about taking communion, as it happens, simply and without testing oneself; for the Apostle says: “Let a man tempt himself... whether he is worthy, to eat of the bread and to drink of the cup. He who eats and drinks unworthily is judgment” (1 Cor. 11:28-29) and prepares great torment for his soul. Holy Communion is animal bread. This bread gives eternal life; and blessed is the one who eats it, not knowing behind himself any evil lust, or enmity, or drunkenness, or gluttony, or love of money, or malakia and any other impurity. Listen to what Christ says: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven: whoever eats of this bread will live forever: and the bread that I will give, which is My flesh, I will give for the life of the world.” And he also says: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in Me, and I in him” (John 6:51,56). You see, brethren, the ineffable and infinite gift that Christ not only died for us, but also gave us His body and blood for food and drink. What other greater sign than this is the strong love that God has for us, and what is more saving for the soul? At the daily meal there is no one who does not eat; and if anyone had been rebuked, he would have been greatly offended. And about this terrible meal, which is not simple and ordinary bread, but animal bread, and not a simple cup, but a cup of immortality, can one think that it is not just as necessary to partake of it? Oh, how foolish that would be! But if this has been the case until now, then from now on we will correct ourselves, recognizing the greatness of the gift and grace, and purifying ourselves to the best of our ability, and thus partaking of the most pure Mysteries in the health of soul and body. As soon as we happen to hear the church gospel, we will leave our needlework and hasten with great zeal to receive communion; and this will give us great help and intercession; for we, always preparing ourselves for Holy Communion, remove ourselves from all sin. And when we do not care about receiving communion, then we fall into many sinful passions. Let us always do this, preparing ourselves so that we may become partakers of eternal life. Oh, that we may be worthy to receive it, by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom belongs glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. See Patrol. Vol. 99. Page 646. You might be interested in: