Поучение 67 78 . Во святую и великую среду. О спасительных страстях Христовых, и о смиренномудрии и терпении.

Brothers and Fathers! The present day is holy and venerable; From this day begins the holy sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He endured for the salvation of the world, just as the Prophet David foretold this in the second psalm, saying: “In this world are the nations reeling, and the people having learned in vain? The Kings of the earth appeared, and the Princes gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ” (Ps. 2:1,2). For the most wicked elders of the Jews gathered together and formed an evil council to kill Christ and our God; and Judas, the flattering disciple, rejected the teacher, and with flattering and insidious kisses betrayed Him to the enemies and murderers of the Jews, who, having bound the Lord of the world, dragged Him and put Him on trial, questioned Him and tortured Him; and He answered with great humility. When He answered, it was terrible even to hear, one of the standing servants hit Him on the cheek, saying: Is this the answer you give to the bishops? And He endured this with patience, saying: “If you speak evil, bear witness to evil: if it is good that you beat Me?” (John 18, 23). Then He is subjected to mockery, molestation, dishonor, spitting, strangulation and beating from the wicked, and finally ascends to the cross. But even then He is not angry with the murderers, but prays for them, saying: “Father, forgive them this sin, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). These, however, were not satisfied with the great atrocities committed by Him, but they also added others, that is, they fed Him gall and milk, and then the immortal is killed; but even after all this they did not subdue the anger and rage that they had against Him, but pierced Him with a spear in the side. These are the passions of Christ, which we spoke about briefly. He who listens to this with all his soul is never angry, is not tempted, is not proud, does not envy and is not at enmity against his brother; does not like to speak out out of love for fame, but humbles himself, laments, and considers himself earth and ashes; desires to be a partaker of the passion of Christ and strives to die for Christ in order to enjoy the glory of His resurrection. We have, brethren, boldness, because we have partaken and are participating somewhat in the passions of the Master. For do you see where we are? Is it not in exile and persecution for confessing the Orthodox faith? And before this, were we not in prison? Didn't your blood flow from much beating? Did not some of our brothers die as martyrs in the Lord? So, we boast about this in the Lord, for the sake of such a gift. But since before death it is impossible to affirmatively please anyone (Sir. 11:28), due to the flexibility of human will and because, as the wise Solomon says, we do not know what will happen in the morning; then, I beg you, stand firm and unshakable, enduring suffering with the Gospel faith, as if with one spirit and one soul, so as not to be afraid of the threats of the enemies of the faith, and not to be hindered in any work of piety; on the contrary, as God’s servants, be ready for every good deed—obedience, humility, generosity, and much patience. “For I will require patience” (Heb. 10:36) in order to fulfill the will of God and receive eternal life. It won’t be long before the Lord comes to give rest and glorify those who work and suffer for His Holy Name, and He will not delay in coming. That we are burdened by temptations and sorrows, and for the sake of the Lord we do not endure daily grief for His love? For the Apostle says: “If we die for His name... we will live with Him forever: if we endure, we will also reign with Him in heaven; If we reject Him, He will reject us; Even if we do not believe, He remains faithful: for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:11, 12, 13). Let us remember, brethren, in what and how great joy the Saints will be when they see our Lord Jesus Christ coming from heaven with many Holy Angels and powers, in unspeakable joy, to call them and crown them, so that they may be with Him forever and ever. What sorrow and shame will those who did not listen to the Gospel and despise His holy commandments experience? they will be condemned to eternal torment with the devil and His demons! So, let us always think about this, and even more, while we live here, let us cleanse our soul and enlighten it with tears of repentance, “from all uncleanness and filthiness of the flesh and spirit, doing that which is holy in the passion of God” (2 Cor. 7:1), being zealous for deeds pleasing to God, hating every vice, and diligently practicing every virtue. Let us have brotherly love and love for each other; We will give preference to one another, and so on, which the Apostle commands (Phil. 2, 3). In being diligent about the rule, let us not be careless and lazy, but “burning in the Spirit, working for the Lord, rejoicing in hope, enduring tribulations, remaining in prayer” (Rom. 12, 11–12); so that in such purity and virtuous living we may celebrate this Easter, and be worthy of the enjoyment of eternal blessings, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom belongs glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. 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