Поучение 74 89 . В начале индикта. О великом Божием даровании, о любви к Богу, о вражде к диаволу, и о смиренномудрии.

Brothers and Fathers! Now is the beginning of the year, and the Gospel, which is read on this day, says this: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me: for the sake of My anointing, to preach good news to the poor, to send Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach remission to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the brokenhearted go into joy, to preach the year of the Lord is pleasant” (Luke 4:18-19). So, the Only Begotten Son of God was sent from the Father as the redemption and cleansing of the world, so that the blind could see and the captives would receive freedom. Who is blind? One who is blinded by passion and voluptuousness. Who is the prisoner? One who is carried away by sinful thoughts. Who is the broken one? One who is crushed by sins. The Lord heals all of them, not only in body, but also in soul, and not only when he was on earth physically, but also now, when he is with us invisibly. Thus He teaches us again, takes away the sin of the world and heals every disease and every infirmity. He who comes with faith “will receive blessings from the Lord and alms from God his Savior” (Ps. 23:5). And oh God’s ineffable love for mankind! He brought us from non-existence into existence, and, having fallen into crime, restored us again; and gave us the third grace, monastic life and perfection. When we sin again, He is not angry with us and does not turn away from us, but He receives us with a kiss and joy, like the prodigal son, and those who are saddened by the devil, He cheers, comforts those who cry, compels those who are in trouble, helps those who are weary, heals those who are wounded, and prevents those who are ready to fall into the very depths of hell, and by His love for mankind frees them from troubles, so that truly it must be said: “If the Lord had not helped me, my soul would have entered into hell” (Ps. 93:17), and: “I am turned away from the mouth, and the Lord accepts me” (Ps. 117:13). Everyone knows how many times we were subjected to temptation, sin, and death, and how in our sorrows we immediately found God. For despite the fact that we are such sinners, our all-good God again has mercy on us and feeds us who are hungry - physically with the annual fertility of the earth, and spiritually with His most pure Mysteries, caring for us more than mother and father. For a mother nourishes her child with milk for a time, and our true Lord and Father gives us His body and blood for food and drink - and this always. Oh, how great is His grace and gifts! How can one truly not love this Lord, who has such love for us? How can we not do His will? How can one not cleave to Him without detachment? If this does not happen, then won’t the sky cry out, and won’t the earth rebel, and won’t the very stones judge us for the great inhumanity and ingratitude that we show to our Benefactor? But let this not be, my brothers! Let us have and firmly maintain love for Him; Let us hate and flee the devil. For just as they love and cleave to a benefactor for his good deeds, so they hate and turn away from the evil one for his malice. For this devil corrupts and kills our lives: “he is a murderer from the beginning and from the beginning,” as Christ said (John 8:44). He divided the human race into many thousands of wisdom and heresies, he wounds us with many arrows of sins, and wants to devour the entire universe. If we do not hate this enemy of ours - the devil, then there will not be a single worthy torment for our punishment and torment, as we deserve; because we have friendship for the enemy, and consider our murderer as our beloved. Let us, I beg you, run away from this as much as possible. What is the escape from it? In moving away from his evil deeds and thoughts, as well as assimilation to God and fellowship with Him in doing good deeds. Therefore, let us wish what is good for our soul, working for the Lord with all humility and meekness, knowing that even if there is any correction of virtue, if it is not protected by humility, it will perish. Thus, let those who have a proud wisdom humble themselves under the strong hand of God, and we with them, so that we do not work in vain; and let those who live virtuously strive and work even more. Let us be the father of all things, and let us comprehend and become heirs of the kingdom of heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom belongs glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. See Patrolology, vol. 99, p. 540. You might be interested in: