Поучение 78. О том, что нам должно быть тщательными и мужественными в духовных наших подвигах, дабы сподобиться венцев терпения.

Brothers, my Fathers and children! It is good not to hide the good deeds of God, but, as the time demands, to tell it, so that through this we may become more diligent, which is what I now see in you. For by the grace of Christ, through frequent teachings, instructions and daily conversations, you have already achieved spiritual prosperity, a good dispensation and God-loving diligence. And that what I say is true, you yourself testify; Truth also testifies, and I, the accursed one, also testify, having received relief from my labors, and with spiritual joy having achieved, as a refuge, the serenity of your deanery. Truly, the Scripture says not falsely: “all... punishment at the present time does not seem to be a joy to be, but sorrow: take care of the fruit of peace... rewards righteousness” (Heb. 12:11) to those who strive for this. However, this is not my feat and not from my efforts, but the gift of God, your diligence, and fatherly help. And since I am indecently involved in other people’s works, then I also have fun and rejoice. We are all one, I am in you, and you are in me, and the feat is imputed to both sides. May the Lord, awesome in strength and strong from now on, continue to give me strength, so that I can courageously and reverently preach, test and explore His holy commandments; May he also give you, my children, unfeigned obedience, unfeigned obedience and pure faith; may he preserve you and watch over you, so that you may succeed even more in virtues, and may he make you more thorough, so that you courageously strive for every spiritual achievement and boldly for every sorrow, with firmness endure hardship, punishment, service, suffering, hunger and thirst, and be zealous for all other blessed exploits, so that, having appeared invincible, you will receive the crown of patience on the day of reward of the righteous Judge. Truly, brethren, your purchase is good; for having left behind the corruptible, you have received the incorruptible; Having lost their parents, they acquired the Father of the Lord. Having removed yourself from your relatives, you became cohabitants of the Saints, “a chosen race, a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9); instead of the fatherland that raised you, the upper metropolis became your fatherland, and “God is its artist and creator” (Heb. 11:10); instead of a perishable and temporary house, you have acquired the tabernacles of the venerable and righteous, instead of vain and transitory glory and perishing honor - Divine and Angelic dignity; instead of honor and bodily pleasure - enjoyment of eternal blessings; instead of obedience and cutting off the will - joy with the martyrs, instead of solitude and distance from relatives - affinity with all the saints. Why are we being lazy? Why are we discouraged? Why are we complaining? Let us all say with David: “Are you sorrowful, my soul? and why are you confusing me? trust in God, for we will confess to Him” (Ps. 41:12). For although we struggle and suffer, yet for this reason we will reign with Him. These are also martyr's crowns, for communal brotherhood is called the field of martyrdom. How is this possible? Blessed is the obedient. Next? Diven Confessor. Then? Blessed is he who is faithful and steadfast in the commandments. Therefore, my brothers, let us not become exhausted and deviate, let us not be malicious, let us not retreat back, lag behind, turn back, O companions, O friends! The flesh passes away, let us not pity it, as the Scripture says: time is short and our life is short: if we live here for seventy or eighty years, then this is nothing in comparison with those countless centuries. So, let's send a few goldsmiths to receive tens of goldsmiths; Let us send a few years ahead to gain countless centuries; let us endure temporary sorrows in order to achieve peace for endless ages; let's cry for an hour so that we can laugh unceasingly with blissful laughter; let us cry for the love of Christ, so that we may rejoice with endless joy. Hey, my brothers! By this, I beg you, let us appear before the Lord Almighty with a bright face, so that we may be renowned both on earth and in heaven. Following the fathers, let us remind each other of the future age, not with reproof and weeping, but with joy, gladness and delight; when the time of reward for deeds comes, when the Judge sits on the throne of His glory, ten thousand holy angels will stand, and thousands will serve Him, and all creation will stand; when terrible sentences are pronounced, when standing on the right hand and left will reveal everyone, when the righteous with honor and glory will enter the kingdom of heaven for eternal rejoicing, and sinners with shame and disgrace will be cast into endless torment, there, where it is said, “their worm does not die, and the fire does not go out” (Mark 9:48). Alas, how terrible it is to hear this! Alas, how sad it is to proclaim this, to which I alone will be subjected for my sins! But you, having fought the good fight, rejoice, looking at the honors of the high calling, until you reach the time of death, and pass from this temporary life to the eternal, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom belongs glory and power, forever and ever. Amen. You might be interested in: