Поучение 82 92 . По случаю сбора винограда. О том, чтобы не возвращать терние и волчцы страстей, но приносить плоды добродетелей.

Brothers and Fathers! I am at a loss what to say and what new things to tell you beyond what has been handed down to us by the saints long ago and forever; I don’t have anything to tell you, except again, and we will tell you about the same things in order to guide you to better and greater things. So, let’s now talk briefly about your love, and, if you wish, let’s begin the word from the present tense. What will the word be about? This is the month when grapes are harvested. And those who pluck rejoice and bless the branches full of fruit; and for those who do not have fruit, the gardener grieves and mourns. But what need is there to talk about the fruit of the vine? In terms of time, this is quite decent. For we too are figuratively and literally called the grapes of the Lord. Or don’t you know the song that is sung during tonsure as a monk 93: Lord, Lord, “look down from heaven and see, and visit this vineyard; And the Lord said in the Gospel: “I am the vine; Let us remain, brothers, in our good Lord, planted by Him like grapes, and bring Him the fruits of virtues, in order to receive a blessing from Him. Let us not grow thorns and thistles - evil sinful passions, so as not to be guilty of us and not to be subject to the pronounced sentence: “every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Luke 3:9), and burns up, that is, dies an eternal death; he is thrown into the fire of Gehenna to burn immortally. Into this fire enter those who do evil, reject and despise their vows, remain in wickedness and unbelief, and give up their flesh to ashes and destruction, just as Scripture says: “the clouds of the abyss, carried away by the wind, the trees of the forest, barren, twice dead, uprooted: the waves of the fierce sea, singing their own shame; lovely stars, by whom the darkness of darkness is reserved forever” (Jude 1:12, 13). Therefore, the Apostle loudly cries out: “Flee fornication; For every sin that a man commits is except the body, but the fornicator sins in his own body” (1 Cor. 6:18); for all his ouds are defiled, and he becomes unclean. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit living in you, which you have from God, and you carry it with your own? bought by nature with His honorable blood" (1 Cor. 6, 19, 20). How can we not be ashamed of heaven and earth, having been purchased by the honest blood of Christ, and turning back again? Are we not ashamed of ourselves, to appear holy on the outside, but inside to be filled with impurities! How long will the church remain on both sides (1 Kings 18:21)? Until when will we stick to the same path? “Woe,” it is said, “to me who walks in two paths” (Sir. 2:12), that is, vice and virtue; for there is no communication between them. No intelligent slave will serve sometimes his master, and sometimes his master’s enemy. Therefore, let us completely surrender ourselves to God, beloved children, and in this way we will be able to lead our lives according to God. Let us not cling to the earth with our feelings, like dumb animals, but let us strive with our spiritual strength towards the heavenly; let us turn our desires from the corruptible to the imperishable, from the transitory to the indestructible and eternal. And we will not again allow the inventor of evil, the devil, to poison us with the slander of evil thoughts. But as soon as he begins to instill the sweetness of carnal passion, or sinful lust, or any other evil, immediately drive away the flattering demon. How and with what? Through prayer and supplication, tears and sighs and contrition of heart; Such is the invisible battle with the devil, and such is the hidden feat. Therefore, imitating those who practice fighting, let us with a warm heart defeat our invisible enemies, demons. And just as these fighters, although they receive blows, do not give up the fight in the hope of rewards: so we, brethren, even if we were vulnerable in number from those who fight us, will not give in, but will still endure; Let our enemies still fight us, strengthened by God's help. To this, my brethren, I beseech you, for this is what I strive for, extending my meager word to you; and I rejoice over those who successfully follow the ascetic path, and I sigh over those who often stumble. But, oh, so that we all may walk in right paths, do good and remain in psalmody, prayer, service, obedience and humility! May the God of peace be with you, in Christ our Lord, to whom belongs glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. See Patrolology, vol. 99, p. 542. See the rite of tonsure into the great angelic image. You might be interested in: