Пятница

(1 Thess. 5, 9–13, 24–28; Luke 12, 2–12) “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and then are unable to do anything more; but I will tell you whom to fear: fear the one who, after killing, can throw you into Gehenna: so, I tell you, fear him” (Luke 12:4-5). Our greatest fear is death. But the Lord says that the fear of God must be higher than the fear of mortals. When circumstances arise such that it is necessary either to lose your life or to act against the suggestions of the fear of God, it is better to die, but do not go against the fear of God; because if you go against the fear of God, then after bodily death, which still cannot be avoided, you will meet another death, which is immeasurably more terrible than all the most terrible bodily deaths. If this last thing were always in our thoughts, the fear of God would not weaken in us and we would not have any deeds contrary to the fear of God. Let us suppose that passions arise. At the time when they rebel, conscience, animated by the fear of God, demands to go against them; refusing the demands of passions seems like parting with life, killing the body. That’s why, when the last kind of anxious feelings are revived and your conscience begins to shake, hasten to restore the fear of God and the fear of God’s judgment with its consequences. Then the fear of the most terrible death will drive away the fear of the weakest death, and it will be easy for you to resist the demands of duty and conscience. This is how what is said by the Wise One is fulfilled: “Remember your last 12, and you will never sin” (Sir.7:39). Synod: “Remember your end.” You might be interested in: