125. Слово в неделю вторую по Пятьдесятнице 565

(Printed in the 1844 and 1848 collections) She abandoned the ship and her father, and idolized Him. (Matthew 4:22). The Gospel shows us now with what authority our Lord Jesus Christ called the elect to follow Him and into the Apostolic ministry; and, accordingly, with what obedience, and with what sacrifices, they followed His calling. The authority of the one who calls reveals Divine power in Him: the obedience of those who are called admonishes us about Christian duty. On the shore of the Sea of ​​Galilee, four fishermen went about their business. Two were throwing nets, starting fishing: the other two, in another place, were straightening the nets, apparently damaged during fishing. Someone walks along the shore and says to the first two: follow me; and I will make you fishers of men. Peter and Andrew could recognize in the caller the One whom John the Baptist pointed out to them on the Jordan and called “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29); and Who, at the first meeting with the unknown Simon, not only called him by name, but also predicted for him a new name, Peter, then incomprehensible and mysterious. These memories should have aroused in Peter and Andrew respectful attention to the words of the calling Jesus. But at the same time, it was impossible for them not to notice that the caller was a wanderer, helpless, having neither his own home, nor wealth, nor a title in society, honorary or commanding. How can you suddenly follow Him? Where should one go for a person who has no place to lay his head? Peter and Andrey had some kind of hut, they had a boat, nets, fishing, and that was their livelihood: how could they leave this to go after someone who doesn’t even have this? – But He will make “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19)? - What does it mean? How is this possible? People catch people in their power, subordination, dependence, in their will, through preliminary power over some people, through wealth, through various secular arts, through strong, rich, educated accomplices and like-minded people: neither the one who calls nor those who are called to be fishers of men have anything like that. Therefore, what should the calling Jesus naturally expect from Peter and Andrew? - if not a decisive refusal, then indecision, reflection, hesitation and struggle between impulses to an extraordinary call and attachment to ordinary life, between the desire and hope of the unknown great, and between the fear of losing the known little, and not gaining anything. And what turned out to be the opposite? – The decision is quick, the readiness is complete, the following of the call is not delayed for a minute. Peter and Andrey did not even stop to hand over their fishing nets, so that they would not be lost without use, or become prey to a predator. They just abandoned them. “She abye left the land and idolized Him.” Jesus goes further along the shore and similarly calls the other two fishermen, James and John. The effect of the call turns out to be similar to the previous one, and perhaps even more surprising. From the Gospel history it is not clear that James and John were so early and so favorably informed about Jesus as Andrew and Peter: it is all the more surprising that they accepted His call as unquestioningly as these. James and John, in order to follow Jesus, had to leave something that is much more expensive than fishing nets - leave their father: but the power of filial love, along with other opposing feelings and natural thoughts, could not stand against the power of the word of Jesus: “But she had left the ship and her father, and followed Him.” What kind of power is this that, in a few sounds of the word of Jesus, acts so suddenly, so unnaturally, so victoriously over the strongest natural affections, feelings, and mental ideas? - By the action itself, it must be recognized that this is a supernatural power, therefore Divine, - the power of the word of God “living and active” (Heb. 4:12), - “a verb that does not return empty” ( Is. 55:11) to the one who spoke it, the Word - by which “all things were” (John 1:3). The same Word, co-essential with God the Father, Who at the beginning of the world, in an incomprehensible, Divine image, “spoke, let there be light: and there was light” (Gen. 1:3), and in general: “said, and came to be: commanded and created” (Ps. 33:9), now clothed in the clothing of human nature, with the same Divine authority speaks with a human voice, and what is spoken is created; the creature is uncontrollably organized by any obstacles and moves according to the voice of the Creator; man follows the God-man; the fisherman becomes an Apostle. From what has been said so far, let us see, brethren, for our edification and consolation, how beneficial for our faith the Lord Jesus everywhere reveals His Divinity and His saving power; what wonderful power dwells in His Word, which proceeded from His mouth; and what a rich treasure of Divine and saving power has been handed over to us as an inheritance in the words of the Lord, stored up, as in some treasury, in the Holy Gospel. But in these reflections on the Divine power of the Word of Christ, one must also take into consideration the fact that this Word, always equally powerful in itself, unequally extends His power to creation. When It speaks to a creature as a creature: then it is necessary for it to submit to Him. So Jesus “rebuked the wind, and said to the sea: Be silent, cease; and the wind ceased, and there was great silence” (Mark 4:39). But when the Word of God speaks to the creature, as a rational and free being, then it allows it to freely listen to what is spoken and accept the saving power and effect of the verb. This is how the Lord spoke to Peter and Andrew: “He is coming after Me” (Matthew 4:19); and by this he not only encouraged them to follow Him, but also gave them the strength to fulfill this and overcome all obstacles: however, he did not force them, but allowed them to freely accept the word, and the power of the word, the command, and the grace of fulfillment. And therefore, while glorifying the Divine power of the word of Christ, we must not leave without comment the human virtue of obedience to the word of Christ in the Apostles. How quickly their free will moved in the wake of the calling word of Christ: “Abiye,” immediately! How truly the intention was followed by the deed itself: “I worship Him!” How unconditionally everything was sacrificed for this: “having left the wilderness, leaving the ship and his father!” And here, brethren, is an example for us and an indication of the common Christian duty - obedience to the word of Christ - prompt, unwavering, active obedience, not overcome by any obstacles, ready for all sacrifices. For Christ spoke so powerfully not only to the Apostles: but with the same Divine power he speaks to all Christians, or those who want to be Christians: repent and believe; - watch and pray; - be merciful; - Yes, love one another; - he says, and at the same time gives the grace of fulfillment. The very command to follow Jesus, although not in the sense that everyone should be fishers of men, but that they themselves would be caught for salvation, applies to all Christians, as it is not difficult to see from another saying of Him: “Whoever serves Me, let him follow Me” (John 12:26). Every Christian is undoubtedly obliged to serve Christ; therefore, everyone should follow Him. A duty, the violation of which is all the more unforgivable because the one who gives the command also gives the power to carry it out, but does not force. Let us test ourselves, Christians, and excite ourselves. The Lord calls us to serve Him, and to follow Him, and where to follow? “Where I am,” He says, “he will also be My servant” (John 12:26). What a high goal He points out to us! And He gives the strength to achieve it. What are we? Can each of us, without being stunned by conscience, say: “My heart is ready, O God, ready” (Ps. 56:8)? If in our best moments it seems that our soul “goes forth into His word” (Song. 5:6): do our deeds also follow His commandments and commandments? Do not the mires of earthly worries, attachments, addictions entangle our feet, guided in the footsteps of the Lord? Seeing the true path of the Lord, and hearing the call to it, don’t some say: what should we do with our parents, with our acquaintances, with our social connections, with our benefits, which cannot be taken with us on this path? Yes! “Narrow path”: you cannot carry many people along it. But we must remember that there is no other path for Christ to salvation except the narrow one, and that you cannot come to salvation unless you actually take the true path of salvation. If, without deceiving yourself, you want to be saved: then be a faithful follower of Christ, along the path of His true faith and His commandments, and, as much as possible, leave behind everything that cannot, or does not want, to pass with you along the narrow, but the only saving path. Lord, in the power of Your Word, send us the grace to follow You! “They lead” us “to follow You, into the stench of Your world” (Song. 1:3). Amen. According to the index in General Readings. Love. Spirit. Enlightenment listed as spoken in the Chudov Monastery, May 31, 1836. You might be interested in: