386. Слово на день Введения во храм Пресвятой Богородицы

(It is said in the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity that in the house of His Excellency Prince Alexander Nikolaevich Golitsyn, November 21; printed separately and in collections of 1820 and 1821) Hear, daughter, and see, and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house. And the king will desire your kindness: beyond that is your Lord. And bow to him. ( Ps. 45:11–12 ). God, marvelous in His destinies, in order to bless those beings from Him with the highest and incomprehensible bliss, from the beginning decided to unite His nature with human nature, in the person of His only begotten Son: so that, through Him, extending this union to the entire fulfillment of the Church, which, according to the law of incarnation, is His body, and thus dissolving and, as it were, mutually equalizing “all things” Deities with nothingness “to see the fulfillment of the times” (Eph. 1:10), as the Apostle says, “to make all things in Christ, both in heaven and on earth in Him (Eph. 1:10), so that finally God may be all things in all” (1 Cor. 15:28). This great definition of eternal counsel, or, according to the Apostle, this “mystery”, although “hidden from ages and generations” ( Col. 1:26), although now “revealed” ( Rom. 14:25) only to the saints and, even in its very revelation, still bearing on itself “seven seals” ( Rev. 5:5), however, from ancient times was revealed by the Holy Spirit to His the mysteries, and through them the whole of humanity, since its gradually increasing understanding had to correspond and facilitate its gradual fulfillment. Thus, one of the Prophets, seeing humanity having already passed the days of infancy and, under the nurturing of the law, growing into the fulfillment of the years when it was to become capable of its destined betrothal to the Divinity and the birth of a flightless child, imagines the Son of God as the king coming to marriage, and, taking upon himself the person of the bridegroom or friend of the groom, as if impatiently convincing human nature - not to delay this blissful union any longer betrayal and disobedience, but surrender to it with all sincerity and fidelity. “Hear, daughter, and see, and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house. And the king will desire your kindness." For a long time this Divine voice echoed in the Church as in the desert, and, apparently, did not find an open ear. Humanity did not have the courage to solemnly go forth to meet the Divine. – What would have happened to us if the heart of the blessed Virgin Mary had not opened to the inconceivable verb of the incarnation, if not her boundless devotion to the will of God answered the heavenly messenger: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord: wake me according to your word” (Luke 1:38)? She surrendered herself unlimitedly to the desire of the King of kings - and the betrothal of the Divine to humanity was completed forever. From here, Christians, we can see how such a seemingly private event—the introduction of a three-year-old virgin into the church and dedication to God—becomes the subject of general celebration in the Church. This adventure of the infant Bride of God is a certain beginning of Her betrothal to the Holy Spirit and therefore, in some way, the first guarantee of the betrothal of all humanity to the Divine. True, this secret still had to be deeply hidden in her at this time, like a flower in its seed; but Providence, in order to show the infallibility of its ways, often precedes its significant actions with some significant events that instruct about the future: and pious tradition says that, at the very introduction of the Blessed Virgin into the church, she was already announced by these Prophetic words: “hear, daughters, and see,” and so on. Now, in the days of the fulfillment of the ancient firstfruits and omens, do you wish to see more clearly the glory of the present triumph? – Follow the Prophet’s instructions. “They will be brought,” he says further, “the virgins will be brought to the King in Her wake” (Ps. 44:15). Don’t you see now that the bringing of the Most Holy Virgin to the King of Kings is the beginning of a great solemn procession in which all pure, chaste souls will follow Her; that the present celebration, according to the intention of the Church, is a part and continuation of this great procession; that those who wish to participate in this celebration must join one solemn procession, putting on qualities consistent with the image of the great Licon leader: “virgins following Her”? So that we, Christians, do not become rigid in this sacred procession and remain nothing more than idle spectators of an alien holiday, we turn to our souls this Prophetic proclamation: “Hear, daughters, and see, and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house. And the King will desire your kindness: beyond that is your Lord. And worship Him” (Ps. 45:11–12). And, first of all, acknowledge here, Christian soul, the eternal right by which you belong to the King of kings, so that you may be brought to Him by obedience and love. “The King will desire your kindness: beyond that is your Lord.” In the kingdom of man, it would seem strange if someone, in the very house and in the presence of his king, entered into an inquiry about his rights over his subjects: is there not some insolence in this house, and in this, although invisible, but nevertheless close and persistent presence of the King of kings, to talk about the eternal right of His dominion over us? But what to do with people who revere the majesty of man, but “put aside dominions, and do not tremble ... the glory” (Jude 1:8) of God? Do not many arrogant thoughts, many self-willed desires, many deeds done in oblivion of God speak louder than those denounced by David with “flattering lips” and “a loquacious tongue: ... who is our Lord” (Ps. 11:4-5)? Oh, if only we could at least somewhat quiet this outrageous cry by confessing and feeling God’s dominion over us! God is our Lord by the right of creation, the Lord by the right of His image in us, the Lord by the right of redemption, the Lord by the right of unceasing preservation and gracious provision. God is our Lord by right of creation. – If we consider the house that we build, or the garden that we plant, to be property; then, without comparison, does God have a greater right, as His property, to dispose of everything that we have and that we are? If only the works of our hands could compete with us about our power over them, just as some of us want to compete with God about the extent of His dominion over us; then our house could say that it was not we who made the tree and the stone in which we live, and our garden, that it was not we who grew the fruits that we gather. But “what are you... imashi”, about a person, “whom you have received” (1 Cor. 4:7) from God? Refuse, even for a moment, the gifts of Him whose dominion over you you would like to limit; return what you received: what is left? - insignificance and, what is even worse than insignificance - sin that ruins God's creatures! God is our Lord by right of His image in us. – Just as we put our seal either on things that we claim to be our property, or on those that we want to hide from others: so God imprinted man with his image, as his property, which no creature would dare to appropriate, and as a handwriting, which no one would open except the only begotten Son of God. Although man broke this sacred seal, revealed the hidden secret of the knowledge of good and evil, and sold the Divine property for sin; but even now in human nature certain, so to speak, erasures of the Divine seal, certain remnants of the image of God are still preserved, and they are preserved so that, through these signs, man will again be assimilated to God and sealed for Him. In immaculate man the image of God was the source of bliss; in fallen man it is the hope of bliss. He is the very foundation of human nature, which, although now covered with dust and hidden in the ground, yet by which the whole building is supported. In order to better understand our relationship to God through His image in us, let us imagine the image of the body, drawn by its shadow on the earth with the help of the surrounding light. What would this shadow be without body and light? - this is the earthly man without the power and light of God! God is our Lord by right of redemption. “It happens that we, wanting to retain our beloved property, to which our right is being disputed, agree to reacquire it by purchase - and sacrifice other property to unfair claims in order to ensure the possession of what we love. Thus, the infinite love of God marvelously strengthens its eternal right over us, in the unparalleled work of our redemption. Man did not want to belong to God; stole himself from God; rejected the Lordship of God; He dreamed of being a master and a god for himself. The blasphemer and seditious person was exposed by impartial justice, condemned and put to eternal death. But love does not want to lose a person. She undertakes to take it away from hell and re-appropriate it for herself more than before. “Redeems” the criminal “from the curse of the law” (Gal. 3:13), and how? - having become an oath itself; acquires what is sold back under sin, and at what price does he acquire it? - “not with corruptible silver or gold, ... but with the pure and pure blood of Christ, like that of a lamb” (1 Pet. 1:18–19). O incomprehensible dominion of love, which, in order to prevail over us, betrays itself to us; and acquires us in order to bestow everything to us! Christians! The Lord could do no greater good for you than for you to “bear your own” (1 Cor. 6:19). God is our Lord by right of unceasing preservation and providence of grace. - The calling of man from insignificance, his exaltation in the image of God and the restoration of the fallen - constitute, in the opinion of the sons of men, the ancient rights of God's dominion over us, which we can more honor with reverent remembrance than feel in power and action. But what does the Son of God say? – “My Father is working hitherto, and I am working” (John 5:17). For the eternal there is no past: everything is always present. Everything exists only through the incessant action of Being. A man can leave his business; because he does not create, but only transforms what is ready; but if God had only turned his gaze away from his creations, then they would not have remained. “I will turn away... your face will be troubled... and they will disappear” (Ps. 103:29). How far can we look for You, Lord! If we just do not disappear, then this already serves as a sign that Your face is turned towards us. Does pure desire ignite within us? Are we doing a good deed? – You “work in us both to will and to do good will” (Phil. 2:13). Does a good thought arise? – we “don’t... We are content and consider that what is good comes from ourselves, as if from ourselves, but our contentment comes from You” (2 Cor. 3:5). Will dangers pass us by, will sorrows be dissolved by consolation, will temptations be overcome? - “You do not leave us to be tempted more than we can; but with temptation you make the best of it” (1 Cor. 10:13). Oh, how we, Christians, would wonder every minute if we had enough insight to discover the secret traces of God’s rule in everything that happens to us and surrounds us!.. Once the prophet Elisha, wanting to calm the cowardice of his youth, who was afraid of his enemies, prayed: “Lord, open now the eyes of the youth, that he may see. And the Lord opened his eyes, and saw: and behold, a mountain full of horses, and a chariot of fire round about Elisha” (2 Kings VI. 17). If even now faith opened the eyes of our spirit, we would see all the heavenly forces around us moved to protect our safety and to assist us against the kingdom of darkness - so! all heavenly powers; for “are not all servants sent out to serve for those who would inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14)? Even the one who does not dare to believe anything that he does not touch - and he, with constant observation of all events, like Thomas, will not wait long for the opportunity to, feeling close, confess the truth of the sovereignty of God and Christ appearing everywhere: “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Only powerful, only beneficent, only the Lord and Master inherent in us, what does not the Lord have the power to demand from His servants, whose lot is in His one hand, and who “in Him” alone “we live, move and are” (Acts 17:28)? What yoke, imposed by Him, would we dare to call a burden for our freedom? What tribute does He exact that is disproportionate to His rights over us? What sacrifice is sufficient for Him? If He told us that He again wanted to take from us everything that He had ever given, what could we answer Him except this: Thy will be done, Lord, for we had no right to a single grain of Thy gifts, even for a single moment of existence? But God does not place any yoke or burden on us, except “that which is good and easy” (Matthew 11:30); does not demand any tribute except an outstretched hand to receive His gifts; He does not want sacrifice and burnt offerings, having satisfied himself for us with the eternal sacrifice of his Son. And this Son of His, who at such a price acquired the right to reign over us, reigns over us only for us, and His boundless dominion, we dare to say in the glory of His goodness, is only a varied service to His creatures. What, finally, does this King want from his servants? “He will desire,” says His messenger to our soul, “the King will desire your kindness” (Ps. 44:12). Your savior wants to “betroth” (2 Cor. 11:2) you to himself “a pure virgin, betrothed to yourself forever” (Hos. 2:19). “As the groom rejoices over the bride, so the Lord desires to rejoice over you” (Is. 62:5). Can you argue with this blessed desire for you? So, “hear, daughter, and see, and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house. And the king will desire your kindness. And worship Him." Learn, Christian soul - and this is the second subject of the prophetic proclamation - learn fidelity, which should bring you into the favor of the King of kings, as the only kindness desired by Him in us, who have no goodness of our own. “Hear and see.” But the Prophet does not explain what we should hear, or where we can see the beloved Bridegroom of souls. This could not be said once for everyone. There is not one voice for every ear, but one vision for every sight. Sometimes the Lord appears and speaks to the soul when it did not expect Him: “He was revealed to those who did not seek me, He was found to those who did not ask for me, saying: Behold, I am to a tongue who has no recognition in our name” (Is. 65:1). But sometimes He remains silent and is not found by those who seek and call upon Him: “I will arise... and will walk... and will seek that which my soul love: I sought Him, and found Him not when I called, and did not listen to me” (Song. 3:2). But do not be discouraged by this, daughter of His mercy: you only “hear,” listen unceasingly to every sign of His presence, “and see,” look at all His ways, “so that you may seek Him when He is found; and call upon Him whenever He is near” (Is. 55:6). “Hear and see.” Only two out of five feelings are left to you by the herald of the will of the King of kings. Begin to proceed, like Lot, from these five cities that must soon perish. Leave the realm of feelings, renouncing those previously that are more carnal and coarse. “Do not touch, do not taste, do not touch” (Col. 2:21) for lust and pleasure and satiety, but only for the need and weakness of the flesh. Those who are satiated with the pleasures of the senses slumber before the palace of the heavenly Bridegroom and will not hear His voice; The oil in their lamps runs out, and they will not see His face. “Hear and see, daughters, and incline your ear.” Listen! There are many beautiful voices that strike the inner ear; but not everything is “the voice of the Lord God who goes into paradise” (Gen. 3:8), - it was given to the serpent to speak in paradise. There are many bright types that meet the spiritual eye, but not all are the true light of Christ; and “Satan is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). Know where you should turn, so as not to be carried away by ghosts: “incline your ear,” or, more clearly, “incline,” with David, “incline your heart to the witness” (Ps. 119:36) of the Lord. – “Do not be attached to strange and varied teachings” (Heb. 13:9). “The Imams are the most famous prophetic” and apostolic “word”, in order to “heed it like a lamp” (2 Pet. 1:19) of the purest light. Having begun our spiritual procession to the heavenly Bridegroom and maintaining our fidelity to Him from the temptations of the senses and from the delusions of the mind, for a long time we can be kept from approaching Him by the passions of our hearts. But these bonds must also be released: “forget your people and your father’s house” (Ps. 44:11). Is this possible? says the passionate soul. – But do they ask about this when the same God, by the law of marital love, commands “to leave a man his father and mother” (Gen. 2:24)? Doesn't a loving heart then become an interpreter and defender of an apparently equally strict law? Is it impossible for the love of God that which is possible for the love of creatures? Shouldn't the former be incomparably stronger than the latter? If love for a creature can be sacrificed to another love for a creature: then is it possible to make a lesser sacrifice for the love of God, like all types of legitimate love, even for oneself and others? And can the Divine Bridegroom offer lesser demands to those who wish to betrothal to Him, like these: “Whoever wants to come after Me, let him deny himself” (Matt. XVI. 24). “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). There should be no barrier, no mediation, no shadow should fall between Him and the soul. “My brother is mine, and I am His” (Song. 2:16), she sings to Him in the Song of Songs. Blessed are you, if you understand and sing this song, Christian soul. Then “the king will desire your kindness,” and will show you the treasures of his love. “I love Me who loves me” (Proverbs 8:17). But beware, O daughter of goodwill, so that you do not stumble in your very approach to your King. Look with awe at the glory He promises you; and think that you can do nothing to deserve it, but with the slightest infidelity you can lose it forever. Remember the last instruction of the bride-guide Tsarev: “and bow to Him.” Pray unceasingly, “To fulfill your good desires for Him,” (Ps. 102:5) and when He “crowns you with mercy and bounties” (Ps. 102:4), you fall at His feet in humility. “Let it be covered,” according to the word of the blessed one, “let your loving heart be covered with the fear of the Lord, the humble mind, so that the one who is not exalted may fall away from the All-Bountiful One” 927. By this faithful path and steady march from the world to God and from darkness to light - may our “virgin” souls, Christians, “followed by those brought” now to the church of the blessed Virgin, be “brought to the King” of heaven; and may they one day be “led” into the not-made-by-hands and eternal “church of the Kings” (Ps. 44:15-16), by His grace, and generosity, and love for mankind. Amen. In Antiphons. – Approx. author. You might be interested in: