507. Слово в день Успения Пресвятой Богородицы

Sarrino lived a hundred and twenty-seven years, and Sarah died (Gen. 23:1-2). I now take this small and apparently fruitless piece of Holy Scripture for reflection. But if you are attentive, you will immediately see that it is not fruitless and is capable of leading us into important considerations, which are not alien to the present solemn day of the Ever-Virgin and are useful to us. Sarah, one of all wives, was given this advantage, that the years of her life were recorded in the Holy Scriptures. What a thought it was to write down such a small thing in such an important book, which is intended to spread the knowledge of God and Christ the Savior throughout the human race. It is not out of curiosity that I propose this question, but because such questions are connected with the great questions about Divine dignity and this dignity in accordance with the perfection of Holy Scripture. Here we are talking about the firmness of our belief in the Holy Scripture and the saving use of this Scripture. So, what was the idea behind recording the years of Sarah in the Holy Scriptures? Shall we say that this happened? Through this we will humiliate the dignity of this Scripture and shake the belief in it. Where things happen as they happen, it is difficult to recognize human limited wisdom. Moreover, where Divine, infinite wisdom operates, there should be nothing there by chance. The chronology of the Patriarchs who lived before the global flood and after it, before the beginning of known nations and kingdoms, is continuously written in the Holy Scriptures, and it is not difficult to see that this was not done by chance. From the chronology of the Patriarchs, a general chronology of the first times of the world is compiled; and through this, in the simplest way, pagan opinions about the fabulous longevity or even eternity of this visible world are refuted. Thus, the dry and apparently fruitless record of the years of Adam, Seth, relates to the most important subject of Scripture - to the knowledge of the true God, the Creator of the world. This example encourages us to look for something worthy of the Divine Book in the recording of Sarah’s years. The life of Sarrino was one hundred and twenty-seven years, and Sarah died. From this reckoning we learn that Sarah, after the blessed birth of Isaac, when she was ninety years old, lived another thirty-seven years. Why didn’t she have any more children for such a long time? For although it is true that Abraham and Sarah in their old age, by a special miraculous blessing of God, became able to give birth to Isaac, this blessing was not interrupted by this birth and the miraculously excited fertility continued, as this is clearly seen from the fact that Abraham had five sons after Sarah, from Keturah. Why, I say, did Sarah not give birth for 37 years after she had previously sought to have a child (Gen. 16:2) even from a slave? In response to this, there seems to be no other guess than that it was because of Sarah’s love for abstinence and chastity. With this thought I do not disparage the Father of believers. Each one, as the Apostle says precisely in relation to marriage, receives his gift from God, both in this way and in the same way (1 Cor. 7:7). Abraham wanted to take advantage of the generosity and abundance of God's blessing and therefore gave birth to children after Isaac. Sarah, having received this blessed child, found in him the fulfillment of all her desires and did not extend them further. Now you see that Sarah’s chronology is not a fruitless count. It indicates in her face a sublime and, especially in the times of the Old Testament, a rare quality - love for virgin chastity and abstinence from marriage. Let us dare to extend our guesses further under the guidance of the apostolic remark: All this, that is, all the adventures of our fathers, the images described in the books of the Old Testament, happened about him, and it was written for our punishment (1 Cor. 10:11). It is known that Isaac was the image of Christ; Therefore, it is fitting that the mother of Isaac should be an image of the Mother of Christ. An image, although imperfect, as everything in the Old Testament is imperfect compared to the New Testament and every image before what is depicted, except for the one all-perfect uncreated image of the invisible God, however, a remarkable, similar image, convincing to recognize and glorify Wisdom, who drew the correct image long before what was depicted appeared. A virgin giving birth is an incomparable phenomenon in the strict sense, but, as far as possible, it is typified by a barren woman giving birth, an elderly woman giving birth. A virgin at Christmas is also a state inimitable for the nature of the daughters of Eve, but, as far as possible, it is typified by Sarah, who, after her only blessed birth, shuns birth until her death. And how skillfully this image of the ever-Virgin Mary is drawn in the biography of Sarah! If it had been written that Sarah did not want to have another son, she would not have been understood, she would have been condemned by the Old Testament wives, passionate about the birth of children, however, passionate in an excusable way for such times when humanity sought the birth of Christ. What does a godly writer do? He records the time of Isaac's birth and the time of Sarah's death; Old Testament readers cannot be confused by this, but we see that this was written for our instruction, in order to show us the edifying image of the Ever-Virgin Mary, in order to give us the idea of ​​how from ancient times those very people, for whom childbearing was a special blessing, anticipated the dignity and height of Christian virginity. Here, brethren, is a frequent, but one of the most common examples in the Holy Scripture, how in the most apparently barren particle of it there are edifying truths and lofty mysteries. What can we say about the superiority of the most important parts of it? What should one think about the perfection of the whole composition of the Divine books. Truly, O Lord, Thou hast commanded the truth of Thy testimony and the truth (Ps. 119:138). Wonderful is Thy testimony, for this purpose I am tested, my soul. The manifestation of Your words enlightens and instructs even infants (129-130). Blessed indeed is the man whose will is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he learns day and night (Ps. 1:2). You hear that I am now speaking about the superiority of the Holy Scriptures in those words that in the mouths of the godly wise men of the Old Testament referred to the Old Testament Scriptures, while the law had only the shadow of future blessings. How much more should the saving instructiveness, and the light-like clarity, and the all-encompassing fullness, and the spiritual depth, and the heavenly sublimity, and the Divine perfection of the Holy Scriptures have been revealed, when the Sun of Gospel truth arose, from which the very shadow of the Old Testament was to shine. Therefore, the Apostle Paul, confirming Timothy in the ministry of a secret worker and teacher in the church, especially tells him to rely on the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures: For from childhood you knew the Holy Scriptures, which is able to make you wise for salvation, through the faith that is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture, the Apostle continues, is God-breathed and useful for the teaching of truth, for the reproof of false teaching, for correction from vice, for punishment in righteousness, that is, for instruction in the rules of virtue, so that the man of God may be complete, prepared for every good work (2 Tim. 3:15-17). Yes, this was written to Bishop Timothy, you say, and not to me, a layman; Listen better to what the Apostle says: man is prepared for every good work. Consequently, Holy Scripture prepares not only the priest for the holy work of the priest, but also the worldly man for every good deed in the world and in ordinary human life. But if you want, find something else that was said to you. Did not Christ himself say to all who heard without distinction: try the scriptures (John 5:38)? Do you dare to deviate from this command of your Savior? Is it not the laymen of Thessalonica that the Apostle so praises for their exercise in the Holy Scriptures when he says: these are the noblest of those who dwell in Thessalonica, who received the word with all diligence, reasoning all the days about the scriptures, if these things be so (Acts 17:1). To whom does John the Seer say this in his revelation: blessed is he who is honoured, and hears the words of prophecy and keeps what is written in it, for the time is near (Rev. 1:3)? Doesn’t this speech apply equally to me and to you? For the point here is that the writer is trying to attract readers and listeners to Scripture, and to attract, like a skillful fisherman, he throws out like a fishing rod the thought of the bliss of those who read and listen, in order to catch me, you, anyone who comes across, the more, the better. Notice especially what book St. John draws us to - one of the most mysterious in Holy Scripture. This is the answer to those who think to excuse their inattention to the Holy Books by their mystery. You think that trouble will come to you if you start reading a prophetic book, filled with wondrous visions and deep secrets, but the Apostle assures you that this is not a problem at all, and even, on the contrary, all prosperity: Blessed is he who is revered and hears the words of prophecy! When from such reflections on the dignity and useful use of the Holy Scriptures for everyone, I turn to consider how the Holy Scriptures are actually used among us - how many among us use the light of this lamp, feed on this spiritual food, enrich the soul with this Divine treasure. Then remarks are presented with which, of course, the prevailing custom will not be satisfied, just as the prevailing custom is not satisfied with the truth in this case. I resort to the mediation and help of St. John Chrysostom, who did not leave this subject without his comments in his time. “Tell me,” he says to his listeners (John 32), “does any of you at home take any Christian book into your hands and diligently read the scripture contained in it? Nobody can solve this. But we will find grains and food with many, but books nowhere, but perhaps not with many. And these too are like those who have not.” Tell me, too, you, who at the present time are incomparably more convenient to have the Holy Books with you than it was in the time of St. Chrysostom, tell me, do any of you at home take any Holy Book into your hands and read the scripture contained in it with diligence? Grains and grains - but why are you ashamed to simply name what St. Chrysostom also speaks about without any riddle in church? – Don’t we find cards and checkers in the hands of many more often than books? But even those from whom we find books are not like those who do not have, because they do not read the books that they have, are they not even worse than those who do not have, because instead of sacred and soul-saving ones they have and read books in which there is not a spark of intellectual light, not a drop of truth, not a crumb of goodness, which have no goal of either wisdom or virtue, in which they play with thoughts and words as grains and spoils; in which passions, vices and crimes are depicted not at all in order to correct or protect anyone, but only so that in these images one can find the so-called graceful, with amazing impartiality some find in hell, as well as in Heaven? Don't be angry. I only retold in a modern way what Saint Chrysostom said in a way applied to his time. Let us conclude with words about the correct use of spiritual books. “I want,” he says, “so that from these you carry both writing and understanding in your thoughts, so that it can be purified by accepting the written understanding. If the devil does not dare to approach the church in which the Gospel lies, unless the soul that bears the understanding touches it, then the devil and the nature of sin will approach it. Sanctify your soul, sanctify your body, and keep this in your heart and on your tongue.” Even now there is no need to change anything in these ancient words. I also want from you, brothers, exactly what Saint Chrysostom wants from every good Christian. Amen. You might be interested in: