Слово в Великий Четверток, перед причащением Святых Таин

“My time is near: I will celebrate the Passover with you and my disciples” (Matthew 26:18). This was what was ordered to be said to the owner of the house in which the Savior intended to celebrate His last Passover. It was not said who this happy householder was, and the messengers had to recognize him on the spot. For the traitor sought in every possible way an opportunity to carry out his plan; therefore, the place of Easter had to be hidden until the time of celebration. After it was completed, no doubt, everyone knew who had done it; however, even after this, not a single Evangelist told us the name of the happy householder. Interpreters of the Holy Scriptures present various reasons for this secrecy. But, it seems, we will not be mistaken if we say that the name of this man is kept silent because he portrays himself as every true follower of Christ. In particular, brothers, he cannot help but portray you, who intend to begin communion of the Holy Mysteries. Do you want to taste the Lord's Passover, to partake of the Body and Blood of your Savior; and your Savior and Lord wants to taste Easter with you, to communicate “sincerely” with your spirit and body, to unite with each of you forever. Do not be surprised by this and do not consider this to be any turn of phrase that I have invented. The Apostle was not speaking words, but expressing the truth when he wrote that since “the children partook of flesh and blood, He also sincerely partook of the same” (Heb. 2:14). Our Savior and Lord partook of the flesh and blood of all humanity by taking upon Himself our nature. But He now wants to communicate with the spirit, flesh and blood of each of us; wants to make us all His church and home, wants to be the beginning of our lives, to occupy our mind and heart. I dare to invite you to this mysterious communion on behalf of the Lord! The words will be mine (if, however, we, who are talking with you, have anything of our own), and my thoughts will be occupied from His conversations with the disciples. If you are His true disciples, or at least want to be them, then do not consider them alien and not belonging to you. “My time is near” (Matthew 26:18), the Lord commands to say. That is, as if He were saying: “My earthly ministry is coming to an end”; “The Father has given me the work that I will do and finish” (John 17:4). I proclaimed His name and love to My brethren - men; proclaimed bliss to those who mourn, the meek, the merciful, the persecuted and the suffering; I did not hide the grief that awaits the evil, proud, predators and perjurers: now all that remains is to testify to the truth of My teaching with my very deeds, to take up the cross, which I preached for everyone, myself, and go with it to Golgotha, as an example to everyone. “My time is near”: the treacherous disciple has already betrayed Me, the pieces of silver have been given and accepted; the prince of peace moved from his throne to fight with Me (John 14:30); spira is ready; All that remains is to go out to meet her, accept the flattering kiss and give “My cloaks... for wounds and My cheeks for blows” (Is. 50:6). “My time is near”: I see how My Father Himself has dissolved the cup of wrath and sorrow; it comes and will not pass away; bloody sweat is no substitute for bloody baptism; I must betray not only my body, but My very spirit into the hands of the Father. “My time is near!” But before I finish My career and go to the Father, I want to share My feelings with you, My followers, I want to mark with something the New Testament, confirmed by My Blood, I want to leave some permanent monument of My love for you: “I desire ... to eat the Passover with you, first I will not even accept torment” (Luke 22:15). “But where will I take her down? Jerusalem is filled with My enemies. Hypocrisy, pride and sacrilege live in the halls of Annas and Caiaphas. There they are ready to tear their clothes, but not in order to spread them on My path, but in order to expose Me Myself. I will be there, but not for Easter, but to receive strangulations and spitting. Pilate’s praetorium is more spacious: there, along with love for peace, there lives a certain love for justice; but the name of Caesar’s friend there is more important than the name of the friend of truth and God: it is not for me to eat Easter with the confidants of Tiberius! Let them alone wash their hands before the people; and I will wash the feet of My disciples. It is better to be judged than to be a judge on such a lithostroton. When necessary, I will appear on it too - to receive the crown of thorns. So, “My time is near”; but I have no place or refuge. “Foxes have ulcers, and birds of heaven have nests”; but the Son of Man has no place to bow his head (Matthew 8:20). Born in a manger, I will die on a cross. What should I do? Leave Easter? But I came not “to destroy the law... but to fulfill it” (Matthew 5:17). And how can I leave Easter, which typifies My death? What am I going to do? I will do this: “I will do the Passover with you and my disciples.” You, Christian, you, who are called My disciple and have sworn to follow Me until death. If you have not yet given Me refuge, where will I find it? But you cannot help but give it: you were born in the bath of baptism with My Blood, anointed and sealed with My Spirit, you feed on My Body and Blood, you long for eternal life in My name: will you not accept and give Me rest? So, where is the “great upper room” (Luke 22:12), so that I can fit in with all My gifts? Where are the unleavened breads of “purity and truth?” (1 Cor. 5:8). Where is the bitter potion of selflessness and patience? Where is the Passover lamb - “a pure heart and a broken spirit”? (Ps. 50:12). Wear everything you have, decorate My supper, let yourself be comforted by what My grace has produced in you. But, instead of rejoicing “with joy for the voice of the bridegrooms” (John 3:29), you remain silent, like a condemned person! I see the reason: your inner man himself has nowhere to lay his head; the house of your spirit is “empty and fallen”; there is neither the lamp of faith nor the oil of love; everything is filled with impurity - passions and harmful thoughts. Woe to you: “pity for your house will destroy Me” (John 2:17). “But My time is near”; Perhaps your time is not far away: when I come another time, I will no longer find you on earth. There is no need for both of you to waste time. So let's hurry! Let us not allow our common enemy, the devil, to achieve victory over you. I have the means to fix everything: just agree to be Mine, just open the doors of your heart, let Me occupy the entire interior of your being. As soon as I am in you, everything will immediately take on a different form. I myself will replace all preparations: I myself will wash my feet, I myself will be the light, I myself will be the Lamb. Don't be sad; We will be satisfied, we will both be delighted: you by Me, I by you; just give up the inclination to sin, part with your evil life forever, decide to be Mine in everything!” By your own faces, brothers, I see that the voice of the Lord to you, although it comes from my unworthy lips, does not remain without effect on you. After this, I have nothing more to desire than for this action to last over you and leave lasting traces in you. And how can it not last? You heard the words; now you will see the matter. What did I give you? And the Lord will give you His Body and Blood. Will such a gift not touch the recipient? Moreover, if we, His servants, talk to you on His behalf, will He really remain silent within you? He always speaks to us in our consciences, all the more so He cannot help but speak to our hearts through a mysterious union with us. So, everyone, listen to what the Lord is saying to him today. Will the world speak? Receive with thanksgiving and keep in a clear conscience. Will there be reproof? Give equal thanks, and hasten to correct what is accused. Will he begin to expel traders from your inner church? Don’t argue, don’t defend, but even more so, join Him and act. The Lord Himself will teach you everything that “is proper to do” (Acts 9:6); just listen and do it! Amen. You might be interested in: