Слово второе в субботу недели 5-й Великого поста

Following the example of the Holy Church, which pleases the Most Holy Virgin with all possible convictions, we, my brothers, would now like to open our lips to you in praise of Her all-holy name, to open them so that through this, like the church hymnist, we may be filled with the spirit and, if possible, fill you with the same spirit. But the word of the Church, which we heard yesterday, holds us back: that word that says: “We see many-pronounced winds, like dumb fish, about You, Mother of God!” -If the broadcasters turned out to be silent; then what will happen to us - the little-pronounced? For us, therefore, in such a case, it is “more convenient,” in the words of another church song, “to love silence...” On the other hand, what should we do on the day of praise of the Most Holy Theotokos if not to share, if possible, this praise together with the Church? Therefore, it remains to do as those who, living by the sea, do not have great ships to sail on them to all the edges of the sea. These, in small boats, make short voyages off the coast, thus satisfying their needs and giving due honor to the inaccessibility of the sea. I say we will do the same; that is, we will point out to you the most important virtues and perfections with which the Most Holy Virgin adorned herself on earth, not daring to enter into the very depths of the grace that rested on Her. The first virtue, and together the foundation of all human virtues, is devotion to the will of God with oblivion of one’s own will and desires. This virtue, necessary for a person, constantly filled Mary’s entire soul and entire life. “Behold, the Servant of the Lord: be unto me according to thy command!” (Luke 1:38), She said to the Archangel, who preached to Her the conception of the Son of God. Apparently, it was not difficult to express such devotion at a time when one should have decided not on anything regrettable and humiliating, but on the honor and glory of being the Mother of the Son of God: but in fact, this was the height of human devotion and self-sacrifice. For, firstly, the rank and title of the Mother of God included, as we will see, many sorrows and temptations, such, moreover, that do not visit the greatest ascetics of piety. Therefore, to say: “Behold, the Servant of the Lord” meant to say: behold, I am ready for all hardships, sorrows and suffering - ready for “a weapon to pierce My very soul!” (Luke 2:35). The very dignity of the Mother of God, although it is the highest of all dignities, for a truly humble soul, as was the soul of Mary, it is even more difficult to decide to accept it than to decide on grief, for a humble person considers the latter to be his natural lot and belonging for his impurity; and to become higher than the Cherubim and Seraphim - as befitted the Mother of God - for this a truly humble soul could be inclined by boundless devotion to the will of God. And this devotion was expressed in all its strength in the words of the Ever-Virgin: “Behold, the Servant of the Lord, wake Me according to your word”! It was said this once - to the Archangel; and it was always fulfilled, not only before the Angels, but also before the stubborn enemies of truth and righteousness. Nothing could shake this devotion in Mary, not even the Cross of Her Son, which shook the whole earth. The second virtue of a righteous soul is purity of body and spirit: all servants of God are adorned with it; but no one was adorned in such completeness as the Blessed Virgin. For this virtue, She, still belonging to the Old Testament, where the celibate state was even contrary to the law, which promised many children and numerous offspring as a reward for fulfilling it, chose virginity for Her entire life, and thus showed in Herself an example of the perfection that belonged to the New Testament. Because of this virtue, the Most Blessed One did not agree to the Archangel’s gospel until she learned that by fulfilling it on Her, the holy vow of virginity would not be violated in the least. For what does She tell him? “I don’t know what this will be like if I don’t know where my husband is!” (Luke 1:34). As if, that is, this is how She advertised: the matter that you will tell about, everything and in everything depends on whether I can remain with him in the celibate state that I have chosen for Myself: if I can, then I am ready to serve the secret; if not, then let your gospel go to another head! – This is how far, as you see, the love for purity of spirit and body in the Most Pure One extended! The third virtue of the souls of saints is the courageous enduring of sorrows and temptations. Mary, after Her Son and God, is the first and highest example of this virtue. What temptation did She not endure, what sorrow did She not endure? “The Word became flesh” (John 1:14), that is, it was conceived from the Spirit in the womb of the Ever-Virgin: for the last of mothers there is weakness and condescension in a similar position; for the Mother of the Son of God - he is not there! The holy betrothed, not knowing the secret, suspects Her of stealing a marriage!.. What could be heavier than this temptation? But the Holy Virgin bears him silently. One word from Her could calm the heart, and with it Herself, and dispel suspicions, but She does not dare to say this word, because this is the secret of Providence; - suffers and is silent! Then the time of birth approaches - peace is needed even more; and the Mother of the Son of God had to go to Bethlehem with Joseph at that very time in order to undergo a national census. At the very moment of birth there is not enough space in the monastery; and Mary goes to the den for this, lays the Born One in a manger!.. As soon as the joy of the Born One makes one forget the constraint of one’s position, Herod’s sword already extends over the den: and the Mother and the Child are forced to flee to Egypt along the path that even in the middle of the day the strongest and most armed people with difficulty pass. Imitating the evangelist, we pass through the following years in silence. Behold, Mary is already on Calvary. What torment for the Mother’s heart to see on the cross in the agony of the Son, that Son who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, who, according to the prophecy of the Archangel, should “reign in the house of Jacob forever”! (Luke 1:33). Strangers could not bear this sight and returned from Golgotha, “those who beat their breasts” (Luke 23:48); and the Mother of Jesus stands at the Cross in silence, immersed in thought in the abyss of God’s ways. What can compare with this holy courage of spirit and heart? Let us not continue our silence about the greatness of the Most Honest Cherub; So, we are already far from the shore, and our boat is small and weak. Instead of glorifying the Most Pure One, let us hasten to turn to Her with prayer. About what? First of all, that by Her grace-filled assistance even in our unclean soul, even a small and weak image of those virtues and perfections that adorned Her on earth would be reflected, so that in our actions we would be guided and governed not by our vain desires, but by the most holy will of God - so that we preserve, as much as possible, our soul and body from worldly defilements, and so that we would be able to graciously endure those disasters and sorrows that meet us on the path of our earthly life. wanderings. Amen. You might be interested in: