Слово 34. О тех, которые живут наиболее близко к Богу и проводят дни свои в жизни ведения

One elder wrote various sayings and thoughts on the walls of his cell, and when they asked him: “What does this mean?” answered: “These are thoughts of truth coming to me from the Angel who is with me, and natural right thoughts arising in me; I write them down at the time of their appearance, so that, when I am darkened, I can deal with them and they will save me from delusion.” Another elder was pleased with his thoughts that instead of a transitory world he was granted undying hope, and the elder answered them: “While I am still on the way, it is in vain to praise me: I have not yet completed the journey.” If you work in beautiful virtue and do not feel that you are receiving help from it, then do not be surprised. For until a person humbles himself, he does not receive a reward for his work. The reward is given not for doing, but for humility. He who offends the latter loses the former. He who has previously received the reward for good deeds has an advantage over those who practice virtue. Virtue is the mother of sorrow, and grace is given to humility. The reward is no longer for virtue and not for labor for its sake, but for the humility that is born from them. If it becomes scarce, then the first 191 will be in vain. The practice of virtue is keeping the commandments of the Lord. Abundance of doing is a good state of mind. It consists of humility and conservation 192 . When the strength of the former becomes impoverished, this 193 is accepted instead. Christ does not require the making of commandments, but the correction of the soul, for which he legitimized the commandments to those under the law. The body acts equally with both the gums and the ears 194 , and the mind, as it wants, either is right or sins 195 . Some people live their lives in the wisdom of God by deeds, while others commit sin as if under the guise of something divine. In others, who protect themselves, even shortcomings are guardians of the truth. Gift without temptation is destruction for those who accept it. If you do good before God and He gives you a gift, beg Him to give you knowledge of how much it is appropriate for you to humble yourself, or to assign a guard to you over the gift, or to take something else from you, so that it will not be the cause of your destruction. For it is not harmless for everyone to keep wealth. A soul that has taken upon itself the care of virtue and lives with caution and in the fear of God cannot be without sorrow every day, because virtues are associated with sorrows. Whoever avoids sorrows is, undoubtedly, completely separated from virtue. If you desire virtue, then surrender yourself to all sorrow. For sorrows give birth to humility. God does not want the soul to be without care. Whoever wishes not to have care is, by his wisdom, outside the will of God. We do not mean concern for the physical, but for that which troubles subsequent good deeds. Until we achieve true knowledge, that is, the revelation of mysteries, through temptation we approach humility. He who abides in his virtue without sorrow, the door of pride is open to him. So, who wants to be without sadness in his thoughts? Without offenses the mind cannot remain humble. And without humility he cannot purely engage in prayer to God. First, a person’s thoughts move away from proper care, and after this the spirit of pride approaches him. When a person remains in pride, then the providential Angel, who is near him and arouses in him concern for righteousness, moves away from him. And when a person offends this Angel and he leaves, then a stranger approaches the person 196, and from that time he no longer has any concern for righteousness. “Before contrition” is pride, says the Wise One (Proverbs 16:18), and before gifts is humility. The measure of pride visible in the soul is the measure of contrition with which God admonishes the soul. I don’t mean pride when a thought appears in the mind or when a person is temporarily overcome by it, but pride that constantly resides in a person. A proud thought will be followed by contrition, and when a person has loved pride, he no longer knows contrition. To our God be glory and glory forever! Amen. Virtue and work for it. According to your mood. You might be interested in: