Беседа III

Continuation from the words: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” to the words: “And there was evening, and there was morning, one day” (Gen. 1:1–5). 1. Reading Divine Scripture is like treasure. Just as one who receives even a small particle from a treasure acquires great wealth for himself, so in the Divine Scripture, even in a short speech, one can find great spiritual power and an indescribable wealth of thoughts. And not only is the word of God like a treasure, but also like a spring, flowing out abundant streams and having much water: we actually learned all this yesterday. Having begun with the first words of the book of creation, we devoted the entire teaching to the words: “In the beginning God created heaven and earth,” and yet we could not embrace everything, because the wealth of this treasure is great and the streams of this spiritual source are abundant. Do not be surprised that this happened to us: our ancestors drew from these streams according to their strength, and our descendants will do the same, and yet will not be able to exhaust everything; on the contrary, the waters will increase and the streams will multiply. This is the property of spiritual streams: the more they draw from them, the more spiritual grace will begin to arrive and multiply. Therefore, Christ said: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink: believe in Me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow out of his belly” (John 7:37-38), showing us the abundance of these streams. If this is the property of spiritual flows, then let each of us bring the vessels of the mind in abundance, so that, having filled them, we can return home, because the grace of the Spirit, as the fiery desire and excited mind sees, imparts its gifts in abundance. So, leaving behind everything worldly and tearing out worries that can choke our mind like thorns, let us concentrate our thoughts on spiritual aspirations, so that we can come out of here with much benefit, with great and glorious gains. But in order for (our) speech to be clearer for you, let us remind your love of something that was said yesterday: thus, we will combine what will be said today with yesterday, as if into one body. Yesterday, as you remember, we showed how blessed Moses, telling us about the creation of these visible elements, said: “In the beginning God created heaven and earth. The earth was invisible and unsettled,” and they explained to you why and why God created the earth ugly and unsettled - I think you remember all this well. Then today we need to consider the following words. Having said: “The earth was invisible and unsettled,” Moses explains to us with precision why it was invisible and unsettled, and says: “and darkness was on the top of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving on the top of the waters.” See how here the blessed prophet does not say anything superfluous and how he does not describe everything created in parts, but having told us about the main elements and mentioning heaven and earth, he leaves everything else. So he, without talking about the creation of waters, says: “And darkness was on top of the abyss, and the Spirit of God was carried on top of the waters.” They covered the face of the earth, i.e. darkness and abyss of water. From here we learn that everything visible was an abyss of water, covered with darkness, and an All-Wise Creator was needed to stop all this disorder 13 and bring everything into a good appearance. “And darkness,” he says, “was on top of the abyss, and the Spirit of God was carried on top of the water.” What do the words mean: “The Spirit of God was moving on top of the water?” It seems to me that what they mean is that the waters had some vital activity inherent in them and that it was not just stagnant and motionless water, but moving and having some vital force. What does not move is good for nothing, but what moves is good for many things. 2. So, to teach us that this water, great and extraordinary, had some vital force, Moses said: “... and the Spirit of God was carried on top of the water.” And the Divine Scripture speaks about this in advance not without reason, but since it intends to show us that from these waters, at the command of the Creator of the universe, animals also arose, then it lets the listener know here that the water was not just stagnant, but moved, scattered and flooded everything. So, when everything visible did not have the proper appearance, the highest Artist God commanded - and the lack of appearance 14 disappeared, the extraordinary beauty of visible light appeared, drove away the sensory darkness and illuminated everything. “And God spoke,” says (Scripture), “let there be light, and there be light.” He said it and it was done; commanded - the darkness disappeared, light appeared. Do you see the ineffable power (of God)? But people, given over to error, not paying attention to the course of speech and not listening to the words of the blessed Moses: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and then: “the earth was invisible and unstructured,” because it was covered with darkness and waters - and so it pleased the Lord in the beginning to produce it - these people say that before there was matter, darkness preceded. Could there be anything worse than such madness? Do you hear that “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” and that from the non-existent 15 the existing came into being, and you say that there was first matter? Who among the sane could allow such madness? It is not man who creates so that He needs some ready-made substance for the work of His art - God, to Whom everything obeys, creates by word and command. Look, He just spoke - and the light appeared and the darkness disappeared. “And God separate between the light and the darkness.” What does it mean: “separate”? - He assigned everyone his place and determined the appropriate time. And then, when this has happened, He gives each one a corresponding name. “And God calls the light ‘day’,” he says, “and the darkness he calls ‘night’.” Do you see how this beautiful division and wonderful creation, surpassing all understanding, is accomplished with one word and command? Do you see how condescending the blessed prophet, or better yet, the humane-loving God, showed through the lips of the prophet, teaching the human race to know the order of creation - who is the Creator of everything and how each thing came into being? Since the human race was then still weak and could not understand the most perfect (teaching), therefore the Holy Spirit, who moved the lips of the prophet, tells us about everything in an adaptation to the weakness of those listening. And to assure you that He used such condescension in this narrative really due to the imperfection of our mind, look at the son of thunder, how he, when the human race has made progress in perfection, no longer follows this path, but another, leading his listeners to the highest teaching. Having said: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was to God, and God was the Word” (John 1:1), he added: “he is the true Light, which enlightens every man who comes into the world” (John 1:9). Just as here this sensual light, produced by the command of the Lord, drove away the visible darkness, so the spiritual Light drove away the darkness of error and led those who were mistaken to the truth. 3. Let us accept with great gratitude the instructions of the Divine Scripture, and let us not resist the truth and remain in darkness, but let us hasten to the light and do works worthy of the light and the day, as Paul exhorts, saying: “As in the days, let us walk gracefully,” and “let us put aside... dark works” (Rom. 13:12-13). “And called,” says (Scripture), “God calls the light ‘day,’ and calls the darkness ‘night.’” But we almost left something out; need to go back. After the words: “Let there be light, and there was light,” it is added: “And God saw the light as good.” Look, beloved, what condescension of speech here too. Is it possible that before the appearance of light, God did not know that he was good, and only after his appearance did a view of him show the Creator the beauty of what he had created? What smart person can say that? If a person engaged in any art, before finishing his work, before processing it, knows the use for which this work is useful, then all the more the Creator of the universe, who brought everything from non-existence into being with a word, knew, even before the creation of light, that he was good. Why did (Moses) use such an expression? Condescending to human custom, the blessed prophet speaks as people, doing something with great care and having completed their labors, already after testing pronounce praise on their works; in the same way, the Divine Scripture, condescending here to the weakness of your hearing, says: “And God saw the light as good.” And then he continues: “And God separate between the light and between you. And he called the light 'day', and he called the darkness 'night'"; assigned his place to each, set limits for each from the very beginning, which they must forever observe inviolably. And everyone who is sane can see how from that time until now neither the light has transgressed its limits, nor the darkness has left its place and has not caused any confusion or disorder. This alone is enough for those who do not want to remain unreasonable 16 to come to obedience and obedience to the words of Divine Scripture - let them at least imitate the order of the elements, steadily observing their course, and do not transgress their limits, but know their own nature. Then, since each (light and darkness was given) had a special name, then, combining both into one, he says: “And there was evening, and there was morning, one day.” He clearly called the end of the day and the end of the night one (day) in order to establish some order and consistency in the visible, and there would be no confusion. Taught by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of the blessed prophet, we can see what was created on the first day and what on the following. And this is also a matter of condescension from a humane God. His omnipotent right hand and infinite wisdom would not have found it difficult to create everything in one day. And what do I say one day? Even in an instant. But since He created all things not for His own benefit, because He does not need anything, being all-sufficient, - on the contrary, He created everything according to His love for mankind and goodness, He creates in parts, and teaches us through the mouth of the blessed prophet a clear teaching about what is created, so that we, having learned in detail about it, do not fall under those who are carried away by human speculation. If even after this there are people who claim that everything happened by itself, then why would the hunters not dare to say and do everything to the detriment of their own salvation, if (God) had not shown such condescension and admonition? 4. What could be more pitiful and crazier than people who dare to claim that everything that exists happened by itself, and that all creation is deprived of God’s providence? How is it possible, tell me, that so many elements and such amenities (of the existing) are governed without a ruler and lord of the universe? And a ship cannot sail on the waves of the sea without a helmsman, and a warrior cannot do anything valiant without a military leader, and a house cannot stand without a manager: but this boundless world, and this arrangement of the elements, can they really exist by themselves, by chance, if there is no manager of everything and with his wisdom supporting and proportioning everything visible?! But why are we trying too hard to prove to these people what, according to the proverb, even the blind can see? However, we will not cease to offer them instructions from the Scriptures and use every possible effort to turn them away from error and lead them to the truth. Although they are still enslaved to error, they are of the same nature as us, and therefore we must have great care for them, never weaken, but with great care do what depends on us and provide them with decent medicine, so that they, although late, achieve true health. God desires nothing more than the salvation of the soul. So Paul cries out: “Who wants all men to be saved and to come into the understanding of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4); and God himself says: “By willing... I do not want the sinner to die, but to be converted... and for him to live” (Ezek. 18:23, 33:11). Therefore, He created all this nature, and He created us not in order to destroy us or subject us to punishment, but in order to save us and, having delivered us from error, to grant us bliss in the (Heavenly) Kingdom. He prepared it for us not now, after creation, but even before the creation of the world, as He Himself says: “Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). Look how loving the Lord is, how even before creation and before the appearance of man He prepared countless benefits for him and thereby showed how much care He has for our race, and that He wants everyone to be saved. Having such a Lord - so philanthropic, so good and so merciful, let us take care of the salvation of both ourselves and our brothers. It will also contribute to our salvation when we not only take care of ourselves, but also begin to benefit our neighbor and guide him on the path of truth. And so that you can see what a great good, by working out your salvation, to bring benefit to another, listen to what the prophet says on behalf of God: “If you bring out honest things from the unworthy, as my mouth will become” (Jer. 15:19). What does this mean? Whoever leads his neighbor from error to truth or from evil to good, he, says (the Lord), becomes like Me, as much as possible for a person. And He Himself, being God, took on our flesh and became man for no other purpose than for the salvation of the human race. And what am I saying: He took on our flesh and experienced everything that happens to people, when He even took upon Himself the Cross in order to free us, captives of sins, from the curse? Paul cries out about this, saying: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, becoming a curse against us” (Gal. 3:13). So, if He is God and an incomprehensible being, out of inexpressible love for mankind, took upon Himself all this for the sake of us and our salvation, then what should we not do for our brothers and fellow members in order to snatch them from the jaws of the devil and lead them to the path of virtue? As much as the soul is better than the body, those who, with exhortations and frequent suggestions, lead the careless and erring on the straight path, will receive the highest rewards, before those who give money to the poor, showing them the ugliness of vice and the great beauty of Divine virtue. 5. So, knowing all this, let us talk with our neighbors, first of all about everyday things, about the salvation of the soul, arousing in them concern about this. It is desirable, yes, desirable, that the soul, constantly hearing such a suggestion, could rise from the abyss of evils that surround us, and overcome the attack of passions that constantly besiege it. Therefore, we need great vigilance, since our warfare is continuous and never knows a truce. That is why Paul writes to the Ephesians: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12). Do not think, he says, that we are facing a random struggle: our battle is not with people like us, and the battle is not equivalent, because we, bound by the body, must fight with incorporeal forces. However, do not be afraid: even if the battle is not equal, the strength of our weapons is great. You know who your enemies are, as the apostle continues, so do not lose heart and do not become weak in battle, but “for this reason take up all the weapons of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11). He (the devil) has many wiles, i.e. the ways in which he tries to catch the careless; therefore, we must carefully recognize them in order to avoid his snares and not give him any access (to us); we must carefully guard our tongue, guard our eyes, keep our thoughts pure, and constantly be ready to fight, as if some wild beast were attacking us and threatening us with death. That is why that celestial soul, the teacher of languages, the mouth of the universe, who did everything for the salvation of his disciples, after the words: “Take up all the weapons of God,” protecting us on all sides and making us invincible, says: “Gird up your loins with the truth, and put on the armor of faith 17, and put on your shoes for the preparation of the gospel peace: take up the shield of faith over all, in which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one: and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:14-17). See how he protected all the members! As if intending to lead us into some kind of battle, he first girded us with a belt so that we could easily make movements, then he clothed us in armor so that arrows would not hit us, shod our feet, and protected us on all sides with faith. She, precisely she, says, will be able to “quench the kindled arrows of the evil one.” What are these arrows of the evil one? Evil lusts, unclean thoughts, harmful passions, anger, slander, envy, irritability, enmity, greed and all other evil inclinations. All these arrows, he says, can be quenched by the sword of the Spirit. What am I saying: extinguish the arrows? It will be possible to cut off the enemy’s very head. Do you see how (the apostle) strengthened the disciples? How did those who were softer than wax become harder than iron? Since we are fighting not with blood and flesh, but with incorporeal forces, he clothed us not with bodily weapons, but with spiritual ones, and so bright that that evil demon cannot bear even their brilliance. 6. So, having put on such weapons, let us not be afraid of battle and run away from the fight; but we will not be careless either, because just as with our vigilance that evil demon cannot overcome the power of our weapons, if only we want to destroy his machinations, so, on the contrary, if we are careless, then there will be no benefit to you: the enemy of our salvation is constantly awake and does everything against your salvation. So, let us arm ourselves on all sides, we will beware of words and refrain from deeds that can harm us, and, together with abstinence in food and other virtues, we will begin to give generous alms to the poor, knowing what reward is in store for us for caring for them. “He who has mercy on the poor,” says (Scripture), “gives back to God” (Proverbs 19:17). Look, what a new and unusual type of loan: one receives, and the other becomes a debtor. But, in addition, what is extraordinary here is that, having given loans, you will not experience ingratitude or any other harm. No, God promises to give not only a hundredth part of the profit, as is the case here, but a hundred times more than what was given in loans: he is not content even with this, but, repaying in this way in the present century, in the future (he will give) eternal life. In real life, if someone promised to pay us only twice as much as what he receives from us, we would willingly give him all our property, while there is so much ingratitude and how much deception on the part of self-interested people! Many of the most decent people do not repay the debt either out of recklessness, or often even out of poverty. But one cannot think any of this about the Lord of the universe; on the contrary, this amount remains safe, and He promises to pay a hundredfold for the favor, and in the next century He prepares for us life (eternal). What excuse will we have when we do not try and are not in a hurry to receive a hundred times more for the little, for the present - the future, for the temporary - the eternal, but with pleasure we lock money with doors and shutters, and now we do not want to give this money, which lies useless and in vain, to those in need, so that in the next century we can find our intercessors in it? “Make for yourselves friends of unrighteousness from mammon, so that when you become poor, you will be received into eternal shelters” (Luke 16:9). I know that many not only do not accept our words, but also do not attach any significance to them, considering them idle talk and fables. That is why I am tormented and grieved that neither experience itself, nor such a great promise of God, nor the fear of the future, nor our daily exhortations could touch these people; however, despite this, I will not stop repeating such advice to them until I manage to defeat them with my persistence, arouse them to attentiveness and bring them out of the state of satiety and intoxication into which the passion for money has plunged them, which has darkened their mind. I know, I know that after the grace of God, both our constant teachings and the healing of fasting will manage, although not quickly, to heal them from this serious illness and restore them to perfect health, so that they too will be freed from the punishment that threatens them, and we will be delivered from sorrow, and for everything we will send glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. According to the text adopted in the Ming Patrology it reads: “τοῖς ἀγνωμονεῖν βο:λομένοις” - “those who want to remain unreasonable”; instead, others rightly read: “τοῖς μὴ ἀγνωμονεῖν βο:λομένοις” - “those who do not want to remain unreasonable,” because the unreasonable or stubborn are not convinced by evidence. Yes, that is θώρακα τῆς πίστεος according to the reading accepted in the Patrology of Minh, although in some lists instead of “τῆς πίστεος” it reads: τῆς δικαιοσύνης – “truth” or “righteousness”, as in Slavic-Russian. translation. You might be interested in: