Беседа 33

“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves: therefore be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves.” (Matt. 10:16) Exposition 10:16–22. The new law of warfare given to the apostles. – The meek overcome by the power of grace, although they must also provide their assistance. – What is meant by serpentine wisdom? – The ease of fulfillment of Christ’s commandment is confirmed by the example of the apostles. – The obedience of the apostles to Christ. – The work of the apostles, both in terms of the conditions of its accomplishment and in its greatness, immeasurably surpasses the works of pagan philosophers and famous men. - The reason for the success of their preaching. – The example of the apostles deprives those who fall and are exhausted of excuses in times of peace. – One must become accustomed to feats before they occur. - Job's example. 1. After the Lord had provided the apostles with food and opened all their houses, He made their very entrance worthy of respect, commanding them to enter not as wanderers and beggars, but as people who were much more honorable than those who received them. (This is exactly what He made clear both with the words: “the worker is worthy of food” (Matthew 10:10), and with the command to inquire about the worthy and stay with them, as well as with the command to welcome those who accept and the threat of cruel executions to those who do not accept). When, in this way, He freed them from worries about food, armed them with signs, made them, as it were, of iron and adamantium, renouncing them from everything worldly and freeing them from all temporary worries, then He begins to speak about the disasters that were about to befall them, and not only about those that were to come soon, but also about those that were to follow after a long time, and thus in advance, prepares them for war against the devil. This achieved much: firstly, the apostles recognized the power of His foreknowledge; secondly, no one could any longer think that these disasters were due to the Teacher’s powerlessness; thirdly, those who had to endure these disasters could not be horrified by them, as unforeseen and unexpected; fourthly, hearing this, the apostles should not have been embarrassed when the time of suffering on the cross came, just as they were embarrassed at the time when He, denouncing them, said: “Because I told you this, your heart was filled with sorrow; and none of you asks Me, “Where are you going” (John 16:6, 5)? However, He still doesn’t say anything about Himself; does not say, for example, that He will be bound, tortured and killed, so as not to disturb their hearts; but only predicts to them what happened to them. Further: so that they would understand that a new law of warfare and a wonderful image of the militia were set before them, He, sending them almost naked, with only clothes, without shoes, without a staff, without copper at the belt, without a bag, and commanding them to receive their very food from those who accept them, and did not finish His word, but, showing His unspeakable power, says: this is how you should go (to preach): show the sheep gentleness, although you must go against the wolves, and not just against the wolves, but among the wolves. And He commands them not only to have the meekness of a sheep, but also the gentleness of a dove. I will show My strength especially in the fact that the sheep will overcome the wolves and, being among them and being subjected to countless remorse, will not only not be destroyed, but will transform them themselves. But it is much more surprising and more meaningful to change the disposition of the will and transform the mind than to kill, especially when there are only twelve sheep, and the whole universe is full of wolves. So, let us be ashamed to act contrary to the commandment of Christ and attack our enemies like wolves. As long as we are sheep, we will conquer; even though countless wolves surrounded us, we will overcome and defeat them. If we are wolves, we will be defeated, because the help of the Shepherd will retreat from us (He feeds not wolves, but sheep); He will leave and move away from you because you will not allow yourself to be revealed to His power. When you show meekness in suffering, then all victory belongs to Him; and when you yourself attack and fight, you spoil the victory. Look: who are those to whom such difficult and difficult to fulfill commands are given? These are timid and simple people, unbookish and unlearned, not at all noble, not at all educated according to external laws, not involved in judicial matters, fishermen, publicans, filled only with countless shortcomings. If these latter could lead into confusion even important and great people, then how could they not lead into despair and horror people who were completely inexperienced and who had never thought of anything praiseworthy? But they did not lead them to despair. But perhaps someone else will say: so it had to be, because He gave them the power to cleanse lepers and cast out demons. And to this I will say that this very thing should have led them into even greater confusion, when, despite the power given to them to raise the dead, they had to endure such terrible disasters at the courts, imprisonment, attack from everyone, the general hatred of the universe, and be exposed to such disasters, having the power to work miracles. And what was the consolation for them in all these disasters? The power of the Sender. That is why He said first of all: “Behold, I am sending you.” This is enough for your consolation; this is enough to encourage you and so that you will not be afraid of any of your opponents. 2. Do you see the power? Do you see the power? Do you see an irresistible force? His words have this meaning: do not be embarrassed, He says, that I send you out as sheep among wolves, and command that you be like doves. I could have acted differently: I could not have allowed you to suffer any evil and not handed you over like sheep to wolves; I could make you scarier than lions. But it is better for it to be this way: it brings you more glory, and proclaims My power. He also said to Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). This is My will for you. So, when the Lord said: “Behold, I send you out like sheep,” he gave them to understand: do not lose heart, I know, I am completely aware that you, especially, by doing this, will not be defeated by anyone. Further, so that they themselves contribute to some extent, so that not everything seems to be a matter of grace alone, and so that they do not think that they receive crowns for nothing, he says: “Be wise as serpents and simple as doves.” But will our wisdom, they say, help us in any way in such dangers? And is it possible to have any wisdom when we are overwhelmed by such waves? No matter how wise a sheep is, what can it do among wolves, and among so many wolves? No matter how gentle a dove may be, what should it do when attacked by so many hawks? For the dumb there is no benefit here, but for you it is the greatest benefit. But let's see what kind of wisdom is required here. Serpentine wisdom. Just as a snake does not save anything and, when its very body is cut into pieces, does not defend itself very much, just to protect its head, so you, says Christ, give everything: your possessions, your body, and your very soul - except your faith. Faith is the head and the root; if you keep it, then even though you have lost everything, you will gain everything again with greater glory. That is why the Lord commanded them not only to be simple and gentle, and not only wise, but combined both, so that virtue could be formed from both: He demanded serpentine wisdom to warn against the most dangerous defeats, and dove kindness to prevent vindictiveness for insults and retaliation for slander, because there is no use in wisdom when it is not combined with kindness. What could be stricter than these commands? It’s not enough just to endure disasters: no, he says, I don’t even allow you to be angry for that (this is what it means to be a dove). It is as if someone, throwing a cane into the fire, commanded it not only not to burn in the fire, but also to extinguish the fire. But let us not be embarrassed: these commands came true, were fulfilled, and were actually accomplished. People of the same nature, and not different from us, were both wise as snakes and gentle as doves. So, let no one consider these commandments to be completely unfulfillable. The Lord knows the nature of things better than anyone; He knows that insolence is extinguished not by insolence, but by meekness. And if you want to see how this is actually done, then read the book of the Acts of the Apostles, and you will see how many times, when the Jewish people rebelled against them and gnashed their teeth, they, imitating the dove and responding to the Jews with due meekness, quenched their rage, stopped their fury, and calmed their passions. So, when the Jews said to them: “Have we not strictly forbidden you to teach about this name” (Acts 5:28)? - then the apostles, having the power to perform countless miracles, did not say or do anything rude, but defended themselves with all meekness, saying: “Judge whether it is right before God to listen to you more than to God” (Acts 4:19). Do you see the dove's kindness? But here is the wisdom of the serpent: “we cannot help but speak what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Do you see what kind of firmness is needed in everything, so as not to weaken in troubles or become irritated in anger? That is why Christ said: “Beware of people: for they will hand you over to judgment courts, and in their synagogues they will beat you, and they will bring you before governors and kings for My sake, to be a witness before them and the Gentiles” (Matthew 10:17–18). Again He disposes them to be vigilant, dooming them here too to suffering, and allowing others to commit evil; and this is so that you may know that victory and glorious trophies come from enduring adversity. He did not say: fight and resist those who will inflict violence on you, but only: you will suffer extreme disasters. 3. How great is the power of Him who spoke thus! How great is the wisdom of those who listened! One must be extremely surprised how the apostles, these fearful people, who had never been further than the lake in which they were fishing, heard such speeches, and did not immediately leave. Why didn’t they think and say to themselves: where should we run? Judgments are against us, kings and rulers are against us, Jewish synagogues, Hellenic nations, rulers and subordinates - because Christ foretold them not only about the disasters awaiting them in Palestine alone, but also foretold the war against them throughout the entire universe, saying: “They will lead you to rulers and kings for Me,” indicating that He would subsequently send them as preachers and to the pagans. You have raised up the entire universe against us, armed everyone living on earth against us - peoples, rulers, kings. And what follows is even more terrible: when people become fratricides, infanticides, and parricides because of us. “Brother will betray brother to death, and father will betray son; and the children will rise up against their parents and kill them” (Matthew 10:21). How will others believe us when they see that because of us, parents are killing their children, brothers are killing brothers, and everything is filled with murder: will they not drive us out from everywhere as evil demons, as libertines and destroyers of the universe, when they see the earth filled with the blood of relatives and similar murders? The peace that we will teach by entering houses and filling them with such murders will be good! If there were many of us, and not twelve people; if we were not simpletons and unlearned, but wise men, rhetoricians and strong in speech, or better, if we were even kings, had armies and a lot of wealth, then how could we convince anyone by kindling internecine wars and even worse internecine ones. If we are careless about our own salvation, will anyone listen to us? But the apostles did not think or say anything like that; they did not demand explanations or reasons for such commands, but only agreed and obeyed. And this meant not only their virtue, but also the wisdom of the Teacher. Indeed, look how He combines with every sorrow a decent consolation! About those who will not accept, he says: “It will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city” (Matthew 10:15); equally here, having said: “They will lead you to rulers and kings,” he added: “for Me, for a testimony before them and the pagans.” And to suffer for Christ, and to suffer in the reproof of the pagans, is no small consolation. God does His own work everywhere, even if no one pays attention to it. This served as a consolation for them, not because they wanted revenge on others, but because they could be sure that the One who foresaw and predicted these misfortunes for them would be present with them everywhere, and that they would endure these misfortunes not as criminals and villains. In addition, He adds another great consolation for them, saying: “When they betray you, do not worry about how or what to say; for in that hour it will be given to you what to say, for it is not you who will speak, but the Spirit of your Father who will speak in you” (Matthew 10:19–20). So that they don’t say: how can we convince under such circumstances? – He commands them to be firmly confident regarding protection. And in another place He says: “I will give you a mouth and wisdom” (Luke 21:15); and here, saying: “The Spirit of your Father will speak in you,” He elevates them to prophetic dignity. That is why, when He spoke about the power given to Him, He also spoke about disasters, about murders and slaughter. “Brother will betray brother to death, and father will betray son; and children will rise up against their parents and kill them,” and he didn’t even stop there, but added something even more terrible that could shake the very stone: “and you will be hated by everyone”; but he immediately gave consolation here: you will undergo, he says, these sufferings “for my name’s sake”; and then another consolation: “he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). However, the words of Christ could arouse courage in the apostles in another way - namely, by instilling in them the idea that their preaching would burn with such power that it would conquer nature itself, reject kinship, and that their word, being preferred to everything, would powerfully overcome everything. If the power of family ties cannot resist the sermon, but is destroyed and overthrown, then what else will be able to overcome you? However, although this will be so, however, you will not live in safety; on the contrary, everyone living in the universe will be your enemies and enemies. 4. Where is Plato now? Where is Pythagoras? Where is the crowd of stoics? The first, despite the fact that he enjoyed great respect, was humiliated to such an extent that he was even sold and could not fulfill any of his desires with any sovereign. Another, having betrayed his students, ended his life in a pitiful manner. And cynical vulgarities disappeared like a dream and a shadow. And this despite the fact that nothing like that ever happened to them that happened to the apostles. On the contrary, they were glorified for their worldly wisdom, and the Athenians, for example, publicly read Plato’s letters sent from Dion. They spent all their time in peace and had considerable wealth. So Aristippus hired harlots at a high price, and one of the philosophers wrote a will and left behind a considerable inheritance; another walked over his disciples as if on a bridge; and they say about Diogenes of Sinope that he publicly committed outrages in the marketplace. These are their glorious deeds! But the apostles have nothing of the kind; but on the contrary, constant chastity, complete decency, moreover, battle with the whole universe for truth and piety, daily exposure to death, and then brilliant victories. They will say: they also have skilled military leaders, such as Themistocles, Pericles. But their actions in comparison with the actions of the fishermen are child's play. What would you tell me about Themistocles? Was it that he convinced the Athenians to board their ships when Xerxes attacked Greece? But here it is not Xerxes who makes the attack, but the devil, with the whole universe and with countless demons, rushes at twelve people; and these twelve defeat and overcome him, not just once, but throughout their entire lives, and - what is surprising - they win without destroying their opponents, but changing and correcting them. This is especially and worthy of all attention, that they did not kill or exterminate those who plotted against them, but, finding them similar to devils, made them equal to angels, and thus freed human nature from cruel dominion, and drove out those evil ones and all the disturbing demons from the marketplaces, from houses, and even from the desert itself. Proof of this is the faces of the monks, whom they planted everywhere, through them clearing not only inhabited places, but also uninhabited ones. And what is most surprising is that they did all this without repelling force with force, but achieved everything through suffering. In fact, these twelve defenseless commoners were imprisoned, scourged, taken from place to place, and yet they could not stop their mouths. Just as it is impossible to bind the rays of the sun, so it was impossible to bind their tongues. And the reason for this is that it was not they themselves who spoke, but the power of the Spirit. It was with this power that Paul defeated Agrippa and Nero, who surpassed all people in his wickedness: “The Lord stood before me,” he says, “and strengthened me and” delivered me “from the jaws of the lion” (2 Tim. 4:17). However, marvel at them themselves, how, having heard the words: “don’t worry,” they believed, obeyed, and no horrors could shake them. But you will say: The Lord gave them sufficient consolation, saying: “The Spirit of your Father will speak in you.” But that is why I am especially surprised at them that they did not hesitate and did not ask for liberation from dangers, despite the fact that they had to endure them not for two, not three years, but for a whole life, as the Lord gave them to understand with the words: “he who endures to the end will be saved.” He wants not only His strength to appear, but also for them to perform exploits. Indeed, from the very beginning, notice how one is accomplished by Him, and the other by the disciples. It is His business to work miracles; not to acquire anything is the job of the disciples. Again: to open all houses is a work of supreme grace; and not to demand anything other than what is necessary is a matter of their philosophy: “the worker is worthy of food” (Matthew 10:10). Giving peace is a gift from God; finding those worthy and not entering everyone indiscriminately is a matter of their abstinence. And again: punishing those who do not accept them is God’s work; and to move away from such without bickering, without reproaches and annoyance is a matter of apostolic meekness. To give the Spirit and free one from care how or what to say is the work of Him who sends them; and to be like sheep and doves and to endure everything generously is a matter of their firmness and prudence. To be hated and not to be discouraged, but to endure, is their business; and to save those who endure is the work of Him who sends them. That is why He said: “He who endures to the end will be saved.” 5. Since it usually happens that many begin things with zeal, and subsequently weaken, the Savior says that - I look at the end. What is the use of those seeds that first bloom and then quickly wither? That is why He demands constant patience from His disciples. And so that no one says that the Lord himself created everything and therefore there is nothing surprising that they were like that, since they did not endure severe suffering, then He tells them that you need to endure. Although I will deliver you from the first dangers, I will protect you for the most difficult ones, after which new ones will follow again, so that you will not cease to be subjected to slander even until your last breath. It was He who made it clear with the words: “he who endures to the end will be saved.” That is why, having said: “Do not be anxious about how or what to say,” in another place He says: “Be always ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15). When conflict occurs between friends, He commands us to have care; but when a terrible judgment opens, the nations are in a frenzy and horror is everywhere, then He Himself gives us the strength to speak boldly, not to be horrified and not to betray the truth. It is truly a great thing when a person who was engaged in fishing, or tanning leather, or collecting taxes, appeared in the face of the rulers, who were satraps and bodyguards with drawn swords and, along with them, every people - alone, bound, with his head bowed, was able to open his mouth. They were not even allowed to defend their teaching, but were directly sentenced to be beaten as the general corrupters of the universe. “These world-wide troublemakers,” they said about them, “came here too” (Acts 17:6); and further: they preach against “the commandments of Caesar, considering another king, Jesus” (Acts 17:7). Everywhere the courts were already preoccupied with such thoughts, and great help from above was required to prove that the teaching they taught was true, and that they did not overthrow the general laws; help was needed on the one hand so that, during the zealous preaching of the doctrine, there would be no opportunity to think that they were overthrowing the laws, on the other hand, so as not to damage the truth of the teaching when they tried to prove that they were not overthrowing public statutes. You will see that all this was done with proper wisdom by Peter, Paul and all the others. Although they were condemned throughout the universe as troublemakers, rebels and innovators, they not only refuted such an opinion, but made everyone think of themselves as completely opposite - as saviors, trustees and benefactors. And they did all this with great patience. That is why Paul said: “I die every day” (1 Cor. 15:31), and remained in danger until the end of his life. So, will we be worthy of any apology when, seeing such examples, even enjoying the world, we weaken and fall? No one is fighting against us, but we will strengthen ourselves; no one is persecuting us, but we are exhausted. It is determined for us to be saved in the midst of the world - and we cannot do that! The apostles, even when the whole universe was burning and the whole earth was blazing with fire, went into the middle of the flames and pulled out those who were burning from there; and we cannot save ourselves either. What kind of justification, what kind of forgiveness will we have after this? We are not threatened by either scourging, or prison, or power, or synagogues, or anything like that - on the contrary, we ourselves are in charge and have dominion. And kings are now pious, and Christians enjoy all sorts of honors, power, glory, and enjoy peace; and despite all this, we do not win. Those, being taken away every day to execution, and teachers and students, enduring countless wounds and constant wounds, had more fun than those in paradise; and we, even without suffering anything like this even in our dreams, are weaker than any wax. You will say: they performed miracles. But weren’t they scourged for that? Wasn't that why they were expelled? That’s what’s surprising is that they often endured such suffering even from those who had benefited them, and yet, perceiving evil instead of good, they did not become embarrassed; and you, having shown some insignificant benefit to another, and then, having received some grief from him, grumble, are indignant, and repent of what you have done. 6. Now, if there were (which God forbid ever) abuse and persecution of the church, think how much humiliation there would be, what reproach there would be! And quite naturally. Since no one practices the art of wrestling, how can anyone emerge as a glorious winner during a competition? What kind of wrestler, since he has not studied the techniques of wrestling, will be able to fight with success and dignity with his opponent at the Olympic Games? Shouldn't we also practice wrestling, fighting and running every day? Don't you see that the so-called pentathletes, when they have no one to fight with, hang a bag tightly filled with sand and exercise all their strength on it, while the younger ones accustom themselves to battle with opponents in the fight with their comrades? And you imitate them and engage in feats of wisdom. Indeed, many excite you to anger, attract you to lust and ignite a great flame. Stand against passions, endure mental illness with courage, so that you can also endure physical suffering. And blessed Job, if he had not been well prepared for his exploits before their onset, would not have shone so brilliantly during his exploits; If I had not learned to be completely carefree, then after the death of my children I would have probably said something obstinate. And now he has resisted all attacks, against the deprivation of wealth and the loss of such abundance, against the loss of children, against the compassion of his wife, against bodily wounds, against the reproaches of friends, against the reproach of slaves. If you want to see how he prepared himself for exploits, then listen to him, how he despised wealth: “Did I rejoice,” he says, “that my wealth was great”; Didn’t I consider gold to be dust; “Did I say to the treasure: You are my hope” (Job 31:25, 24). That is why he did not become embarrassed when his property was taken away from him, because he did not have a passion for it when he possessed it. Listen to how he treated children: he was not too lenient towards them, like us, but demanded complete good behavior from them. If he made a sacrifice about their unknown actions, then think what a strict judge he was of their obvious actions. If you want to hear about the exploits of his chastity, then listen to what he says: “I have made a covenant with my eyes, so that I should not think about a girl” (Job 31:1). That is why his wife did not shake his firmness; he had loved her before, but not excessively, but as one should love a wife. After this, it’s even surprising to me where the devil came up with the idea to raise a fight against him, since he knew about his preliminary exploits. Where, however? Oh, this is a crafty beast, and never despairs; and this, of course, serves to our greatest condemnation that he never despairs of our destruction, but we despair of our salvation. See further how Job taught himself in advance to treat serious defeats and bodily illnesses. Since he himself had never been subjected to anything like this, but constantly lived in wealth, bliss and luxury, every day he imagined other people’s misfortunes. “The terrible thing that I was terrified of,” he said, testifying to this, “that is what befell me; and what I feared came to me” (Job 3:25). And again: “Did I not weep for him who was in grief? did not my soul grieve for the poor” (Job 30:25). That is why none of the great and grave disasters that happened to him troubled him. But do not look only at the loss of property, at the deprivation of children, at the incurable ulcer, at the slander of your wife, but pay attention to what is much more painful than all this. But, you say, what did Job endure that was even more painful than this? Indeed, we know nothing more from history. But we don’t know because we are sleeping, and whoever examines this pearl of virtue with great diligence and care will see incomparably more. There was indeed something else, more serious, that could have led Job into even greater confusion. And, firstly, he still did not know anything clearly about the kingdom of heaven and the resurrection, which is why he said with sorrow: “I am disgusted with life, I cannot live forever” (Job 7:16). Secondly, he recognized a lot of goodness in himself. Thirdly, he was not aware of anything bad about himself. Fourthly, he thought that he suffered everything from God; and if it was from the devil, then this too could lead him into temptation. Fifthly, he heard his friends unjustly accuse him of wickedness: it is not unworthy, they said, to suffer for sins (15:11). Sixth, he saw that the wicked lived prosperously and mocked him. Seventh, he couldn't see anyone else ever suffering so much. 7. And if you want to know how hard it was, judge for real. If some even now, with the undoubted expectation of the kingdom, with the expectation of resurrection and unspeakable blessings, despite the many vices they are aware of, despite the fact that they have such examples before them and are taught such wisdom, when they are deprived of a little gold, and even then often acquired by theft, they consider life to be lifeless for themselves, although their wife does not rebel against them, their children are not taken away, their friends do not reproach them, their slaves do not mock them, but on the contrary, many console, some in word, others in deed - then what kind of crowns is Job worthy of, who, seeing how accidentally and suddenly the property collected by righteous labors was stolen from him, and then forced to endure countless temptations, remains unshakable among all adversities and for all this brings due thanks to the Lord? And here, even if no one had said anything to him, then his wife’s words alone would have been enough to shake even a rock. Look, in fact, at her villainy. She does not mention either the estate, or the camels, or the herds of sheep and oxen (because she knew how philosophical her husband was about this), but recalls what was most difficult - about the children: she speaks about their sad fate with particular expressiveness, pointing, moreover, to her own grief (Job 2:9). If wives repeatedly bowed down to their husbands in times of prosperity, when they did not suffer any trouble, then think how courageous the soul of this righteous man was if she repelled the wife who attacked her with such weapons and trampled on two of the strongest passions: lust and pity. Truly, many have overcome lust, but they have been overcome by pity. So the courageous Joseph curbed his strongest lust and repelled that barbaric wife, who used numerous tricks against him, but could not restrain himself from tears - on the contrary, as soon as he saw the brothers who had offended him, he was overwhelmed with pity and immediately, abandoning pretense, opened the whole matter. But when a wife comes and makes a speech capable of arousing regret, and time, wounds, ulcers, and countless misfortunes are favorable to her, then shouldn’t it be fair to say that the soul, which has not been shaken in the least by such a storm, is stronger than any adamant? Yes, let me boldly say that that blessed man was, if not more, then at least no less than the apostles themselves. They were consoled by the fact that they suffered for Christ; and this was a medicine for them that could strengthen them again every day. The Lord added everywhere, saying: “for Me,” “for My name”; and: “if” Me “The master of the house was called Beelzebub” (Matthew 10:25). Meanwhile, Job did not have such consolation, as well as the consolation given by performing signs or grace, because he did not have such strength of spirit. And what is especially important is that he suffered all his sufferings having been brought up in great bliss, being not some fisherman, not a publican, not a poor man, but a man who enjoyed great honor. And what seemed the most difficult for the apostles, Job suffered the same thing, being hated by his friends, slaves, enemies and those who had benefited from him; but he did not have a sacred anchor and an unburdened refuge, such as the words “for my name” were for the apostles. I am also surprised at the three youths that they were not afraid of the cave, that they opposed the king. But listen to what they say: “We will not serve your gods, nor will we worship the golden image that you have set up” (Dan. 3:18). The confidence that whatever they endure, they endure for God, was the greatest consolation for them. But Job did not know that this was both a struggle and a feat for him. And if he had known, he would not have felt what was happening to him. When he heard: “Do you think I created you differently, so that you would not be truthful?” 14 (Job 40:3) - then imagine how he was immediately encouraged by one word; how he humiliated himself, how he did not even consider what he suffered as suffering, saying: “Why else do I argue, we are punished and rebuked by the Lord, hearing this, for I am insignificant” (Job 39:34)? And again: “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; now my eyes see You; therefore I renounce and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5–6). Let us be jealous of such courage, such meekness of the righteous man who lived before the law and grace, and we, who live after the law and by grace, so that together with him we may be worthy of eternal mansions, which we may all be worthy of receiving through the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. This translation differs from the Synodal one. You might be interested in: