Беседа 7

Matt. 2:4–5. And, having gathered all the high priests and scribes of the people, he asked them: where should Christ be born? They said to him: in Bethlehem of Judea. By the appearance of the Magi and other events that accompanied the birth of Christ, the Jews could know the truth. – Why is the dignity of Christ not so clearly revealed at His birth as afterwards. - Herod's malice and madness. - Why did the star disappear and appear again? – The worship of the Magi subverts the teachings of Marcion and Paul of Samosata. – It signified the calling of the pagans. – An exhortation to imitate the Magi through serving Christ. - Reprimand for those who leave Christ for the sake of shameful spectacles. – Chastity is the duty of every Christian. 1. Do you see how all events serve to expose the Jews? While they had not yet seen Jesus Christ, and were not overcome with envy, they testified about Him to the whole truth. But as soon as they saw the glory of His miracles, they, overwhelmed with envy, finally betrayed the truth. But everything contributed to the truth, and the enemies themselves only contributed to it more. Look how wonderful and extraordinary things are happening here. Barbarians and Jews mutually learn from each other, and teach each other something great. The Jews hear from the Magi that in the Persian country the star preached Him (Christ); and the wise men learn from the Jews that the prophets foretold long ago about Him Whom the star preached. Thus, the question proposed by the Magi, both for themselves and for the Jews, served to the clearest and most accurate knowledge of the truth. The enemies of the truth were unwittingly forced to read the words of Scripture and explain the prophecy. However, they did not explain it all, because, having said about Bethlehem that the Shepherd of Israel would come from it, they did not add subsequent words out of flattery to the king. What words are these? “Whose origin was from the beginning, from the days of eternity” (Mic. 5:2). But if He was to come from there (from Bethlehem), then why did He live, you say, after His birth in Nazareth, and thereby obscured the prophecy? On the contrary, He did not darken it, but revealed it even more. If He was born in Bethlehem, despite the fact that His mother constantly lived in Nazareth, then it is obvious that things happened according to a special arrangement. That is why, even after His birth, He did not immediately leave Bethlehem, but stayed there for forty days, to give those who wished time to explore everything with precision. If only they wanted to pay attention, there were many incentives for such research. Upon the arrival of the Magi, the whole city was indignant, and with it the king; The prophet was summoned and a great trial was held. In addition, many other events happened, which the Evangelist Luke narrates in detail; I mean what we know about Anna, Simeon, Zechariah, angels and shepherds; all this could easily motivate those who are attentive to the discovery of the truth. If the wise men who came from Persia recognized the place, then even more so those who lived in Judea could find out about everything that happened. From the very beginning, Christ revealed Himself in many miracles. But since they did not want to recognize Him, He, hiding for some time, then revealed Himself in another, most glorious way. Then it was no longer the Magi, not the star, but the Father himself from above who testified about Him when He was baptized in the streams of the Jordan, and the Holy Spirit descended along with that voice onto the head of the person being baptized. John fearlessly cried out throughout all of Judea, filling both the cities and the desert with his preaching about Christ. And miracles, and the earth, and the sea, and all creation solemnly proclaimed Him. Indeed, even at birth there were such signs that could show that he had already come. The Jews cannot say: we do not know when and where He was born! The whole story of the Magi and the other events mentioned are arranged in such a way that the Jews have no excuse for not wanting to investigate what happened. 2. But notice also the accuracy in the words of the prophecy. The Prophet did not say: He will live in Bethlehem, but “will come out” (from Bethlehem) (Matthew 2:6) the prophecy, therefore, indicated that He would only be born in Bethlehem. Some of the Jews shamelessly claim that this was said about Zerubbabel. But how could this be? His “origin” is not “from the beginning, from the days of eternity.” And can what was said at the beginning be attributed to it: “it will come out of you”? He was not born in Judea, but in Babylon, which is why he was called Zerubbabel because he was born there. Those who know Syriac will understand my words. Moreover, what we said, and all the circumstances that followed, completely confirm that this prophecy refers to Jesus Christ. What exactly is said? “You are little among the thousands of Judah,” and the reason for the celebrity of the place is immediately added: “from you it will come” (Mic. 5:2). This place became known and famous only through Jesus Christ. Namely, after His birth, people from all over the earth come to see the manger and the den, which is exactly what the prophet foretold, saying: “You are little among the thousands of Judah,” that is, among the heads of the tribes. In these words he included Jerusalem. But the Jews did not pay any attention to all this, although it would have been useful for them. That is why the prophets initially speak not so much about the dignity of Christ, but about the benefit that He showed to the Jews. So, when the Virgin gave birth, “you will call,” says the angel, “His name Jesus”; and adds: “for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). And the wise men did not say, “Where is the Son of God,” but, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2)? So here (Mic. 5:2) it does not say “out of you will come the Son of God,” but “he must be Ruler in Israel.” First, it was necessary to speak to them as close to their thoughts as possible, so that they would not be tempted, and to speak specifically about their salvation, in order to attract them all the better. That is why all the testimonies that were spoken about Him at the beginning and at His very birth do not yet fully reveal His greatness, not in the same way as those that occurred after the appearance of signs; the latter speak more clearly of His dignity. So, when, after many miracles, the children sang to Him, listen to what the prophet says then: “From the mouths of babes and sucklings You have brought praise” (Ps. 8:3); and also: “When I look at Your heavens, it is the work of Your fingers” (Ps. 8:4), which shows in Him the Creator of the universe. And the evidence relating to His ascension shows His equality with the Father. “The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand” (Psalm 109:1). Isaiah also says: “He who rises up rules over the nations, in Him the nations will trust” (Isaiah 11:10). But why is it said that Bethlehem is “no less among the thousands” of Judah, while all of it became known not only in Palestine, but throughout the entire universe? Here the speech is also addressed to the Jews, which is why he added: “he must be the Lord in Israel.” Although He shepherds the whole world, yet, as I said, not wanting to offend them, He is silent about the pagans. But why, you say, did He not save the Jewish people? Not true; and it really happened. By Israel here He means the Jews who believed in Him, which, explaining, Paul says: “not all those Israelites who are of Israel... but the children of the promise are recognized as a seed” (Rom. 9:6, 8). If He did not save everyone, then it is their own fault. They should have worshiped and glorified God together with the Magi for the fact that the time had come for the remission of their sins (after all, it was not about judgment or their responsibility that was announced to them, but about a meek and quiet Shepherd); They do the exact opposite, become indignant and outraged, and then arrange countless intrigues. Matt. 2:7. “Then Herod, secretly calling the wise men, found out from them the time of the appearance of the star,” intending to kill the one born; this proved not only his rage, but also his extreme madness. Both what was said to him and the events themselves could have turned him away from any such attempt. Events did not take place in the order of human affairs. The star calls the Magi, foreign men undertake such a long journey to worship him who lies in swaddling clothes and in a manger, and the prophets foretell him in advance. All these events were more than human. However, nothing stopped Herod. 3. Such is the malice that it harms itself and always undertakes the impossible. Look how crazy it is! If Herod believed the prophecy and considered it immutable, then, obviously, he was plotting impossible things. And if he did not believe and did not think that the prophecy would come true, then he did not need to be afraid and afraid, and therefore to plot intrigues. So, in both cases, cunning was unnecessary. And it is already extreme madness that he thought that the Magi would prefer him to the one born, for whom they had made such a long journey. If they, before they saw the Child, burned with such strong love for Him, then how could Herod hope that they would agree to hand over the Child to him after they saw Him and were confirmed in the faith by prophecy? And yet, despite all these circumstances that should have distracted him from his intended intention, Herod does not abandon him: “then Herod, secretly calling the Magi, found out from them.” He thought that the Jews valued the Baby, and did not imagine that they would reach such a frenzy that they would agree to betray to their enemies their Intercessor and Savior, who came to deliver them: therefore he calls the Magi secretly and discovers not the time of the birth of the Baby, but the appearance of the star, cunningly catching the prey. I think that the star appeared much before (the birth), because the Magi had to spend a lot of time traveling in advance in order to appear to the newly born; and yet Christ had to accept worship in the very swaddling clothes so that the event would appear miraculous and extraordinary. That is why the star appears much earlier (the birth of Christ). If she had appeared to the wise men in the east when Christ had already been born in Palestine, then, having been on the road for a long time, upon their arrival, they would no longer be able to see Him in swaddling clothes. It should not be surprising that Herod beats infants two years old and under; here rage and fear for the surest success added more time so that no one escaped (defeat). So, calling the Magi, he says: Matthew 2:8. go, carefully scout out the Child and, when you find it, notify me, so that I too can go and worship Him What madness! If you, Herod, say this under the inspiration of the truth, then why are you asking in secret? And if with an insidious intention, then how can you not understand that your secret questions will make the Magi suspect you of evil intent? But a soul overwhelmed by anger, as I have already said, becomes completely insane. He did not say: go and test about the king, but: about the Child. It was unbearable for him to even pronounce a name that meant power. But the Magi, out of their great piety, did not notice this at all, because they had no idea that he would reach such an extent of malice and decide to oppose such a wonderful dispensation. Suspecting nothing of the kind, but judging by themselves and everyone else, they leave him. Matthew 2:9. And behold, the star that they saw in the east walked before them. She hid herself so that they, having lost the guide, would be forced to resort to asking questions of the Jews, and thus the event would become known to everyone. When they asked and found out about the Child from the enemies themselves, the star appeared to them again. Look how beautiful the order is here! After the star left the Magi, they were received by the Jewish people and the king; a prophet is brought in to explain the phenomenon; and after that the angel again teaches them everything, and they go from Jerusalem to Bethlehem following the star. The star again accompanied them - and from here you can again see that this star was not one of the ordinary stars - there is not a single star that has such a property. She not only walked, but preceded them, leading them as if by the hand in the middle of the day. 4. But what kind of need, you ask, was there for a star when the place had already become famous? That one to indicate the Child himself, because otherwise it was impossible to recognize Him, since the house was not known, and His Mother was not glorious and famous; and therefore a star was needed that would lead them straight to that place. Therefore, after they leave Jerusalem, she appears to them and does not stop until she has already reached the manger. Here miracle joins miracle. Both events are marvelous: the fact that the Magi worship, and the fact that a star leads them; this should touch even the stony hearts. If the Magi had said that they had heard the prophecy of the prophets about this, or that the angels had announced this to them by special revelation, then one might still not have believed them; but with the radiance of a star that has appeared from above, the lips of even the most shameless are now blocked. Then the star, having reached the Youth, stopped again. And this again proves that there is a greater force at work here than is characteristic of ordinary stars, that is, that it sometimes hides, sometimes appears, and, having appeared, stops. From here the Magi were even more confirmed in their faith, and rejoiced that they had found what they were looking for, that they had become heralds of the truth, that it was not in vain that they had undertaken such a long journey. Their love for Christ was so strong! The star, approaching, stood above the very head (of the Youth), thereby showing His divine origin. And stopping, it leads to the worship not of ordinary pagans, but of the wisest of them. Do you see that the star did not appear for nothing? The Magi, both after listening to the prophecy and after hearing its explanation from the high priests and scribes, were still attentive to it. Let Marcion be put to shame, let Paul of Samosata be put to shame, who did not want to see what the Magi, the first-born of the Church (I am not ashamed to call them that) saw. Let Marcion be ashamed to see how God is worshiped in the flesh. Let Paul be ashamed to see how Christ is worshiped - not just as a man. Although the shrouds and the manger show that the incarnate is worshiped, however, they do not worship as a simple person; this is evident from the fact that they bring to Him, while still a baby, such gifts that it is fitting to bring only to God. Let the Jews be put to shame along with them, who, seeing that the foreigners and wise men were ahead of them, did not even want to follow them. This event served as a sign of the future, and from the very beginning showed that the pagans would precede the Jews. But why, you ask, is it said later, and not first: “Go and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19)? Because, as I said, what happened then was an image and a prediction of the future. The Jews should have come first; but since they voluntarily rejected the benefit actually offered to them, things took a different turn. And here, after all, at birth, the Magi should not have come before the Jews; those living at such a long distance should not have warned those living near the city itself; those who had not heard anything should not have anticipated those brought up among such a number of prophecies. But since the Jews did not understand at all the benefits that belonged to them, those who came from Persia preceded those living in Jerusalem. This is how the Apostle Paul speaks about this: “You should have been the first to preach the word of God, but because you reject it and make yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46). If the Jews did not believe before, then at least they should have gone then, as they heard from the Magi; but they didn’t want to do even that. And that is why, during such blinding of them, the Magi precede them. 5. Let us also follow the Magi, and, leaving behind customs alien (to Christianity), we will make a great journey, and we too will see Christ. Since the Magi would not have seen Him if they had not departed from their country, we too will withdraw from earthly things. While the Magi were in the Persian land, they saw one star; As soon as they left there, they saw the Sun of Truth. But they would not have seen the star itself if they had not hastened from there with all their might. Let us also rise; let everyone be in confusion - we will flow to the house of the Child. Let kings, peoples, let the rulers of the earth block this path, we will not extinguish our jealousy. Only in this way can we avert the upcoming dangers: after all, the Magi could not have avoided the disaster from the threatening king if they had not seen the Baby. Before seeing the Child, fear and danger and anxiety surrounded the Magi from everywhere; when they bowed to the Child, they became calm and safe. And now, not a star, but an angel accompanies them, since through worship they became priests and brought gifts. So you, too, leaving the Jewish people, the indignant city, the bloodthirsty tormentor, the secular pomp, hasten to Bethlehem, where the house of spiritual bread is located. Are you a shepherd? Go there, and you will see the Baby in the den. Are you a king? If you don’t go to the church, purple won’t do you any good. Are you a sorcerer? And this will not hinder you at all, if only you go to honor and worship the Son of God, and do not trample on Him. However, do this with trepidation and joy: both can be combined. Be careful not to be Herod, and like him, having said: “So that I too may go to worship Him” (Matthew 2:8), do not plan when you come to kill the Child; those who unworthily partake of the holy mysteries are likened to him. Such, according to the words of the apostle, “will be guilty against the Body and Blood of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:27). Such people serve the mammon hidden within them, who, being much worse than Herod, hates the kingdom of Christ. Wanting to dominate people, he sends his fans who outwardly worship Christ, and during worship they kill Him. Let us be afraid to show ourselves outwardly to be obedient admirers, but in reality to be His enemies. By bowing, let us cast everything from our hands before Him. If we have gold, we will bring it to Him, and not bury it. If then the foreigners honored Him with their gifts, then who should they honor you for when you refuse someone who requires your help? If they made such a great journey in order to see the one born, then how do you apologize, who do not want to walk one street to visit someone who is suffering and imprisoned? We have mercy on our enemies themselves when they are in illness or in bonds, and you do not feel compassion for your Benefactor and Lord. They brought gold, but you barely serve bread. Those who saw the star rejoiced, but you are not moved, seeing Christ himself, wandering and naked. But is there anyone among you, even one of those who received a thousand blessings, who would undertake such a journey for Christ as these barbarians, wisest of the wisest, made? But what am I saying – this is a journey? Many of our women are so pampered that if they are not brought on mules, they do not want to walk even one street in order to see Christ in a spiritual manger? If there are those who can come to Christ, then some of them prefer the chores of household chores, while others even attend shows to going to this meeting of ours. The barbarians, having not yet seen Christ, traveled such a great path for Him; and you, having seen Him, do not imitate them, but, having looked, you leave Him and hasten to look at the jester (I again turn to the same thing that I spoke about before) and, seeing Christ lying in a manger, you run away from Him in order to see women on the stage. What thunder and lightning such actions are not worthy of! 6. Suppose that someone promised to lead you into the royal palace and show the king in them: tell me, would you want to look at the spectacle instead, even if you could not expect any benefit from the first one? But here, from this meal, a spiritual fiery source flows; and you, leaving him and running away to see those playing and exposing their female sex to general disgrace, are you not leaving Christ himself, who sits at this source? Yes, He is still sitting at the source, talking not with just one Samaritan woman, but with the whole city. Or perhaps he is even now speaking to one Samaritan woman, since even now there is no one with Him; some only in body, while others do not want to be with Him even in body. But, despite all this, He does not leave, but stands, and asks us for a drink, but not water, but holy things, since He himself gives holy things only to saints. He does not give us water from this source, but living blood, which, being the image of His death, is the source of our life. And you, leaving the source of blood, this terrible cup, flow to the devilish source to look at the harlot swimming in it, and drown your soul there. In this water—the sea of ​​lust—it is not bodies that are drowned, but souls that perish. She swims with a naked body, and you, looking at her, plunge into the abyss of lust. Such are the snares of the devil that he destroys not those who are already immersed in the water itself, but those who, sitting calmly, look at it, and subject him to a drowning more terrible than that suffered by Pharaoh, who once drowned with his horses and chariots. And if it were possible to see souls, then I would show you many who drowned in these waters, like the bodies of the Egyptians once. But what’s worse is that such destruction is called amusement, and the abyss of destruction a source of pleasure, although it is safer to swim across the Aegean and Tyrian seas than to return from such a spectacle. Firstly, the devil occupies souls all night with anticipation; then, having shown what was expected, he immediately binds them and makes them his captives. Do not think that you are clean from sin when you have not copulated with a harlot; you have already done everything with your wish. Truly, if you feed lust, then you kindle a greater flame. If the spectacle does not make any impression on you, then all the more worthy of condemnation are you for serving as a temptation for others, by encouraging such spectacles, you defile your gaze, and with your gaze your soul. But let’s not limit ourselves to just one prohibition; Let’s also imagine a way to fix it. What is this method? I want to give you to your wives to teach. According to Pavlov's law, you should be their teachers; but since sin perverted the whole order, and the body became at the top and the eyes at the bottom, then we will choose this path. If it is a shame for you to have a wife as a teacher, run away from sin, and you will again receive the power entrusted to you from God. But as long as you behave lawlessly, Scripture sends you not only to wives, but also to the lowest dumb ones; It is not ashamed to send someone gifted with reason to study with an ant. However, it is not Scripture that is to blame for this, but those who themselves lose their dignity. We will do the same: now we will send you to study with your wife, but if you will not listen to her, then we will send you to be taught to dumb animals, and we will show how many birds, fish, how many four-legged animals, how many reptiles on the earth are on the earth, which are cleaner and more temperate than you. If you are ashamed and blush at this comparison, return to your inherent nobility, and run away from the sea of ​​Gehenna and the fiery river, that is, the baths in the theater, because they drag you into the sea of ​​lust and kindle this fiery abyss. 7. If “everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her” (Matthew 5:28), then isn’t the one who forces himself to look at the naked much more likely to become a captive? It was not so much the flood that occurred during Noah’s time that was detrimental to the human race, as these floating women shamelessly destroy all spectators. Although he caused death to the body, he cleansed the soul from sins; but these do the opposite: leaving the body, they destroy the soul. When it comes to priority, you claim first place in the entire universe, because our city was the first to take on a Christian name; and in the feat of chastity, do not be ashamed to yield to even the most inferior cities in terms of education. Okay, you say, what do you tell us to do? Go to the mountains and become monks? I regret that you consider modesty and chastity to be the duty of monks alone, while Christ established laws common to all. When he says: “Whoever looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her,” he speaks not to a monastic, but also to a married man, because that mountain (on which He spoke) was covered with people of all kinds. Keep this spectacle in your mind, and hate the devil’s spectacle, and do not reproach me for having spoken a heavy word to you. I don’t forbid getting married, I don’t forbid having fun; but I want this to happen not without chastity, not with shamelessness and countless vices. I do not order you to go to the mountains and deserts, but that you behave honestly, modestly, chastely, living in the middle of the city. All the laws we have in common with the monks, except marriage. And Paul commands those who are married to be like the monks in everything: “the time is already short, so those who have wives must be as if they have not” (1 Cor. 7:29). Therefore, as if I had said this: I do not command them to retire to the tops of the mountains, although I would like to do so, because the cities act like the Sodomites - however, I do not force them to do so. Stay at home with your children and wife; Just don’t dishonor your wife, don’t seduce your children, and don’t bring infection from the spectacles into your house. Do you hear what Paul says: “The husband has no authority over his own body, but the wife” (1 Cor. 7:4)? He posits a common law for both. But you, when your wife often goes to church, cruelly blame her for it; and you yourself, spending whole days at the spectacles, do not consider yourself worthy of accusation. You care about your wife’s chastity even to the point of excess and excessiveness, so that you do not allow her the necessary outlets, but for yourself you consider everything permitted. But Paul does not allow you to do this, who gave the same power to his wife: “To the wife,” he says, “the husband shows due favor” (1 Cor. 7:3). But what kind of honor is it when you offend her in the main thing, when you give the body that belongs to her to harlots (after all, your body belongs to her)? What honor is it when you bring indignation and quarrels into the house, when you do something in the square that, by talking about at home, you shame your listening wife, you make your future daughter blush, and before them yourself? It would be better to remain silent than to shamelessly talk about what slaves should be punished for. How do you apologize, tell me, for looking with great attention at something that is indecent to even talk about, preferring to everything that which cannot be tolerated in a story? But enough; so as not to burden you, I will end my word here. However, if you remain as before, then I will sharpen my sword, inflict a deep wound, and I will not rest until, having dispelled the devilish spectacle, I have purified the society that makes up the Church. Only in this way will we get rid of the present shame, and will be made worthy of the future life, by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. You might be interested in: