Беседа 89

“The next day, which followed Friday, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered to Pilate and said: Master! We remembered that the deceiver, while still alive, said: after three days I will rise again; So, order that the tomb be guarded until the third day, so that His disciples, coming at night, do not steal Him and say to the people: He has risen from the dead; and the last deception will be worse than the first.” (Matt. 27:62–64) The sealing of the tomb serves as indisputable proof of the resurrection. – The disciples could neither steal bodies nor invent resurrections. - Why did the resurrection have to take place within three days? - Circumstances surrounding the resurrection. – Appearance of the Risen One to wives. – Exhortations to imitate the myrrh-bearers. – Against addiction to expensive clothes and jewelry. – Jewelry is a reason for dishonor and sorrow. – Wearing jewelry should be avoided especially in church. – The love of jewelry turns one away from alms and causes debauchery in husbands. 1. Lies expose themselves everywhere and, as if involuntarily, defend the truth. Look: it was necessary to believe that He died and was buried and rose again - and all this through the enemies themselves becomes worthy of all belief. Consider these words, which fully confirm all this. “We remembered,” they say, “what that deceiver said while still alive,” therefore He died; “After three days I will rise again; So, order the tomb to be guarded,” - therefore He was buried; “so that His disciples would not come at night and steal Him away” - therefore, if the tomb is sealed, then there will be no more deception. An impossible task! So, in your very request, indisputable proof of His resurrection is given. If the coffin was sealed, then there was no deception; if there was no deception, and the tomb was found empty, then it is clear that He was resurrected - one cannot argue with this. Do you see how even against their will they strive in favor of the truth? Consider also how the disciples value the truth, how they do not hide anything that is said by their enemies, even if it is shameful. So they call Him a deceiver; and the disciples are not silent about it. This shows both the cruelty of the enemies, who reached the point that even after death they did not abandon their anger, and at the same time the simplicity and love of truth of the disciples. At the same time, it is necessary to examine where He said: “After three days I will rise again.” You will not find clearer words about this anywhere except the example of Jonah. The lawless Jews knew, therefore, understood His words, and deliberately acted evilly. What does Pilate answer them? “You have,” he says, “a guard; go and protect it as best you can. They went and set a guard at the tomb, and put a seal on the stone” (Matthew 27:65–66). He does not allow warriors to print alone. As if having learned about his affairs, he no longer wants to act together with them; and in order to free himself from them, he allows them to fence the coffin, and says: you print as you wish, so as not to blame others later. Truly, if only the soldiers had sealed it, the Jews could have said (although this would have been an incredible lie; but still, as in other cases they shamelessly slandered, they could now say) that the soldiers allowed the body to be carried away, and gave the disciples the opportunity to invent the news of the resurrection. Now, when they themselves approved the coffin, they cannot say even this. Do you see how they strive for the truth against their will? They themselves came, they themselves asked, they themselves were sealed together with the guards, so that, in this way, they could be accusers and exposers of themselves. In fact, when would the disciples steal? On Saturday? And besides, how? On Saturday it was not allowed to go out. If they also broke the law, then how would these such timid people dare to go? How could they convince the people? What could they say, what could they do? What kind of jealousy prompted them to stand for the dead? What reward were you expecting? What honor? And from the living, as soon as He was detained, they ran away; and after death, could they have dared for Him if He had not risen? How to figure this out? That they did not want and could not invent an unprecedented resurrection is clear from the following. He spoke many times about the resurrection, even He constantly repeated that, as the enemies themselves said, “after three days I will rise again.” Therefore, if He had not risen, obviously, they, as deceived and persecuted by all the people, expelled from houses and cities, would have to lag behind Him; They would not want to spread such a rumor about Him as those who were deceived by Him and fell into extreme disasters for Him. And that they could not have imagined the resurrection if it had not actually happened, there is no need to talk about this. Really, what could they hope for? Is it on the strength of your word? But they were the most unlearned people. Is it for wealth? But they did not even have a staff or shoes. Is it for the nobility of the family? But they were poor and born of poor people. Is it for the nobility of the fatherland? But they came from very humble backgrounds. Is it because of its numbers? But there were no more than eleven of them, and they were scattered. Are they on the Teacher's promises? But which ones? If He had not rebelled, then His other promises would not have been reliable for them. So how could they tame the fury of the people? If the supreme one of them did not bear with the words of the doorkeeper’s wife, and all the others, seeing Him bound, scattered, then how could they think of going to the ends of the universe and planting there a fictitious word about the resurrection? If one of them could not resist the threats of his wife, and others even at the sight of the bonds, then how could they stand against kings, princes and peoples, where there are swords, frying pans, ovens, countless kinds of daily death, if they were not strengthened by the power and help of the Risen One? Many great miracles were performed, and the Jews were not ashamed of any of them, but crucified Him who had done them; and could the simple words of the disciples be believed about the resurrection? No no! All this was created by the power of the Risen One. 2. And look how funny their plans are! “We remembered,” they say, “that the deceiver, while still alive, said: after three days I will rise again.” But if He was a deceiver and boasted in vain, then why are you afraid, rushing about and fussing like that? We are afraid, they say, that the disciples will steal and deceive the mob. But it has already been proven that this could not have happened. And yet, malice is persistent and shameless - it even encroaches on an insane deed. They order to protect the coffin for up to three days, as if trying to protect their teaching and wanting to show that He was a flatterer before, and even in the coffin one can suspect Him of malice. That is why He rose up quickly, so that they would not say that He turned out to be a liar and that the body was stolen. It was impossible to blame him for the fact that He quickly rebelled; a slowdown would be suspicious. If He had not risen then, when they were sitting and guarding the coffin, but then, three days later, they would have left, then they could still say something against it, even if it was reckless. For this purpose He preceded it with the resurrection. The resurrection had to take place precisely when they were sitting there and watching; therefore, he had to be within three days; and if it happened after their expiration, when the guards left, the matter could be suspicious. Therefore, the Lord allowed the coffin to be sealed at their request and allowed the soldiers to be with it. They did not care that they worked on the Sabbath; but they had only one thing in mind, how they could succeed in their malice. This is the highest degree of madness and horror that shocked them! Those who captured Him in their power while he was alive now fear the dead. If it was a simple person, then one should remain calm. But so that they would know that even while alive, He voluntarily endured everything that He endured - here is the seal, and the stone, and the guard - and all this could not restrain the dead man! They succeed only in that the burial becomes known, and His resurrection receives greater certainty, because the soldiers were constantly at the tomb, and the Jews were watching. “And after the Sabbath had passed, at dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord, who descended from heaven, came and rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb and sat on it; his appearance was like lightning, and his raiment was white as snow” (Matthew 28:1–3). After the resurrection, an angel comes. Why does he come and roll away the stone? For the wives who saw him then in the coffin. They see that there is no body in the tomb, and therefore they had to believe in His resurrection. This is why the stone was removed; For this reason there was an earthquake, so that they would rise up and awaken from sleep. The wives came to anoint the body with oil, and this was at night: naturally, some of them slept. But why and why did the angel say to them: “Do not be afraid”? First of all, he frees them from fear, and then talks about the resurrection. And this word - “you”, on the one hand, expresses great honor, and on the other, indicates that terrible disasters await those who dared to commit this atrocity if they do not repent. It is not you, he says, who should be afraid, but those who crucified Him. So, having freed them from fear both with words and with his gaze, because he appeared in a bright form, as if he brought good news, the angel adds: “for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified” (Matthew 28:5). He is not ashamed to call him crucified, because this is our highest good. "Risen". Where can you see this? "As I said". If you don’t believe me, he says, remember His words; Then you won’t distrust me either. Further, there is another proof: “come, see the place where the Lord lay.” This is why the stone was rolled away, so that from here they would receive new assurance. “Tell His disciples what is going on before you into Galilee” (Matthew 28:7). He also commands others to preach the gospel of the resurrection, which especially makes them believe. And he said well: “in Galilee”; relieves them of worries and dangers so that fear does not shake their faith. “And they came out of the tomb hastily, and ran with fear and great joy” (Matthew 28:8). Why is this so? Because they saw an amazing and strange thing - an empty coffin, in which a body had previously been laid before their eyes. This is why the angel led them to the tomb, so that they could be witnesses of both - the tomb and the resurrection. Indeed, they could understand that no one could have carried Him away in the presence of so many soldiers if He had not risen Himself. That is why they rejoice and marvel, and receive a reward for such constancy: they are the first to see and preach the gospel—they preach what they have not only heard about, but also what they have seen. 3. So, when they came out with fear and joy, “Jesus met them and said: Rejoice! And they came and took hold of His feet” (Matthew 28:9). With great joy they flocked to Him, with their touch they were firmly convinced of His resurrection and worshiped Him. What is He? "Don't be afraid"! Again he himself drives away fear, preparing the most convenient path for faith. “Go and tell my brothers that they should go to Galilee, and there they will see me” (Matthew 28:10). See how He himself preaches the gospel to the disciples through their wives, and, as I have often said, He restores honor and good hopes to the humiliated sex, and heals the infirm. Perhaps some of you would like to follow the example of the praiseworthy women and embrace the feet of Jesus? Even now, if you want, you can embrace not only His arms and legs, but also His sacred head, if you partake of the terrible secrets with a clear conscience. And not only here, but also on that day you will see Him coming in ineffable glory with a host of angels, if you only want to be philanthropic; you will hear not only these words: “rejoice”; but also those: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). So be philanthropic, that you may hear these words. And you, wives adorned with gold, who have seen the course of those wives, at least now leave this disease of lust for gold. If you are jealous of those blessed women, change your jewelry, clothe yourself with mercy. What is the use, tell me, of these precious stones and gold-woven clothes? You will say: the soul finds joy and consolation in them. But I ask you about the benefits, and you talk about the harm. There is nothing worse than doing such things, enjoying them and clinging to them. This slavery is all the more deplorable because a person, even while enslaving, is comforted. To what spiritual matter would such a person apply proper care? Will he still ridicule, as he should, the activities of life, when he considers it a consolation to bind the soul with gold? He who lives in prison, and with pleasure, will certainly never want to be freed from it. So is a gold-loving soul: it is, as it were, a captive of its evil passion, and will not want to listen to even one spiritual word with the proper eagerness and jealousy; much less get the job done. So, tell me, what is the benefit of this decoration, this bliss? I'm enjoying it, you say. But again you repeat about harm and death. But, you say, I am held in great esteem by the audience. So what's in it? This is only a reason for another kind of death, when you become arrogant and boastful. Now, since you could not show the benefit, listen to me show you the harm. What's the harm? The one that has much more worries than pleasures. That is why many of the spectators, and very uneducated ones at that, feel more pleasure than you, who are so decorated. You decorate yourself with care, and they delight their eyes even without care. On the other hand, the harm lies in the fact that you humiliate your soul and arouse envy everywhere. Your neighbors are irritated by this, rebel against their husbands and raise cruel abuse against you. Moreover, having spent all your effort and care on this, you neglect spiritual exercises, become filled with arrogance, pride and vanity, cling to the earth, lose your spiritual wings and, instead of an eagle, become a dog and a pig. Having stopped turning your gaze and soaring to the sky, like a pig, you look only downwards, worry about metals and storerooms, and deprive your soul of firmness and freedom. But do you still go to the spectacle to show yourself? Moreover, you should not be adorned with gold, so as not to be the subject of general attention, and not to open the lips of a crowd of slanderers. Don’t think that any of the spectators were surprised at you; on the contrary, they all laugh at you as a dandy, as a proud woman who cares only about her body. If you come to church, then when you leave it, you will carry nothing with you except ridicule, curses and reproaches, and not only from the audience, but also from the prophet. The great-voiced Isaiah, seeing you, will immediately cry out: This is what the Lord says against the rulers of the daughters of Zion: “They walk with their necks raised and their eyes deceiving, and they walk with a majestic step and rattle the chains on their feet; the Lord will expose the crown of the daughters of Zion and the Lord will expose their shame. And instead of incense there will be a stench, and instead of a belt there will be a rope” (Isa. 3:16–17,23). This is what they will give you instead of decoration! This is said not only about those, but also about every woman who imitates them. Along with him, Paul also denounces, writing to Timothy, so that he forbids wives to adorn themselves with wickerwork, gold, or beads, or costly vestments. So, decorating yourself with gold is always detrimental, and especially when you come to church, when you pass by the poor; then look at yourself: you will see that your clothes are nothing more than a mask of cruelty and inhumanity. 4. Think about how many hungry people you go around in such attire, how many naked people are in your satanic adornment! How much better it would be for you to feed the souls of the hungry, rather than to pierce your ears and hang on them for an empty purpose something that could provide daily food to so many poor people! Does being rich really constitute fame in your opinion? Do you really consider it important to be decorated with gold? Even if all this were achieved through righteous labors, then your behavior is worthy of the greatest condemnation. When it is still acquired through unrighteous means, then imagine how immeasurable the crime is. But do you love praise and fame? Take off these shameful clothes, and then everyone will be surprised at you; then you will enjoy both glory and pure pleasure; Now you are showered with curses, and this creates for yourself many reasons for grief. Imagine if something goes missing. How much trouble comes from here! How many slaves will have to endure punishment! How many men will be alarmed! How many will be imprisoned, how many will live in prison! Then there will be trials, litigation, a thousand curses and insults to the wife from her husband, to the husband from friends, and to the soul from itself. But let's assume that nothing will be lost - although it is difficult to do without it - let's assume that everything will always be intact: and in this case, again you will be subject only to anxiety, worries, sorrow, without receiving any benefit. What profit does the house get from this? What is the use of decorating yourself? There is no benefit, but there is a lot of dishonor and reproach from everywhere. And how, in such adornment, can you kiss and embrace the feet of Christ? He is disgusted by such decoration. That is why He deigned to be born in a carpenter’s house, or better yet, not even in the house itself, but in a cave and a manger. So, how can you see Him when you do not have the beauty desired by Him, when you are not clothed with an adornment that is dear to Him, but one that is hateful? He who comes to Him should not be adorned with such clothes, but clothed with virtue. Think about it: what is gold? Earth and dust. Throw it into the water and it will become muddy. Judge and be ashamed how you make dust your ruler; how you, having left everything, sit with him or rush around with him everywhere, even when you come to church - where it would be especially appropriate to remove him, because the church was not created for you to show this wealth in it, but for you to show spiritual wealth. And you, as if for a spectacle, come here in such decoration and, imitating the wives playing on stage, dress with such majesty in their ridiculous dirty linen. That's why you come here to the detriment of many. After the meeting is over, you will hear many people talking about this in the houses at meals. Not to mention what the prophet and apostle said this and that, they start talking about the splendor of clothes, the preciousness of stones and other ugliness of wives adorning themselves in this way. This is what makes you and your husbands stingy in alms. Truly, none of you will want to give any of this gold to feed the hungry. If you agree to endure the need yourself rather than allow the slightest damage to your dear thing, then how can you spare anything to feed someone else? Truly, many are addicted to these decorations, as if they were animate creatures, and love them no less than children. How is this possible, you say? Prove the opposite to me; prove by deeds; Now I don’t see it at all. Which woman suffering from this disease, having acquired a sufficient number of valuable jewelry, stole the soul of a child from death? But what am I saying: children? Did she redeem her own dying soul with these jewels? On the contrary, because of them, many people sell it every day. If a physical illness occurs, they do everything; and if they see spiritual damage, they do nothing of the kind, but they are completely negligent about both their own and their children’s souls, so that their jewels remain until they rust from time to time. You are showered with countless talents of gold, and the member of Christ does not even have the necessary food. The common Lord of all, the Lord of heaven and all those living on it, equally offered His spiritual meal to everyone; but you don’t want to give Him anything from perishable things, and you want to remain always bound by these heavy bonds. Hence countless troubles. Hence the jealousy, hence the fornication of husbands - when you do not encourage them to love wisdom, but force them to find pleasure in what harlots adorn themselves with. That is why they are caught very quickly. If you had taught him to have contempt for these decorations and to take comfort in chastity, piety, and humility, then he would not be so easily caught in fornication. A harlot can adorn herself in this way, and even better; but to be clothed with virtues is not. So, teach him to find pleasure in such decoration, which he cannot see on a harlot. How will you teach him to do this? If you take off your ornaments and put on spiritual things. Then your husband will be protected, and you will be honored, and God will be merciful to you; all people will marvel at you, and you will achieve future blessings through the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. You might be interested in: