Беседа 11

John 1:14. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us... 1. Before going to the conversation, you should read those passages from the Holy Scriptures that are to be explained. – The position of a minister does not diminish the dignity of the Son of God. – 2. About heretics who claim that the Word was incarnate only in appearance – The state of human nature before the coming of Jesus Christ. “She was like a destroyed house that only the Almighty could restore.” – Incarnation as an incomprehensible mystery. – God the Word took our flesh so that he would never leave it. “That’s why she sits on the royal throne and is worshiped by all the heavenly hosts.” 1. I want to ask one thing from all of you for consolation, before I begin to explain the sayings of the Gospel; but just don’t reject the requests. I don’t ask anything heavy or difficult from you; and not only will this favor be useful to me, who receives it, but also to you who provide it, and maybe it will be even more useful for you? What is it that I want to ask you for? Let each of you take that section from the Gospel that will be read on the first day after Saturday, or on Saturday itself, among you (in church), before these days in your hands and carefully read it at home, repeatedly, carefully review its contents and delve into it well; let him note what is clear and what is unclear, what is apparently contradictory, although in fact it is not; and having discussed everything, thus, gather here for hearing (conversations). There will be no small benefit from such diligence for both you and us: we will need a little work to explain to you the power of sayings when your mind has already previously acquired the concept of them; and in this way you will become more sophisticated and more understanding in listening, not only for your own edification, but also for the teaching of others. Now, since many of those who come here to listen, of necessity, must simultaneously delve into everything, both the sayings themselves and our explanations of them, even if we spend a whole year on this, they will not receive much benefit. And is this possible when they teach in passing and only here for a short time? And if someone refers to business and worries, to lack of time for many public and private activities, then, firstly, this very thing serves to condemn them greatly, that they are busy with so many things, and are so completely bound by everyday concerns that they do not even have a little free time for activities more than any other necessary; secondly, this is only an excuse and a pretext, as they are accused of by gatherings of friends, spending time at shows, and going to equestrian competitions, where they often spend whole days, and, however, no one in such cases complains about a lot of things. So, in matters of unimportance you never refuse with any excuse and can find a lot of free time; and when it is necessary to heed the word of God, then it seems to you such an unnecessary and insignificant matter that it is as if it is not worth spending even a little free time on it. Are people who think like this even worthy of breathing or looking at this sun? Such careless people also have another excuse, even more unfounded, as if they have not acquired and do not have the books of the Holy Scriptures. But in relation to the rich, it would be ridiculous for us to talk about such a pretext; And the poor, who, I think, for the most part use it, I would like to ask if they do not have all the tools of the craft in which each of them is engaged, as much as they need, and in good working order, even if they are oppressed by extreme poverty? How absurd it is not to use poverty as an excuse, but to use every effort so as not to need anything; and where can one acquire such great benefit while complaining about lack of time and squalor? However, even if some were really so poor, they could still learn at least some of the content of the Divine Scriptures from the constant reading here. If this seems impossible to you, then it seems so for a reason. Many do not come with great diligence to listen to the reading of the Scriptures, but, having completed this only as a duty of the lesson time, they immediately return home; and if some remain, they are no better than those who left, being present here with us only in body. But, so that we do not overburden you with reproofs and lose all our time in reproaches, let us proceed to the sayings of the Gospel: it is time, finally, to turn the word to the objects before us. Just be careful that nothing said is lost on you. “And the Word became flesh,” says the evangelist, “and dwelt among us.” Having said that those who received the Word were born of God and became children of God, he offers the reason and basis for such unspeakable honor. The reason is that the Word itself became flesh and the Lord took upon Himself the form of a servant. Being the true Son of God, He became the son of man in order to make the sons of men children of God. The high in communication with the humiliated does not lose its own dignity at all, and the humiliated is elevated through that from its humiliation. This is how it happened in Christ. Through such condescension, He did not in the least humiliate his own nature, but raised us, who always sat in darkness and humiliation, to indescribable glory. So the king, when he talks attentively and favorably with the poor and needy, is not at all ashamed of himself, and thereby makes the poor person visible and honorable to everyone. If, in relation to the transitory dignity of man, communication with the lower does not in the least harm the higher, then all the more so in relation to that incorruptible and blissful Being who has nothing transitory in himself, neither waxing nor waning, but possesses all perfections unchangeably and eternally. So, when you hear that “the Word became flesh,” do not be embarrassed or hesitate. It was not His very being that was changed into flesh (this is wicked to even imagine); and, being what it is, it thus took on the form of a slave. 2. Why did (the evangelist) use the word: “became”? In order to stop the mouths of heretics. There are those who say that everything that concerns the incarnation is only imagination, a deception of the senses, an assumption; Therefore, the evangelist, wanting to completely destroy their blasphemy, used the expression: “it became,” intending to show by this not a change in the being, no, but the perception of the true flesh. As in the words: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13). Scripture does not say that His being, leaving His own glory, turned into an oath (both demons and completely insane people devoid of natural meaning would not think of this: this idea is so wicked and at the same time insane!) - just as Scripture does not say this, but that He, having taken upon Himself the oath spoken against us, did not leave us to be under the oath any longer - so it is said here that “the Word became flesh” - without changing his being into flesh, but only by accepting it, so that the being remained inviolable. If they say that God, as omnipotent, could change into flesh, we will answer that God can do everything only by remaining God; and if He allowed a change in Himself; and, moreover, a change for the worse, then how could He be God? It is completely unusual for an imperishable Being to change. That is why the prophet said: “They will all wear out like a robe, and like a garment you will change them, and they will be changed; but You are the same, and Your years will not end” (Ps. 101:27-28). This being is above any change. There is nothing more excellent than Him, which it could achieve by prospering. What am I saying: superior? There is nothing equal, or anything close. Therefore, if God were to change, he would undergo a change for the worse. But then he would not be God either. But let the blasphemy be returned to the heads of those who speak it. And that the word: “became” was said so that you would not mistake the incarnation for fiction; note this from what follows, how (the evangelist) explains his expression and refutes the wicked thought. He adds: “and dwelt among us,” as if to say: do not suspect anything incongruous in the word: “became.” I am not talking about changing this unchangeable Being, but about His indwelling and dwelling (among us). The dwelling is not the same as the dwelling, but is something different; one inhabits the other; otherwise there would be no infusion, because nothing inhabits itself. I say something different in relation to nature. Through union and communication, God the Word and the flesh are one, not in the sense that any confusion or destruction of natures occurred, but in the fact that some ineffable and inexpressible unity of them was formed. Don’t ask how this happened; it happened as He himself knows. But what kind of abode is this in which He moved in? Listen to what the prophet says: “I will restore the fallen tabernacle of David” (Amos.9:11). Our nature fell, truly fell into an incurable fall and had a need for this single sovereign right hand. And it could not have risen if the One who created it had not first stretched out his right hand to it and renewed it from above through rebirth by water and spirit. And notice what is terrible and inexpressible in this sacrament: He dwells forever in this tabernacle 11. He put on our flesh, not to leave it again, but to always have it with Him. And if it were not so, then He would not have honored her with the royal throne and, wearing her, would not have been worshiped by the entire heavenly host of angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities and powers. What word, what mind can imagine such a great honor shown to our race, truly supernatural and wondrous? What angel? What archangel? No one ever, neither from heaven nor from earth. Such are the works of God, so great and supernatural are His benefits, that not only the human tongue, but also angelic power cannot fully express them. Therefore, we will conclude the word with silence, reminding you only to reward our great Benefactor with reward, from which all the benefits will again turn to us. This reward consists in our having zealous care for our souls. And that is, it is a matter of His love for mankind that He, not needing any of us, accepts it as His reward when we care about our own soul. Therefore, it is extremely insane and worthy of countless punishments - having received such a great honor, not to repay on your part according to your strength, and, moreover, when the benefit from it passes back to us and when countless benefits are prepared for us for it. For all this, let us give glory to God, the lover of mankind, not only in words, but much more in deeds, so that we may also receive future benefits, which may we all be worthy of, by the grace and love for mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom and with whom be glory to the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” That is, in human flesh You might be interested in: