Беседа 24

Conversation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Rome 13.11. And this, knowing the time, is like the hour for us to rise from sleep. The Apostle, after having prescribed everything that is necessary, encourages the Romans to do good deeds even with the very shortness of time. The time of judgment, he says, is already at the door, as he wrote to the Corinthians: “for time has ceased to eat other things” (1 Cor 7.29), and also to the Jews: “it is yet a little while, the one who is coming will come and will not cut down” (Heb 10.37). But there he spoke, restoring the working people and consoling them in exploits from constant temptations, and here he awakens those sleeping; and indeed this word (of the apostle) is useful to us in both cases. What does this mean: “it’s already time for us to rise from sleep”? This means: the resurrection is near, the Last Judgment is near, the day is near, like a red-hot furnace, and we must already free ourselves from negligence. Now salvation is closer to us than when we believed. Do you see how (the apostle) already represents the resurrection to them? With the passage of time, he says, the present life is spent, and the life of the next century becomes closer. If you have prepared and fulfilled everything commanded by God, then this day will be a day of salvation for you, otherwise this will not happen. However, (the apostle) for now convinces by pointing not to sorrows, but to blessings, and thus distracts the Romans from predilection for the present. Then, since it was quite natural that at first, soon after accepting the faith, they were distinguished by greater zeal, because the feeling was still strong in them, and over time all zeal weakened, then (the apostle) inspires that one should do exactly the opposite and, over time, not weaken, but flourish more. After all, the closer the king is to us, the more ready we must be; the closer the reward, the more we must excite ourselves to exploits. This is what those who compete in the race do: when they get closer to the goal and to receiving the reward, then they strain their strength even more. That is why (the apostle) said: “Now salvation is closer to us than when we believed.” Rom.13:12. The night has passed away, and the day is drawing near. So, if the night is ending and the day is approaching, then let’s get down to daytime activities, not nighttime ones. This also happens in everyday affairs: as soon as we notice that the night is approaching morning, and we hear the singing of a swallow, then we each wake up our neighbor, even if the night has not yet passed; and when, finally, it passes, we force each other, saying: the day has come, and, having dressed, parted with dreams and freed ourselves from sleep, we begin all the daily activities so that the day finds us already ready, so that we do not have to get up and stretch when the sun's rays are already shining. As we behave in everyday affairs, we will do the same in spiritual matters: let us strip ourselves of dreams, free ourselves from the dreams of real life, put off deep sleep, and put on virtue instead of clothes. All this was clearly expressed (by the apostle), saying: Let us put aside dark deeds and put on the weapons of light. After all, the day calls us into action and into battle. But don't be afraid when you hear about militias and weapons. It is difficult and undesirable to put on material weapons, but to put on spiritual weapons is desirable and desirable, because it is a weapon of light. It makes you brighter than the rays of the sun, emitting a bright radiance, it puts you in safety, because there is a “weapon”, it makes you luminous, because it is a weapon of light. So what? So there is no need to fight? It is necessary to fight, but do not be afraid of troubles and labors, because this is not warfare, but rejoicing and triumph. Such is the property of this weapon, such is the power of the leader. He who is clothed in this weapon is as adorned as the bridegroom coming out of the bridal chamber, because he is both warrior and bridegroom. Having said: “The day is approaching,” (the apostle) depicts it not as approaching, but as having already arrived. He says: Rom.13:13. as in the days, let us walk gracefully, because the day has already come. And by what primarily motivates the majority of people to activity, this (the apostle) attracts them, i.e. good looks. And he did not say, “Walk,” but, “Let us begin to walk, so that the admonition will not be heavy and the reproach will be light.” No goat-talking and drunkenness. Here (the apostle) does not prohibit drinking, but drinking without measure; he does not banish the use of wine, but drunkenness. So in the following words he prescribes the measure of pleasures, saying: not fornication and adultery. And here he forbids not intercourse with women, but fornication. (The Apostle) quenches the main passions - lust and anger, and forbids not only the passions themselves, but also their source. Nothing kindles lust and ignites anger like intoxication and drunkenness. Therefore (the apostle), having said at first: “not heckling and drunkenness,” added later: “not fornication and adultery, not zeal and envy.” And he did not stop there, but, having taken off our thin clothes, listen to how he adorns, saying: Rom.13:14. but be clothed with our Lord Jesus Christ. He didn’t say, “put on action,” but he elevated the listeners higher. In fact, when he speaks about vices, he also spoke about deeds, and when he began to talk about virtue, he no longer speaks about deeds, but about weapons, showing that virtue provides the one who possesses it with complete security and complete splendor. He did not even limit himself to this, but, stretching higher, instead of a robe, he gives us - which excites great awe - the Lord Himself, the King Himself. He who is clothed in Him fully contains within himself every virtue. When he says: “Put on your clothes,” he commands us to surround ourselves with Him everywhere. He expresses similar things in other places, namely: “if Christ is in us” (Rom. 8.10), and also: “Christ dwells in our inner man” (Eph. 3.16–17). The Apostle wants our soul to be the house of Christ, so that Christ will embrace us like a garment, be everything to us both inside and outside. Christ is our fulfillment, since He is “the fulfillment of all things in all” (Eph 1.23). He is the way, He is the husband and bridegroom: “For I have betrothed you to one husband, a pure virgin” (2 Cor 11.2). He is root and drink, food and life: “I live... “No one,” says (Paul), “but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2.20). He is an apostle, bishop and teacher, father, brother and co-heir, an accomplice in the tomb and in the cross: “We were buried... in Him,” it is said, “and equipped with the likeness of His death” (Rom. 6.4–5). He is an intercessor: “for Christ we make ambassadors” (2 Cor 5.20). He is our advocate before the Father, because, as Paul says, “he makes intercession for us” (Rom 8.34). He is a house and a dweller: “he abides in me, and I in him” (John 6.56). He is a friend: “You are naturally my friends” (John 15.14). He is the foundation and the cornerstone, and we are His members and field, His building, branches and co-workers. And what does He not want to become for us, in order to cleave and unite us to Himself in every way? All this is characteristic of someone who loves immensely. So, submit to Him and, rising from sleep, put on Him, and, having put on, keep your flesh in submission before Him. This is what the apostle meant when he said: Do not please the flesh through lust. Just as above he forbade not the use of wine, but drunkenness, not marriage, but debauchery, so now he prohibits not caring for the flesh, but caring that extends to lusts, that is, beyond need. And that he himself commands us to take care of the flesh, listen to how he speaks about this to Timothy: “You have received little wine, but for the sake of your frequent illnesses” (1 Timothy 5.23). Likewise, in everything else, take care of the flesh, but to maintain health, and not to satisfy sensuality. After all, this does not mean, of course, to have care when you add fire and light the stove. And in order for you to know more precisely when care for the flesh extends to lust, and in order to avoid such care, imagine people who indulge in drunkenness, overeating, addicted to clothes, amusements, leading a pampered and luxurious life, and then you will understand what was said (by the apostle). Such people do everything not to maintain health, but to have fun and inflame lust. But you, having put on Christ and rejected all this, strive only for one thing: to have a healthy body, taking care of it as much as is necessary for this, do not extend beyond that, but use all your care for worries about the spiritual. In this way, without being burdened by these various lusts, you will be able to rise from your sinful sleep. Truly, real life is a dream and what happens in this life is no different from sleepy dreams. And just as those who sleep talk to themselves and often see something completely unreal, so we do. And even much worse than that. Anyone who has done or said something obscene in a dream, freed from sleep, is usually freed from shame and is not subject to punishment. This will not happen to us after this life, but the shame and punishment will be eternal. In the same way, those who become rich in a dream, when the day comes, are convinced that it was in vain that they flattered themselves with wealth; in real life, confirmation often comes before the day has arrived, and before we move from here, these dreams have already dissipated. So, let’s finally shake off this evil dream. If the day catches us sleeping, we will become prey to the undying death. And until that day comes, it will be easy for all the local enemies - both people and demons - to attack us; Even if they want to kill us, no one will stop them from doing so. If there were many awake, then there would not be such a danger, but since now here and there one and the other, having lit a lamp, are awake, all the others, as in the dead of night, are immersed in sleep; then we need perfect vigilance and complete caution so as not to suffer terrible disasters. But doesn’t it seem to us that it is still a clear day? Don't we think that we are all awake and sober? Maybe you will laugh at my words, but I, of course, will say: we are all like those who are immersed in sleep and snoring in the dead of night. And if it were possible to see an incorporeal being, then I would show you how many indulge in a sound sleep, and meanwhile the devil undermines the walls, kills those sleeping and steals internal treasures, doing everything without fear, as in deep darkness. And, better to say, although it is impossible to see this with our eyes, let us describe in words and reflect on how many people there are burdened with evil passions, how many are possessed by the heavy darkness of voluptuousness and have extinguished the light of the Spirit within themselves. Therefore, instead of one thing, they look and listen to another and do not pay attention to anything stated here. If I am telling a lie and you are now standing in a state of wakefulness, then tell me what happened here today, if, indeed, you did not hear all this as a dream? I know that some will answer me, and I’m not saying this about everyone. But you, who are guilty of what is said here, you who came here in vain, tell me which prophet, which apostle spoke to us today and about what? But you cannot say this, because at that time you were talking to yourself about many things, as if in a dream, and did not hear what was happening outside of you in reality itself. I must say the same to women, because they too are in deep sleep, and it would be good if only in a dream. After all, the one who sleeps says nothing good or bad, but the one who is awake, like you, utters a lot of words to the misfortune of his own head, calculating interest, evaluating collateral, remembering shameless profits and sowing many thorns in his soul, and not allowing the good seed to sprout even a small sprout. But arise from sleep, uproot these thorns, sober up from the intoxication that causes sleep. I mean here intoxication, which comes not only from wine, but also from everyday worries, and at the same time from wine. And in this I admonish not only the rich, but also the poor, and especially those who organize friendly feasts. After all, this is neither pleasure nor relaxation, but punishment and torment, because pleasure does not consist in shameful conversation, but in decent conversation, not in satiety, but in satiation. If you consider this pleasure, then show me this pleasure during the evening, but you cannot. I am not yet talking about the harm that comes from here, but for now I am talking with you about the pleasure that immediately occurs; As soon as the feast is over, the fun usually flies away. But if I also mention vomiting, heaviness in the head, countless illnesses, captivity of the soul, then what will you tell me about this? Should we really behave shamefully because we are poor? But saying this, I do not forbid you to get together and dine together, but I forbid you to disgrace yourself, I want your pleasure to be real pleasure, and not turn into punishment, into torment, into drunkenness and riotous fun. Let the pagans know that Christians know how to have fun better than anyone else, but to have fun decently, as it is said: “Rejoice... in the Lord... with trembling” (Ps 2.11). How should one rejoice? Singing hymns, praying, singing psalms instead of those shameful songs. Thus, Christ Himself will be present at your meal and will fill the entire feast with blessings - when you pray, when you sing spiritual songs, when you invite the poor to participate in what you offer, when at your feast you observe complete decorum and moderation; In this way you will make the meeting place a church - when, instead of indecent shouts and applause, you will sing praises to the Lord of all. Do not tell me that a different custom has now been established, but correct what is bad. “Whether ... you eat,” says (the apostle), “whether you drink or do anything else, do everything for the glory of God” (1 Cor 10.31). And from your feasts bad desires are born in you, hence debauchery, hence your wives are despised, and harlots in honor, hence the destruction of houses, countless disasters, everything falls into disorder, and you, leaving a pure source, rush to a dirty swamp. And that the body of a depraved woman is just such a swamp, about this I ask no one else, but you yourself, wallowing in this swamp - aren’t you ashamed of yourself, don’t you consider yourself unclean after sin? Therefore, I beg you, flee from fornication and the mother of fornication, drunkenness. Why do you sow where you cannot reap, or better yet, if you reap, the very fruit will cover you with great disgrace? If a child is born, then you will be disgraced, and through your fault he will suffer as illegitimate and illegitimate. Even if you left him thousands, he who is born of a harlot or a slave is still dishonest in the house, dishonest in the city, and dishonorable before the court; You yourself are dishonest, both during life and after death, because when you die, monuments of your shame will remain behind you. So, why do you dishonor everything? And why do you sow where the very field is intensifying to destroy the fruit, where there are many causes of infertility, where murder is committed before birth, so that you not only allow the harlot to remain a harlot, but also make her a murderer? You see how from drunkenness comes fornication, from fornication comes adultery, from adultery murder, or more correctly, something worse than murder, I don’t even know what to call it, since here what is born is not put to death, but the birth itself is hindered. So what? Doesn't this mean that you insult the gift of God, fight against the Divine laws, strive for a blessing as if it were an oath, turn the treasury of birth into a treasury of murder, and dispose a woman created for childbearing to murder? After all, a vicious woman, in order to always be pleasant and attractive to her lovers and to lure more money from them, does not refuse to do this and thereby gathers great fire on your head, since although the decision (to commit a crime) belongs to her, you are the main reason. This is where idolatry arises. Many women, in order to make themselves pleasing, use incantations, libations, love potions and countless other means. But, despite such a great shame of murder and idolatry, this matter seems indifferent to many, even to many of those who have their own wives: this is where the greatest confluence of vices occurs. Here medical remedies are prepared not only against the fetus in the womb of a harlot, but also against the offended wife, here there are thousands of malicious intents, the invocation of demons and the evocation of the dead, from here arise daily quarrels, irreconcilable struggles and minute-by-minute clashes. That is why Paul, having said “not fornication and adultery,” added: “not zeal and envy” (Rom. 13:13), since he knew that the consequence of the first is enmity, destruction of houses, insults to legitimate children and thousands of evils. In order for us to avoid all this, let us put on Christ and always abide with Him, and to put on Christ means never remaining without Him, but always revealing Him in ourselves through our holiness and righteousness. And about friends, in order to depict their strong love and inextricable connection, we say that one is clothed in the other, since the one clothed is represented by what he is clothed with. Therefore, may Christ always remain in us. How will He appear? If you imitate Him and His works. What did Christ do? “Son... of man,” He says (about Himself), “there is no place to bow your head” (Luke 9.58). And you imitate this. When it was time to partake of food, Christ ate barley loaves; when he was on the road, he had neither horses nor beasts of burden, but walked on foot, even to the point of fatigue; when it was necessary to fall asleep, he lay down at the stern of the boat instead of heading; when it was necessary to lie down, he ordered me to sit on the grass. And His garments were inexpensive; He often walked alone, having no one with Him. Further, having learned all His words and deeds on the Cross and among various humiliations and, in general, His entire life, try to imitate it; Thus, you will put on Christ if you do not extend your care for the flesh to lusts, which activity will not give you any pleasure. After all, desires of this kind give birth to new, even more restless ones, and you will never achieve satiation, but you will cause yourself great torment. Just as someone who is tormented by an incessant thirst, even if there are thousands of springs before him, does not derive any benefit from it, not being able to quench his illness, so it happens with a person who constantly lives in lusts. But if you limit yourself to what is necessary, you will never be subjected to such fever, but you will be freed from all this - both from drunkenness and from debauchery. Therefore, eat as much as you need to satisfy your hunger, dress so that you are only covered, do not dress your flesh in clothes, so as not to destroy it, because through excessive bliss you will make it weaker, upset its health and bring it to complete exhaustion. So, so that your flesh can be a beautiful chariot of the soul, so that the helmsman sits safely at the helm, so that the warrior can easily wield weapons - observe orderliness in everything. Not the one who has a lot, but the one who is satisfied with a little, is invincible. The first, even if he has not been offended, is afraid, and the last, even if he has been offended, will remain in a better mood than the one who was not offended, and therefore will be more complacent. Therefore, we will not strive to ensure that no one offends us, but to ensure that even those who want to do so cannot offend us. And this can only be achieved by limiting oneself to what is necessary and not wanting more. In this way, we will have the opportunity to enjoy joy here and receive future benefits through the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory, power, honor, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. You might be interested in: