Беседа 15

Eph.4:31. Let all irritation and rage and anger and shouting and slander along with all malice be removed from you. You should refrain from shouting, swearing and beating. 1. Just as swarms of bees never sit in an unclean vessel, and therefore people who are experienced in this prepare a place for them, fumigating it with incense, mastics and all kinds of incense, sprinkle with aromatic wines and all sorts of other compounds the baskets in which they must sit, having emerged from the hives, and do all this so that the unpleasant smell, disgusting to the bees, does not force them to fly away - so all this also applies to the Holy Spirit. Our soul is like a vessel or basket in which swarms of spiritual gifts can be placed; but if she is filled with bile, bitterness and anger, then these swarms fly away from her. That is why this blessed and wise householder carefully cleanses our vessels, without using a knife or any other iron instrument for this. He calls us into this spiritual hive and, arranging it, cleanses it with prayers, works and all sorts of other means. Look how he cleanses our heart: drive away, he says, lies, drive away anger; and at the same time shows how you can destroy evil from the roots: let us not, he says, be angry in spirit. It usually happens with our bile that if there is little of it, then its movement is not strong when the container is dissolved, but when its causticity and pungency are brought to too strong a degree, then the container that previously contained it, being no longer able to retain it in itself and bursting as if from a strong fire, really no longer holds it within its proper boundaries; cracking from excessive tension, he spews it out of himself and it disperses throughout his body. And a wild and fierce beast brought into the city, as long as it is in a fenced place, cannot harm anyone, no matter how much it rages and screams; but if, enraged, he jumps over the fence, then he creates fear and anxiety in the whole city and makes everyone run away from him: this is also the natural property of bile. As long as it remains within its boundaries, it does not produce any important harm in us; but when its shell bursts, and nothing prevents it from spreading throughout the whole body, then, despite its extremely insignificant amount, due to its qualitative strength, it penetrates all the elements of the body and spoils them with its bad admixture. So, touching the blood, to which it is close both in place and in quality, it heats it up and everything that is near it makes it excessively moist and turns into bile; then it creates disorder in other parts of the body and, thus, spoiling everything, deprives a person of the use of language and brings him to death, expelling the soul from the body. But why are we talking about all this in such detail? In order for us, through comparison with sensual bile, to better understand all the unbearable harm of spiritual bile - how it, causing complete disorder in our soul, from which it is born, causes it complete destruction - and so that, knowing this, we are careful not to experience (its harmful effects) on ourselves. Just as that (material bile) produces inflammation in the bodily composition, so this (spiritual) kindles our thoughts and brings the one it possesses into the abyss of Gehenna. So, in order for us, after we have carefully considered all this, to avoid this evil, to curb this beast, or better yet, to uproot it, let us listen to the words of Paul: “Let every irritation,” he did not say, “let it be cleansed,” “let it be removed from you.” Indeed, what need do I have to keep it with me? Why should I keep with me a beast that can be removed from the soul and driven far away? Let us listen to the words Paul: “Let all irritation... be removed from you.” But, unfortunately, this is how confused we are. While one should try in every possible way about this, some are so unreasonable that they consider such evil as happiness for themselves, are proud of it, become vain and arouse envy in others. Such and such, they say, is a bilious man, a real scorpion, a snake, a viper: they are terribly afraid of him! Why are you afraid, beloved, of a bilious man? I’m afraid, he says, so that he doesn’t harm me, doesn’t insult me. I am inexperienced in deceit, like him, and therefore I am afraid that he will lure me into his net, as a simple person and incapable of penetrating his plans, and entangle us with his fetters prepared for our deception. Funny! Why? Because such words are appropriate for children who are afraid of something that is not at all scary. In fact, no one is so deserving of contempt, no one is so worthy of ridicule, as a bilious and evil person. After all, there is nothing more powerless than anger: it makes (a person) senseless and insane. 2. Don't you see that anger is blind? Have you not heard that he who digs a hole for his neighbor digs it for himself? But how, they will say, can one not be afraid of a person who has given himself over to anger? If one should be afraid of demons and madmen, then one should also be afraid of angry people, as madmen who do everything without reasoning. I agree with this, but I do not at all agree that in business it is necessary to resort to the help of such people. For the successful conduct of business, prudence is most necessary; deceit, malice and deceit most of all prevent us from maintaining prudence. Don’t you see what kind of bodies there are in which bile is poured, how inconspicuous they can be, completely losing their natural color? How can they be weak, infirm and incapable of anything? So are the souls possessed by this disease. Deceit is nothing more than a bile disease of the soul. So, deceit is not at all strong, not at all. Do you want me to again clarify my words for you with an example, presenting you with an example of a cunning and simple person? Absalom was cunning and attracted everyone to his side. Look what this deceit was. He walked, as it is said, (near the gates) and said to everyone: “There is no one to listen to you” (2 Samuel 15:3), wanting to win over to his side. But David was simple. So what? Look at the success of both, look at how reckless he turned out to be. Since he only had in mind how to harm his father, he was blind to everything else. But David is not like that, because “He who walks in integrity walks safely” (Prov. 10:9), - that is, he who does not plot anything against others does not prepare harm for anyone. So, let us listen to Blessed Paul and feel sorry for evil people, we will mourn them and try in every possible way to use all measures to free their souls from this evil. And isn’t it reckless, that we try to weaken the power of bile, although it is a necessary element (in the body), since a person cannot live without it? I mean elemental bile, isn’t it reckless, I say, that we try to weaken its power, despite the fact that it is very useful for us, and yet we do not care at all and do not try to suppress spiritual bile in ourselves, which is not useful for anything, on the contrary, it produces so much evil? “If anyone among you thinks to be wise in this age,” it is said, “let him be foolish in order to be wise” (1 Cor. 3:18); or as St. also says. Luke: “the believers ate their food with joy and simplicity of heart, praising God and being in favor with all the people” (Acts 2:46–47). Don’t we see now that simple and insidious people enjoy general respect from everyone? No one envies such people in happiness, no one attacks them in misfortune; but everyone rejoices at their well-being and regrets them if misfortune befalls them. On the contrary, when a malicious person prospers, everyone grieves about it, as if about some misfortune; and if he falls into misfortune, then everyone rejoices. Let us feel sorry for such people, because they have enemies everywhere, at every step. Jacob was simple-hearted, but defeated the evil Esau, because “wisdom will not enter into an evil soul” (Wisdom 1:4). “Let all irritation... be removed from you,” so that there is no longer any of it left. Otherwise, this residue, if excited, will, like a spark, produce a whole flame inside. So, let’s take a closer look at what this grief is: a treacherous, cunning, malicious, suspicious person is susceptible to it; anger and rage are always born from it, because it is impossible for such a soul to remain calm. Grief is the root of anger and rage. Such (a person) is gloomy, never rests his soul, is always thoughtful, always gloomy, because, as I said, these people are the first to experience the bad consequences of their evil disposition. "And a scream". What is this? And why (the apostle) prohibits “crying”? Because this is how a meek person should be. The cry is a horse with anger as its rider. Humble the horse and defeat the rider. Let the women listen to this with special attention, because they especially love to shout and make noise in any matter. In only one case is it useful to speak loudly, this is in preaching and teaching, and nowhere else, not even in prayer. If you want to test our words in practice, then always refrain from shouting, and you will never become angry. This is the way to tame anger! And just as it is impossible for someone who refrains from shouting to become angry, so it is impossible for someone who shouts not to become angry. Don’t talk to me here about people who are warring, vindictive, angry and irritable: we are now talking about the immediate extinguishing of this passion. 3. So, if we accustom ourselves to refrain from shouting and swearing, then this can greatly contribute to us taming the soul. Suppress the cry, and you will thereby take away the wings of your anger and tame the excitement of your heart. And just as it is impossible to engage in a fist fight without raising your hands, it is impossible to indulge in anger without raising a cry. Tie a fighter’s hands and tell him to fight, he will not be able to do this; neither can anger. Screaming arouses anger even when there is none. Especially soon, in such a case, (anger) takes possession of women. When a woman is angry with her maids, she fills the whole house with her screams. And as it often happens that a house is built on a narrow street, everyone passing by hears her swearing and the screams of the maid. What could be more shameful than hearing someone scream? Everyone then starts eavesdropping and asking: what happened there? So-and-so, they say, beats her maid. How ugly this is, what a shame! But what, (they will say), is it really not necessary to resort to punishment at all? I’m not saying this: it’s necessary, but not incessantly, not without measure, not out of a desire to take out your frustration on others, not even for a fault, as I constantly say, but only when it harms your soul. If you seek this from her, then everyone will praise you and no one will condemn you. If (you beat her) at your own whim, then everyone will recognize your ardor and cruelty. And what is most shameful of all, some are so cruel and merciless, they scourge (their maidservants) to such an extent that the wounds do not go away from them all day long. They strip the girls naked and, with the assistance of their husbands, often tie them to chairs. Alas, tell me, is Gehenna not coming to your mind at this time? But you expose the girl and show her husband: aren’t you ashamed that they will judge you? On the contrary, you, as strongly as possible, incite him to cruelty, insist on tying her up, and, above all, shower the poor and unfortunate woman with a thousand abusive words, calling her a Thessalian 2, a runaway, a prostitute. Anger does not spare your lips, meaning one thing, how to annoy the guilty one, even with shame for yourself. After all this, the angry woman sits down in her place, like a tyrant, calls on the youths and, having given an order to the stupid husband, uses him instead of the executioner. Should this happen in Christian homes? But, they say, this is what they do with people who are crafty, unscrupulous, shameless and incorrigible. I know this too. But they could be corrected in another way, for example, by fear, threats, words, and, moreover, in such a way that could have an effect on them and at the same time would not humiliate you. You, being a noble woman, utter shameful words, and by this you do not dishonor yourself as much as she does? Then, if she needs to go to the bathhouse, won’t the wounds on her naked back indicate your cruelty? But, they say, slaves become worthless if they are left to their own devices. I know that too; but correct them, as I already said, differently, not only with whips, not with fear, but also with affection and kind treatment. She has become your sister if she is a believer. Remember that you are her mistress, she serves you. If she is prone to drunkenness, take away her opportunity to drink, call her husband, admonish her. Don't you understand how indecent it is for you to beat a woman? Legislators, who established many punishments for men, both bonfires and torture, rarely sentence a woman to this, but extend severity only to flogging. They are so lenient towards their sex that, in necessary cases, they even exempt them from severe punishments, especially when they are pregnant. It is indecent for a man to hit a woman; if (it is indecent) for a man, then even more so for one who is of the same sex. This also makes wives hateful to their husbands. But what to do, they say, if she indulges in debauchery? Marry her, stop the reason for debauchery, do not allow her to be debauched. But what if she steals? Watch and keep an eye on her. Oh, tell me, what kind of complaints? Should I be a watchman? What madness! Why, tell me, shouldn’t you be her guard? Don't you have the same soul as her? Is she not worthy of the same (gifts) from God? Isn't she sharing the same meal with you? Does she not share your (spiritual) nobility? What, you say, if she is abusive, grumpy, and prone to drunkenness? And how many of these are there among free wives? The Lord commanded husbands to endure all the shortcomings of their wives. Just let, he says, your wife not be an adulteress, and you bear with all her other shortcomings. If she is prone to drunkenness, if she is abusive and grumpy, if she is envious, if she is wasteful, if she loves luxurious clothes, you need to correct her. That's why you are its head. Correct it, do what depends on you. If she remains incorrigible, if she steals, keep your property, but do not punish her so cruelly. If she is grumpy, stop her mouth. This is (the rule of) the highest wisdom. And, meanwhile, some reach such shamelessness that they rip off the maids' covers from their heads and drag them by the hair. 4. Why are you all blushing? We are not talking about everyone, but only about those who indulge in such brutal cruelty. Let the woman not be unveiled (1 Cor. 11:6), says Paul; and you completely deprive her of the veil? Do you see how you insult yourself? If she comes to you with her head uncovered, you call it an insult; and meanwhile, by exposing it, you don’t consider your act obscene? Then you say: what should I do if it doesn’t improve? Give her some sense with the rod and blows. Moreover (think), how many shortcomings do you have, and you do not correct them? Now this is said not in defense of them (the maids), but for your benefit, free women, so that you do not do anything indecent and humiliating, so that you do not harm yourself. If at home you accustom yourself to being quiet and meek towards your maid, then all the more so will you be towards your husband. If you, even where you are free in your actions, will not do anything like that, then even more so you will not do this where there is an obstacle to it. Thus, prudent treatment of your maids can greatly help you gain favor with your husbands. “With the measure you use,” it is said, “with the same it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2). Curb your lips. And if you learn to firmly endure the obstinacy of a maid, then you will not be upset even when you suffer an insult from your equal; when you are not upset by this, then you will achieve high wisdom. But others even use curses in anger: nothing can happen worse, how to express your anger in this way. What should I do, you say, if she (the servant) loves to decorate her appearance? Keep her from this, and I will approve, but restrain her, starting with yourself, not so much with fear, as with your example. And “let slander be kept away from you”: grief gives rise to anger, anger - rage, rage - screaming, screaming - blasphemy, that is, swear words, then blasphemy - blows, blows - wounds, wounds - death. But Paul did not want to say anything like that, but only said: “Let them be removed from you from all evil.” What is “from all evil”? All malice leads to this end. There are (people who) are like those cunning dogs that do not bark or attack directly at those passing by, but pretending to be meek and meek, seize the unwary and sink their teeth into them. These are much worse than direct attackers. Since among people there are dogs who, without resorting to shouting, to anger, to insults and threats, build secret feats and prepare a thousand evils for others, taking revenge on them with deeds, then (the apostle) pointed out such. “Let them be removed from you,” he says, “with all malice.” Do not take revenge with deeds if you spare words. For this reason, I held your tongue, stopped your scream, so that a strong flame would not ignite within you. If you do the same thing without shouting, if you conceal fire and coals within yourself, then what is the use of your silence? Don't you know that the worst fires are those that lurk inside and are not visible from the outside? Is it not also wounds that do not come out, but produce inflammation inside? Likewise, that (hidden) anger is worse and more harmful to the soul. But he, says (the apostle), “let all evil be removed from you,” both small and great. Let us be obedient to him and drive out from ourselves all sorrow, all malice, so that we do not offend the Holy Spirit. Let us destroy grief by the roots, cut it off from ourselves. Nothing good can come to a soul filled with bitterness, nothing useful, but from it all misfortunes, everything tears, all the cries and groans. Do you not see how we turn away from those animals that scream - namely, from lions, from bears - but not from the sheep, since it does not have a loud voice, but a quiet voice? which are: flute, zither and pipe. So, let us train our soul to refrain from screaming, and by this we will be able to suppress anger within ourselves. And when we drive away (anger), we ourselves will be the first to enjoy peace and sail to a quiet harbor, where may it be given to us all to reach in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom to the Father with the Holy Spirit be glory, power, honor, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. In ancient times, the Thessalians were known as sorceresses, as can be seen in Aristophanes and his commentators, as well as in Svida and others. This was a common place among Latin poets and writers. You might be interested in: