Discussion on what should be avoided in a feigned and untrue appearance

Again we must take the gospel trumpet in our hands and tell you the Lord’s advice: “Beware,” says (the Lord), “of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:15–16). Their feigned appearance, he says, is revealed everywhere through what they do daily, because deeds stem from the disposition of the heart; an honest appearance does not change will. So, the wicked man labors in vain before the wise, who are able to catch him on the basis of his fruits and understand who he really is and what he seems to be. Why do you hide yourself in an alien image? Why do you cover the wolf with sheep's skin? A little later the truth discovers you, and by running away from the truth you will be captured by the truth. Why do you scatter before you speeches about philanthropy, concealing a cruel disposition? Your cruelty will not be hidden, even if you pretend to be very gentle. Why do you put on the guise of friendship when you are an enemy? We do not live in darkness: the secret is revealed and the hatred that you hid is exposed. Why are you pretending to be friendly? Why do you flatter without being friendly? And the act of flattery will give rise to hatred for you, bringing harm, as if from an enemy, and not benefit, as if from a friend. You praise even bad things for the sake of flattery; but the one to whom flattery is lavished is not so senseless; he must hate the one who praises him because of his sins. Why, while living in untruths and living dissolutely, do you pretend to be righteous and chaste? Why do you hide your arrogance with your appearance and with your humiliated and reverent speech do you not allow your envy to be noticed? “For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing hidden that will not be known” (Matthew 10:26). Lying is a vile dishonor to a person; let us avoid accusations caused by lies; do not make yourself untrustworthy in the eyes of a friend, fearing that you will no longer find faith in yourself even when you speak the truth; the one who turned out to be a liar in one thing is no longer worth being believed, even if he told the truth, since “observance of righteousness,” says (Scripture), “and justice is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifice” (Proverbs 21:3). You will bring a gift pleasing to God: faith and truth; Yes, and it’s easy for you to talk about things as they exist, and not to invent things that don’t exist in reality. You will not work, forcibly giving a lie the appearance of truth, and you will not be at all tired, saying something contradictory to yourself, since a false word does not agree with itself; You will not be ashamed, having deceived others, you who guard the truth; friends will consider your word more reliable than an oath, and your speech, more reliable than any testimony confirmed by an oath, will give your testimony the meaning of fair and indisputable. When you come and testify, you will bring to yourself, thanks to the truth, the most beautiful glory, but to those in danger, salvation, and to those who are offended, benefit in the judgment seat. “Truthful lips,” says (Scripture), “make a testimony true, but a witness from unrighteous people is wicked (Proverbs 12:19). The judge will look at you with pleasure, freeing you from the investigation that takes place during legal proceedings. However, the virtuous act of humility is also worthy of praise in the eyes of the Lord, if we are able to perform it properly. Many, having actually successfully accomplished something virtuous, want to belittle themselves to the detriment of the truth, preferring to lie about themselves. I tell you: man, show humility in relation to the truth; speak lowly about yourself in the ears of God, as Abraham said: “I am dust and ashes” (Gen. 18:27); as Paul said: “For I am the least of the apostles, and am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” But, in turn, speaking the truth, he added: “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor. 15:9-10). If this is how it is offered from everywhere for our instruction, then let us evade the pretense. Why do we put on masks on ourselves, not being what we show ourselves to be, taking on the appearance of saints and dragging our tunics even on the ground, but being wild in our character, being holy in speech and clothing, and inhuman in our thoughts and deeds? Clothes do not lead one into the heavenly kingdom, but works of justice. Man will not look the way God will look: man will look at the face, but God will look at the heart. “You test hearts and bellies,...God!” , says (Scripture) (Ps. 7:10); and for the sake of Him who comes to gather together the thoughts of men: “all things are naked and open before His eyes” (Heb. 4:13); “Nothing is hidden from His warmth” (Ps. 18:7). The time will come when. having thrown off this mask, you will find yourself naked, and then you will appear in shame before the face of God, like the fallen Adam. There it is no longer appearance that is required, but action. Here we often mislead and avoid blame, and, thanks to our honest appearance, we seem to be righteous, and we are often pleased; there it is no longer possible to deceive; They are looking for business there, not an honest appearance. It is better to say: we will have greater punishment and condemnation, having brought an honest appearance, but not having committed deeds characteristic of our species. Listen to what the Savior says about the Jews, and offers us instruction: “they increase the shouts,” he says, “(Matthew 23:5), on the streets they “pray so that they may appear before people” as righteous (Matthew 6:5). And they will receive greater condemnation. You greatly desire an honest appearance and greatly love the name of Christianity; do not stop there, but, as having made a promise to God, repay what you promised by presenting your deeds. Why are you rash in making a promise if you do not back it up with deeds? So, one must make vows with caution, and repay the promised debt with care. “Pray and give thanks to the Lord for God” (Ps. 75:12). Appear to Him with a pure life, that is, (with pure) body, spirit, and soul; do not cut anything off from the promise, so as not to experience the fate of Ananias and Sapphira. Those who withheld from the price of the promised property were condemned to death; and we should be afraid of this. We must know and not forget that what we promise to God no longer belongs to us, but to God. Our promise is God's property; and if we take away from it, then we are no longer taking what is ours, but robbing, as it were, God’s treasures, and we will indeed be condemned as blasphemers. But there is a promise not only of property, but also of words and goodwill. “For every idle word,” says (Scripture), “you will give an answer on the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). The divine and great mystery does not concern money, but perfect will and faith in God, because we all made a promise and we are all debtors of the promise. Therefore, it is necessary for a virgin to fulfill the vow of virginity, which she promised; to the one who is abstinent - abstinence, and to the one who is married - chastity and love for each other. If any woman makes a promise to preserve her virginity or to be abstinent in a state of widowhood, but lies against the promise and enters into marriage, then she is condemned, since she has rejected the first pledge of fidelity. It is also natural that the presbyter must fulfill the duties of the priesthood nobly, and the deacon his service blamelessly, without stealing that which relates to the duties of the deaconate, so as not to be condemned like Judas the traitor. So, here there is a need for great care so that no one deceives God in any way by not fulfilling his promise in its entirety, or better yet, by not giving up his deposit, which each of us promised. He is no longer ours; but we must reflect in this way that we have received a pledge from God and so that, having prayerfully preserved the promise without any admixture of deception, we appear before the terrible throne of Christ, so that, following the example of Ananias, the opinion of the Judge does not condemn us as treacherous. So, here we need great caution so as not to sin in anything and not leave anything of the promise unfulfilled, but let us try to fulfill the promise with zeal and diligence. Let us not think that Christianity should be professed only in appearance, and we will not be content with this, but, through confirmation by works, being followers of truth and justice, we will receive honors following justice from Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen. 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