Conversations on Pentecost

Today our earth has become heaven, not because the stars descended from heaven to earth, but because the apostles ascended above the heavens, since the grace of the Spirit was poured out. The Lord made the universe heaven, not changing nature, but restoring human will. He found a tax collector and made him an evangelist; found a blasphemer and changed him into an apostle; found a robber and brought him into heaven; found a harlot - and made her more honest than a virgin: found the Magi - and turned her into evangelists; drove out vice and introduced virtue; brought God's grace. The earth became the sky. And what are the stars compared to the apostles? The stars are in the sky, the apostles are above the sky. Think about “the place on high, where Christ sits at the right hand of God” (about “the highest..., where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God”) (Col. 3:1). The stars are from sensual fire; the apostles are from spiritual fire. The stars shine at night, but are not visible during the day; the apostles send rays of their light both day and night. When the sun appears, the stars hide; the apostles, however, shine with their rays even at a time when the Sun of Truth shines. The stars at the resurrection will fall like leaves; the apostles will then be caught up in the clouds. Among the stars, one is evening, and the other is morning; among the apostles - not a single one is “evening”, but all are “morning”. Therefore the apostles are more brilliant than the stars themselves; and he would not be mistaken who would call them the luminaries of the universe, luminaries not only while they lived, but even now, when they had already died. The grace of holy men does not disappear with their death, does not weaken with their death, and is not allowed into the earth. The deeds themselves testify to this. They (i.e., the apostles) were fishermen, and they died as fishermen; but their networks are still active today, as evidenced by the multitude of those receiving salvation daily. They were winegrowers, and after their death the vines are still green with their leaves and laden with fruit. They are vinedressers, and fishermen, and pillars, and doctors, and military leaders, and teachers. Pillars - because they supported the roof of faith; harbors - because they calmed the waves of wickedness; helmsmen - because they guided the universe on the way from earth to heaven; shepherds - because they drove away the wolves and saved the sheep; the vinedressers - because they pulled out the thorns and sowed the seeds of piety; doctors - because they healed our wounds. And so that you know that such words are not just sound, I will give the example of Paul, who did all this. Do you want to see him as a sower? “I planted, Apollos watered” (“Az planted, Apollos watered”) (1 Cor. 3:6). Would you like to see him as an architect? “Like a wise builder, he laid the foundation” (1 Cor. 3:10). Do you want to see him as a fighter? “I do not fight so as to only beat the air” (“This is how I strive, not to beat the air”) (1 Cor. 9:26). Do you want to see him as a warrior? “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (Eph. 6:12). Do you want to see him walking? “I have spread the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem and the surrounding area to Illyricum” (Rom. 15:19). Do you want to see him as a leader? “He is clothed with the breastplate of faith” (1 Thess. 5:8). Do you want to see him as an ascetic? “I have fought a good fight” (2 Tim. 4:7). Do you want to see him crowned victorious? “And now there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness” (“For the rest a crown of righteousness is kept for me”) (2 Tim. 4:8). Although he was one, he became all (i.e., and sower, and builder, etc.), imitating his Lord. And our Lord, being one in His essence, took on all kinds of forms. Why all kinds? For our salvation. You were a branch, and He became the root: “I am the vine, and you are the branches” (“I am the vine, you are the birth”) (John 15:5). You wanted to go; He has become a way for you: “Whoever enters by Me will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9). You have become a sheep; He became your shepherd. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). You have become a sinner; He became for you “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). You wanted to eat; He became a table for you. You wanted to drink; He became a cup for you: “He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me, and I in him” (John 6:56). You wanted to be clothed; He became clothing for you: “all of you, Those who were baptized in Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). You desired to become a bridegroom: “He who has a bride is a bridegroom” (John 3:29). Oh, unheard of and extraordinary things! In worldly life, marriage violates virginity; in the spiritual realm, the husband took a harlot and made her more honest than a virgin. Explain, heretic, how did the harlot become a virgin? I can't research this in detail, but I firmly believe it. Yet it was the grace of the Spirit that accomplished this. Grace was poured out - “And there appeared to them cloven tongues as of fire” (Acts 2:3). Not “fiery”, but “as if fiery”. “If it was fire, then why didn’t they burn?” - asks the Jew. I’d rather ask the Jew: why didn’t the fire burn the bush - a dry and easily combustible substance? What is stronger than fire? What is more insignificant than a bush? However, the tree did not burn, and the fire did not go out. And again, how did the fire not burn the bodies of the three youths, but the flame turned into dew and the coals turned out to be like a rose bush? There was a competition between fire and bodies, and victory remained on the side of the bodies. What was softer than wax turned out to be harder than iron. Explain these ancient events to me. But those preceded those who are now, so that people would now believe the truth. Why does the Holy Spirit descend in fire? Because of the ardor of mind of those who received Him. And not only for this reason, but also because the Spirit destroys sins in the same way as fire destroys thorns. The holy man was cast into a pit, and “stopped the mouth of the lions” (Dan.6:22; Heb.11:33). The fishermen went around the universe, found it sick and restored it to health; found rebellious - and brought into a state of deanery, without shaking spears, without throwing arrows, without using slings, without resorting to the help of monetary power and oratorical speeches; but they did not even have clothes and were clothed only in Christ; they were poor and at the same time rich: deprived of money, they owned the kingdom; they were alone and at the same time not alone: ​​alone - because there were no people with them, but not alone - because their Lord was with them. “I am with you,” says the Lord, “always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). They walked around the entire universe like sheep among wolves. Who has seen or heard something like this? The Lord says: “I send you out like sheep among wolves” (Matthew 10:16). What kind of shepherd sends his sheep “among the wolves”? On the contrary, when a shepherd sees a wolf, he gathers the sheep. Christ did the opposite of this: he sent the sheep to the wolves, and the sheep were not caught by wild animals, but the wolves themselves became meek like sheep. And so that they would not say: “We are sheep, and You send us to be devoured by wolves and food for wild animals,” He eliminated their thought with one word. He did not say, “go,” because in sending them He did not mean their own strength; but said: “Behold, I am sending you” (Matthew 10:16). You are weak; but he who sends you is strong. Who are you? I am the One who established the heavens, founded the earth, poured out the sea, who nailed the handwriting directed against you to the cross, abolished the old law, returned you to your ancient fatherland; He who breaks the strong and strengthens the weak. What is more powerful than the sea? Meanwhile, small sand restrains his unbearable force. “Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.” Wild animals serve as a kind of wall for the sheep, so that the latter do not gain salvation by fleeing. Oh, the power of the Sender! In the middle are sheep, and around are wolves; but the wolves changed and became sheep, because they were wolves not by nature, but by their own will. "Behold, I am sending you." What do you command? “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). What does it mean: “wise as serpents”? The serpent, even though he received countless wounds, but kept his head unharmed, is completely healthy. So you, if the enemy wants to take money from you, give it to him; give it back, even if he takes your treasures and even your life from you; just keep your faith. "Be wise". As long as faith remains, everything is very easy. You came naked from your mother's womb, and naked you will leave this life. But what if someone sends you into exile? “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness of it” (Ps. 23:1). Perhaps you are dying? But death is a journey for you. Just don’t lose your faith, this undiminished treasure - faith that is inexhaustible. These martyrs are witnesses. Since they have not lost their faith, even after death they are more powerful than living people. For this purpose I became man and took on flesh, in order to make the universe a Church. For God, the Church is highly desired, not protected by walls, but fenced by faith. For the sake of this Church the sky was established, the sea was poured out, the air was spread out, the earth was founded, paradise was planted, the law was given, prophets were sent, miracles were performed, the sea was divided and united, the rock was torn apart and returned to its former form, manna fell and a meal was suddenly prepared. For the sake of the Church, the prophets appeared, and for her sake, the apostles. And why should I say so much? For the sake of the Church, the Only Begotten Son of God became man, as Paul says: “Who did not spare His own Son” (Rom. 8:32). God did not spare His Son to spare the Church. For her sake He shed the blood of His Son. This blood irrigates the Church; therefore, the plants of the latter cannot dry out and do not lose their leaves. They are not subject to the inevitable conditions of the seasons and are not subject to time at all, so that their leaves turn green in summer and fall off in winter. It is not the natural conditions of the annual times that matter here, but the grace of the Spirit cultivates the Church; therefore the latter is indestructible. However, it is not surprising that it is indestructible, but that it is indestructible despite the many enemies attacking it. How many have been at war against the Church from time immemorial? When it was first planted, many things were set in motion against it. Now, of course, by the grace of God and the power of the Spirit, the kings are pious, so are the leaders, and the whole universe is filled with faith; but at the beginning and in the first period of the existence of the Church, the kings were given over to wickedness, and the generals as well; in this sense, the orders of the rulers were issued; the altars burned; everywhere - smoke and smell from burning (pagan) sacrificial animals; the air became polluted, the earth became unclean, demons went on a rampage, the devil rejoiced, the father killed his son, the son dishonored his father. The ties of natural kinship were disintegrating, but not piety. Where are those who dared to be at enmity with the Church now? When it was just planted, and at that time they did not harm it; and when it touches the sky, do you really hope to overcome it? When there were eleven apostles, no one defeated them; but these eleven caught so many myriads of people as if in nets; Now, when the sea, the universe, the desert, the cities and all the borders of the earth are filled with piety, do you really have hope of overcoming the Church? Of course you can't do this. Christ declared: “the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). It is easier to destroy heaven and destroy the earth than to have the Church suffer in any way. Christ Himself says: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). And naturally, because the word of God is more powerful than heaven itself; after all, heaven is the work of the word. God said: “Let heaven come into being,” and His word became action. The life of nature flowed, and nothing hindered it, since God was the Lord of nature, Who could both create it as such and change what was created: “I, who established the heavens, created it. But it was not for the sake of heaven that I took on a body, so that you would understand that the Church is more precious than heaven, and angels, and every creature. Therefore, “heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Let the Jew appear, let the Greek also appear. If the Lord's words are empty words, let them refute them. If what has been said is the truth, then let them bow before God’s power. Christ said: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” What words are we talking about here? Let's bring them in and see if they remain idle? I say this not because I am obsessed with doubt, but to stop the mouth of a heretic. So, “heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” What words? “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). "On this stone". He did not say: “on Peter,” because he created His Church not on man, but on faith. What kind of faith was this? “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16). He called the Church a rock, subject to the action of waves, but not shaken. The Church experiences temptation, but is not overcome by them. So, what does it mean: “on the rock”? Confession consists of words. After all, you are not throwing stones? Not wood? Not iron? “No,” you say, “here we are not talking about that kind of building, which, no matter what it consists of, is subject to destruction from the hand of time." Confession cannot be overcome by the demons. This is evidenced by the martyrs who did not lose their faith, although their ribs were scraped by swords. Oh, unprecedented and miraculous deeds! The wall is being undermined, and yet the treasure is not stolen. And yet such is the power of the martyrs. "On this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail. her." Pay attention to the exact meaning of the words: “the gates of hell will not prevail against her.” “Why,” they say, “doesn’t He prevent temptations to attack the Church?” - “Yes, I don’t interfere, but isn’t it in order to show My strength?” If no one had detected hostile actions towards the Church, they could have said: “if it had been subjected to an enemy attack, it would have been defeated.” That is why He allows her enemies to attack her, so that victory is not achieved by her in the complete absence of her enemies. And he did not say: “the gates of hell will not attack her,” but: “they will not prevail against her.” She will be subject to enemy attacks, but will not be defeated. The Church is carried by a storm on the waves, but does not drown; overwhelmed, but not hidden under water; arrows hit her, but do not cause her wounds; Siege weapons are used against it, but the tower remains unshakable. But why should I talk about the Church? The fisherman uttered only one word - and it stands like an unshakable tower. How many tyrants have attempted to deprive this word of all its power, but failed in their intentions, because it is based “on stone.” Get into it! Tyrants, kings, diadems, sophisticated swords, teeth of wild animals, horrors of threatening death, red-hot grates, fiery furnaces! And although the devil emptied his quiver, he did not bring harm to the Church. Why? "The gates of hell shall not prevail against her." How many enemies did the Church have from the very beginning? But where are those who were at war with her? They disappeared and fell into oblivion. And the Church is thriving. Where is Claudius? Where is August? Where is Nero? Where is Tiberius? These are just bare names. Nobody remembers them. Since they were at enmity against the Church, the memory of them disappeared. The Church shines more than the sun. Wherever you go: to the Indians, to the Moors, to the British, to the whole universe, everywhere you will find: “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1), and a virtuous life. Before this time even the cities were filled with wickedness; and now the desert is completely imbued with piety. Previously, queens also danced: when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, “Herodias’ daughter danced” (Matthew 14:6); now the maid doesn’t want to do this either. Before this, the Persians took their mothers as wives, but now they observe virginity. Until this time, the Goths killed their fathers; now they zealously shed their blood for piety. Previously, there were also private individuals who were wicked; and now both kings and nations are pious. The current king, having taken off his diadem and taken up the cross, at such an early age discovered wisdom worthy of gray hair, and in church he forgets about his royal dignity. Outside the church there are spears, but here are the sacraments; outside it are shields, and inside is initiation into the sacraments: Theodosius is the son and father of Theodosius. For all this let us thank God; To him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. The grace of the Spirit appeared because He who promised the gift of the Spirit is true. The Comforter proclaimed by the Lord Christ has already come, because He who revealed to us in advance about His coming is not a lie; it was not the servant who predicted the appearance of the servant, but the Lord who announced the Lord, who has equal honor with Him, and the good Teacher gives way to the same Teacher; It is better to say: with the co-present He is present, with the ascendant He ascends, and with the descendant He descends. The grace of the Trinity is indivisible: just as the one who entered was not absent, so the one who came was present. God the Word ascended as a man, and yet is present on earth; the Comforter descended and, nevertheless, did not leave heaven, but reigns with the Father and illuminates the earth; He completed the economy and sent the generations of languages ​​to the apostles. Suddenly they heard a strong noise, the sound of a stormy wind was heard, and the appearance of the Spirit was like a thunderclap, because the Spirit descended on “the sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). “And there appeared to them cloven tongues as of fire” (Acts 2:3). What was visible to the eyes produced fear; and what happened was desired; the flames were approaching, but did not burn; the fire touched, but did not ignite - that fire that bestowed heavenly wisdom, that was divided into countless languages, that contained countless types of words, that fire that taught fishermen wisdom, that made the tanner an orator. It is better to say: the sages cannot even be compared with them. The former were teachers of just one people, and the latter (i.e., the apostles) became teachers of the universe. The Galilean husband spoke the language of the Medes, knew Parthian and was not ignorant of the Elamite language; in his mouth he had images of every language. None of his listeners considered him a barbarian; none of them avoided listening to his speeches as incomprehensible; on the contrary, they listened to him as a citizen of every nation, as a person familiar with the language of the entire universe. In this case we received the first fruit of godliness. When the tower was built, the languages ​​of the peoples were divided, and people did not understand each other's language. It was necessary that the unanimity, manifested in an ungodly plan, should be upset due to the misunderstanding of the words of others, that people united among themselves in a vicious cause should disperse due to a change in their language, and that they would be convinced of the folly of their intentions from their speech, when the speaker in essence said nothing, and the listener did not understand, so that time was wasted in vain: “What benefit is arrogance for you? What is the end of a proud matter? Why are you trying to grab the elusive? Why are you trying to steal the sky when you are not even worthy to use the earth? Why do you talk about what is above - in the sky, when you don’t even understand the speech of your neighbor? I separate your tongues and put an end to the matter, not because I am afraid of your ascent, and not because I fear for My kingdom, but because I am concerned about your vain labor and the same fatigue.” What usually raises one to the sky is not a building made of stones or a tower built by many hands, but the chariots of the knowledge of God, the horses of truth, the life that is purer than light, and the wings of virtue - this is what leads one to that path. Thanks to the wise and at the same time humane management of God, the division of languages ​​​​put an end to the insolence of those builders. What God took from those as bad people, he gave to the apostles as virtuous people. Having punished the wicked through the medium of the tongue, with the help of the same instrument he glorified the saints. The servants of the word take on his images, having to use grace not for proud purposes, but receiving this gift for the benefit of their neighbors. After all, it was necessary for the teachers of the universe to know its languages. A teacher whose students do not understand is powerless. Those who were entrusted with such great sacraments must first of all receive the gift of knowledge of languages. No one can initiate anyone into the sacraments who has not first believed in Christ. But no one will believe unless he first understands what is being said to him. This is where the grace of the Spirit began and therefore first of all performed the miracle concerning tongues. “Their sound goes through all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world” (“Their broadcast went out into all the earth”) (Ps. 18:5). It was necessary for them to take possession of the universe, it was necessary for their “broadcasting” to spread “throughout all the borders of the earth,” they had to leave no one without teaching and without instruction. “There appeared to them cloven tongues, as if of fire.” The tongues of the apostles were supposed to act like fire and reveal their dual use: to burn the devil and to enlighten those sitting in darkness. Pay attention to the fact that for the faithful, fire is gentler than oil; note that for the devil the tongue is more terrible than any fire; see how the tongue burns up the thorns of wickedness and waters the fields of piety; note that twelve disciples were instructed by one Teacher, that twelve military leaders were appointed by one King, that twelve brilliant lights shine from one peak, that twelve pure rays issue from one sun, that twelve lamps are kindled from one spark, that twelve branches grow from the true vine, that twelve baskets are filled at one meal, that twelve rivers flow from one source, that twelve tongues speak by one grace. Do not think that the apostles were drunk, that they got drunk with wine; by your unbelief do not insult the gift, do not imitate people worthy of damnation, and do not call the actions of the Spirit intoxication. Intoxication cannot give birth to tongues; on the contrary, it binds everyone and the one who has it makes a person mad, interrupts the flow of speech; a drunken man, like one walking in the dark among stones, stumbles and hits the ground with his teeth. And although he has the ability to think, he uses it randomly, creates non-existent images, shortens the syllables of the words he pronounces. Intoxication is a dream of a waking person, a dream seen by someone who is not sleeping, rage consumed by thirst, a hungry demon; the devil sitting in wine is a robber who sets up ambushes at feasts, burns the mind with whole wine and makes poison out of medicine for a soul overcome by despondency. This is what intoxication usually produces. The wicked unjustly accused the apostles of the latter. And it is not surprising if the sober people seemed drunk to the Jews. Once upon a time holy men suffered insults from them, and the Jews mocked the prophets as if they were drunk. Even if they try to deny it, we will say to them: “Is this not so, children of Israel? says the Lord. But you gave the Nazarenes wine to drink and commanded the prophets, saying, “Do not prophesy.” (“You shall not eat these, O children of Israel?” says the Lord. “And those who were sanctified” drank them with wine, and they were commanded by the prophet, saying, “You shall not prophesy.”) ( Am. 2:11–12 ). However, I myself admit that the apostles were drunk, but not in the sense in which you call them so; their intoxication was most divine and spiritual, the one who experiences it is filled with wisdom, strengthened in mind, awake and sober in the work of virtue, learns to love God, will not feel thirst forever, rages with Paul, shows courage in relation to all fire and iron, plunges himself into danger, welcomes every misfortune as a joyful event; slander brings him into admiration, as if it were greetings; He is proud of insults as if they were praises, and of bonds for the Savior as if they were royal crowns. Such a cup made the apostles drunk. The Savior’s disciples drank from this vessel - and fell into a state of the most beautiful intoxication, were completely satisfied with the holy meal and said together with blessed David: “You have prepared a meal before me in the sight of my enemies; anointed my head with oil; my cup is overflowing. So, goodness and mercy... let them accompany me all the days of my life" ("You have prepared a table before me to resist those who are cold to me: You have anointed my head with oil, and Your cup makes me drunken, like a mighty one. And Your mercy will marry me all the days of my life") (Ps. 23:5-6). The one who drinks from this cup is sober in Christ, but to foolish people he seems drunk, because he thinks about what is the Savior’s. The Lord Christ dissolved this cup for us from His blood, and called many together with us as participants in His feast, gathered countless gospel fish, filled Peter’s net, and an unusual sight for the latter took place: the storm made his fishing more brilliant. And those whom he did not catch with his convictions, he caught with fear, since his capture was facilitated by the radiance of lightning. However, let no one impute this to the new flock as dishonor if its sheep were caught with the help of lightning, since Christ usually bridles rebellious young “horses” through the latter. And whoever knows about the calling of Blessed Paul, he rejoices, having been called along with him, and, having seen the Lord Christ in lightning, he becomes Christ’s disciple. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. The grace that today distributed tongues, which made uneducated people teachers of the world, which chose fishermen as speakers, and confounded the wise men of the world in their superficial wisdom, does not allow me to fear the poverty of my tongue. And for what other reason did crowds of people, infected with idolatry, rush to piety? Why did they forget about slavery to demons - these numerous masters of theirs? Why could a small number of disciples compete against hordes of people, and with them demons, if it were not armed with the fire of the Divine? Today, through the medium of fire, the sources of grace have poured out, and the flame rushing with the blowing of the wind communicates the gift of the Spirit. Informing His disciples about this grace, Christ said: “I will not leave you as orphans: the Father is sending you... another Comforter” (John 14:18, 16). The Ascension of the Lord into heaven serves as a guarantee of the descent of the Spirit from there. Those who accepted Jesus also had to receive the Spirit, so that the work of knowing God in them would reach an ever more perfect degree. So, Jesus, having assumed human nature and a form akin to ours, raised people to receive the Spirit. “I still have much to say to you,” says the Lord, “but you cannot bear it now. Когда же приидет Он, Дух истины, то наставит вас на всякую истину» ( Ин.16:12–13 ). After Me will come One who is of the same essence as Me. He who is from the Father and who is equal to the Father in His essence will appear to you.” So, what was announced to them in words, they saw fulfilled in practice. Regarding what they received the promise, the fulfillment of it was firmly expected. “When the day of Pentecost had come” (“When the day of Pentecost had ended”) (Acts 2:1). A short period of time passed between the Ascension of the Lord and the descent of the Spirit. The Savior's promise was fulfilled in action. The host of the apostles, holding tightly to the Lord's promise, as if to some anchor, awaited the manifestation of the Spirit. When the course of days has reached the number fifty, within which the circle of seven weeks, revolving according to the legal order, is limited to holidays, then the descent of the Spirit occurs. But He did not take on flesh like the Son; did not appear in the form of a man; and it was not the appearance of a dove that indicated the coming of the Spirit, as, for example, in the streams of the Jordan, because the Sovereign essence appears as it wants; but thunder thundered from the sky, like a trumpet, its sound overwhelming all power of hearing, and the flying flames produced tongues of fire. The division of fire was the mother of tongues. Dividing, the tongues sat on the crowns of the disciples. This, therefore, was the image of the coming of the Spirit. The Lord chooses this day preferentially over others. He uses this holiday not without reason and not out of haste; and not after the feast day does he bring down the Spirit. Why? Only the next three holidays among the Jews are national. The first is Easter, on which, sacrificing a lamb, they did not recognize the true Lamb, and, honoring the image, they acted illegally with the Creator of the image. Whose shadow they worshiped, His appearance was treated with disdain. The second holiday, following the first, is called Pentecost, as it occurs seven weeks after that. On these holidays, shadows, like a desert, were remembered. These holidays necessarily brought all the Jews together into one city. Since during the first feast the cross was erected and suffering was carried upon it, and until then the spectators were the entire Jewish people, whose members of their own free will did not know the miracle of the resurrection, showed unbelief, hid this miracle, slandered, then on the next feast, when, according to the prescription of the law, again all the Jewish tribes gathered in the same place, grace, having found the proper time, is poured out on the disciples and turns the eyes and ears of everyone to himself so that the gift poured out on Christ’s disciples would testify to the Risen One - so that those who did not believe in Christ’s resurrection would see the gifts sent down from heaven, and so that those sent to seal the tomb would become spectators of heavenly miracles. So, the sound of thunder, fire from heaven and divine power confirmed the appearance of the Spirit. In the same way, the flames once flickered on Mount Sinai, and Moses, in the midst of the fire, listened to the laws from God. Now another flame rushed out - from the highest fire - and descended on the heads of the apostles. He who then raised up Moses to communicate the law to the Jews, now accomplished what was said for the salvation of the nations. Therefore, the memory of the miracles of ancient times is added to the current miracles. And again the mediating principle is fire, which by the similarity of what is contemplated proves that the same God testifies of Himself with real miracles. In the form of divided tongues, grace is communicated in order to make those who receive it teachers, so that, walking in the fire, they become teachers of the universe. The once bold pandemonium was the cause of the division of the hitherto one speech and one language among all, and the disagreement of languages ​​put an end to the war undertaken against heaven. Countless languages ​​uttered countless sounds, but they did not find the same ear for everyone, which would understand everything that was said. The division of languages ​​entailed the division of thoughts; a frustrated tongue fettered the hands of the builders. Now grace has united the divided lips into a language understood by each individual, thereby expanding the boundaries of instruction and paving many paths of faith. Oh, extraordinary miracles! The apostle spoke - and the Indian received instructions. The Jew spoke - and the barbarian learned. Grace sounded - and the ear perceived the word. The Goths understood speech and the Ethiopians understood language. The Persians were amazed at the speaker and the barbarian peoples were strengthened by one language. As many tribes were seen in the human race, grace abounded in just as many languages. The shared nature of fire multiplies activity. The wealth of grace serves as a source of light. Again, the nature of fire, being ignited, is not diminished by this; on the contrary, the communication of fire to more and more new objects only strengthens it; so the outpouring of grace increases its waves. One lamp lights countless torches, and they all shine brightly, however, the radiance of its light does not weaken: so the grace of the Spirit, passing from one to another, fills both the latter and those from whom it passes on. So, first of all, grace descended on the apostles and took possession of them, as if it were a fortress; through them, pouring out onto the believers, it fills everything, and yet the waves of grace do not decrease. A fiery tongue descended; each disciple was a receptacle of countless tongues; The students addressed those present, performing feats of learning. Those present at the miracle were spectators; the multitude of listeners, differing from each other in their nationality, clearly understood the apostolic speech, which convinced them with words that were familiar to each. Through the touch of fire, as if by coloring, receiving the gift of speech, the apostles perceived knowledge that does not have a temporary origin. And faith was the subject of instruction, and grace was the subject of wonder, and God was the subject of knowledge. However, the Jew mocked, slanderously explained the miracle as a state of intoxication, and called the sacrament of grace a matter of fresh wine. “They were drunk,” says the Scripture, “of fresh wine” (Acts 2:13). Oh, the ingratitude so common among the Jews! Consider the time, O Jew, and restrain your slanderous tongue. Where is fresh wine when the time of harvest has already come? When spring has just come, where can the thought of fresh wine take place? Consider the season and curb your tongue. What about Peter, who excelled in the gifts of the Spirit, abounding in grace, full of fire? He uses his tongue to defend tongues. “They are not drunk as you think,” he says, “for it is now the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: I will pour out my Spirit” (Acts 2:15–17; Joel 2:28). The prophet preaches about a sea of ​​grace-filled gifts. “I will pour out,” he says, “of My Spirit.” But isn’t the channel then shortened? Isn’t this gift only assigned to the Jews? In no way. “I will pour out...,” he says, “on all flesh” (Joel 2:28). Having become familiar with the prophecy, pay attention to its fulfillment. The language of the Spirit preceded the prophetic language. Let us ask that even a drop of that grace be poured out on us, so that, while preserving the memory of those miracles, we may taste the benefits it brings. And if there is an appropriate disposition of the heart, then the gift is sent down quickly, because it is one and the same God, who “works all things in all” (1 Cor. 12:6). To him is strength and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Doubtful works (Spuria) attributed to St. John Chrysostom. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith”