Раздел III. Мысли на каждый день года по церковным чтениям из слова Божия

New Year. Circumcision of the Lord. St. Basil the Great ( Col. 2:8–12; Luke 2:20–21, 40–52 ). Just as the new year is the beginning of the days of summer, then on this day it is necessary to gather into the soul such thoughts, feelings and dispositions that could, worthy of a Christian, direct the entire course of his affairs throughout the year. We will immediately find this as soon as we take into account that there is a new year in spiritual life. In spiritual life, a new year is when one of those living in negligence begins to be zealous for salvation and pleasing God: for when someone decides to do this, then everything inside and outside him is rebuilt anew and on new principles - the ancient passes by and everything becomes new. If you have it, renew it; and if not, do it, and you will have a new year. The worthy celebration of the circumcision of the Lord and the memory of St. Basil the Great. The essence of this change is that from this moment a person begins to live solely for God for his salvation, whereas previously he lived exclusively for himself, preparing for his own destruction. Here he gives up his old habits, all pleasures and everything in which he found pleasure; cuts off passions and lustful dispositions and accepts acts of strict self-sacrifice. And such a change exactly represents what, according to the Apostle, circumcision of the heart should be - which the celebration of the circumcision of the Lord reminds us of and obliges us to, and the example of which is represented by St. Basil the Great. So all the objects crowding into consciousness in the New Year converge in one thing - our inner renewal through circumcision of the heart. If the Lord favors someone to tune into the New Year in this way, i.e. not only to think this way, but also to put all this into practice, he will celebrate the New Year in the most perfect Christian way and prepare for the Christian conduct of the whole summer. In the next new year, he will only need to renew and revive what he has perceived now. Saturday before Epiphany. ( 1 Tim. 3:14–4:5 ; Matt. 3:1–11 ). “The house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” Consequently, there is no need for us to turn our eyes here and there to see if there is truth somewhere. She is close. Be in the Church, contain everything that it contains, and you will be in the truth, you will possess the truth and live according to it and in it, and, as a result, you will be filled with the truth. There is no truth outside the Orthodox Church. She is the only faithful guardian of everything commanded by the Lord through St. The apostles are therefore the real Apostolic Church. Others have lost the Apostolic Church and, as a Christian conscience, are convinced that only the Apostolic Church can faithfully preserve and indicate the truth, they decided to build such a Church themselves, and built it, and gave it such a name. The name was given, but the creatures could not be communicated, for the Apostolic Church was created by the good will of the Father by the Lord Savior by the grace of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles. People can't create something like this. Those who think of creating such a thing are like children playing with dolls. If there is no true Apostolic Church on earth, there is no point in wasting effort on creating it. But thanks be to the Lord, He did not allow the gates of hell to overcome St. Apostolic Church. It is and will remain, according to His promise, until the end of the age. And this is our Orthodox Church. God bless! Week before Epiphany (31st) ( 2 Tim. 4:5–8 ; Mark 1:1–8 ). Before the appearance of the Lord to the people and His entry into the work of completing the economy of our salvation, St. John the Baptist prepare people to accept Him. The preparation consisted of a call to repentance. And from that time on, repentance became the path to the Lord Savior and the threshold of faith in Him. The Savior Himself began His sermon with the words: “Repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15). Repentance and faith convey to each other the one who seeks salvation. Repentance burdens him with the burden of sins and frightens him with the inexorable judgment of God’s truth. But faith comes and shows him the Savior, who took away the sins of the world. The repentant cleaves to the Deliverer and, having laid down the burden of sins by confession, joyfully flows after Him, along the path of His commandments. Faith, thus, is born from repentance and stands on it. A repentant man holds fast to his faith through the feeling of deliverance. Faith is alive through repentance. Without repentance, she is like a tree without a life-giving current, lethargic and lifeless. Monday (32nd). (James 2:14–26; ​​Mark 10:46–52). “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can this faith save him? The path to faith is repentance. What do they say in repentance? I have sinned, I won’t. I will not sin, therefore, I will live according to the commandments. Since repentance does not go away with the acceptance of faith, but, combined with it, remains to the end, then the decision to live according to the commandments remains in force even with faith. Therefore, a believer, if he has come to faith in a direct way, that is, through repentance, is a zealot for fulfilling the commandments or a doer of good deeds. Faith gives him the strongest motivation to do so; faith gives him grace-filled strength through the Holy Sacraments. Thus faith promotes works. But works make faith perfect: for until that which one has believed is done by works, faith is as if it were not faith. She becomes visible only in business. And not only visible, but also strong. Actions influence faith back and strengthen it. Tuesday (James 3:1–10; Mark 11:11–23). The Lord took away the blessing from the fig tree, which was rich in leaves but had no fruit, and it dried up. This is a lesson in action. This fig tree refers to people who appear to be serviceable, but in essence are unworthy of approval. Who are they? Those who talk eloquently about faith, but do not have faith itself - they keep only the objects of faith in their minds. And those are those who, in outward behavior, are correct, but in feelings and dispositions are very faulty and do things in good order only until it is impossible to hide the faults in them, and, when possible, they do not do it. For example, he gives alms when someone asks in public, but if you ask in private, he will scold you. He goes to church to pray to God and prays in front of everyone, and prays at home, so as not to disgrace himself in front of his family. But as soon as one is alone, he won’t even cross his forehead. She has no idea about mental and heartfelt turning to God. Let us pray that God will not allow us to be like this. For then we will not escape the judgment pronounced on the fig tree. ( Titus 2:11–14, 3:4–7 ; Matt. 3:13–17 ). The Baptism of the Lord is called the Epiphany because in it the one true God, worshiped in the Trinity, revealed Himself so tangibly: God the Father - with a voice from heaven, God the Son - incarnate through baptism, God the Holy Spirit - by descending onto the Baptized. Here the mystery of the relationship between the persons of the Holy Trinity is revealed. God the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and rests in the Son, and does not proceed from Him. It is also revealed here that the incarnate economy of salvation was accomplished by God the Son incarnate, co-inherent with Him the Holy Spirit and God the Father. It has also been revealed that the salvation of everyone can be accomplished no other way than in the Lord Jesus Christ, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, according to the good will of the Father. All Christian sacraments shine here with their divine light and enlighten the minds and hearts of those who celebrate this great celebration with faith. Come, let us meditate on the mountain and immerse ourselves in the contemplation of these mysteries of our salvation, singing: in the Jordan I am baptized to You, O Lord, Triple adoration has appeared, a salvation that arranges for us in a triple way and saves us in a triple way. Thursday (Cathedral of the Baptist). ( Acts 19:1–8 ; John 1:29–34 ). St. John testified of Christ Jesus that He is truly “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” the promised Savior, desired by all. Those who were with him heard this and believed. From them this testimony spread to the people, and everyone began to think that the one testified by John was not an ordinary person. The Savior pointed out this when, in the last days in the church, he asked the church leaders the question: where did John’s baptism come from - from heaven or from men? (Mk.11:29) They avoided answering, because they could not help but see that John did not come from himself, baptizing with water. But having said this, they immediately had to recognize his testimony that the Promised One was before them, and as a result submit to His teaching. And they did not want this, not for any fundamental reasons, but because of one prejudice. But their persistence in no way detracts from the strength of the testimony of St. John. It is still as authentic as it was when it came out of his mouth. And we hear John showing us the true Savior, and thereby we revive our faith as faith that has tangible evidence for itself. Friday . (1 Pet.1:1–2, 10–12, 2:6–10; Mark 12:1–12). On the day of Epiphany it is shown by action that the economy of our salvation is accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ according to the good will of the Father through the communion of the Holy Spirit. Now the word of the Apostle inspires us that the salvation of everyone according to that dispensation occurs no other way than through the action of the Most Holy Trinity of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit: “...according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, with sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ.” Having seen the one who has faith, God the Father greets him with His favor and calls him to salvation by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, having called to faith and strengthened it, sprinkles the believer with the Blood of the Lord Savior in the Sacrament of Baptism and, having thus received entry into him, Himself dwells in him and assists him in every possible way in the arrangement of his salvation. Let us praise, sing and magnify the Most Holy Trinity, the good co-worker of our salvation, and, for our part, “making every effort to do this,” let us hasten to adorn ourselves with all sorts of virtues in the image of the One who created and recreated us, so as not to find ourselves “without success and fruit in the knowledge of the Lord” and not to block ourselves from “the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord,” to which we are called (2 Pet. 1:5, 8, 11 ). Saturday after Epiphany. (Eph.6:10–17; Matt.4:1–11). The Apostle puts on Christians the whole armor of God. This was a good fit following the previous lesson. For if someone, having heeded the calling of God, accepted the beginning of a new life, with the help of God’s grace, bringing “all diligence” on his part, then after that he will not be faced with resting on his laurels, but with struggle. He left the world - the world will begin to oppress him for this; he escaped from the power of the devil - the devil will chase him after him and set up intrigues for him in order to lead him astray from the good path and return him to his region again; he rejected himself, rejected selfhood with all the horde of passions, but this sin living in us does not suddenly part with its free life in self-indulgence and will constantly try, under various pretexts, to again establish within the same orders of life that so richly saturated and nourished it before. Three enemies - each with countless hordes; but the commander-in-chief is the devil, and his closest assistants are demons. They blame everyone on sinful life - the enemy of spiritual life. Why does the apostle arm the Christian against them, since there would be no others at all. He says: “...our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the wickedness in high places.” For if it weren’t for them, there might not have been any fighting. Equally, as soon as they are reflected and defeated, then the reflection and defeat of others is no longer worth anything. So, everyone, look where you should direct the arrows, or at least on which side you should protect yourself. And fence it off! The Apostle prescribed several weapons, but all of them are powerful only in the Lord. Why did experienced spiritual fighters betray us: in the name of the Lord Jesus, beat the warriors. Week of Epiphany (32nd) (Eph.4:7–13; Matt.4:12–17). Yesterday, the apostle armed the Christian who has entered the path of salvation with spiritual armor, and now he points out the leaders in this battle procession and the last bright goal of everything to inspiration in difficulties. Leaders are shepherds and teachers whom the Lord gave to the Church and through whose mouth He Himself utters guidance that is beneficial to everyone, as long as someone turns to them with faith and prayerful appeal to the Lord. This truth is known to those who selflessly follow the path of the Lord and fight without self-pity against the enemies of salvation. They always find help and admonition in their shepherds, when from the outside looking in it would not have been possible to expect it. For they do not come to people, but to the Lord, who is always ready to guide and admonish through these people everyone who sincerely and with faith seeks His help. The latter’s bright goal is “to the measure of the full stature of Christ,” the age “to become a perfect man.” That there is a perfect husband in the usual way is known to everyone, and it is impossible to find a person for whom it would not be desirable to achieve such perfection: but that there is a husband perfect in the Lord, no one knows except those who have entered this age. This, however, should not cool anyone’s jealousy for achieving such an age, but, on the contrary, warm it up even more; because the unknown depends on the height of that spiritual perfection, which is called manhood in life according to God. The Apostle defined it by the perception of the fullness of perfections revealed in the Lord the Savior. Everyone sees that there is something to put “every effort” into our title. Monday (33rd). ( 1 Peter 2:21–3:9 ; Mark 12:13–17 ). Now the apostle points us to the “hidden heart of man” as the subject of our most careful care and concern. We must beautify ourselves with His education. What kind of hidden man is this? The person who is imagined in the heart when all good dispositions and feelings are established in it. Review these dispositions and feelings and you will see the face of what is hidden in a person’s heart. These are the locations! “From His Divine power we have been given everything we need for life and piety,” and for our part, “applying every effort to this,” writes St. Peter, show your faith virtue, virtue knowledge, self-control, self-control patience, patience godliness, godliness brotherly kindness, brotherly kindness love” (2 Pet. 1:5-7). Similarly, he lists the internal good dispositions of the Christian and St. hearts. Paul: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). And again: “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, put on mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering... and most of all put on love, which is the sum of perfection, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts” (Col. 3:12-15). Fold all these goodness, like members, into one spiritual body and you will have the magnificent face of the hidden heart of a person, the like of which you will strive to install in your heart. Tuesday . ( 1 Pet. 3:10–22 ; Mark 12:18–27 ). “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.” The sanctification of the Lord in the heart is the soul and spirit of the person depicted above the innermost heart. Just as initially God, having created the human body from particles of dust, breathed into it the breath of life, and man began to be as he should be; so the hidden person of the heart, created within from the demonstrated virtues, will only appear as a true spiritual person when this heart sanctifies the Lord God, as in the Lord’s Prayer we read: “Hallowed be Thy name.” If this does not happen, then the person blinded by the above-mentioned virtues will emerge as a stillborn child without the spirit of life. Let those who think of getting by with just certain virtues, without any relation to God, know this! What does it mean to sanctify God in the heart? To constantly revere Him, always bearing in mind the thought of His omnipresence, to be jealous with all zeal, to be pleasing to Him at every moment and with every fear to beware of everything that is displeasing to Him, especially by committing your entire life, both temporary and eternal, to His fatherly care, to accept everything that happens humbly, submissively and gratefully as coming directly from His hand. Wednesday (1 Peter 4:1–11; Mark 12:28–37). One lawyer asked the Lord: “What is the first of all commandments?” The Lord answered: “...thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. The second is similar to it: love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other greater commandment than these." And this goes to complement the image of a person’s innermost heart. The holiness of the Lord is his spirit, and love is his soul, and all the other virtues are his various members - now the hand, now the leg, now the eye, now the ear, now the tongue. A reminder of this is very useful, because sometimes it happens that, considering good deeds to be the final virtues, they think to get along with it alone, not thinking about the Lord, and forgetting about love. Such good deeds, without faith and the desire to please God, are not holy, like an unconsecrated house or a room without an icon; without love, it is like a building filled with lifeless statues and, in addition, smacks of mustiness and mold. Everyone pay attention to this and, having undertaken to create a new person in yourself, try to place him before the Lord, who has no blemish. Thursday . (1 Pet.4:12–5, 5; Mark 12:38–44). The widow put two mites (half a mite, approximately) into the treasure vault (in the church mug); and the Lord said that she put in more than everyone else, although others then put in rubles and tens of rubles. What gave the upper hand to her contribution? The location with which the offering is made. Do you see what is the difference between doing good that is soulless, according to custom, and doing good with soul and heart? It is not the external setting of the case that gives it its value, but the internal location. This is why it happens that a deed that is outstanding in all respects has no value before God, but a deed that is insignificant in appearance is valued at a high price. What follows from this is self-evident. But don’t you think of neglecting the external, planning to limit yourself to the internal. The widow would not have received approval if she had said to herself: I also have a desire to contribute, but what should I do? All I have is two mites. Give them back - I'll have nothing to do with it. But as she had a desire, she did so, giving her life into the hands of God. And if she hadn’t put in anything, no one would have condemned her, neither people nor God. But then she would not have shown such a disposition that distinguished her from others and made her famous throughout the Christian world. Friday . (2 Pet.1:1-10; Mark 13:1-8). Having enumerated the virtues about which one should take every effort, after receiving the powers of grace, the apostle, as an encouragement to this, said: “If this is in you and multiplies, then you will not remain without success and fruit in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” What these virtues are are given above on Monday. Now we will only add that these virtues only need to be demonstrated repeatedly, but to do so so that they always remain in us, exist in us, rooted, and, being such, do not stand at the same level, but multiply more and more and grow in strength and fertility. Only then will you not be idle and unfruitful “in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He who believes in Him and confesses Him enters into the knowledge of the Lord. Do you believe, he says?! Be careful not to make this faith idle and fruitless. What should I do so that my faith is not like this? Excel in every virtue. Where are those who insist that believe and enough: nothing more is needed?! Whoever thinks like that is blind. Saturday . ( 2 Timothy 2:11–19 ; Luke 18:2–8 ). In order to make the truth more impressive, “that one must always pray and not lose heart,” if the prayer is not soon heard, but continue to pray, the Lord told a parable of how a judge, who did not fear God and was not ashamed of people, finally granted the request of a widow, not because he feared God and was ashamed of people, but because the widow did not give him peace. So, if such a hardened person could not resist the persistence of the petition, will not the humane-loving and abundantly merciful God fulfill the petition that is relentlessly offered to Him with tears and contrition?! And here is the answer to why our prayers are often not heard. Because we send our petitions to God not diligently, as if in passing, and, moreover, in such a way that, having prayed once today, tomorrow we wait for the fulfillment of our prayer, without thinking about sweating and overworking ourselves in prayer. So our prayer is not heard and not fulfilled, because we ourselves do not fulfill, as it should, the law of trusting and diligent persistence laid down for prayer. Week of the Publican and the Pharisee (33rd) (2 Tim. 3:10–15; Luke 18:10–14). Yesterday the Gospel taught us persistence in prayer, and now it teaches us humility or a sense of powerlessness to be heard. Do not arrogate to yourself the right to be heard, but approach prayer as unworthy of any attention and giving yourself the boldness to open your lips and offer a prayer to God according to the Lord’s boundless condescension towards us poor people. And don’t let the thought occur to you: I did this and that – give me this and that. Whatever you do, consider it due; you had to do all that. If you hadn’t done it, you would have been punished, but what you did, there’s nothing to reward, you didn’t show anything special. There the Pharisee listed his rights to be heard and left the church with nothing. The bad thing is not that he did as he said; This is what he should have done, but the bad thing is that he presented it as something special, whereas, having done it, he should not have thought about it. Deliver us, Lord, from this Pharisee sin! Rarely does anyone say this in words, but in the feeling of the heart it is rare that no one is not like this. For why do they pray poorly? Because they feel that they are already in order before God. Monday (34th). ( 2 Peter 1:20–2:9 ; Mark 13:9–13 ). The fear of God, just as it leads to the beginning of a holy and godly life, is its most faithful guardian when someone, following its suggestions, makes this beginning. The current apostle teaches us this, bringing to mind the terrible judgments of God and the punishments here still revealed against those who disobey His will. “He did not spare the angels,” he says, “who sinned.” They were clean and lived in a bright home. But as soon as they sinned, they were cast into the darkness of the underworld. Will he spare you and me if we go against His will?! Wickedness spread under Noah. God brought a flood on them and destroyed them all, except for the eight souls of Noah’s family. I didn't see that there were a lot of them. Will He begin to think about you alone - whether to destroy you or not, when you do not listen to His voice?! The Lord took Sodom and Gomorrah down for a long time. Instead of admonition, they hurried to the height of wickedness, but when they did not expect it, they were struck by fire, in the form of eternal fire awaiting the wicked. You will not escape this fire if you follow the same paths. Bring all this to memory, sitting with yourself, especially in the silence and darkness of the night, and thereby kindling the fear of God, fear sin, as if the flame of eternal fire were creeping up on you in it. Tuesday . ( 2 Peter 2:9–22 ; Mark 13:14–23 ). “If someone tells you: behold, here is Christ, or: behold, do not believe it.” Christ the Lord, our Savior, having established St. The Church deigns to abide in it as its Head, Reviver and Ruler. Here Christ is in our Orthodox Church, but in some other Church He is not. And don't look, you won't find. Why, if someone from a non-Orthodox congregation comes to you and begins to inspire you: we have Christ, do not believe it. If you hear from someone: we have an apostolic community and we have Christ, do not believe it. The Church founded by the Apostles remains on earth; this is the Orthodox Church. And here is Christ. But the community that was created yesterday cannot be apostolic, and there is no Christ in it. If you hear someone saying: Christ speaks in me, and yet he is alien to the Church, does not want to know its shepherds and is not sanctified by the sacraments, do not believe him: it is not Christ in him, but another spirit, appropriating the name of Christ in order to distract from Christ the Lord and from the Holy Spirit. His Church. And don’t trust anyone who will instill in you little things that are alien to the Church. Recognize all such as instruments of flattering spirits and deceitful preachers of lies. Wednesday (2 Pet.3:1-18; Mark 13:24-31). “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” A thief sneaks up at night when he is not expected. So the day of the Lord will come when it is not expected. But when they do not expect the Coming, they do not prepare to meet Him. So that we would not allow such an oversight, the Lord commanded: “Watch, because you do not know at what hour your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42). Meanwhile, what are we doing? Are we vigilant? Are we waiting? I must admit - no. Another awaits death; and the day of the Lord - hardly anyone. And they seem to be right. Our fathers and forefathers waited, and the day did not come. Since we see nothing, why should we think that he will come in our days; we don’t think so; We don’t think and we don’t wait. What a wonder if, given our disposition, the day of the Lord should fall upon us like a thief. We will be like the residents of the city whom the governor of the province promised to visit, now - tomorrow. They waited for him for an hour, waited for another, waited for a day, and then they said: it’s true, it won’t happen, and they went home. But as soon as we separated and indulged in peace, it is here. The same will happen to us: whether we wait or not, the day of the Lord will come, and it will come without warning, for the Lord said: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” But isn't it better to wait so as not to be taken by surprise? For this will not be in vain for us. Thursday . ( 1 John 1:8–2:6 ; Mark 13:31–14:2 ). What the Apostle led us to yesterday, the Gospel now directly instills in us. “See, watch, pray; for you do not know when this time will come. So, stay awake... lest he come suddenly and find you sleeping.” We must wait and keep in mind every moment that the Lord is about to appear and shine like lightning from one end of the Universe to the other. Others think that this waiting for the Lord can be replaced by waiting for death. Good and this or at least this. But the expectation of the Lord’s coming is one thing, and the expectation of death is another. A different thought about both; different and a feeling born under the influence of one and another thought. Wait for the Day of the Lord, on which everything will end in irrevocability. After death there will still be a time of unresolved state; and the day of the Lord will distribute everything forever and seal it so that you don’t expect any change. Waiting, you say. And still wait. And still wait. But this, you say, will poison all the joys. It will not poison, but will only expel from the order of your life such joys that illegally use this name. You will still rejoice, but only in the Lord. And you can wait for the Lord with such joy, and if the Lord finds you in this joy, he will not punish you, but praise you. Friday . ( 1 John 2:7–17 ; Mark 14:3–9 ). "The world is passing away and so is its lust." Who doesn't see this? Everything flows around us - things, faces, events; and we ourselves flow. Worldly lust also flows: as soon as we taste the sweetness of satisfying it, both disappear; we chase after another - and the same thing with that one; we are chasing the third - the same thing again. And nothing stands, everything comes and goes. So what? Is there really nothing permanent?! There is, the apostle immediately says: “He who does the will of God abides forever.” A world as fluid as it stands? God wants it, and he stands. The will of God is its unshakable and indestructible basis. So among people, whoever becomes firm in the will of God, immediately becomes steadfast and firm. Thoughts are restless while one chases what is transitory. But as soon as someone comes to their senses and returns to the path of God’s will, thoughts and endeavors begin to subside. When, finally, he manages to acquire the skill in this way of life, everything with him, both inside and outside, comes into calm order and serene order. Having begun here, this deep peace and undisturbed serenity will pass into another life and remain there forever. This is what exists among the general flow around us, non-fluid and constant in us! – Walking in the will of God. Saturday . ( 2 Tim. 3:1–9; Luke 20:45–21:4 ). Who are “those who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof”? And who are the others “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”? The first are those who maintain all the external orders in which a pious life is expressed, but do not have such a strong will to maintain their internal dispositions as true piety requires. They go to church willingly and stand there willingly. But they do not make any effort to stand with their mind before God without retreating and reverently fall to Him, but after praying a little, they release the reins of the mind, and it soars, flowing around the whole world. And it turns out that while in their external position they are in the church, in their internal state they are not there: they have only one image of piety left, but there is no power in it. Think about everything else the same way. The second are those who, having entered the realm of faith, do nothing but invent questions - what is this, why is this, why is that. People suffering from empty inquisitiveness. They are not chasing the truth, but just to torture and torture. And having found a solution to the problem, they do not dwell on it for long, but soon feel the need to look for another solution. And so they circle around day and night, torturing and torturing and never being completely satisfied with what they have tried. Some people pursue pleasures, while others pursue the satisfaction of their inquisitiveness. (1 Cor. 6:12–20; Luke 15:11–32). Whatever the week of the Prodigal tells us! He speaks about our peace and contentment in the house of the Heavenly Father, and about our insane impulse from under the guardianship of the Father to unbridled freedom, and about the wealth of the inheritance appropriated to us, despite our disobedience, and about the reckless waste of it on all sorts of indecencies, and about our extreme impoverishment as a result. But then he also talks about how someone comes to his senses and, having come to his senses, plans and decides to return to the most merciful Father, how he returns, how he is lovingly accepted and restored to his first state. And who here will not find a useful lesson for themselves? Whether you are in your father’s house, don’t rush out to freedom. You see how such an experience ended! If you ran away and are wasting your time, stop quickly. If you have squandered everything and are in poverty, decide to return as soon as possible and return. All indulgence, old love and contentment await you there. The last step is the most necessary. But there is no need to expand on him. Everything is said briefly and clearly. Come to your senses, decide to return, get up and hurry to the Father. His arms are open and ready to receive you. Monday . (35th). ( 1 John 2:18–3:10 ; Mark 11:1–11 ). Yesterday, the parable of the prodigal invited us to return from dissipation to the good path. Now St. The Apostle John encourages us to do this, assuring us that if we do this, then when the Lord appears, we will be like Him. What can compare with such dignity?! I assume that hearing this, you are bursting with desire to achieve it yourself. A good and most beneficial deed! Do not delay in taking up the work through which this can be achieved. Read further: “...everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, since He is pure.” Do you have anything that needs to be cleansed? Of course, there will be quite a bit. Hurry, for where the Lord is, nothing unclean will enter. But don’t be horrified by the difficulty of the matter. The Lord Himself will be your helper in everything. Just wish with all your might and turn to the Lord for the help you need. His gracious power will be attracted to your efforts, and things will go easily and successfully. Just as there is no sin that defeats God’s mercy, so there is no moral impurity that can withstand the gracious power that consumes it. Just be on your part not to want this uncleanness, make a strong effort to reject it and resort with faith to the Lord. Tuesday . ( 1 John 3:11–20 ; Mark 14:10–42 ). St. Peter with what enthusiasm assured that he would not deny the Lord; and when it came down to it, he denied Him, and three more times. Such is our weakness! Do not be arrogant and, when entering the midst of enemies, place all your hope in the Lord to overcome them. That is why such a fall was allowed to such a high person, so that after that no one would dare to correct anything good on his own or overcome any enemy, internal or external. However, trust in the Lord, but do not give up your hands. Help from the Lord comes to our efforts and, uniting with them, makes them powerful. Without these efforts, there is nothing for God’s help to descend upon, and it will not descend. But again, if you have arrogance and, therefore, no need for help and no search for it, it will not come down again. How can she descend to where she is considered superfluous?! And in this case there is nothing to accept it with. She accepts it with her heart. The heart opens to receive with a feeling of need. So both are needed. God help me! but don’t lie down yourself. Wednesday ( 1 John 3:21–4:6 ; Mark 14:43–15:1 ). If you need help, ask. You asked, you say, it’s not given. But how is it given to others? The Lord has no partiality, so as to give to one and not give to another without any reason. He is ready to give to everyone, being generous. If he does not give to another, the reason is not in Him, but in the one asking for help. Among these reasons there may be others that we cannot even guess. But there are reasons known to everyone, visible to everyone. One of these – and isn’t it the most important? - points out St. John lacks boldness, and the lack of boldness results from the condemnation of the heart or conscience. “Beloved,” he says, “if our heart does not condemn us, then we have boldness towards God and whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.” There is nothing to add to these words. Everything is clear by itself. What kind of master would help an unfaithful servant, a spendthrift and a libertine? And the Lord seems to be kind to us when we do not want to please Him and do His commandments, when perhaps we take up prayer here, when extreme need has arrived?! Thursday . ( 1 John 4:20–5:21 ; Mark 15:1–15 ). “This is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith,” the Christian faith. What is it to win the world? It’s not that you want to kill all peace-loving people and exterminate and destroy everything peaceful, but, living among peace-loving people and moving among peaceful customs, to live and be alien to everyone and everything. Since you have rejected the world and everything worldly, then by this very action you have conquered the world. And who teaches you to renounce the world and who gives you the strength to do so? Our faith. It reveals the destructiveness of the charms of the world and gives rise to the desire to free oneself from their networks. Then, when someone decides to break these bonds, repents and begins to renew the sacraments - baptism or repentance, this action makes it possible to mysteriously feel the sweetness of a life opposite to the world, one with which all the sweets of the world cannot be compared. From here, disgust for everything worldly takes root in the heart, which, in fact, is victory over the world. But in the same mysterious action, as a result of which aversion to the world is born, strength is also given to an unshakable stay in this aversion and alienation from the world; and this is a decisive and lasting victory. Friday . (2 John 1:1–13; Mark 15:22–25, 33–41). St. John the Theologian writes: “...many deceivers have entered the world, not confessing Jesus Christ who came in the flesh.” This was the case in his time; and now deceivers are entering the world, who confess Christ as having come in the flesh, but who are nevertheless “deceivers and antichrists.” This began more clearly from the time of Arius and continues to this day. The ancients, however, stumbled more in the dogma about the person of Jesus Christ, our Savior; and from the time of Luther they began to stumble in the doctrine of salvation in Him. And how many of these have already happened? And among us such “seducers and antichrists” have appeared who interpret that “believe and it is enough”; nothing more is needed: no church, no sacraments, no priesthood. These too begin their flattery with Christ the Lord and salvation in Him. But no matter how wrongly they interpret this, they are the Antichrists and are subject to an oath. Beware of them. “Whoever transgresses the teaching of Christ and does not abide in it does not have God.” And they do not, because they do not have the teachings of Christ. This teaching is in the Church, but they separated from the Church. Only those who follow the Church have the teachings of Christ and abide in it. For this reason they also have Christ the Son of God and God the Father. But they don’t have it, even though they say they have it. Do not receive such people or welcome them (v. 10). Saturday (funeral). (1 Thess. 4:13–17; John 5:24–30). The Holy Church now transfers our attention beyond the boundaries of this life, to our fathers and brothers who have passed on from here, hoping that by reminding us of their condition, which we cannot escape, we will be disposed to the proper passage of Cheese Week and the following Great Lent. Let us listen to the mother of our Church and, remembering our fathers and brothers, let us take care to prepare ourselves for the passage to the next world. Let us remember our sins and pay for them, desiring to continue to keep ourselves clean from all filth. For nothing unclean will enter the Kingdom of God, and at the judgment none of the unclean will be justified. After death, do not wait for purification. No matter what you go through, you will remain so. Here you need to prepare your cleansing. Let us hasten, for who can predict longevity for himself? Life could end right now. How to appear in the next world unclean? With what eyes will we look at our fathers and brothers who are about to meet us? How will we answer their questions: what is wrong with you? - what is this? And what is this? What shame and disgrace will cover us?! Let us hasten to correct everything that is faulty in order to emerge into the next world at least somewhat tolerable and tolerant. Meat Week (35th) ( 1 Cor. 8:8–9:2 ; Matt. 25:31–46 ). Last Judgment! The Judge is coming to the clouds, surrounded by a myriad of ethereal Heavenly Forces. Trumpets sound to all ends of the earth and raise the dead. The rebel regiments flow in regiments to a certain place, to the throne of the Judge, already anticipating in advance what kind of sentence will sound in their ears. For the deeds of each will be written on the forehead of their nature, and their very appearance will correspond to their deeds and morals. The separation of the gums and the lips will take place by itself. Finally, everything has already been decided. There was deep silence. Another moment - and the decisive sentence of the Judge is heard - to some: “Come”, to others: “Go away.” Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us! May Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us! - but then it will be too late to cry like that. Now we must take care to wash away from our nature the signs written on it that are unfavorable for us. Then we would be ready to shed rivers of tears in order to wash ourselves; but this won't help anything. Let us cry now, if not with rivers of tears, then at least with streams; if not streams, at least raindrops; If we don’t find this either, we will repent in our hearts and, having confessed our sins to the Lord, we will beg Him to forgive us them, vowing not to offend Him again by violating His commandments and then being jealous to faithfully fulfill such a vow. Monday (36th). (3 John 1:1–15; Luke 19:29–40, 22:7–39). What does it mean to “walk in truth”? This means that, having accepted the truth in your heart, you must behave in thoughts and feelings as required by the truth. Thus, that God is everywhere and sees everything - this is the truth: whoever accepts this truth with his heart and begins to hold himself - both internally and externally - as if God Himself were before him and saw everything in him, he will walk in this truth. That God contains everything and that without Him we cannot do anything successfully is the truth: whoever accepts it with his heart and begins to turn to God in prayer for help in everything he does and accepts everything that happens to him as from the hand of the Lord, he will walk in this truth. That death can kidnap us every hour, and after death comes judgment immediately, this is the truth: whoever accepts this truth with his heart and begins to live like this can kidnap us every hour, and after death immediately the judgment of God, he will walk in this truth. So it is with every other truth. Tuesday . ( Jude 1:1-10; Luke 22:39-42, 45-23:1). Candlemas. At the meeting of the Lord, one is surrounded, on the one hand, by righteousness, which expects salvation not in itself - Simeon, and a strict life in fasting and prayer, enlivened by faith - Anna; on the other hand, essential, comprehensive and unshakable purity - the Virgin Mother of God, and humble, silent submission and devotion to the will of God - Joseph the Betrothed. Transfer all these spiritual moods into your heart and you will meet the Lord who is not brought, but Himself coming to you, you will accept Him into the arms of your heart and sing a song that will pass through the heavens and rejoice all the angels and saints. Wednesday “And now the Lord says again: Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God; for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. Blow the trumpet, appoint a fast and announce a solemn assembly... let the groom come out of his palace and the bride from her upper room... let the priests, the servants of the Lord, weep and say: have mercy, O Lord, on your people” (Joel 2:12-17). Who hears this voice now heard in the church? If a thunderous voice were heard from the sky in the squares: “... spare yourselves, people, may the Lord also spare you,” perhaps someone would hear it and wake up from the intoxication of pleasures, lusts and wine. The priests never cease to cry: “Have mercy, Lord!” But a formidable answer truly comes from the Lord: “I will not spare, for there are none who seek mercy.” Everyone has their back to the Lord, has turned away from Him and has forgotten Him. Thursday . ( Jude 1:11–25 ; Luke 23:1–34, 44–56 ). The grief is announced by St. Apostle Jude to those who behave seductively in society, become fat at feasts without fear, foam with their shame, walk in their own lusts, speak with pride and separate themselves from the unity of the faith. Woe! For behold, the Lord is coming with ten thousand of his holy angels, having executed judgment on everyone and will convict all the wicked of all the deeds that their wickedness has done. Friday . “I will save you, and you will be a blessing,” promises the Lord through the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 8:7–23). But under what conditions? By this, if everyone speaks the truth to those who are sincere, if they sort out their deeds among themselves righteously, if they do not bear grudges in their hearts against their neighbor, if they do not love false oaths and love peace and truth. If these conditions are fulfilled, then, says the Lord, “they will be My people, and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness,” and blessing will spread among them. Then all outsiders will hear and say: let us go to them to pray to the face of the Lord, for we have heard that the Lord is with them. “And many nations and mighty nations will come to seek the Lord of Hosts.” Thus, people and nations were attracted to the Lord by the high moral purity of the leading Christians. And those who always live according to the spirit of Christ without words are the best preachers of Christ and the most convincing apostles of Christianity. Saturday . (Rom.14:19–26; Matt.6:1–13. Fathers: Gal.5:22–6, 2; Matt.11:27–30). “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.” Now this order has changed: they crucify the flesh, but not with passions and lusts, but with passions and lusts. How much the body is now tormented by gluttony, drunkenness, fornication, dancing and festivities! The most heartless owner does not torture his lazy animal like this. If we were to give our flesh freedom and meaning, then its first voice would be against its mistress - the soul, that it unlawfully interfered in its affairs, brought into it passions that were alien to it, and, fulfilling them in it, torments it. In essence, the needs of our body are simple and dispassionate. Look at the animals: they don’t overeat, don’t sleep too much, having satisfied their carnal needs in due time, then remain calm for a whole year. It is only the soul, having forgotten its best aspirations, which, out of the simple needs of the body, has created for itself many unnatural aspirations, which, due to their immensity, have become unnatural to the body. In every possible way, however, in order to cut off from the soul the carnal passions it has instilled into itself, it is necessary to crucify the flesh, only in a completely opposite sense, that is, not giving it enough and what it needs, or satisfying its needs incomparably less than what its nature requires. (Rom.13:11–14:4; Matt.6:14–21). “If you forgive people their sins, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you; and if you do not forgive people their sins, then your Father will not forgive you your sins.” What a simple and handy way of salvation! Your sins are forgiven under the condition that your neighbor’s sins against you are forgiven. It means you are in your own hands. Break yourself and move from unpeaceful feelings towards your brother to sincerely peaceful ones - and that’s all. Forgiveness day, what a great heavenly day of God this is! If we all used it properly, then today Christian societies would be transformed into heavenly societies and the earth would merge with heaven. Monday (1st week of fasting). “Lent is coming, mother of chastity.” What time was it before that day? Time to wander. The soul fornicated with everything that was pleasant to the eye - with faces, and with things, and more completely with sinful passions. Everyone has his own passion, which he pleases in everything. It's time to put an end to it. Everyone understand your Delilah, who binds you and betrays you to evil enemies, and leave her. And more will be given to you than to Samson: not only will your hair grow back - good thoughts, and not only your strength will return - strength of will, but your eyes will also open - your mind will become seeing and see the Lord, and yourself, and what is around you in the proper light. Now is the time favorable! Behold now is the day of salvation! Tuesday . Readings are offered on creation, the primitive state of the fall, and the promise of salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ. Listen and learn! Now is the time for you to recreate yours. Fall before the Lord, and He will give you light that will enlighten your sinful darkness, will place the firmament among your restless thoughts and the desires of your sin-loving heart - the good intention to firmly and unswervingly work for Him, will arrange the land and sea, will give everything its place in you. Then you will begin to grow first grains, old herbs and trees - the beginnings of virtues, and then living creatures - completely spiritual and godly deeds, until, finally, the image and likeness of God is restored in you, as you were created in the beginning. The Lord will do all this for you during these six days of spiritual creation, your fasting, if you go through it with attention, reverence and contrition of heart. Wednesday “If you call on knowledge and appeal to reason; if you seek it as for silver and search for it as for treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” (Prov. 2:3-5). The root of a godly life is the fear of the Lord. When he comes, the creative force will rebuild everything in you and recreate a beautiful order in you - the spiritual cosmos. How to acquire the fear of God? It is in you, only it is suppressed: resurrect it. To do this, give voice to your mind and open your heart to accept the suggestions of truth. Until now, reason was not given words: it was in slavery and did not dare to speak sound speeches - let it speak now. He will begin to speak about God’s omnipotence, which holds you and can throw you away at every moment, - about God’s omnipresence and omniscience, seeing everything in you and being angry with you for everything bad in you, - about God’s justice, ready to punish you now, but held back for the time being by mercy, - about death, at every moment ready to seize you and bring you to judgment and retribution. Listen and bring your heart into the feeling of these truths. If you awaken the feeling, the fear of God will come along with it. This is the dawn of life. Thursday . “Fear God and shun evil” (Proverbs 3:7). Set this as the limit of your fasting, so that at the end of it the fear of God will be established and the firm intention to evade all evil will take root, even if this requires you to lose everything, even your life. To do this, do not limit yourself to just the external order of fasting, but take special care of yourself, go inside yourself and look at your way of thinking, whether it agrees with God’s truthful word in everything - look at your inclinations and dispositions, whether they are what the Lord requires of you in the Gospel; Look at your whole life to see if it agrees with the commandments of God in everything. Mourn and hate everything that is ungodly and resolve not to return to it in the future. When you do this, you will be wise, but if you don’t, then you won’t. Friday . “The Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (Prov. 3:34). Remember these words especially when you go to confession. Nothing like pride makes you want to say: sinful. Humble yourself before the Lord, do not spare yourself, do not be afraid of the face of man. Reveal your shame so that you may be washed; show your wounds so that you may be healed; tell all your lies, so that you may be justified. The more merciless you are towards yourself, the more pity the Lord will show you and you will leave with a sweet feeling of mercy. This is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, given from Him to those who humble themselves by sincere confession of their sins. Saturday . ( Heb. 1:1–12 ; Mark 2:23–3:5 ). They began to take the cup of the Lord and were at the Lord’s supper: glory to Thee, O God! glory to You, God! glory to You, God! This is a great day with the Lord! Glorious celebration in heaven! There is no city, no village, no house where there would not be communicants. Throughout the entire space of Russia, throughout the south and east - how many persons, clothed in the white robe of justification, tasted the Divine life and sincerely united with the Lord! The body of the Lord was renewed - the body of the Church, and clothed in its characteristic glory, hidden from the eyes of men, but visible to the eyes of angels. The angels bowed to the Firstborn when He was brought into the universe in His power: but now they bowed to Him because the universe is brought again to Himself. They bowed and sang: “Thy throne, O God, endures forever; the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom; You loved righteousness and hated iniquity” (Ps. 44:7-8). ( Heb. 11:24–26, 32–12:2 ; John 1:43–51 ). Orthodoxy. Do not forget the right word that you said to God, renewing the covenant with Him that you had broken in bad faith. Remember how and why you violated, and try to avoid new infidelity. It is not the red word that is glorious, it is fidelity that is glorious. Isn't it glorious to be in covenant with the king? How much more glorious is it to be in covenant with the King of kings! But this glory will turn into shame for you if you are not faithful to the covenant. Since the beginning of the world, how many great people have been glorified! And all of them were glorified for the fidelity in which they stood, despite great troubles and sorrows because of such fidelity: “they experienced insults and beatings, as well as chains and prison. They were stoned, sawn apart, tortured, died by the sword, wandered around in sheepskins and goatskins, enduring disadvantages, sorrows, and bitterness; those of whom the whole world was not worthy wandered in deserts and mountains, in caves and caves of the earth... Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 11:36-38, 12:1-2). Monday. (2nd week of fasting). “Keep your heart above all else; for from it are the springs of life” ( Proverbs 4:23 ). Having spoken, confessed and received Holy Communion. Mystery, a Christian renews within himself the sources of grace that were opened in us by St. baptism, which were then so many times polluted by negligence and failures and so many times cleansed by repentance. Now they are cleaned again after the last falls. Let us keep them, at least from now on, from being clogged again by inattention, absent-mindedness and neglect of those actions that maintain the purity and proper flow of their waters. Let us continue fasting, let us not give free rein to our feelings, let us not stop fervent prayers and tears, let us not forget deeds of love, let us seek to hear the word of God, and most of all let us talk with the Lord Who is in us, and through this conversation let us maintain in ourselves the fear of God and zeal for pleasing God, in which, in fact, is the source of our spiritual life. Tuesday . “And Cain said to the Lord: My punishment is more than can be endured” (Gen. 4:13) Was it possible to say this in the face of God, strict, of course, in truth, but also always ready to have mercy on those who sincerely repent? Envy darkened common sense, a deliberate crime hardened the heart, and so Cain rudely answers God Himself: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen.4:9). God wants to soften his stony heart with the hammer of His strict judgment, but he does not give in, and, withdrawing into his coarsening, indulges in the fate that he has prepared for himself through envy and murder. It’s amazing that after that he lived like everyone else: he had children, established a family life and maintained everyday relationships; the stamp of rejection and despair still lay on him. Therefore, this is an internal matter, which is accomplished in the conscience, from the consciousness of one’s relationship to God, under the influence of deeds, passions and sinful habits that burden it. Let them heed this especially now! But together, let them resurrect the faith that there is no sin that overcomes the mercy of God, although softening the heart, of course, will require both time and work. But it’s either salvation or destruction! Wednesday When Moses and Aaron began to intercede for the people before Pharaoh so that he would let them go, the response to this was to intensify the work of the oppressed Israelites to the point that they raised a murmur against their intercessors: “You have made us hated in the eyes of Pharaoh” (Ex. 5:21). The soul of a repentant sinner experiences exactly the same thing. When the fear of God and conscience, these inner Moses and Aaron, begin to inspire the soul so that it finally rises to its feet and shakes off the yoke of sinful slavery, joy flows through all its components. But the enemy does not sleep, and piles up mountains of obstacles in her thoughts due to the insurmountability of sin, and instills fears on all sides - fear for her well-being, for external relationships, for her weight, even for her life. And it happens that someone, having just started, immediately stops. Be inspired, brother! “The Lord of hosts will be exalted in judgment, and the holy God will show His holiness in righteousness” (Is. 5:16). God is stronger than the enemy. Cry out to Him, and you will hear the same thing that Moses heard then: “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh.” The enemy has no power over the soul; he can only frighten her with ghostly horrors. Don’t give in, endure, go forward courageously, saying to yourself: even if I die, I will not give up, and I will boldly go where the Lord calls me with the spirit of repentance that is now active in me. Thursday . “Do not let your eyes sleep and your eyelids slumber; escape like a roe from the hand and like a bird from the hand of a fowler” (Prov. 6:4-5). Anyone who has now decided in his heart, before the face of the Lord, to live according to His commandments, should take this rule as a guide. And he should not give sleep to his eyes - not these external, but the inner eyes of the mind, so that they look intently into the heart and correctly notice everything that happens there, and thus enable the zealot to find out the enemy's machinations and avoid danger from them. The heart has now become a field of struggle against the enemy. There he constantly sows his own, reflected in thoughts, which, however, are not always grossly bad, but for the most part are covered up with imaginary kindness and rightness. The chain of all thoughts is like an intricately woven network! Anyone who sets off after them without paying attention will not escape entanglement and, consequently, the danger of falling. That is why, brother, keep the eye of your mind sharp through strict attention to everything that happens in you and around you. Notice what your persistent adviser offers you from the outside and understand why it is offered to you, where it will lead, and you will never fall into its snare. Just don’t forget that attention alone is not powerful, but when it is in collaboration with sobriety, vigilance and unceasing prayer to the Lord. Combine all this and you will be elusive. Friday . “My Spirit will not forever be despised by men; because they are flesh” (Gen.6:3). There are two opposites in a person, but one consciousness - the human personality. The character of this person is determined by which side he leans towards. If she is on the side of the spirit, the person will be spiritual; if she is on the side of the flesh, the man will be fleshly. The spirit does not disappear in the flesh, but it is enslaved and has no voice. Here he becomes a slave and serves the flesh, like a slave to his mistress, inventing all kinds of pleasures for her. And in the spiritual, the flesh does not disappear, but submits to the spirit and works for it, losing its natural rights to food through fasting, to sleep through vigil, to rest through continuous work and fatigue, to the delight of the senses through solitude and silence. God does not dwell where the flesh reigns, for the organ of his communication with man is the spirit, which is not in its rank here. For the first time, God's approach is felt when the spirit begins to lay claim to its rights in movements of the fear of God and conscience. When consciousness and freedom come to this side, then God communicates with man and begins to dwell in him. From that moment on, the spiritualization of soul and flesh, of the entire internal and external person, will begin, until God becomes all in all in that person and the person, having become spiritualized, is deified. What a marvelous advantage and how little it is remembered, appreciated and sought after! Saturday . ( Heb. 3:12–16 ; Mark 1:35–44 ). “(Jesus) went out and withdrew into a deserted place and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35). The Lord prays as a man, or, better, as one made human by human nature. His prayer is intercessory for us, and at the same time educational for His humanity, which was to enter in a limited way into the possession of the Divine. In the latter sense, she is a model and example for us. The Apostle Paul teaches that among those who have received the Spirit, the Spirit prays and, of course, not on His own, but by arousing prayerful aspirations to God in the human spirit. And here we have real prayer – spiritually moving prayer. But that’s how it is at the top level. The path to it is through prayerful work for those seeking purification and sanctification. Solitude, night - the most suitable environment for this work; the work itself is a lot of bows with heartfelt sighs. Work and work, driving away all laziness. The Lord will take pity on you and give you the spirit of prayer, which will begin to act in you in the same way as breathing acts in the body. Get started! Now is the time favorable. ( Heb. 1:10–2:3 ; Mark 2:1–12 ). “I am the door: whoever enters through Me will be saved” (John 10:9). This is the same as what the Lord says elsewhere: “... no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). And He confirmed the same even more when He said: “...without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). He is a Christian who is entirely in Christ and who, whatever is valuable in himself, has it all from Christ. His justification is Christ's, and his body is also Christ's. He who is saved is saved because he is clothed in Christ. In this only position he has access to the Father. We are those who have fallen away from God and for this reason we are angry. Only then does God’s truth recede and His mercy extends to us and accepts us approaching, when we approach in Christ and about Christ. The seal of Christ is imprinted on the entire nature of a Christian, and the one who wears it will walk in the midst of the shadow of death and will not fear evil. In order to be like this, we have the sacraments - baptism and communion, mediated by repentance for those who sin after baptism. But this is on behalf of the Lord; on our part, in order to accept them, an acceptable disposition must be formed in the spirit - a faith that confesses: I am lost and am saved only by the Lord Jesus Christ; love that is jealous to devote everything to the Lord Savior, sparing nothing; a hope that, without expecting anything from itself, is confident that it will not be abandoned by the Lord, but will have all kinds of help from Him - both internal and external - throughout life, until it is taken to where He Himself is. Monday. (3rd week of fasting). “The fear of the Lord hates iniquity” ( Proverbs 8:13 ); and if he hates them, he will drive them away; if he drives them away, the soul will become clean of them and will therefore appear right before the Lord. And this is all that we are now looking for with such care. Therefore, restore the fear of God in yourself and maintain it, and you will have the most powerful means of self-healing. The fear of the Lord will not allow you to sin, and it will force you to do every good thing on every occasion. And you will fulfill the commandment: “turn away from evil and do good” (Ps. 33:15), which the prophet gives to those who seek true life. How to reach the fear of God? Seek and you will find. Here you cannot say: do this and do that; the fear of God is a spiritual feeling that begins secretly in the heart from its turning to God. Thinking helps, and straining yourself against this feeling also helps, but in deed it is given from the Lord. Seek it as a gift, and it will be given to you. And when it is given, then just obey him unquestioningly: he will correct all your wrongs. Tuesday . “Wisdom,” God the Word, “built herself a house, the Holy Church,” and in it “prepared a meal”—the word of God and the Holy Church. sacraments, especially the sacrament of Body and Blood. And “she sent her servants,” St. the apostles and their successors, invite everyone to their supper (Prov. 9:1-8). Much has already been convened, but the calling continues, so that the whole house may be filled. And the supper goes on non-stop. Glory to the Lord, so merciful to us! Let's go, everyone! Let's go inside, no one stays outside the door. During these days of Lent, the calling and the supper are abundant. But it is all the more unforgivable to lose supper. Write down in your memory the following words of Wisdom: “...he who sins against Me harms his soul” (Proverbs 8:36) - and have pity on yourself. Wednesday It is remarkable that Wisdom calls the foolish to her: “... if anyone is foolish, turn here” (Proverbs 9:4). Therefore, wise men have no entry into the House of Wisdom or into the Holy Church. All cleverness must be put aside at the very entrance to this house. On the other hand, if all wisdom and knowledge are only in the house of Wisdom, then outside this house, outside the Holy Church, there is only madness, ignorance and blindness. God's wondrous institution! When entering the Church, leave your mind behind - and you will become truly intelligent; give up your amateur activities and you will become a true worker; renounce all of yourself - and you will become a real master over yourself. Oh, if only the world would understand this wisdom! But this is hidden from him. Not understanding the wisdom of God, he cries out against it and continues to keep the foolish wise men in his blindness. Thursday . “When you talk too much, sin cannot be avoided” (Proverbs 10:19). Christians who are attentive to themselves call all feelings windows of the soul, which, if opened, will leave all inner warmth. But the widest opening, the spacious door that lets through this warmth in abundance, is a language that is given the will to speak as much and as it wants. What harm all the senses together cause to attention and the inner structure, the same is caused by verbosity, for it touches the objects of all the senses and forces the soul to see without seeing, without hearing to hear, without touching to touch. What is dreaming within, is verbosity without; but the latter is more harmful, because it is factual and therefore more impressionable. Moreover, in close connection with it are conceit, insolence and self-indulgence - these storm-like destroyers of the internal structure, leaving behind insensibility and blindness. How can you then avoid the sin of verbosity?! Friday . “The wicked will fall by his wickedness” (Prov. 11:5). Impiety is an incorrect attitude towards God or complete forgetfulness of God, which includes disbelief in the existence of God and His providence for creatures. Other souls, being pressed by the pressure of such wicked thoughts, but wanting, however, to show themselves to be serviceable individuals, decide this: I will be truthful, honest and humane, without preoccupying myself with whether there is someone above me, admonishing, obliging and having to demand an account. So what? There is no blessing from God upon them, which they do not seek, and their work is not accomplished. Their conscience reminds them every day of deeds of either untruth, dishonesty, or inhumanity. Only before people do they manage to show themselves righteous in their justification, where necessary, biting off and misinterpreting the facts. Whoever is conscientious on the inside has nothing to justify himself with. Those who are inattentive to themselves let this internal discord pass by; those who are attentive manage this somehow. Oh, when would any of them conscientiously look at this discord and figure out where it comes from and how to resolve it! He would then settle things for himself, and he would take care to guide others in a good way. Saturday . ( Heb. 10:32–38 ; Mark 2:14–17 ). “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17). Through the lips of Wisdom the Lord called the foolish to Himself. He himself, wandering on earth, called upon sinners. There is no place for proud wise men or self-righteous righteous people with Him. Let mental and moral weakness rejoice! Mental and business power, go away! All-round weakness, conscious of itself and having resorted to the Lord with faith, weak to the healer and impoverished to the one who replenishes it, grows stronger both in mind and in character, while continuing, however, to recognize both its feeble-mindedness and bad character. The power of God, under this inconspicuous cover, being accomplished in weakness, creates an invisibly different personality, bright in mind and disposition, which in due time becomes apparent, sometimes still here, but always there. This is what is hidden from the wise and prudent and is revealed only to babies! (Heb.4:14–5:6; Mark 8:34–9:1). “If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). You cannot follow the Lord the Crusader without a cross; and all those who follow Him will certainly come with a cross. What is this cross? All kinds of inconveniences, hardships and sorrows that arise both from outside and from within, on the path of conscientious fulfillment of the commandments of the Lord, in life in the spirit of His instructions and requirements. Such a cross is so intertwined with a Christian that where there is a Christian, there is this cross, and where this cross is not, there is no Christian. All-round benefits and a life of pleasure do not suit a true Christian. His task is to cleanse and correct himself. He’s like a patient who needs to do cauterizations and cuttings, but how can this be done without pain? He wants to escape from the captivity of a strong enemy, but how can this be done without struggle and wounds? He must go against all the orders around him, and how can he endure this without inconvenience and embarrassment? Rejoice, feeling the cross on yourself, for this is a sign that you are following the Lord, the path of salvation to paradise. Be patient a little. This is the end and crowns! Monday. (4th week of fasting). The Apostle Paul says that the Israelites, having crossed the sea, were baptized in it (1 Cor. 10:2). Such baptism served for them as a separation between Egypt and them. Peter the Apostle adds: “So now baptism similar to this image... saves us...” (1 Pet. 3:21). And our baptism saves us and serves as a dividing wall between the dark satanic region of sin and the world and the brightness of life in Christ. The baptized person cuts himself off from all earthly hopes and supports and lives in this age as if in the desert, unconnected with anything. His heart is not on earth, it is all in this century. Everything here concerns him in passing, so that “he who has a wife is like one who does not have, one who buys is like one who has nothing, and one who demands peace is like one who does not require” (1 Cor. 7:30). Tuesday . Baptism according to the Apostle Peter is “the promise to God of a good conscience” (1 Pet. 3:21). The one who is baptized makes a vow to live the rest of the time according to a clear conscience, according to the entire breadth of the Lord’s commandments, accepted into conscience. Moral purity is a characteristic of the baptized. The Apostle Paul compares the lordship of his life with the lordship of the risen Lord. “So that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). In baptism, the old sin-loving man dies and a new man rises, zealous for good deeds. “Even so, you who have been baptized, consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, let not sin reign in your mortal body, so that you should obey it in its lusts; And do not yield up your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as alive from the dead, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness. Sin must not have dominion over us” (Rom. 6:11–14). Wednesday Baptism in our language is consonant with the cross. Happy consonance. For although the visible effect of baptism is immersion, its essence is co-crucifixion with Christ on the inner spiritual cross. The Apostle Paul says: “our old man is crucified with Him” in baptism (Rom. 6:6). This is not some kind of mechanical action, but a moral change or revolution of thoughts, goals, desires, and sympathies. Before, all this was stained with self-indulgence; now everything is selflessly dedicated to God, in Christ Jesus, by the grace of the Holy Spirit. You will say: I did not understand this when I was baptized. Now you understand and take it upon your conscience to fulfill the meaning of baptism, for it is indelible. Even at the trial, his seal will be visible either for you or against you. Thursday . “He who spares his rod hates his son; but he who loves diligently disciplines” (Prov. 10:8). Let's leave the children and take care of ourselves. In relation to everyone, this means this: do not spare yourself, punish yourself diligently. Self-pity is the root of all our attempts to sin. He who does not indulge himself is always firm in goodness. Most of all, it is necessary to keep the flesh, this senseless slave, under the strictest discipline. When they torment her, she is humble; but give her only a small privilege, she begins to show her claws and become fierce with her lustful eyes. But the amazing thing is that, no matter what you say, everyone stands for the flesh and invents all sorts of things to please it. Even science seems to be impossible without this. What kind of science is this supposed to be? Friday . “The Lord said to Abraham: Get thee out of your country, from your kindred, and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). This is a clear image of the change of heart that takes place in true believers when they sincerely take up their cross and follow Christ. They leave their father - selfhood, crucifying it with selflessness; they leave their family - their personal sinful inclinations, passions and habits, having crucified them with the determination to unswervingly follow the passion-killing commandments of the Lord in everything; they leave their land, the entire sinful region, the world with all its demands, crucifying it with the determination to be alien to it, even if this would require suffering not only losses in property and social weight, but also death itself. Saturday . (Heb.6:9-12; Mark 7:31-37). “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 15:50). Consequently, in order to receive the Kingdom it is necessary to disembodied and bleed, that is, to establish oneself in such a character of life that there is as if there is no blood and flesh. This is achieved by complete renunciation of blood and carnal deeds. “The works of the flesh are known; they are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, quarrels, envy, anger, strife, discord, (temptations of) heresies, hatred, murder, drunkenness, disorderly conduct and the like.” Having listed all this, the apostle adds: “I warn you, as I also warned you before, that those who do these things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21). Have ears to hear, let him hear. ( Heb. 6:13–20 ; Mark 9:17–31 ). In His sayings about the beatitudes, the Lord depicts a heavenly heart (Matthew 5:1–12). His mood includes: humility, crying and contrition, meekness and lack of anger, complete love of truth, perfect mercy, purity of heart, peacefulness and peacemaking, patience with troubles, falsehoods and persecution for the faith and Christian life. If you want heaven, then be it. And here you can still anticipate the paradise into which you will be ready to enter after death, as a destined heir. Monday. (5th week of fasting). “The eyes of the Lord are in every place; they see the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3). Oh, that an intelligent creature would always remember this! She would not then have dared not only to commit outrageous acts openly and indulge in carnal lewdness, but also internally, in the thoughts of her mind and in the movements of her heart, she would not have allowed anything displeasing to God. She would then stand like a warrior in front of the Tsar at the front, with all attention and severity towards herself, so as not to turn out to be ignorant of her articles and not fall under the Tsar’s wrath and punishment. Articles for her are the commandments of God, defining both the way of thinking appropriate for her, and what she should be in her feelings and dispositions; In all this she would then be quite good. Tuesday . “Sheol and Abaddon are open before the Lord, much more the hearts of the sons of men” (Prov. 15:11). But the sinner keeps thinking that no one sees him and, hiding from human eyes in the darkness of the night or the emptiness of the place, he believes that he is not noticed by anyone. God's eye saw everything; The Guardian Angel and conscience were witnesses. Once upon a time you will stand for judgment: then everything hidden will be exposed; incorruptible witnesses will be present - and you will remain silent. The verdict will be peremptory. One remedy to prevent this inevitable extreme is repentance. The door to him is open. Hasten to enter before the hour strikes, which will strike when you do not know and will put an end to both your sins and all hope of pardon. Wednesday “The way of life for a wise man is upward, to escape from hell below” (Prov. 15:24). Everyone knows that there is hell, and anyone can go there for their deeds. But not everyone remembers this and does not live so regularly that they show concern for avoiding hell. They live as they live, at random: maybe somehow we won’t end up in hell. Where is our mind? In everyday affairs one can still get away with “maybe,” but in such a decisive deed, which, once accomplished, will remain unchanged forever and ever, “maybe” exposes the unreasonableness of the last degree. Do not boast, O mind, of your rationality, when you do not remember this and do not offer us thoughts of life on how to escape from hell and be saved. Thursday . “A haughty spirit goes before a fall” (malicious thoughts) (Prov. 16:18). Therefore, do not allow evil thoughts, and there will be no falls. Meanwhile, what is most neglected? About thoughts. They are allowed to seethe as much and as much as they like and there is no thought of ever taming them or directing them to reasonable pursuits. Meanwhile, in this inner turmoil, the enemy approaches, puts evil in the heart, deceives him and inclines him to this evil. And a person, without noticing it, is ready for evil. All that remains for him is either to fulfill the evil bound by his heart, or to fight. But our grief is that almost no one takes up the latter, and everyone, as if bound, is led to evil. Friday . “The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God” (Wis.3:1). And in whose hand are the souls of sinners? The Savior told the apostles that Satan seeks to sow them like wheat, that is, he seeks to lead them astray from the right path, take them into his own hands and do with them whatever he wants. Therefore, all those who deviate from the Lord are in the hands of Satan, and he sows them and throws them wherever he wants. That’s why sinners’ heads are constantly spinning because the enemy, shaking them back and forth, does not allow them to come to their senses; even as soon as he notices that someone is beginning to come to his senses, he begins to shake him even more, so that his head becomes clouded again and his thoughts scatter. Saturday . (Heb.9:24–28; Mark 8:27–31). The Lord asked the apostles how they understood Him? In the person of St. They answered the Apostle Peter: “You are Christ.” This confession did not suddenly mature, but, having matured, it settled deep in the heart and became its primary guide. It was darkened by the death of the Lord, but not shaken and, having been resurrected in even greater power by the Resurrection, it strove the apostles throughout their lives to preach to the whole world. There is a moment for every believer when he says with all his might: “You are Christ, my Lord and Savior. You are my salvation, my light, my strength, my consolation, my hope and eternal life." Then something happens that makes him cry out with the apostle: “... who will separate me from the love of Christ!” - and like him, he begins to pursue everything pleasing to Christ the Lord until he reaches the measure of His age. (Heb.9:11-14; Mark 10:32-45). The sinner, hearing that the Savior was in Simon's house, came there with the alabaster of myrrh and, standing at the feet of the Lord from behind, began to cry and washed His feet with her tears, then wiped them with her hair, kissed them and anointed them with myrrh (Luke 7:36-39). She does not say anything, but only acts and through her actions shows the most tender love for the Lord. But it was said about her: “...her many sins are forgiven because she loved much” (Luke 7:47). Oh, when would we talk less, and act more, and through our actions testify to love for the Lord! You will say: “If He Himself were here, now I would be ready to do everything for Him.” Yes, He is here, invisibly by His face, but visibly in all Christians, and most of all in those in need. Anoint the invisible Lord with loving, heartfelt prayer, and for the visible - do everything possible for those in need - and you will do for God. Monday. (6th week of fasting). Thus says the Lord: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you useful things, leading you along the path you should go. Oh, that you would heed My commandments! Then your peace would be like a river, and your truth like the waves of the sea. And your seed would be like sand, and those that come from your loins like grains of sand; his name would not have been blotted out, his name would not have been destroyed before Me.” Under what conditions? “Come out from Babylon” (Isaiah 48:17–20). Babylon is an image of all-round sinfulness. Forsake sin, turn to the Lord with all your heart, and He will not remember your iniquities and will consign all your iniquities to oblivion. Again you will show mercy to Him - and then just walk the path that He teaches you, and your inner peace will be like a river, the good thoughts of your heart will be like sand, and the fruits of your good deeds will be like the dust of the earth. Tuesday . “Whoever stops his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry and will not be heard” (Prov. 21:13). And we often wonder why God doesn’t listen to our prayers? That's the reason! Because there were, it is true, cases when we stopped our ears from the speeches with which the needy belittled us; So the Lord doesn’t hear us. But this is still a small grief if a prayer for something temporary is not heard, but grief if the Lord does not listen to us when we begin to pray to Him for the forgiveness of our sins. But it will not happen if the cry to Him of those who are despised by us is stronger than our prayers. We must hasten to avert this extreme misfortune following the example of Zacchaeus, to whom the Lord said for his wise decisions: “Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9). Wednesday “Cry loudly,” says the Lord to St. to the prophet Elijah, “do not hold back,” exposing the iniquities of My people. What did they do? “They are looking for Me, they want to get closer to God.” But is there any sin in this? After all, this is what they should do. Yes, they should, but the fact is that they don't do it the way they should. They hope to succeed in their quest with one fast, not rejoicing in matters of truth and love. And fasting is pleasing to Me, says the Lord, but one in which, by humbling one’s body, one forgives insults, leaves debts, feeds the hungry, brings the bloodless into the house, clothes the naked. When all this happens during fasting, then seeking Me and approaching Me will be successful; “Then your light will break forth like the dawn... and the glory of the Lord will follow you. Then you will call, and the Lord will hear; You will cry, and He will say: Here am I!.. And the Lord will be your leader always” (Is. 58:1-11). Thursday . “Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart to the straight path” (Prov. 23:19). Thoughts constantly emanate from the heart, sometimes good, but mostly evil. The evil should not be followed at all, but the good should not always be followed; It happens that even good thoughts in themselves are inappropriate in reality due to circumstances. That is why it is prescribed to pay attention to yourself, to look at everything that comes from the heart - to reject evil, to discuss good, and to do only what turns out to be truly good. But it would be best to completely enclose the heart, so that nothing comes out of it or enters it without the permission of the mind, so that the mind precedes everything, determining the movements of the heart. But the mind is like this only when it is the mind of Christ. Therefore, unite with Christ intelligently and heartily, and everything will be fine inside you. Friday . The days of St. are over. Pentecostals! Now everyone sit down and take stock - what was in the beginning and what is now? There was a purchase: well, what was the proceeds? Is there even a small profit? We entered the lists: well, did we chase and, having chased, did we achieve what we expected? The fight was declared: well, did we arm ourselves, did we fight and, having fought, did we fall or did we win? Attentive and cheerful fasters, who have labored with a contrite and humble heart, of course, looking back, cannot help but rejoice. For us, careless and carnivorous, who only bothered about sweets and pleasures, there is always nothing but shame on our faces. And even this is not there. Others are beaten, and it does not hurt them, because they have copper foreheads and iron necks. Saturday . ( Heb. 12:28–13:8 ; John 11:1–45 ). Whoever has the hardworking Martha - all-round good deeds, and Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus - an attentive and warm appeal to the Lord with all her heart, the Lord Himself will come to him, and will resurrect his Lazarus - the spirit, and free him from all the bonds of his soul and body. Then a truly new life will begin for him, incorporeal in the body and unearthly on earth. This will be a true resurrection in the spirit before the future resurrection and with the body! (Phil.4:4-9; John 12:1-18). Who was not there at the meeting of the Lord, when He solemnly, like a king, entered Jerusalem, and who did not then cry out: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” But only four days passed, and the same people shouted in the same language: “.... crucify, crucify Him!” Marvelous transformation! But why be surprised? Don’t we do the same thing when, after receiving St. The Mysteries of the Body and Blood of the Lord, as soon as we leave the church, we forget everything - both our reverence and God’s mercy towards us, and we continue to indulge in self-indulgent deeds, first small, and then large, and, perhaps, even before four days, although we do not shout to others: “Crucify!”, but we ourselves crucify the Lord within ourselves. And the Lord sees and endures all this! Glory to Your long-suffering, O Lord! Monday. (Holy Week). (Matthew 24:3-35). The Lord goes into free passion. We also need to descend to Him. This is the duty of everyone who confesses that through the power of Christ’s passion he became what he now is, and who still hopes to receive something so great and glorious that no one can even imagine. How to descend? Thought, compassion. Follow the path of the suffering Lord in your thoughts, and with your meditation extract from everything such ideas as could strike the heart and bring it into a sense of the suffering endured by the Lord. In order for the latter to happen more successfully, one must make oneself suffer through a sensitive reduction of food and sleep and an increase in the labor of standing and kneeling. Do everything that the Holy Church does, and you will be a good helper for the Lord to suffer. Tuesday . (Matthew 24:36–26:2). Now the people, priests and Jewish authorities hear the word of the Lord for the last time in the church. And it was all-encompassing; it embraced everything past, present and future. By asking about John, the Lord makes it clear that He is the true Messiah; the parable of the two sons suggests that the Jews will be rejected and pagans will be called in their place; with the parable of the vinedressers he tells them that destruction awaits the rejected; through the parable of the marriage of the king’s son, he teaches that even of those who came to Him, not all will be worthy and there will be those whom it will be righteous to cast out into the outer darkness; by answers to questions about tribute to Caesar and about the first commandment, as well as by an accusatory speech, he defines the characteristic features of a saving life; finally, he especially predicts grief for Jerusalem to his disciples and reveals the secret of His second coming. It was enough just to listen to all this with attention in order to be convinced that He is the true Savior of the world - Christ, and to submit to His commandments and teachings. And to this day, reading the chapters of the Gospel about everything that happened on this day is the most effective means of reviving faith in the Lord and, raising in a Christian the consciousness of what he should be and what to expect, kindling jealousy and showing himself to be a confessor of the Lord not only in language, but also in deed. Wednesday (Matthew 26:6–16). The Lord fell silent on Wednesday and Thursday until the evening, so that on that evening he would pour out his speech with and to his disciples - speech, the like of which there is nothing in all the scriptures, not only human, but also Divine. Now, according to the instructions of the Church, we hear only from the mouth of the Lord, so that they do not interfere with anointing Him with ointment, because this served as His preparation for death. Before His eyes there is already only death - the final sacrament of His coming to earth for our salvation. Let us also delve into the contemplation of this mysterious death in order to extract from it the hope of salvation for our souls, burdened with many sins and not knowing how to find peace for ourselves from the anguish of an awakened conscience and the consciousness of the righteousness of God’s judgment over us, terrible and unwashed. Thursday . Annunciation and establishment of the sacrament of Body and Blood. What a combination! We partake of the true Body and true Blood of Christ - those same ones that were received in the Incarnation from the immaculate blood of the Most Pure Virgin Theotokos. Thus, in the Incarnation, which took place at the hour of the Annunciation, the foundation was laid for the sacrament of the Body and Blood. And now this is brought to the memory of all Christians, so that, remembering this, they honor the Most Holy Theotokos with their true Matter, not as only the Prayer Book and Intercessor, but also as the Nourisher of all. Children feed on their mother’s milk, and we feed on the Body and Blood, which come from the Most Holy Virgin Mary. By feeding in this way, we essentially drink milk from Her breasts. Friday . The Crucifixion of Christ the Lord and the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel! New comforting combination! Gabriel heralds the birth of the Forerunner; Gabriel preaches the good news to the Virgin; he probably proclaimed the joy of the birth of the Savior; no one else announced the Resurrection of Christ the Lord to their wives. Thus, Gabriel is the herald and bringer of all joy. The Crucifixion of Christ is the joy and consolation of all sinners. The sinner, who has come to a sense of his sinfulness and the all-righteous truth of God, has nowhere to hide except under the shadow of the cross. Here he receives confirmation that there is no forgiveness for him while he alone stands before God with his sins and even with tears about them. There is only one salvation for him - in the death of the Lord on the cross. On the cross, the handwriting of all sins is torn apart. And everyone who accepts this with full faith becomes a participant in this sacrament of pardon. With the maturation of this faith, confidence in pardon also matures, and at the same time the joy of the feeling of entering into a state of pardon for all ages. The cross is a source of joy, because the sinner, by faith, drinks from it the joy of pardon. In this regard, he is a kind of archangel who brings joy. Saturday . (Rom.6:3-11; Matt.28:1-20). The Lord sleeps in the tomb with his body, but with his soul He descended into hell and preached salvation to the spirits there. All the Old Testament saints were not in paradise, although they remained in the comforting faith that they would be led there as soon as the Promised One, in whom they lived by faith, came to earth. His coming was foreshadowed there too by the Forerunner. When the Lord descended, all who believed clung to Him and were elevated to paradise by Him. But this paradise is only the threshold of a real paradise, which will open after the general resurrection and judgment. In it, all the New Testament saints, although blessed, expect even greater, most perfect bliss in the next century, with a new heaven and a new earth, when God will be all in all. Holy Resurrection of Christ ( Acts 1:1–8 ; John 1:1–17 ). Easter, Lord's Easter! The Lord brought us from death to life by His Resurrection. And now this Resurrection “the angels sing in heaven,” having seen the lightness of the deified human nature in the glory predetermined for it in the face of the Lord the Redeemer, in whose image, by the power of His Resurrection, all those who truly believe in Him and cling to Him with all their souls were to be transformed. Glory, Lord, to Your glorious Resurrection! The angels sing, rejoicing with us and anticipating the replenishment of their host; Vouchsafe us, Lord, to glorify You, the Risen One, with a pure heart, seeing in Your Resurrection the suppression of the corruption that consumes us, the seeding of a new bright life and the dawn of future eternal glory, into which You entered as the forerunner by the Resurrection for our sake. Only inhuman, but also angelic tongues are not strong enough to express Your ineffable mercy towards us, gloriously Risen Lord! Monday . (Acts 1:12–17, 21–26; John 1:18–28). Announcing the incarnation of the Lord, the Angel says: “... Rejoice, O full of grace!” and, announcing to the shepherds about the birth of Christ the Savior, he also says: “Behold the great joy that is brought to you.” But, announcing to the wives about the Resurrection of the Lord, the Angel only says: “He is not here, He is risen!” He does not add “rejoice,” for joy itself will fill the heart as soon as confirmation comes that the Lord has truly risen. Then this confirmation was tangible: the Angel prepared it, the Lord completed it with His appearance. And everyone was inexhaustibly full of joy! Nowadays our church, homes and squares are all clothed in the clothing of joy, and everyone is carried away by the general flow of joy. But move your thoughts somewhat away from the external and, gathering in your heart, restore the truth of the Resurrection in all its breadth, depth and height, so that you not only appear outwardly rejoicing, but also within yourself carry the spirit of joy emanating from within, like a spring of bright water gushing from the bowels of the earth. Tuesday . (Acts 2:14–21; Luke 24:12–35). Then the Jews tried to obscure the light of the Resurrection of Christ with a light fog of lies: “the disciples stole it.” This insignificance was easily overcome, and the truth triumphed. But even to this day, the enemy does not cease to cloud the Sun of Resurrection, hoping to eclipse it. Nobody should be embarrassed! What can you expect from the father of lies other than lies? He taught many of his minions to write entire books against the Resurrection. This book fog is dispersed by books. Don’t take a bad book and you won’t become confused; If you accidentally attack someone like this, take a good book as an antidote and refresh your head and chest. There is another fog from the enemy - in thoughts. But this too will immediately dissipate, like smoke from the wind, from sound Christian reasoning. Go through everything that happened and you will see clearly as day that all this could not have happened otherwise than by the power of the Resurrection of Christ. This conviction will then become a stronghold for you, upon which, having established yourself, you will easily begin to repel and defeat the enemies of the truth. Wednesday (Acts 2:22–36; John 1:35–51). Reason can prove the truth of the Resurrection with its own considerations on the basis of Scripture, and the power of its arguments cannot but be recognized by an unbeliever, as long as the sense of truth has not yet been stifled in him. The believer does not require proof, because the Church of God is filled with the light of the Resurrection. Both of these pointers to truth are true and convincing. But against the considerations of reason, counter-considerations can be born and encountered, and faith can be challenged and shaken by perplexities and doubts, coming from outside and arising from within. Is there an impenetrable fence for the truth of the Resurrection? Eat. This will happen when the power of the Resurrection, received even in baptism, begins to be effectively revealed in the destruction of the corruption of the soul and body, the installation of the principles of new life in them. Such a one will walk in the light of the Resurrection, and anyone who speaks against the truth of the Resurrection will seem crazy to him, just as someone who walks by day says that it is night now. Thursday . ( Acts 2:38–43 ; John 3:1–15 ). Beneficial is the work of those who, with sound considerations, smash the lies piled up against the truth of the Resurrection. Read and arm yourself with these considerations, but at the same time do not be lazy to give more and more space for the power of the Resurrection of Christ to enter you. The more you do this, the more you will breathe the air of the Resurrection and the safer you will become from all the arrows of the enemy directed against this truth. You ask, what is needed for this? Nothing special: be what you should be according to the covenant you entered into in holy baptism, which is our resurrection. Have you spat on Satan and all his works? – and continue to behave this way towards him. Have you been united with Christ? - and abide with Him. The works of darkness and light are evident. Run for some and sit down for others. But do this without any concessions, even the slightest, so that the norm of your life is the following: there is no communication between light and darkness, between Christ and beliar. Friday . ( Acts 3:1–8 ; John 2:12–22 ). The Holy Fathers have praise for certain persons who were glorious in their Christian life, consisting in the fact that they were resurrected before the general resurrection. What is the secret of such a life? The fact is that they adopted for themselves the characteristic features of life after the resurrection, as they are indicated in the word of God, and made them qualities within themselves. The future life seems to be detached from everything carnal: they will not marry there, they will not encroach, they will not eat dead food there, and the body itself will take on the spiritual. So, whoever lives detached from everything carnal, he takes into himself or grows in himself the elements of the future life after the resurrection. Get to the point where everything carnal in you freezes, and you will become resurrected before the future resurrection. The apostle shows the way to this when he says: “... walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). And he certifies that in this way it is certainly possible to achieve what is desired: “he who sows,” he says, “will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:8). Saturday . ( Acts 3:11–16 ; John 3:22–33 ). We have two lives, carnal and spiritual. Our spirit seems to be buried in the flesh. When, having been revived by the grace of God, he begins to remove himself from co-dissolution with the flesh and appear in his spiritual purity, then he is resurrected or resurrects himself part by part. When he completely tears himself out of this coherence, then he emerges, as from a tomb, in renewed life, and thus the spirit becomes alive and active in itself; and the coffin of the flesh itself is dead and inactive, although both are in one and the same person. And here is the mystery of what the apostle says: “...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17). This is freedom from the corruption that surrounds our imperishable spirit or from passions that corrupt our nature. This spirit, having entered into the freedom of the children of God, is the same as an attractively colored moth fluttering out of its ball. Here are its rainbow colors: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control (Gal. 5:22). Isn’t such beauty of perfection strong enough to arouse competition in us? ( Acts 5:12–20 ; John 20:19–31 ). “My Lord and my God!” - called St. Apostle Thomas. Do you feel with what strength he grabbed hold of the Lord and how tightly he holds Him? The drowning man no more firmly holds the board on which he hopes to be saved from drowning. Let us add that whoever does not have the Lord for himself and himself in relation to the Lord, does not yet believe in the Lord as he should. We say: “The Lord is Savior,” meaning that He is the Savior of all, but this one says: “The Lord is my Savior.” Whoever says: “My Savior,” feels his salvation coming from Him. Concomitant with the feeling of salvation is the feeling of destruction from which the Savior rescued the saved one. The feeling of destruction of a person who loves life by nature, who knows that he cannot save himself, forces him to look for a Savior. When he finds Him and feels the power of salvation emanating from Him, he grabs hold of Him tightly and does not want to tear himself away from Him, even if they deprive him of his very life for it. Events of this kind in the spiritual life of a Christian are not imagined only by the mind, but are experienced in action. Then both his faith and his union with Christ become as strong as life or death. Such a one only sincerely cries out: “Who will separate me!” Monday . ( Acts 3:19–26 ; John 2:1–11 ). “Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” So said St. The Apostle Peter crucified the Lord to the Jews, comforting them that they did it out of ignorance. It is not out of ignorance that we crucify the Lord within ourselves a second time with our sins; but the Most Merciful One also accepts us when we repent and turn to Him with all our hearts. This is what we did during Lent. Everyone ran to the Lord in tears of repentance for their sins, and the more sincerely they did this, the more they felt the coolness of mercy coming from the face of the Lord, through the hands and the permissive word of the priest of God. Now what can we do? Beware of new falls, so as not to fall again into the guilt of crucifying the Lord. The Apostle says that heaven received the Lord Jesus only until the years of the dispensation of all. Then He will come again and execute judgment. With what eyes will those who pierced His side look at Him! But we too will have to stand in their ranks if we stop bearing the fruits of repentance and return to the old ways. Tuesday . ( Acts 4:1–10 ; John 3:16–21 ). “Whoever does not believe in the Son of God is already condemned.” For what? Because when there is light all around, he remains in the darkness out of love for her. Love of darkness, hatred of the light makes him all around guilty, even without determining what the truth is; because whoever has this sincere love for the truth, it will lead him out of the darkness of error and lead him to the light of truth. Example: St. ap. Paul. He was a sincere lover of truth, whole-heartedly devoted to what he considered true, without any interests. Therefore, as soon as the truth was shown to him not in what he considered to be true, he at that very moment abandoned this ancient thing, which turned out to be untrue, and with all his heart clung to the new, tangibly proven true. The same thing happens with any sincere lover of truth. The truth about Christ is clear as day: seek and you will find. Help from above is always ready for a sincere seeker. Therefore, if anyone remains in the darkness of unbelief, he remains only out of love for darkness and for this he is already condemned. Wednesday ( Acts 4:13–22 ; John 5:17–24 ). “Judge whether it is right before God to listen to you more than to listen to God? We cannot help but say what we saw and heard." This is what they told the authorities of St. the apostles Peter and John, when they were forbidden to speak about the Lord Jesus risen after they healed a lame man from childhood in His name. They were not afraid of threats, for the evidence of the truth did not allow them to remain silent: we saw and heard, they said, and our hands touched, as St. John (1 John 1:1). They are eyewitnesses: eyewitnesses, according to the principles of human knowledge, are the first reliable witnesses of the truth. In this respect, no branch of human knowledge has such witnesses. Because 18 1/2 centuries have passed since that time, the power of their testimony has not diminished in the least, and therefore, the obviousness of the truth testified by them has not diminished. If they fall away through unbelief—and there are many who fall away now—then they fall away for no other reason than through a lack of sanity. They do not want to discuss and are carried away by ghosts, to which the flattery of a vicious heart willingly gives some probability. Poor souls! They die, imagining that they have finally found the right trail, and especially rejoicing that they were the first to enter this rut ​​and became advanced leaders for others. But there is little joy in sitting on the seat of the destroyers. Thursday . (Acts 4:23–31; John 5:24–30). “And those who have done good will come forth into the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil into the resurrection of condemnation.” This is how it all ends! Just as rivers each flow into their own sea, so the course of our lives will finally arrive, each to a place according to its own character. And those who are resurrected to life will be in judgment, but the judgment will only seal their justification and determination for life, while others will be resurrected only to hear condemnation to eternal death. Their life and death are now further characterized by the fact that some do living things, while others do dead and deadly things. Living deeds are those that are done according to the commandments with the joy of the spirit, for the glory of God; Deadly deeds are those that are done contrary to the commandments, with forgetfulness of God, to please oneself and one’s passions. Dead works are all those that, even in form, are not contrary to the commandments, but are done without any thought about God and eternal salvation out of any type of selfishness. God is life; That is the only thing that is alive in which there is a part of Him. And he who has only dead and deadening works goes straight ahead and on the last day will go out to the condemnation of death; but he who has all the works is living, he goes and will go out on the last day to receive eternal life. Friday . ( Acts 5:1–11 ; John 5:30–6:2 ). Why did Ananias and Sapphira sin so much? Because they forgot that God sees their deeds and thoughts. If they had kept in mind that God sees everything, both outside and inside, more clearly than all people and even themselves, it would not have occurred to them to bend their souls like that before the apostles. This is why all our sins and sinful intentions occur. We manage to hide everything from human gaze and think that everything is fine. People definitely don’t see anything and give us the price as if they were in good working order; but this does not change our essential insignificance. Knowing this, repeat to yourself: why does Satan make my heart lie to God’s face? His eyes, brighter than the sun, see in the hidden recesses of the heart; neither the night, nor the sea, nor the underground hides from Him. Remember this and therefore arrange your internal and external, albeit invisible, behavior. If the All-Seeing One were alien to us, we could still be indifferent to His omniscience; otherwise He is also the Judge, and His judgment, by virtue of omniscience, often pronounces before drinking tea. Perhaps, there He is already destined to immediately pronounce judgment on us, when we are still thinking of hiding with our sins in a dark lie: “God does not see!” Saturday . (Acts 5:21–33; John 6:14–27). What Peter and John said to the authorities before, all the apostles later said to them: “We must obey God rather than men; The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree; God exalted Him with His right hand into the Leader and Savior, in order to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel; We are His witnesses of this, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” What sincerity, completeness, certainty and clarity of confession! God arranged it so that the Crucified One could be our Savior through the remission of sins in repentance. Witnesses are the eyewitness apostles and the Holy Spirit, who clearly worked in them and in all believers. The same witnesses remain in force to this day. What St. the apostles say, this is the same as if we ourselves saw and heard it with our own eyes and ears. And the Spirit of grace acts continuously in the Holy Church, in the working of miracles, in the conversion of sinners and, especially, in the transformation of those who diligently work for the Lord, in their sanctification and fulfillment with obvious gifts of grace. The latter gives greater strength to the former, and both together are strong to form a strong conviction in the truth of Christ in all truth-loving souls. Thanks be to the God of truth, who reveals His truth so clearly to us!.. ( Acts 6:1–7 ; Mark 15:43–16:8 ). Tireless wives! Sleep was not given to the eyes and eyelids until they found the Beloved! And the men seem to rest their feet: they go to the coffin, see it empty and remain at a loss as to what this means, because they have not seen Himself. But does this mean that they had less love than their wives? No, here was reasoning love, afraid of error because of the high price of love and its subject. When they saw and touched, then each of them confessed not with his tongue, like Thomas, but with his heart: “My Lord and my God,” and nothing could separate them from the Lord. The myrrh-bearers and the apostles are an image of two sides of our life: feelings and reasoning. Without feeling, life is not life; Without reasoning, life is blind, it wastes a lot, but produces little healthy fruit. We need to combine both. Let the feeling move forward and excite; Let reasoning determine the time, place, method, and in general the everyday structure of what the heart hints at doing. Inwardly the heart moves forward, but in practice it is reasoning. When the feelings become trained in the reasoning of good and evil, then, perhaps, it will be possible to rely on the heart alone; just as shoots, flowers and fruits come of themselves from a living tree, so from the heart only goodness begins to emerge, intelligently invested throughout our life. Monday . (Acts 6:8–7, 5:47–60; John 4:46–54). St. Stephen says: “The Most High does not live in churches made with hands... What house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or what place for My rest?” Only the church of the heart, not made by hands, can accommodate God, as the Lord said: “... whoever loves Me will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). How this happens is incomprehensible to us; but it is so, for it obviously happens that then “God works in us both to will and to do according to His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). Don’t reason and just give your heart to the Lord, and He Himself will build a church out of it for Himself, but give it inseparably. If there are parts that have not been given away, then it will be impossible to build a whole church from it, for one will be rotten, the other will be broken - and if it comes out, the church will come out with holes, or without a roof, or without doors. But you can’t live in something like this; The Lord will not be in it. It will only seem that this is a church, but in reality it is some kind of heap. Tuesday . ( Acts 8:5–17 ; John 6:27–33 ). “Simon himself believed and, having been baptized, did not leave Philip.” And he believed and was baptized, but nothing came of him. One must think that there was something improper in the structure of his faith. Sincere faith is the denial of one's mind. The mind must be laid bare and presented to faith as a blank slate, so that it can inscribe itself on it as it is, without any admixture of outside sayings and positions. When the principles remain in the mind, then after writing the provisions of faith on it, there will be a mixture of provisions in it: consciousness will be confused, encountering between the actions of faith and the philosophies of the mind. Such was Simon, the converter for all heretics; such are all those who, with their wisdom, enter the realm of faith, both before and now. They are confused in faith, and nothing comes of them except harm: for themselves - when they remain voiceless, for others - when this confusion is not kept within them alone, but breaks out through their thirst to be teachers. From here there always emerges a party of people who have more or less sinned in their faith, with an unhappy confidence in infallibility and a disastrous urge to remake everyone in their own way. Wednesday (Acts 8:18–25; John 6:35–39). St. Peter says to Simon: “You have no part or lot in this, for your heart is not right before God. So, repent of this sin of yours and pray to God; perhaps the thoughts of your heart will be forgiven you.” There is no part, and Simon didn’t even think that he had gone that far; and outwardly he did not do anything ugly, but only thought wrongly, and the thoughts of his heart did something that the apostle wondered whether it would be forgiven him, even if he repented and prayed to God. This is what the structure of the heart and the thoughts emanating from it according to a certain structure mean! Judging by it, a person is one thing from the outside, but something completely different from the inside. And this inner vision is seen only by God alone and by those to whom the Spirit of God, searching their hearts, will reveal it. With what fear and trembling must one work out one’s salvation! And how sincerely and earnestly you need to pray to God: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 50:12). And at the trial there will be something terrible and amazing. The Lord will say: “I don’t know you” - to those who were not only confident themselves that they were God’s, but were also such in the eyes of everyone. What remains for us? Just cry out: “With their destinies, save us, Lord!” You yourself, as you know, give a saving structure to our hearts! Thursday . (Acts 8:26–39; John 6:40–44). St. Philip asks the clerk: “...do you understand what you are reading?” He replied: “...how can I understand if someone does not instruct me?” How often do those who read the word of God and the patristic writings experience the same thing! What you read does not fit in your head; the mind cannot heed this and embrace it, as if we are talking about something alien to it, about objects from an unknown region. This is where you need an interpreter who is familiar with what the word is about. At St. Philip had the same spirit that gave prophecies, and it was not difficult for him to interpret, which made it difficult for the clerk. So it is for us now: we need to find a person who would stand at that level of life and knowledge that concerns the scripture that complicates us, and he will explain it without difficulty, because each degree has its own spiritual horizons. Someone standing on a lower level does not see everything that someone standing on a higher level sees, and can only guess about it. If it happens that Scripture, which is incomprehensible to us, concerns subjects of a higher degree, and the interpreter we meet is on a lower level, then he will not explain it to us properly, but will apply everything to his own horizons and the matter will remain dark for us as before. One must marvel at how people who are completely alien to the area to which those objects belong begin to interpret the subjects of Scripture. And things don’t turn out as they should; They do not forget to stand out with their interpretations. Friday . (Acts 8:40–9:19; John 6:48–54). St. Paul at first so zealously defended the Old Testament orders because he was sincerely convinced that it was the immutable will of God that those orders should remain unchanged. He was not jealous because it was his father’s faith, but because, jealous of service, he offered to God. This was the spirit of his life - to dedicate himself to God and direct all his strength to what is pleasing to Him. Therefore, in order to convert him or in order to force him not to stand so much for the Old Testament, but, on the contrary, to take the side of the New Testament, it was enough to tangibly show that God no longer wants the Old Testament, but wants a new one, and transferred all His favor from the first to the second. This is what brought about the appearance of the Lord in him on the way. Then it became clear to him that he was directing his zeal in the wrong direction, where it should be, and that, by acting this way, he was not pleasing God, but was going against His will. This vision of the state of affairs, with the help of the grace of God, immediately changed his aspirations, and he cried out: “Lord, what will you command me to do?” And from that moment he turned all his zeal to what was indicated to him, and all his life he did not forget this event in his life, but gratefully remembering it, he inflamed his zeal - sparing no effort, to work for the Lord, his Savior. This is how they act and this is how everyone who sincerely turns to the Lord should act. Saturday . ( Acts 9:20–31 ; John 15:17–16:2 ). When St. Paul began to preach in Damascus, everyone marveled, saying: “Is this not the same one who persecuted those who call on this name?” And it always happens that those among whom someone turns from unbelief to faith or from sin to virtue wonder what happened to this convert? Everything was going our way for him, and then suddenly everything became different: his speech, his gaze, his steps, his thoughts were different, his undertakings were different, and the places he visited were different. Here the same thing happens, as if someone was walking west and suddenly turned east. Both of these lives are opposite, and one excludes the other. Whoever would like to combine them or create a whole life partly from one, partly from another, will waste both time and effort, but there will be no success. What communication! Only those who don’t understand the matter can say: “Why is it so cool!” ( Acts 9:32–42 ; John 5:1–15 ). “Behold, you are cured; “Sin no more, lest something worse happen to you.” Sin not only affects the soul, but also the body. In other cases it is quite obvious; in others, although it is not so clear, the truth remains the truth that illnesses of the body are always and always from sins and for the sake of sins. Sin occurs in the soul and directly makes it sick; but since the life of the body comes from the soul, then from a sick soul, of course, life is unhealthy. The very fact that sin brings darkness and darkness should have an adverse effect on the blood, in which the basis of bodily health is based. But when you remember that it separates man from God, the Source of life, and puts man at odds with all the laws operating both in himself and in nature, then one must still marvel at how a sinner remains alive after sin. This is the mercy of God, awaiting repentance and conversion. Consequently, the sick person, before doing anything else, must hasten to cleanse himself of sins and reconcile himself with God in his conscience. This will pave the way for the beneficial effects of medicines. It is heard that there was some significant doctor who did not begin treatment until the patient confessed and received Holy Communion; and the more difficult the illness, the more persistently he demanded it Monday . (Acts 10:1–16; John 6:56–69). When the Lord proposed the teaching about the sacrament of the Body and Blood, believing in it a necessary condition for communication with Himself and the source of true life, then “many of His disciples departed from Him and no longer walked with Him.” Such a work of God’s boundless mercy towards us seemed too wonderful to them, and their dislike for the miraculous drove them away from the Lord. The Lord saw this and, however, ready to be crucified for the salvation of everyone, did not find it possible to diminish or cancel the miraculous. So it is necessary in the economy of our salvation! Although, of course, with regret, He left them to go from Himself into the darkness of unbelief and destruction, and not only to them, but also to the chosen twelve He said on this occasion: “Do you also want to leave?”, expressing readiness to let them go if they do not bow before the miraculousness. From this it follows that to run away from the miraculous is the same as to run away from the Lord the Savior, and one who turns away from the miraculous is the same as perishing. Let those who are horrified at the mere reminder of the miraculous heed this! They too will encounter a miracle that they will no longer be able to contradict: this is death and judgment after death. But whether this non-interference will serve them as salvation, only God knows. Tuesday . ( Acts 10:21–33 ; John 7:1–13 ). “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify about it that its deeds are evil.” The Lord did not say this to the disciples, but later predicted to the disciples that the world would hate and persecute them too, because He had taken them out of the world. Therefore, notice where the hatred of the world is directed, and you will know where the part of Christ is; The more the world rises up to, the more it is of Christ, closer to Him, more in accordance with His spirit. This is an external pointer, but for external ones this is enough. The world itself does not act, but is kindled into action by its prince - Satan, whose works the Lord has destroyed and continues to destroy in believers and through believers. He cannot do anything directly to the Lord; That’s why he turns his rage on those who believe in Him, so that by annoying them he can annoy the Lord. And here it does not act directly, but through its organs that make up the world. That doesn't mean he's strong; Do not be afraid of him, but rather be bold, for the Lord has overcome the world and its prince. He who does not give in himself cannot do anything. Wednesday ( Acts 14:6–18 ; John 7:14–30 ). At Midsummer, an appeal is heard from the face of the Lord: “...if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). If so, then let us all go to Him. Whoever thirsts for anything, as long as it is not contrary to the spirit of the Lord, will certainly find satisfaction. Those who thirst for knowledge, go to the Lord, for He is the only light that truly enlightens every person. Those who thirst for cleansing from sins and quenching the burning of conscience, go to the Lord, for He bore the sins of the whole world on the tree and tore up their handwriting. Those who thirst for peace of heart, go to the Lord, for He is a treasure, the possession of which will make you forget all hardships and despise all blessings in order to possess Him alone. Whoever needs strength, He has all strength. Is it glory - He has the glory of the world. Is it freedom - He is the giver of true freedom. He will solve all our perplexities, break the bonds of passions, dispel all sorrows and hardships, allow us to overcome all obstacles, all temptations and intrigues of the enemy, and level the path of our spiritual life. Let us all go to the Lord! Thursday . (Acts 10:34–43; John 8:12–20). “I am the light of the world; Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life,” says the Lord. Consequently, whoever deviates from the Lord, he deviates from the light and leads into darkness and is therefore a real obscurantist. You know what the teaching of Christ requires, and look: as soon as someone entertains thoughts contrary to this teaching, do not be afraid to call him an obscurantist, this is his proper name. The Lord teaches that God is one in essence and threefold in persons; this is a ray of the supernatural light of truth; whoever preaches the opposite of this leads into darkness from the light and he is an obscurantist. The Lord teaches that the Tri-Hypostatic God, having created the world with His word, provides for it - this is Divine light, illuminating the dark paths of our life with an unearthly comforting light; whoever preaches the opposite of this leads into joyless darkness - this is an obscurantist. The Lord teaches that God, having created man in His image and likeness, appointed him to live in paradise; when he sinned, he righteously expelled him from paradise to live on this earth, full of sorrows and needs. However, he was not completely angry with him, but was pleased to arrange for his salvation through the death on the cross of the incarnate Only Begotten Son of God - and this is a spiritual light that illuminates the moral darkness that surrounds our souls; whoever preaches the opposite of this leads into darkness and is an obscurantist. The Lord teaches: believe and, having accepted the power of grace in the Divine sacraments, live according to My commandments and you will be saved - this is the only way for the light of God to enter us and make us enlightened; whoever teaches otherwise wants to keep us in darkness and is therefore an obscurantist. The Lord teaches: enter through the narrow gates of a strict, selfless life - and this is the only path to the light; whoever leads on the broad path of self-indulgence leads into darkness and is an obscurantist. The Lord teaches: remember the last - death, judgment, hell, heaven - and this is the light that illuminates our future; whoever teaches that death is the end of everything brings darkness to our fate and is therefore an obscurantist. Lovers of light, learn by this to discern where the darkness is and turn away from it. Friday . (Acts 10:44–11, 10; John 8:21–30). They asked the Lord: “Who are you?” He answered: “...from the beginning He was.” He is in front, followed by St. the apostles, behind the apostles the shepherds and teachers and the entire Church of Christ. Judge now who are the real leaders. Because so many people have been following them for so long and will continue to follow them, they do not cease to be at the forefront, for they are still ahead, and all others follow them. And so we Christians already have advanced ones; and if anyone attempts to expose new leaders, it is clear that they must be understood as advanced in the opposite direction, that is, on the path that leads to the bottom of hell. There is nothing to add to this: beware - for who is your own enemy? Just try to understand this in a real way and hold fast to the known truth of Christ, and let them repeat theirs. Saturday . (Acts 12:1–11; John 8:31–42). The Lord said: “...if the Son sets you free, then you will be truly free.” That's where freedom is! The mind is bound by the bonds of ignorance, delusion, superstition, perplexity; he fights, but cannot get out of them. Cling to the Lord, and He will enlighten your darkness and break all the bonds in which your mind is languishing. The will is tied up by passions and does not give it room to act; She struggles, as if tied hand and foot, but cannot break free. But cleave to the Lord, and He will give you Samson’s strength and break all the bonds of unrighteousness that bind you. The heart is surrounded by constant anxiety, and it is not given rest; but cleave to the Lord, and He will give you rest; and you will, being at peace within yourself and seeing everything around you with light, move unhindered and without stumbling with the Lord through the darkness and darkness of this life to an all-blessed eternity full of joy and spaciousness. ( Acts 11:19–26, 29–30 ; John 4:5–42 ). The fellow citizens of the Samaritan woman, after the Savior had stayed with them for two days, said to her: “... we no longer believe because of your words, for we ourselves have heard and known that He is truly the Savior of the world, Christ.” And this happens to everyone. First, they are called to the Lord by an external word or, as with us now, by birth, and then, when they taste in action what there is life in the Lord, they no longer adhere to the Lord by external belonging to Christian society, but by their internal combination with Him. This is what all those born in Christian societies need to make a law for themselves, that is, not to limit themselves to just externally belonging to the Lord, but to take care to internally unite with Him, so that later they can constantly bear evidence within themselves that they stand in the truth. What is needed for this? We must embody the truth of Christ within ourselves. The truth of Christ is the restoration of the fallen. So, put off the old man, which is decaying in deceitful lusts, and put on the new man, created by God in righteousness and perfection of truth, and you will know within yourself that the Lord Jesus Christ is truly the Savior not only of the world, but also of you. Monday . (Acts 12:12–17; John 8:42–51). The Lord explained to the Jews why they did not believe in Him, in what way do you think? Because He tells them the truth: “But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.” The lie turned, as they say, into their flesh and blood and made the truth inconceivable for them. Why don’t they believe now? That's why; The Lord speaks the truth, that’s why they don’t believe. But how can this be? After all, they are all scientists and they are the only ones who talk about the truth? There are a lot of speeches, but no action. The weaving of their systems is the same as the weaving of spider webs; only they do not notice this fragility. The beginnings of their systems are without foundation, and their subsequent turns are without evidence; but they are still satisfied with them. Such a urge has arisen for assumptions that it seems that they alone constitute the entire content of their minds; and yet it has the reputation of being a solid education. They have cast a fog of dreams over the few facts they have obtained; and these latter rise in this fog in a completely different form than they really are; however, this is reputed to be an area of ​​immutable truth. This is how the mind became rotten and this is how his taste was spoiled! How can truth fit into it? So they do not believe in the Lord, Who speaks only the truth. Tuesday . (Acts 12:25–13:12; John 8:51–59). The Jews were angry with the Lord for his reproof and took stones “to throw at Him.” But the Lord passed “through the midst of them and went further.” They did nothing to the Lord, but they destroyed themselves, for the consequence of their unbelief was the terrible sentence of the Lord: “...behold, your house is left empty,” and also: “... let us leave from here.” And the Lord moved to another place and chose other nations as His dwelling place instead of His beloved Israel. And now, insignificant people, in the self-delusion of a proud mind that does not contain the truth of Christ, take stones of opposition to the Lord and throw them at Him. They do not harm Him, because He is still the Lord and His truth is the immutable truth, but they destroy themselves. The Lord walks by, leaving such faces to their superstition, which spins them around like a whirlwind of weak specks of dust. But when an entire people is carried away by false wisdom, then the entire people, like the Jews, are left to their fate. Understand the Gentiles and submit to the Lord! Wednesday ( Acts 13:13–24 ; John 6:5–14 ). The disciples told the Lord to let the people go and buy food for themselves in the villages, but the Lord told them: “...they don’t need to go; you give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16). This was before the miracle of feeding five thousand people, except women and children, with five loaves and two fish. Such an event, which had special significance in the life of the Lord, provides another lesson. The people are the image of humanity, hungry and thirsty for truth. When the Lord said to the apostles: “...you give them something to eat,” he foreshadowed their future service to the human race - to feed it with truth. The apostles did this work for their time; for subsequent times, they transferred this ministry to the shepherd who succeeded them. And the Lord extends his speech to the present shepherd: “...give you something to eat for your people.” And the pastor must keep the obligation on his conscience to feed the people with the truth. In the church there should be an incessant preaching of the word of God. Silent shepherding - what kind of shepherding? But it is silent a lot, extremely silent. But it cannot be said that this happened because there is no faith in the heart: so, just a misunderstanding, a bad custom. Still, this does not justify him. Thursday . ( Acts 14:20–27 ; John 9:39–10:9 ). “And Jesus said, I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Those who do not see are simple people who believed in the Lord in simplicity of heart; and those who see are the scribes of that time, the scientists, who, out of pride of mind, did not believe themselves and rebuked the people. Our clever people consider themselves sighted and, because they consider themselves to be so, they alienate faith in the Lord, which the simple in heart and mind hold tightly to. And, therefore, according to the truth of the Lord, they are blind, but the people see. They are exactly like those birds that see at night but cannot see during the day. The truth of Christ is dark to them, but the opposite of this truth - a lie - seems clear to them; here they are in their element. As obvious as this may be, they are still ready to ask: “Are we really blind too?” Nothing to hide: blind. And since you are blind through your own fault, the sin of blindness and failure to see the light lies with you. You can see, but you don’t want to, having fallen in love with the deceptive but charming lie. Friday . (Acts 15:5–34; John 10:17–28). “You do not believe, for you are not of My sheep,” says the Lord to the unbelieving Jews. “My sheep obey my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Unbelievers are not from the flock of Christ. Then the unbelievers were those who had not yet entered the flock, but now among us the unbelievers are all those who have fallen away from the faith or fallen behind the flock of Christ. The Lord is the Shepherd: all His sheep follow Him, following His teaching and fulfilling His holy commandments. Sinners are sheep, sick and weak, but still wandering along with the flock. And those who have lost their faith are those who are completely behind and thrown to be devoured by wild beasts. These are the real retards. They are not from the flock of Christ and do not listen to His voice; and He does not know them, does not know because they do not make themselves known, as the bleeding one did. And at the trial it will be said to them: “I don’t know you, go away.” Saturday . (Acts 15:35–41; John 10:27–38). “When you do not believe Me, believe My works,” says the Lord. The works of the Lord were obvious to everyone, and He could point them out publicly. This is the healing of various diseases, casting out demons, power over nature, knowing the thoughts of the heart, prophesying the future, the power of words and dominion over souls. All of them clearly proved that Jesus Christ is from God and that His word is truth. For us, those works were also supplemented by a wondrous death, resurrection, ascension, the descent of the Holy Spirit, the founding of the Church, wondrous spiritual gifts in believers, victory over paganism and grace-filled powers that have not ceased to operate in the Church of God. All these are the works of the Lord. Any unbeliever can be told: if you do not believe the word, believe these deeds, which loudly testify to the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and, having believed, accept His whole truth. But how then did the Jews answer the Lord? - “Five sought to seize Him.” What are today's infidels? They sit and weave lie upon lie in order to “grab” not the Lord - for this is beyond their strength, but those who are simple in faith and cannot unravel their intricacies. (Acts 16:16–34; John 9:1–38). The simplicity of faith argues with crafty unbelief. Faith, having come to the blind man who received his sight, enlightened his intelligent eyes, and he clearly sees the truth. Look how logical everything is with him. They ask him: what can you say about Him, who gave sight? “This is a prophet,” he answered, that is, a messenger of God, endowed with miraculous power. An indisputably correct conclusion! But bookish education does not want to see this loyalty and seeks to evade its consequences. And since this did not succeed, she turns to unbookish simplicity with her suggestion: “...give glory to God; we know that that man is a sinner.” The simplicity of faith does not know how to connect these concepts - sinfulness and miracles - and expresses this openly: “I don’t know whether He is a sinner, I know one thing, that I was blind, but now I see.” What can be said against such ignorance? But the logic of unbelievers is stubborn and, despite all the evidence, they are not ashamed to claim that they do not know where the one who opened the eyes of the blind man came from. “This is amazing,” the sound logic of faith tells them, “that you do not know where He comes from, but He opened my eyes. But we know that God does not listen to sinners; but whoever honors God and does His will listens to him. Since the beginning of time it has not been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If He were not from God, He could not do anything.” It would seem that after this there was nothing left to do but bow before the power of such a conclusion. But book learning cannot tolerate the sound logic of faith and has driven it out... Go now, prove the truth of faith to those whose minds have been corrupted by persistence in unbelief. Unbelievers of all times are people of the same breed. Monday . ( Acts 17:1–15 ; John 11:47–57 ). “What should we do? This Man does many miracles.” Only Jewish learning found the culprit in the Savior. And in our days, the only thing that German scholarship finds inappropriate in the Gospel of Christ is the supernatural: everything is good, but this, you see, is not there. And both schools of thought agreed on the decision. The Jews decided: “it is better that one person should die,” and not all should perish; and the German put it: let’s eliminate the supernatural in order to preserve all the other truths of the Gospel. What happened? They destroyed the people, and these lost all Christian truths and are now left with almost nothing to do with it. The Lord is the cornerstone of the building of salvation; so faith in the supernatural is the cornerstone of the entire edifice of inspired truth. The Savior Himself, in His person, is the crown of supernaturalism, and in the Church is its inexhaustible Source. Anyone who touches on this point touches the apple of God’s eye. Tuesday . (Acts 17:19–28; John 12:19–36). “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, then only one grain remains; and if he dies, he will bear much fruit.” So, if you want to be fruitful, die; die in a real way so that you can carry in your heart the feeling that you have already died. Just as a dead person does not respond to anything around him, so do you: if they praise - be silent, and if they scold - be silent, and if you get a profit - be silent; if you are full, be silent, and if you are hungry, be silent. Be like this towards everything external, but internally keep yourself where everyone who has died is - in another life, before the face of the all-righteous God, preparing to hear the final verdict. What, you say, will be the fruit of this when everything here freezes? No, it won’t freeze, but energy will appear, and what kind of energy it will be. One minute left, you tell yourself, now is the verdict; Let me hurry up and do something, and you will do it. So it is every minute. Wednesday (Acts 18:22–28; John 12:36–47). “Lord, who believed what they heard from us?” (Is.53:1), - this is how the prophet Isaiah complains in amazement. It is fitting even now to cry: who now sincerely believes Your word, Lord? Everyone was almost shaken. The language of many is still silent about faith; but the hearts of the Inuds rarely deviate. What is the reason? An interest in disbelief began to be felt; the need for unbelief has developed to cover up the interests of the heart that disagree with faith. Here is the root of evil. It is not the mind that is the enemy of faith, but the corrupted heart. The reason here is only to blame for the fact that it submits to the heart and begins to reason not according to the principles of truth, but according to the desires of the heart. At the same time, strong arguments for the truth seem insignificant to him, and any little thing against it grows like a mountain; and, in general, confusion is introduced into the mental area, blinding the mind. He doesn’t see, and he can’t see, don’t tell him. Thursday . (Acts 1:1–12; Luke 24:36–53). The power of the Ascension of the Lord to St. Paul expresses it this way: “...he ascended on high, took captivity captive, and gave gifts to men” (Eph. 4:8). Having been satisfied with the truth of God, the Lord opened for us all the treasures of God’s goodness. This is captivity, or booty due to victory. The beginning of the distribution of this spoil to people is the descent of the Holy Spirit, Who, having descended once, always remains in the Church and gives to everyone what anyone needs, taking everything from the same captivity once captured. Come and take it, everyone. But prepare a treasure - a guardian - a pure heart; Have hands with which to grasp - unthinking faith, and begin to seek with hope and relentless prayer. Friday . ( Acts 19:1–8 ; John 14:1–11 ). “If you knew Me, you would also know My Father.” Therefore, deists do not know God, despite the fact that they bear His name (Deus - God, hence the deist), and talk eloquently about Him. There is no true God without the Son, and equally without the Holy Spirit. Whoever believes in God, but does not confess that He is the Father of the Son, does not believe in the God who is the true God, but in another of some kind of his own invention. The true God gave His Son, gave the “region” (power) “to be the children of God,” loves them and hears every prayer for the sake of the Son. That is why whoever has the Son also has the Father; He who does not have the Son does not have the Father. No one comes to the Father except through the Son, and no one receives anything from the Father except through the Son. Apart from the Son, there is no way to the true God, and whoever dreams of inventing Him wanders. Saturday . (Acts 20:7–12; John 14:10–21). “And if you ask the Father anything in My name, I will do it.” What a comforting promise! But how few use it! Rarely does anyone keep it in mind. There are those who do not understand it at all and do not accept it. Why is this so? Because they do not love the Lord and do not fulfill His commandments. This unfaithfulness of the heart to the Lord cuts off any boldness to turn to God with a request, just as in everyday life a faulty servant does not dare to ask his masters for anything, knowing that he has not earned any mercy. The established prayers are read in their own order, and they contain very great petitions, but they are only read, and this, as you know, is far from being a prayer or a petition. It is impossible to stand before the Lord with true prayer and extend a petition to Him except by correcting your conscientious relationship towards Him. (Acts 20:16–18, 28–36; John 17:1–13). Arius began to reject the deity of the Son of God and His consubstantiality with God the Father. The whole Church rose up against him; All believers, in all corners of the world, confessed with one mouth that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God, God was born of God, not created, consubstantial with the Father. Another would have thought that this was some kind of random inspiration for unanimity, but this faith later passed a fiery test, when the authorities and the nobility leaned towards the Arians. Neither fire, nor sword, nor persecution could destroy it, and it was immediately discovered everywhere by everyone, as soon as the pressure of external force ceased. This means that it constitutes the heart of the Church and the essence of its confession. Glory to the Lord, who keeps this faith in us! For while it exists, we are still Christians, although we live badly; If she doesn’t exist, Christianity will end. Monday . ( Acts 21:8–14 ; John 14:27–15:7 ). The Lord Jesus Christ is the vine, the grape tree; Christians are branches and shoots. We cling to Him by faith, and we bear fruit by living by faith. Heavenly Father is the helikeeper who looks after this tree. Whatever branch does not bear fruit, that is, whoever believes and does not live by faith, He cuts off that branch; and whichever bears fruit, it purifies, that is, whoever not only believes, but is diligent and lives by faith, God helps him in every possible way to be rich in good deeds, which are the fruits of faith. According to this law of God’s action on us, everyone arranges his life, firmly remembering that without the Lord nothing can be done. Run to Him with every need. Let His most holy and most sweet name constantly revolve in your mind, heart and on your tongue. Tuesday . ( Acts 21:26–32 ; John 16:2–13 ). “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.” Why is this source of knowledge not mentioned in logicians? It is not surprising that pagan logics do not have this point, but why is it not in Christian ones? Is it really true that a Christian, when he begins to speculate, must stop being a Christian and forget about all the promises given to him, true and undoubted? There is a lot of talk about how to see and hear; they also teach enough about how to make generalizations and inferences from what they see and hear; when it comes to figuring out the meaning of everything, then the pet of logic is left to the mercy of his ingenuity. Why not inspire him: you have the messages of the spirit of truth - follow them; they decide the meaning of everything that exists and happens in an indisputable way, for they come from God, in Whom is the source of existence itself. Is it because they forget to instill this in them that insight has proliferated so much that now all the books (about the world of God) are filled with nothing but guesses? It would be nice if they were at least somewhat worthwhile, otherwise it’s immediately obvious that they are a figment of a child’s imagination. Wednesday (Acts 23:1–11; John 16:15–23). The Lord says to the holy apostles before suffering: “...soon you will not see Me, and again soon you will see Me.” The Lord's suffering and death so struck the saint. the apostles, that the eyes of their minds were clouded and they did not see the Lord as Lord; the light disappeared, and they sat in bitter and weary darkness. This darkness was dispersed by the light of Christ’s resurrection, and they again saw the Lord. This is how the Lord Himself explained His words: “You will weep,” He said, “and you will mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sorrow will turn into joy.” They say that every soul on the path to perfection experiences a similar defeat. Darkness covers her everywhere, and she does not know where to go; but the Lord comes and transforms her sorrow into joy. It is true that it is necessary, just as it is necessary for a wife to suffer before a man is to be born from her into the world. Is it possible to conclude from this that whoever has not experienced this has not yet been born into a true Christian? Thursday . (Acts 25:13–19; John 16:23–33). “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, he will give it to you,” said the Lord, and with further confirmation: “Truly, truly, I say to you.” What a shame for us that we do not know how to use such a false promise! And it would be good if only we were ashamed of it, otherwise it would cast a shadow over the promise itself, as if it were too great and unfulfillable. No, the blame is entirely on us and mainly in the fact that we do not recognize ourselves as faithful servants of Christ and our conscience does not allow us to expect any mercy from the Lord. Moreover, it also happens that if sometimes someone comes to ask God about this, it is with a divided soul: he mentions it in passing in his prayer once or twice - and gives it up, and then says: “God does not hear.” No, when asking for something in particular, one must remain persistent and tireless in prayer, like the widow who, by her pestering, forced the heartless judge to grant her request. Real prayer books, asking for something in prayer, combine with prayer fasting, vigils, deprivation of all kinds and any kind of charity, and moreover, they ask not for a day, not two, but months and years; but they get it. Imitate them if you want to have success in prayer. Friday . (Acts 27:1–44; John 17:18–26). “As You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, so may they also be one in us... I am in them, and You are in Me.” Here is the golden chain connecting us with the Divine! We fell away - the Mediator, who is one with God the Father, arose and became one with us. By becoming one with Him, we are united in Him and through Him with God the Father. Glory to Your boundless mercy towards us, Trinitarian God, who has deigned to arrange for us such a bright path to deification! The Lord lifts us high; do not deny the good deed, confess the mercy and praise the ineffable goodness! Denying such heights, you think to humble yourself, but in reality you reveal gross ingratitude and neglect of the high gift. Know that there is no middle ground: either everything or nothing. If you don’t want this height, you will remain outside in bitter humiliation, both temporarily and forever. Saturday . (Acts 28:1–31; John 21:15–25). No one is too lazy to remember their parents; but all Orthodox Christians must be remembered, and not just on this day, but at every time, at every prayer. We ourselves will be there and will need this prayer, like a poor person who needs a piece of bread and a cup of water. Remember that prayer for the departed is also strong in its community – in that it comes on behalf of the entire Church. The Church breathes prayer. But just as in the natural order, during pregnancy, the mother breathes, and the power of breathing passes on to the child, so in the order of grace, the Church breathes with the common prayer of all, and the power of prayer passes on to the departed, contained in the bosom of the Church, which is composed of the living and the dead, the warring and the triumphant. Do not be too lazy at every prayer to diligently remember all our fathers and brothers who have departed. This will be alms from you... (Acts 2:1–11; John 7:37–52, 8:12). The economy of our salvation has been completed! The actions of all the Persons of the Most Holy Trinity in this matter have now come into force. What God the Father deigned to be, what the Son of God fulfilled in Himself, the Holy Spirit has now descended to appropriate to the believers. For our salvation “accords to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, through obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:2). For this reason, we are “baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” pledging to “keep everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20). Those who do not profess the Most Holy Trinity cannot have a part in the saving actions of Her Persons and, therefore, receive salvation. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, consubstantial and indivisible, who has given us confession of Himself! “Father Almighty, Word and Soul, the three most essential and divine nature united in the Hypostases, we were baptized into You, and we bless You forever.” Monday . (Eph.5:9-19; Matt.18:10-20). Comforting His disciples, the Lord said that it was better for them that He ascended to heaven, for, having ascended, He would send in His place the Comforter - the Spirit. The Holy Spirit descended and dwells in the Church, completing the work of Christ in every believer. Every Christian is a partaker of the Spirit. This is so necessary that whoever does not have the Spirit is not Christ’s. Take a good look - is there the Spirit of grace in you? For not everyone has it, but sometimes it goes away. Here are the signs: first, the spirit of repentance finds and teaches the Christian to turn to God and correct his life; the spirit of repentance, having completed its work, transfers the Christian to the spirit of holiness and purity, which is finally succeeded by the spirit of sonhood. The trait of the first is industrious jealousy; the characteristic of the second is the warmth and sweet burning of the heart; the feature of the third is the feeling of sonship, according to which the sighing to God comes from the heart: “Abba, Father!” . Look at which of these degrees you are at. If not, take care and concern for yourself. Tuesday . (Rom.1:1–7, 13–17; Matt.4:25–5:13). After the Lord’s baptism, when the Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove, He was brought down into the desert to be tempted. This is the common path for everyone. St. Isaac the Syrian notes in one place that as soon as you taste grace-filled consolation or receive some gift from the Lord, wait for temptation. Temptations hide the lightness of grace from a person’s own eyes, which usually eat up all goodness with conceit and self-exaltation. These temptations are also external - sorrows, humiliation; and internal - passionate thoughts that deliberately descend, like animals from chains. Therefore, how much we need to listen to ourselves and strictly analyze what happens to us and in us in order to see why it is so and what it obliges us to. Wednesday (Rom.1:18–27; Matt.5:20–26). “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” The trait of scribes: knowledge of the law without caring about living according to the law. A trait of the Pharisees: correctness of external behavior without special concern for the correctness of heartfelt feelings and thoughts. Both moral systems are condemned to be outside the Kingdom of Heaven. Take from here every lesson you need. To learn the law of the Gospel - learn, but in order to establish life according to knowledge. Try to be correct in your behavior, but also keep your inner feelings and dispositions correct. If you have learned something, don’t stop at this knowledge, but go further and draw a conclusion about what such knowledge obliges you to do in what case, and decide to immediately act on it. In your behavior, act in such a way that feelings and dispositions do not follow external actions, but external actions are caused by feelings and dispositions and serve as their exact expression. Having established yourself in this way, you will be above the scribes and Pharisees, and the door of the Kingdom will not be shut before you. Thursday . (Rom.1:28–29; Matt.5:27–32). “Whoever looks at a woman...has already committed adultery with her.” What can you do if, living in society, you can’t help but look at your wives? But it is not just the one who looks at his wife who commits adultery, but the one who looks at him with lust. Look - look, but keep your heart on a leash. See through the eyes of children who look at women purely, without any bad thoughts. Women must also be loved, for in the commandment to love one’s neighbors they are not excluded, but with pure love, in which there is in thought a soul and a spiritual means, among other things... In Christianity, as before God, there is no male or female, and in the mutual relations of Christians. In every possible way, you might say, it’s difficult. Yes, there is no such thing as struggle; but struggle presupposes the unwillingness of evil; reluctance is counted as purity by the merciful Lord. Friday . (Rom.2:14–29; Matt.5:33–41). “But I say to you: do not resist evil”; otherwise, give yourself over to the sacrifice of human willfulness and malice. But you can’t live like this? Don't worry. Whoever gave this commandment is also our Provider and Guardian. When, with full faith and with all your soul, you wish to live in such a way as not to resist any evil, then the Lord himself will arrange for you a way of life that is not only tolerable, but also happy. Moreover, in reality it happens that resistance irritates the enemy more and encourages him to invent new troubles, while concession disarms him and humbles him. This is why it happens that if you only endure the first onslaughts of anger, people will take pity and leave you alone. And resistance and revenge kindle anger, which passes from one person to the family, and then from generation to generation. Saturday . (Rom.1:7-12; Matt.5:42-48). “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you.” There is no one in the world without love: they love parents and relatives, they love benefactors and patrons. But the feeling of love for parents, relatives, patrons and benefactors is natural and is built by itself in the heart; That is why the Lord does not give her a price. True Christian love is tested by the attitude towards enemies. Not only some slight and accidental trouble should not extinguish our love for others, but even attack and persecution, disasters and hardships deliberately inflicted by the enemy. We must not only bless these people, but also do good to them and pray for them. Take a closer look, do you have such a disposition towards your enemies, and judge by this whether you have Christian love, without which there is no salvation? ( Heb. 11:33–12:2 ; Matt. 10:32–33, 37–38, 19:27–30 ). The Holy Church commemorates the saints every day. But since there were saints of God who labored unknownly and were not revealed to the Church, so as not to leave them without honor, the Holy Church established a day on which it glorifies all those who have pleased God from the ages, so that no one remains who is not glorified by it. She legitimized to do this immediately after the descent of the Holy Spirit because all saints were and are being made holy by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Holy Spirit brings repentance and forgiveness of sins, it also introduces one into the struggle against passions and lusts and crowns this feat with purity and dispassion. And thus a new creation appears, fit for the new heaven and the new earth. Let us also be zealous to follow the saints of God. The current Gospel teaches how to do this: it requires a fearless confession of faith in the Lord, primary love for Him, lifting the cross of self-sacrifice and heartfelt renunciation of all things. Let us begin according to this instruction. Monday . (Rom.2:28–3:18; Matt.6:31–34, 7:9–11). "Don't worry". How can we live? You need to eat, drink, dress. But the Savior does not say: do nothing, and do not worry. Do not torment yourself with this worry, which eats you up day and night and does not give you peace for a minute. This kind of worry is a sinful disease. It shows that man has relied on himself, and has forgotten God, that he has lost his hope in God’s Providence, that he wants to arrange everything for himself through his own labors, to obtain everything he needs and to preserve what he has obtained in his own ways. He clings with his heart to what he has, and thinks of resting on it as on a solid foundation. Love has bound him, and he only thinks about getting more into his hands. This Mammon became him instead of God. And you work, work, and don’t torment yourself with evil worries. Expect every success from God and commit your fate into His hands. Accept everything you get as a gift from the hand of the Lord, and in strong hope expect from Him continued generosity. Know that one minute - and there may be nothing left of everything that the rich have, if God wants. All decay and dust. Is it worth tormenting yourself over this? So, don't worry! Tuesday . (Rom.4:4-12; Matt.7:15-21). "Beware of false prophets." From the beginning of Christianity until now there has never been a time when this warning was not applied. The Lord did not indicate which false prophets to be wary of, for how to identify them? They change like fashion, and every time gives birth to its own. They always appear in sheep's clothing, with an air of goodwill in their actions and with the ghost of truth in their speech. In our time, their clothes are made from progress, civilization, enlightenment, freedom of thought and deed, personal conviction, not accepting faith, and the like. All this is a flattering cover. That is why, when you encounter an exhibition of these clothes, do not rush to open your ears to the speeches of the prophets dressed in them. Take a closer look to see if there is a wolf hiding under this sheep's clothing. Know that the Lord is the only Mover towards true perfection, the only Softener of hearts and morals, the only Enlightener, the only One who gives freedom and fills the heart with sensations of truth, giving a conviction that nothing in the world can greatly shake. Therefore, as soon as you notice in the speeches of the new prophets any shadow of contradiction to the teachings of the Lord, know that these are predatory wolves, and turn away from them. Wednesday (Rom.4:13–25; Matt.7:21–23). “Not everyone who says to Me: Lord! God! He who does the will of My Father in Heaven will enter the Kingdom of Heaven." You cannot be saved by prayer alone; It is necessary to combine with prayer the fulfillment of the will of God - everything that lies on someone according to his rank and structure of life. And the object of prayer should primarily be a request that God grant us not to deviate in anything from His holy will. And conversely, whoever has zeal to fulfill the will of God in everything, his prayer is more bold before God and more accessible to His throne. It even happens that where walking in the will of God is not accompanied by prayer, there prayer itself is not real prayer, sober and heartfelt, but only external, nourishing, during which moral malfunction is obscured as if by fog by verbosity with unsettled and wandering thoughts. It is necessary to sweeten both with piety, and there will be fruit. Thursday . (Rom.5:10-16; Matt.8:23-27). We crossed to the other side of the sea. The Lord was sleeping. A storm arose, and everyone was horrified, and they forgot that the Lord was with them and that, therefore, there was nothing to be afraid of with Him. This happens in the order of life, everyday and spiritual. If a storm of troubles or passions arises, we usually become alarmed to the point of relaxation, and think that this is in the order of things; and the Lord sends us a lesson: “believers of little faith!” And fair enough! It is impossible not to pay attention to what happened, but you can always maintain reasonable calm. First of all, look at what the Lord wants from you, and humbly submit under His strong hand. Don't worry, don't worry. Then raise your faith that the Lord is with you, and fall at His feet in prayer. But do not cry out: “I am perishing!”, but cry out with devotion: “Lord! if you want, you can. However, not my will, but Your will be done.” Trust that in this way you will safely pass the storm that has arisen. Friday . (Rom.5:17–6:2; Matt.9:14–17). They asked the Lord: why don’t His disciples fast? He answered: because the time has not yet come for them. Then, in a parable speech, he showed that, in general, the severity of external asceticism should correspond to the renewal of the internal forces of the spirit. First, kindle the spirit of jealousy, and then impose severity on yourself, for in this case there is a new inner strength in you that can withstand them with benefit. If, without this zeal, you take up rigor, being carried away either only by the example of others, or by the show of asceticism, then it will not be beneficial. You will hold on to this strictness for a little longer, and then you will weaken and give up. And you will be even worse than before. Severity without inner spirit is the same as a patch of raw linen on old clothes or new wine in old wineskins. The patch falls off, and the hole becomes even larger, and the wine breaks through the skin and disappears on its own, and the skin becomes worthless. This, however, does not mean that strictness is not suitable, but only that it is instilled that it is necessary to start them in order. It is necessary to make sure that their needs come from within, so that they satisfy the heart, and do not just oppress from the outside, like oppression. Saturday . (Rom.3:19–26; Matt.7:1–8). “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” What a disease - gossip and condemnation! Everyone knows that this is a sin, and yet there is nothing more common in our speeches than condemnation. Another will say: “Lord, do not place me in condemnation,” and yet he will bring his condemnation to the end. Another justifies himself by saying that a reasonable person must have his own view of the current situation, and in gossip he tries to be a cool-headed reasoner; but even a simple ear cannot help but discern in his speeches a lofty and gloating condemnation. Meanwhile, the Lord’s sentence for this sin is strict and decisive. He who condemns others has no excuse. How can this be? How to overcome troubles? The decisive remedy against condemnation is this: consider yourself condemned. Whoever feels like this will have no time to judge others. All he will say is: “Lord, have mercy! Lord, forgive my sins!” Second Sunday after Pentecost (Rom.2:10-16; Matt.4:18-23). The Lord called Peter and Andrew, and they immediately left everything and followed Him. He called James and John, and they also immediately left everything and followed the Lord. Why did they go so quickly and willingly? Because they saw the best. Such is the law in our souls that, having learned and tasted the best, it turns away from the worst and abandons it. Here the same thing happens that the Lord later depicted in the parable about the treasure hidden in the village and about the valuable beads. This treasure and pearls are faith in the Lord and communication with Him through the power of faith. We are called owners of this even in baptism. Why do we value such a treasure so little and, valuing it little, exchange it for wasteland? Because during our upbringing we are not introduced to the taste of this treasure, and it becomes alien to our hearts. Our hearts don't know any better. It only knows which of the less good is bad and which is the greater, and bases its view on this. This is the whole reason why the Lord calls others and they go, but we, the called ones, run from Him. Monday . (Rom.7:1-13; Matt.9:36-10:8). Sending St. to preach. apostles, the Lord commanded them to call them all, saying: “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” that is, the Kingdom has come—go into it. What should we preach? Everyone must shout: “Sons of the Kingdom!” do not flee from the Kingdom into captivity and slavery, because they are fleeing. Some are captivated by freedom of mind: “We don’t want,” they say, “the bonds of faith and the oppression of authority, even Divine; We’ll figure it out and solve everything ourselves.” Well, we decided. They set up fables in which there is more childishness than in the mythology of the Greeks - and they boast... Others are carried away by the broad path of passions: “we don’t want,” they say, “to know the positive commandments, nor the demands of conscience, - these are all abstractions: we need tactile naturalness.” And they followed her. What happened? They kissed the senseless cattle. Was it not from this moral decline that the theory of the origin of man from animals was born? This is where they go! And everyone is running from the Lord, everyone is running... Tuesday . (Rom.7:14-8; Matt.10:9-15). The Lord also told the apostles that if any city does not accept them and does not listen to their words, then “it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city.” What will happen to us for not listening to the words of Divine Revelation? Our bleakness and measures will not exist. After so much tangible evidence, not believing the truth of God is the same as falling into blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. And yet we are not timid. The spiritualists console one: “What a judgment! You’ll just have to be born again.” The scribes explain to another: “Whom to judge? All the atoms will fly apart and everything will be over.” But, friends, the hour of death will come; these dreams will scatter like ghosts, and reality will appear in all its inexorability. What then?.. These are our poor times! The enemy has managed to destroy our souls. He knows that the fear of death and judgment is the most powerful means of sobering the soul, and he takes care in every possible way to disperse it, and manages to do so. But extinguish this fear, the fear of God will go away; and without the fear of God, the conscience becomes mute. And the soul became empty, became a waterless cloud, carried by every wind of teachings and every impulse of passion. Wednesday (Rom.8:2-13; Matt.10:16-22). “He who endures to the end will be saved.” Do we have anything to endure? No one lacks this. The field of patience is wide for everyone; therefore, salvation is at our fingertips. Endure everything to the end - and you will be saved. However, you must endure skillfully, otherwise you can endure it and not get any benefit. Firstly, maintain holy faith and lead an impeccable life according to faith; Cleanse every sin that occurs immediately with repentance. Secondly, accept everything that you have to endure as from the hand of God, firmly remembering that without the will of God nothing happens. Thirdly, believing that everything that comes from the Lord is sent by Him for the good of our souls, sincerely thank God for everything, thank you both for sorrows and for consolations. Fourthly, love sorrow for the sake of its great salvation and arouse in yourself a thirst for it, like a drink, although bitter, but healing. Fifthly, keep in mind that when trouble comes, you cannot throw it off like tight clothing; need to be moved. Whether you endure it in a Christian way or not in a Christian way, it is still inevitable to endure it; So it’s better to endure in a Christian way. Grumbling does not relieve trouble, but only makes it worse; and humble submission to the determinations of God's Providence and complacency take away the burden of troubles. Sixth, realize that you are not worth such a misfortune - realize that if the Lord wanted to deal with you in all truth, then such a misfortune should have been sent to you. Seventh, pray most of all, and the merciful Lord will give you strength of spirit, in which, while others will marvel at your troubles, it will seem to you that there is nothing to endure. Thursday . (Rom.8:22–27; Matt.23–31). “There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not be known.” Consequently, no matter how much we hide now with our sins, this does not benefit us at all. The time will come, but how far is it? - and everything will come out. How can this be? There's no need to hide. If you have sinned, go and reveal your sin to your spiritual father. When you receive permission, the sin will disappear as if it did not exist. Then there will be nothing to be discovered and revealed. If you hide sin and do not repent, then you will keep it within yourself, so that something will be revealed in due time to expose you. God revealed all this to us in advance, so that we could even now manage to disarm His righteous and terrible judgment on us sinners. Friday . (Rom.9:6-19; Matt.10:32-36, 11:1). “Whoever confesses Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” Is it difficult to confess the Lord? There is no work. What work is it to say, when it is required that our Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God and God, who for our sake came to earth, was incarnated by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man, was crucified, suffered, buried, rose again on the third day, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead, - sent the Holy Spirit to St. the apostles, who by His power established the holy Church on earth, which, teaching the truth and sanctifying with the sacraments, leads all its faithful children into the Kingdom of Heaven in an unforgettable way? We repeat all this every time we hear and read the Creed. So take these truths, imprint them on your heart and be ready, without fear of any human face, to present what you must believe in this way, and not otherwise, in order to be saved, preparing to endure together what would otherwise go to you for this. Stop the mouths of Christian teachers with the word of truth, and you will receive what is promised by the Lord. You confess Him as God and Savior before men, and He confesses before God the Father that you are His faithful follower and confessor. Saturday . (Rom.3:28–4:3; Matt.7:24–8:4). Today's Gospel says that he who hears the words of the Lord and does them is like one who builds a house on the rock; but he who listens and does not do it is like one who builds a house on sand. Memorize this and repeat it often; the truth contained in it is understandable and clearly visible to everyone. And everyone has plenty of their own experiences of this kind at hand. Thoughts, for example, while you are still thinking about something, are unstable and restless; when you put them on paper, they gain strength and immobility; some enterprise still happens to be wrong and changes in particulars until it is started; and when you put it into action, all additional considerations will end. Likewise, moral rules have not yet been fulfilled, they seem to be alien, outside of us and fragile; and when you fulfill them, they enter inside, settle in the heart and lay there the basis for character - good or evil. “So, watch how dangerously you walk!” Third Sunday after Pentecost (Rom.5:1–10; Matt.6:22–33). “If your eye is pure, your whole body will be bright; if your eye is bad, then your whole body will be dark.” The mind here is called the eye, and the body is the entire composition of the soul. Thus, when the mind is simple, then the soul is light; when the mind is evil, then the soul is dark. What is a simple mind and an evil mind? The simple mind is the one that accepts everything as it is written in the word of God, and, undoubtedly, is convinced that everything is as it is written: there is no cunning, no hesitation or hesitation in it. An evil mind is one that approaches the word of God with guile, cunning questioning and searching. He cannot believe directly, but he brings the word of God under his own speculation. He approaches it not as a student, but as a judge and critic, in order to try to see what it says, and then either mock or say haughtily: “Yes, this is not bad.” Such a mind does not have firm positions, because, obviously, it does not believe the word of God, and its speculations are always unstable: today it is this way, tomorrow it is different. That is why he has only hesitations, bewilderments, unanswered questions; all his things are out of place, and he walks in the dark, groping. A simple mind sees everything clearly: every thing has its own specific character, defined by the word of God, therefore every thing has its place and he knows exactly how to behave in relation to what - he walks, that is, along open, visible roads, with full confidence that they lead to the real goal. Monday . (Rom.9:18-33; Matt.11:2-15). “The kingdom of heaven is taken by force, and those who use force take it away.” The Kingdom is required, that is, it is achieved with need, with difficulty, effort and difficult feats; That’s why only those who lead a difficult, ascetic life achieve it. This denies any kind of consolation on the path to the Kingdom. Joys of all kinds are removed from the Kingdom; and now we only care about pleasures, sometimes spiritual, but more carnal: eating, drinking, having fun, walking and luxuriously in everything. They told the kingdom: “I beg you, forgive me,” although there is a feast in it, and a royal feast, which no one would even think of preparing, but our tastes are not the same. What is considered sweet there is bitter for us; What’s pleasant there is disgusting to us, what’s fun there is painful to us - we’ve completely separated. And the Kingdom, with the needy women who delight it, departs from us. We are glad, we would even be ready to drive them away as quickly as possible, and we are already starting to talk about it, but the evil one still somehow does not manage to settle this. Tuesday . (Rom.10:11–11:2; Matt.11:16–20). The Lord says that we who do not listen to the Gospel are like those to whom merry songs are sung - they do not dance; the sad ones sing - they don’t cry; there's nothing you can do about them. They promise the Kingdom of Heaven, bright and joyful, but we don’t move, as if they weren’t telling us. They threaten with endless judgment and endless torment - don’t worry, as if we don’t hear. They are clogged, they have lost all sense of true self-preservation. We are led, as if led, straight to destruction and have no concern for our fate. They gave up and gave in to hopelessness: what will happen will happen! This is our situation! Is this why suicides are so common? And this is the fruit of current teachings, current views on man and his significance! So much for progress! Here comes enlightenment! It is better to be completely ignorant and save your soul with the fear of God, than, having achieved the title of enlightened, to perish forever, without remembering what will happen after death for the rest of your life. From the word of God, which defines both the Kingdom of Heaven and hell, not one iota will pass away: everything will be as it is written. Everyone, take this to heart as a matter that concerns you personally, and take care of yourself as much as you have the strength and how much time is left. Wednesday (Rom.11:2–12; Matt.11:20–26). The Lord showed many signs in Capernaum, Bethsaida and Chorazin; Meanwhile, the number of believers did not correspond to the power of the signs. That is why He strictly rebuked these cities and judged that on the day of judgment it would be more tolerable for Tire and Sidon, Sodom and Gomorrah, than for those cities. We must judge ourselves by this example. How many signs the Lord showed over Russia, delivering it from its strongest enemies and subduing its peoples! How many constant treasuries he gave her, exuding constant signs - in St. relics and miraculous icons scattered throughout Russia! And, however, in our days Russians begin to deviate from the faith: one part completely and comprehensively falls into unbelief, another falls away into Protestantism, the third secretly weaves its beliefs in which it thinks to combine both spiritualism and theological nonsense with Divine Revelation. Evil is growing, malice and unbelief are raising their heads, faith and Orthodoxy are weakening. Are we really not going to come to our senses?.. And finally it will be the same with us as, for example, with the French and others... And if this happens, what do you think will happen to us on the Day of Judgment after such God’s mercies to us? God! Save and have mercy on Orthodox Rus' from Your righteous and impending punishment! Thursday . (Rom.11:13–24; Matt.11:27–30). “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” O divine, oh dear, oh your sweetest voice! Let us all follow the Lord who calls us! But first we must realize that it is difficult and difficult for us to feel, that is, that we have many sins and these sins are serious. From this feeling will be born the need to seek relief for yourself. Faith will then show us the only refuge in the Lord the Savior, and our steps will automatically direct themselves towards Him. A soul that desires to get rid of sins knows what to say to the Lord: “take away from me the heavy, sinful burden; and I will take Your good yoke.” And it happens like this: the Lord forgives sins, and the soul begins to walk in His commandments. And the commandments are a yoke, and sins are a burden. But, having compared both, the soul finds that the yoke of the commandments is light as a feather, and the burden of sins is heavy as a mountain. Let us not be afraid to willingly accept the Lord’s good yoke and His light burden! Only in this way, and not otherwise, can we find peace for our souls. Friday . (Rom.11:25–36; Matt.12:1–8). “If you knew what it means: I want mercy, not sacrifice, you would not condemn the innocent.” So, in order to get rid of the sin of condemnation, you must have a merciful heart. A merciful heart will not only not condemn an ​​apparent violation of the law, but also one that is obvious to everyone. Instead of judgment, it will perceive regret and would rather be ready to cry than to reproach. Indeed, the sin of condemnation is the fruit of an unmerciful, malicious heart that finds pleasure in humiliating one’s neighbor, in denigrating his name, in trampling on his honor. This deed is a murderous deed and is being done in the spirit of one who is a murderer from time immemorial. There is also a lot of slander, which comes from the same source, for the devil is the devil because he slander and spreads slander everywhere. Hurry to arouse pity in yourself every time an evil urge to condemn comes. With a compassionate heart, then turn with a prayer to the Lord, so that He will have mercy on all of us, not only the one whom we wanted to condemn, but also us, and maybe more of us than that, and the evil urge will die away. Saturday . (Rom.6:11-17; Matt.8:14-23). To one of those who wanted to follow the Lord, He said: “The Son of Man has no place to lay his head,” and to another, who wanted to bury his father first, He said: “Leave the dead; others will bury him, but you follow Me. This means that whoever wants to follow the Lord should not expect any consolation from this following on earth, but only hardships, needs and sorrows, and that everyday concerns, even the most legitimate ones, are not compatible with this following. It is necessary to resolutely renounce everything, so that nothing binds you to the earth; then condemn yourself to all-round suffering or the cross, and, thus equipped, follow the Lord. This is the direct will of the Lord! But to whom is this commandment—only the apostles or all Christians? Judge for yourself. Is everyone told to deny themselves and take up the cross? Then to love the Lord more than father and mother, brothers and sisters, wife and children - has everyone been told? The conclusion is clear. How can this be? Once the apostles asked such a question to the Lord, and He answered them: “...what is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). Fourth Sunday of Pentecost (Rom.6:18–23; Matt.8:5–13). What is the faith of the centurion! I surprised the Lord Himself. Its essence is that he confessed the Lord as the God of all, the omnipotent Lord and Ruler of all things; That’s why I asked: just say the word, and my boy will be healed. I believe that everything is subject to You and everything obeys Your command. The Lord demanded the same faith from everyone; the same is required of us. Whoever has such faith lacks nothing and whatever he asks for, he receives everything. This is what the Lord Himself promised. Oh, when would we even get on the trail of such faith! But she is also a gift; and this gift must also be asked for, and asked with faith. Let us ask for it, at least with a feeling of need for it, ask constantly, with difficulty, at the same time helping to reveal it in us with appropriate reflections, and most of all, with obedience to the commandments of God. Monday . (Rom.12:4–5, 15–21; Matt.12:9–13). “You can do good on Saturdays.” The Lord said this after healing a withered man in the synagogue on the Sabbath and as a reproach to the Pharisees, who carried the commandment about Sabbath rest to the point that they even measured how many steps could be taken on this day. But since good deeds cannot be done without movement, they rather agreed to give up good deeds than to allow unnecessary movement. The Savior more than once rebuked them for the fact that the Sabbath demanded rest from everyday worries, and not from deeds of piety and brotherly love. In Christianity, instead of Saturday, Sunday is celebrated for the same purpose - rest from all everyday affairs and devoting this day exclusively to the works of God. Christian common sense has never reached the point of pharisaical pettiness regarding not working on Sunday; but the permissible permission to do things on this day is taken far beyond what is proper. Not doing anything kept the Pharisees away from doing good deeds; and what Christians allow themselves to do turns them away from them. In the evening on Sunday there is a theater, then some other entertainment. The morning is overslept; no time to go to church. Several visits, lunch; In the evening there is more fun. So he devotes himself all the time to the stomach and the pleasure of other feelings; there is no time to even remember about God and charity. Tuesday . (Rom.14:9-18; Matt.12:14-16:22-30). “He who is not with Me is against Me; and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.” Who is with the Lord? He who lives and acts in His spirit; who does not allow himself any thoughts, no feelings, no desires, no intentions, no words, no deeds that would be displeasing to the Lord and contrary to His explicit commandments and definitions. Whoever lives and acts differently is not with the Lord, and therefore does not collect, but scatters. What is he wasting? Not only energy and time, but also what he collects. Wealth, for example, is not collected with the Lord by the one who accumulates only it, without sharing it with others and depriving himself of even what he needs, or who, collecting it, spends part of it on the luxurious maintenance of himself, partly spends it on vain sacrifices, and leaves part of it to his heirs. He will appear in the next world with nothing - and there he will be the poorest of the poor. On the contrary, he gathers wealth with the Lord who, through the hands of the poor and needy, transfers what he has collected into eternal treasuries. When such a person dies, he will find everything in the next world preserved, unsquandered, even if he had wasted his entire life. The same applies to the collection of knowledge. Here the waste is even more obvious, because even here it becomes obvious how he who philosophizes does not collect as if mountains of knowledge about the Lord, and yet they are all rubbish, a ghost of truth, and not the truth. Such people not only lack knowledge, but also lose human meaning. They begin to rave, as if sleepy. Read the systems of materialists and you will see that this is so. Wednesday (Rom.15:7-16; Matt.12:38-45). In every person who unrepentantly lives in sin, a demon lives, as in a house, and controls everything. When, by the grace of God, such a sinner comes into contrition for his sins, repents and stops sinning, the demon is cast out from him. At first he does not bother the repentant, because at first there is a lot of jealousy in him, which burns demons like fire and repels them like an arrow. But then, when jealousy begins to cool, the demon approaches from afar with his proposals, throws in memories of former pleasures and calls on them. If only a repentant man is not careful, he will soon turn from sympathy to desire; If even here he does not come to his senses and return himself to the state of his former sobriety, then the fall is not far off. From desire is born an inclination to sin and determination: internal sin is ready, for external sin only convenience is expected. If it presents itself, the sin will be committed. With this, the demon enters again and begins to drive a person from sin to sin even faster than before. The Lord depicted this with a parable about the second return of the demon to a cleaned and swept house. Thursday . (Rom.15:17–29; Matt.12:46–13:3). “For whoever does the will of My Father in Heaven is My brother, and sister, and mother.” The Lord makes it clear by this that the spiritual kinship that He came to plant and grow on earth is not the same as carnal kinship, although in the form of relationships it is the same as carnal. And there are fathers and mothers in it - these are those who give birth to the word of truth or the gospel, as the Apostle Paul says. And there are brothers and sisters in it - these are those who are spiritually born of one and grow in one spirit. The related combination here is based on the action of grace. But it is not external, not superficial, but also deep and vital, like the carnal, only it has a place in another area - the highest, most important. That is why it prevails over the carnal, and when the need requires it, it is sacrificed to one’s spiritual interests, without regret, in full confidence that this is a sacrifice pleasing to God and required by Him. Friday . (Rom.16:1-16; Matt.13:4-9). The parable of the sower depicts the different attitudes of souls to the word of God. In first place are those who do not heed the word at all. They hear, but what they hear does not enter the soul, but lies on top of it, like a seed along the road. The word does not fit into them, because they have a different way of thinking, different rules, different tastes. That is why it soon disappears from memory, is forgotten, as if it had never been heard at all. On the second are those who hear the word willingly and accept it quickly, but do not want to bear any labor to fulfill it. Therefore, as long as no sacrifice is required, they delight in the word and especially its promises, but as soon as it becomes necessary to sacrifice something to be faithful to the word, they betray it, abandon both the word and its promises for the sake of their affections. In the third are those who accept the word and begin to live according to it, but then become too devoted to the worries and sorrows of the age, to earthly cares, which suppress all the good undertakings that were formed under the influence of the word of God. On the fourth are those who accept the word with full faith, and decide to live according to its demands, ready for all sacrifices and labors, and do not allow their hearts to be connected with anything earthly. Sit down and judge, everyone, to which class you belong. Saturday . (Rom.8:14–21; Matt.9:9–13). Anyone whose spiritual needs are awakened under the influence of the fear of God and the demands of conscience, develops a kind of feeling with which he guesses the meaning of speeches related to subjects of the spiritual field, even if they are clothed in a cloying form. For such people, the parable does not hide the truth, but reveals it even more clearly. Anyone who does not have such an internal structure, when he hears tributary speech about spiritual things, does not understand anything about it. But if he had not been offered a word about these subjects in a trivial form, then he would have understood only the words, but would not have understood the essence of the matter: it would have gone against all his concepts and would have seemed to him an incongruity, at which he would not have hesitated to mock. This is precisely the reason the Lord gave why He speaks to the people in parables. Those who have the inclination of spirituality will understand the parable, but those who do not, at least don’t tell them. “For seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear and do not understand... For the heart of these people has become hardened” (Matthew 13:12-15). Meanwhile, the parable did not deprive those capable of seeing the hidden truth of the proper edification: “Whoever has, to him will be given and he will have abundance.” Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Rom.10:1-10; Matt.8:28-9:1). The Gadarenes saw the wondrous miracle of the Lord, revealed in the expulsion of a legion of demons, and, however, the whole city came out and prayed to the Lord, “so that He would depart from their borders.” It is not visible that they are hostile to Him, but there is no visible faith either. They were seized by some kind of vague insurance, according to which they only wished: go past where you know, just don’t touch us. This is a real image of people who live peacefully on their estates. The order of things that has developed around them is not unfavorable; they are accustomed to it, there are no thoughts or needs to change or cancel anything, and they are afraid to take any new step. Feeling, however, that if a command comes from above, then the fear of God and conscience will force them to abandon the old and accept the new, they in every possible way avoid cases that could lead them to such convictions that, hiding behind ignorance, they can live peacefully in old habits. Such are those who are afraid to read the Gospel and the books of the Fathers and start a conversation about spiritual things for fear of disturbing their conscience, which, having awakened, will begin to force one to give up one thing and accept another. Monday . (Rom.16:17–24; Matt.13:10–23). Why do many people not understand conversations about spiritual things? Due to thickening of the heart. When the heart is full of attachments to earthly things, then it becomes coarser, as it is said: “become thicker, thicker, wider.” In this form, like a heavy weight, it pulls down and chains the entire soul and its mind to the ground. Then, rotating everything in the circle of low objects, it becomes low-minded and cannot soar grief, like a bird burdened with food. As he rotates, he does not see what is above, and his entire warehouse is disgusting to him... It is a completely unknown country to him. In the sum of his concepts and experiences, he has nothing to which he could apply what was there in order to see it even as a mirror in fortune telling. That is why he neither undertakes to talk about it himself, nor has the desire to listen to others who talk about it, and he will not pick up books in which it is written. Isn’t that why you sometimes find not one secular magazine among many, but not a single spiritual one, not a single spiritual book, not even a Gospel? Tuesday . ( 1 Cor. 1:1–9 ; Matt. 13:24–30 ). Good seed was sown, but the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat. Tares are heresies and schisms in the Church, and in each of us - bad thoughts, feelings, desires, passions. A person accepts the good seed of the word of God, decides to live holy and begins to live that way. When a person falls asleep like this, that is, weakens his attention to himself, then the enemy of salvation comes and puts evil plans into him, which, not being rejected at first, ripen into desires and dispositions and start their own circle of affairs and enterprises, mixed with good deeds, feelings and thoughts. And they both remain together until the harvest. This harvest is repentance. The Lord sends angels - a feeling of contrition and fear of God, and they, appearing like a sickle, burn up all the tares and burn them in the fire of painful self-condemnation. Clean wheat remains in the granary of the heart, to the joy of man, the Angels, and the Most Good God worshiped in the Trinity. Wednesday ( 1 Cor. 2:9–3:8 ; Matt. 13:31–36 ). The Kingdom is like grain and leaven. A small mustard seed grows into a large bush; the leaven penetrates the entire kneaded dough and makes it leavened. Here, on the one hand, is the image of the Church, which at first only consisted of the apostles and a few other persons, then grew and became numerous in number, penetrating all of humanity; on the other hand, an image of spiritual life revealed in every person. Its first seed is the intention and determination to be saved through pleasing God through faith in the Lord the Savior. This determination, no matter how strong, is like a small point. At first it embraces only consciousness and self-activity; From this, all the activities of spiritual life then develop. In itself, it multiplies in movements and strength and matures, and in relation to the soul it begins to penetrate it in all its powers - in the mind, will, feeling, and fulfills them with itself, makes it fermented in its spirit, and penetrates the entire composition of human nature - both the body, the soul, and the spirit in which it is born. Thursday . ( 1 Cor. 3:18–23 ; Matt. 13:36–43 ). “And throw them (those who create temptations and iniquities) into the fiery furnace; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth; then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” This will complete the separation of good and evil, light and darkness. Now the period of their mixing is flowing. The Lord was pleased to arrange it in such a way that created freedom would increase and become stronger in goodness through the fight against evil; evil is allowed both in contiguity with freedom inside and in contact with man outside. It does not define, but tempts. Those who feel temptation need not to fall, but to fight. The one who overcomes is freed from one temptation and moves forward and upward to enter into a new temptation. So until the very end of life. Oh, when would we understand this meaning of the evil that tempts us, so that according to this understanding we can arrange our lives! The fighters are crowned, finally, moving into another life, where there is no sorrow or illness on the outside and where they, like the Angels of God, become pure inside without being attacked by tempting movements and thoughts. This is how the triumph of light and goodness is prepared, which will be revealed in all its glory on the last day of the world. Friday . ( 1 Cor. 4:5–8 ; Matt. 13:44–54 ). Arriving in Nazareth, the Lord did not find faith there. His visible simplicity prevented the Nazarenes from seeing the invisible glory and divinity. Doesn't the same thing happen to a Christian? Christian dogmas are very simple in appearance, but for the mind that enters into them, they represent a comprehensive, harmonious system that no created mind has ever generated or can generate. Pride, having cast a cursory glance at the simplicity of the Gospel, turns away from it and begins to build itself a building of knowledge, as it seems to it, a huge one, from which seemingly wide views open up. In reality, what happens is that the building is piled up with maps, and the horizon is made up of mirages, ghosts of a heated imagination. But at least don't tell him. He and his brothers are ready to immediately throw anyone who wants to dissuade such a person from the mountain into the abyss with their critical attacks; but the truth always passes unharmed among them and goes to other souls capable of accepting it. Saturday . (Rom.9:1-5; Matt.9:18-26). The bleeding woman said: “... if only I touch His (the Lord’s) garment, I will be healed,” and she received it according to her faith. For us who are sensual, sensual touch is necessary in order to receive insensible force. The Lord arranged it that way. His holy Church has a visible structure. Its various parts embrace us, and we come into contact with it. The power of God, located inside the Church, is received through such a touch, whoever has a receiver - faith, which says: “... if I just touch it, I will get well.” The Church is the body and robe of the Lord. The most prominent parts that we touch are the divine sacraments, and especially, after baptism and confirmation, the sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord in union with the sacrament of repentance. But in all other parts, contact with faith can attract the necessary strength from the Lord, who is everywhere, and sees everyone who acts like this, and in his heart says to him: dare, child! Freethinkers, those who do not favor the external order of the Church, thus deprive themselves of the opportunity to come into contact with the inner, divine, all-life-giving power. Therefore, they remain sick and become exhausted by the flow of vain thoughts and feelings, dry up spiritually and freeze. Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Rom.12:6-14; Matt.9:1-8). The Lord forgives the sins of the paralytic. We would rejoice, but the crafty mind of the learned scribes says: “... this one blasphemes.” Even when the miracle of the healing of the paralytic followed in confirmation of that comforting truth for us that “the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins,” and then the people glorified God, but nothing was said about the scribes, probably because at the same time they intertwined some crafty questions. A mind without faith is tricky; Every now and then he forges crafty suspicions and weaves blasphemies against the entire region of faith. Either he doesn’t believe in miracles, or he demands the most tangible miracle. But when it is given and obliges him to submit to faith, he is not ashamed to evade, perverting or crookedly interpreting the wonderful actions of God. It also applies to evidence of God’s truth. Both experimental and mental evidence are presented to him in sufficient number and strength: he covers them with doubt. Analyze all his presentations - and you will see that they are all one cunning, even though in his language this is considered cleverness, so you involuntarily come to the conclusion that cleverness and cunning are one and the same. In the area of ​​faith, the apostle says: “We have the mind of Christ.” Whose mind is outside the realm of faith? Evil one. That is why cunning became his distinguishing feature. Monday . ( 1 Cor. 5:9–6:11 ; Matt. 13:54–58 ). The Nazarenes did not believe the word of the Lord because, living among them, He did not have in His external position an attractive lordship and representativeness that evoked involuntary respect. We know who He is, they said; It cannot be that there is anything extraordinary in Him. This, however, did not dispose the Lord to accept an impressive appearance; but He Himself all the time remained extremely simple in appearance, and the apostles later behaved the same way, and then all their true followers and imitators were the same. Why is this so? Because it is impossible to invent such external lightness that would fully correspond to the light of life in Christ Jesus. And it is recognized that it is better to keep the appearance of the latest price so that it does not block the inner one. He who has eyes, look straight at this latter, without stopping your attention on the first. St. ap. Paul put it this way: “...we have this treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Cor. 4:7). If we were to look at the appearance of the faces that we now revere and call upon in our prayers, we would not believe our eyes: they were so simple. But even to this day, the one who learns what life in Christ Jesus is, abandons appearances and turns entirely inward. That is why the first naturally falls, and the last rises and grows. Even with many, it happens that no one notices this inner lordship, not even the person who possesses it. The evil eye of man; he is not shown what is truly good until it can harm him. Tuesday . ( 1 Cor. 6:20–7:12 ; Matt. 14:1–13 ). Rumors of the Lord's deeds reached Herod; At the same time, he immediately concluded: it was John who had risen. You never know what you could think of! And yet he thought of no one but John. Who gave this direction to his thoughts? Conscience. You cannot hide unscrupulous deeds from her, nothing can correct her judgment. By beheading John, Herod arrogated to himself the right to do this, and others did not deny such a right, but his conscience began to speak, and he could not drown out its speeches with anything. This is where John appears to him. How many similar legends do we know, that conscience pursues the sinner and depicts to him the object and deed of sin so that he sees them even outside! Therefore, there is a voice in us that we must recognize as not our voice. Whose? God's. From whom our nature comes, from whom our voice comes. If he is God’s, then one must listen to him, for the creature does not dare to contradict the Creator. This voice says that there is a God, that we are completely dependent on Him and therefore cannot help but cherish the reverent fear of God; having it, we must fulfill the will of God, which our conscience indicates. All this constitutes the word of God, written in our nature, read and offered to us, and we see that people of all times and all countries hear this word and heed it. Everywhere they believe in God, everywhere they listen to their conscience and look forward to a future life. It is only now that it has somehow become fashionable not to recognize these truths. This is what naturalists do, or naturalists in Russian; This means that natural scientists preach an unnatural doctrine. Wednesday ( 1 Cor. 7:12–24 ; Matt. 14:35–15:11 ). “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person; but what comes out of the mouth defiles a person.” The Lord said this not because He did not favor fasting or considered it unnecessary for us - no, He Himself fasted, and taught the apostles to do so, and instituted fasts in His holy Church; but he said this so that, while fasting, we would not limit ourselves to malnutrition or dry eating, but would also take care to keep our soul in fasting, not indulging its wishes and passionate inclinations. And this is the main thing. Fasting serves as a powerful means for this. The basis of passions is in the flesh; when the flesh is exhausted, then it is as if a tunnel has been laid under the passions and their fortress is crumbling. Without fasting, overcoming passions would be a miracle, similar to being on fire and not getting burned. For someone who lavishly satisfies his flesh with food, sleep and rest, how can he keep anything spiritual in his attention and intentions? To renounce the earth and enter into the contemplation of invisible things and the desire for them is as convenient for him as it is for a decrepit bird to rise from the ground. Thursday . ( 1 Cor. 7:24–35 ; Matt. 15:12–21 ). “Evil thoughts come from the heart.” Where in the heart? Their root is in the sin living in us, and their ramifications, multiplication and a certain type in each of them are from his own will. How can this be? First, cut off everything that is arbitrary. It will be like someone plucking leaves from a tree, cutting off branches and twigs, and cutting off the trunk almost to the root. Then do not allow new shoots to come out, the very root will dry up: that is, do not allow evil thoughts to come from the heart, but reflect and drive away those that come out, and the sin living in us, not receiving reinforcement, will weaken and become completely weakened. This is the essence of the commandment: “...be sober and watchful. Pay attention to yourself. Gird up the loins of your thoughts." When paying attention, one must maintain reasoning. Not only bad things come from the heart, but also good things; However, not every good thing inspired by the heart must be fulfilled. What truly should be fulfilled will be determined by reasoning. Reasoning is like a gardener's knife, cutting off some branches and grafting others. Friday . ( 1 Cor. 7:35–8:7 ; Matt. 15:29–31 ). Without attention and in everyday order, you can’t do anything properly; in the spiritual order it is first. It notices the bad and submits it to internal judgment; it also constitutes the guard of the inner chamber, in which they discuss what should be done and how, and then protects the executors of the decision. It is not surprising because spiritual life in its entirety is called sober life, and in the writings of the fathers most of all you will find speeches about sobriety or attention: they are one and the same. How expensive it is to get the hang of attention! The initial work of those who begin to take care of the soul is usually directed towards this. And their business begins to look a little like business only as soon as attention begins to gather within itself; Usually it is all outside, not inside. From this very moment, the inner life begins and, together with attention, matures and grows stronger. What does it mean? This means standing with your mind in your heart before the Lord and consciously discussing and undertaking everything before His face. This matter is obviously complicated. It is sung together with prayer, and as much as it is strengthened by it, it strengthens it. Saturday . (Rom.12:1-3; Matt.10:37-11:1). “Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever receives the righteous in the name of the righteous will receive the reward of the righteous.” This resolves all misunderstandings when giving alms. Kindness towards the poor is almost always, if not stopped, then significantly reduced by the questions: who is asking and where will the donation go? The Lord says to such: in what sense you accept the one who asks and help him, in that will be your reward. Look not at the person asking, but at your own thoughts. What these last will be, such will be the price of your business. What thoughts to have about the poor is defined by another word: he who has mercy on the poor lends to God; or “if you did it for one of them, you did it for me.” So, accept everyone in need as the Lord and do for Him what you can do with the thought that you do for God, and you will receive the reward not only of a prophet and a righteous man, but of the Lord. Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Rom.15:1-7; Matt.9:27-35). “According to your faith, be it done to you,” the Lord said to the two blind men, and immediately their eyes were opened. As far as faith, so much as the attraction of Divine power. Faith is the receiver, mouth and container of grace. Just as one person’s lungs are large, and another’s are small, and those take in more air, and these less, so one’s faith is large, another’s is small, and that one accepts more gifts from the Lord, and this one receives less. God is everywhere, embraces and contains everything, and loves to dwell in human souls; but he does not enter into them by force, even though he is omnipotent, but as if by invitation, for he does not want to violate the power He has given to man over himself or the right of farming within himself. Whoever opens himself with faith, God fills him, but whoever closes himself with unbelief does not enter into him, even if he is nearby. God! Add faith to us, for faith is Your gift. Each of us must confess: “But I am poor and needy.” (Ps.69:6). Monday . ( 1 Cor. 9:13–18 ; Matt. 16:1–6 ). The Pharisees and Sadducees asked the Lord to show them a sign; but they did not see that the sign was before their eyes. The Lord Himself was a sign; His teaching and works clearly showed who He was; no other evidence was needed. “The works that I do... they testify of Me” (John 10:25), He said to the Jews. The Lord denounced them, you know how to discern the face of heaven, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. Why did this happen to them? Because they lived an external life, but did not go inside themselves. Without composure, without attention and self-deepening of the works of God, it is impossible to notice or understand. The same thing continues to this day. Christianity is before everyone's eyes as a true sign of God; but those who look at him do not see it, waver in faith and retreat. Their eyes lose the ability to see the stamp of divinity on it, and they are ready to ask for special signs from heaven, like the Jews. But the sign is not given and will not be given, because those who seek it are looking for it only temptingly, and not to follow the path of Christ. Just step on this path, and from the very first step you will see that it is divine, leads to God and brings God closer to you. The Lord said to the Jews: “... no sign will be given... only the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And the Lord foresaw the present unbelievers and prepared an answer for them: “... the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven; and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn...” (Matthew 24:30). Tuesday . ( 1 Cor. 10:5–12 ; Matt. 16:6–12 ). “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,” said the Lord. The Sadducees are a model of carelessness; The Pharisees are representatives of people who wear the face of zealots. They do nothing, but these seem to be busy, but in reality nothing works out for them. We are like them who are carried away by the ideas of humanity. Listen, they only talk about the good of the people, but the people don’t get any good from this, because they only talk and don’t do it. They have feigned humanity, they only show that they have it, but in essence they are egoists. Speeches do not require sacrifices - well, they squander them, and if they touch the matter of sacrifices, they will go back. Nowadays almost everyone is an actor; some are portrayed in front of others as zealots of good and especially enlightenment, and everyone remains very pleased when they manage to testify in words that they really are such. That’s why, as soon as any charitable undertaking appears, talk will arise everywhere, but the matter will still not be completed. Don’t expect sacrifices from them; they do not need to care about others, as long as their affairs go well. But it also happens that, without racking their brains over plans to benefit their neighbors, they sacrifice just to get away with it. The Lord condemned both, and ordered us to be filled with sincere love for each other, which does not like to show off. Wednesday ( 1 Cor. 10:12–22 ; Matt. 16:20–24 ). When St. The apostles confessed the Savior as the Son of God, He said: “must... suffer... and be killed.” The matter was ripe; all that remained was to complete it by death on the cross. The same thing happens in the course of a Christian’s moral progress. While he is struggling with passions, the enemy still hopes to tempt him somehow, but when the passions subside and the enemy no longer has the strength to arouse them, then he raises external temptations, all kinds of lies and, moreover, the most sensitive ones. He aims to plant the thought: “...well, what did you work and fight for? This won’t do you any good.” But when he prepares a war from outside in this way, the Lord sends down the spirit of patience to His worker and, before the enemy has time to raise any trouble, prepares in his heart an inspired readiness for all kinds of suffering and hostility, and the enemy’s machinations fail. Just as the Lord said about Himself: “you must suffer,” so they also experience a certain thirst for sorrow. And when they come, they greet them with joy and drink them, like a thirsty person drinks cool water. Thursday . ( 1 Cor. 10:28–11:7 ; Matt. 16:24–28 ). The Lord requires decisive self-sacrifice from those who want to follow Him: “...deny yourself.” It can be expressed this way: give up your interests and pursue only the interests of the Lord. You will accomplish this when you always do what pleases Him. How to do this? Look carefully at what is inside you and what is around you outside, and, having strictly determined how the Lord wants you to act in this and that case, external or internal, do so, without sparing yourself and without interfering with your calculations, with complete selflessness. You will say: it is difficult to determine this. No, no wonder. We have commandments that are clear and definite; they express everything that the Lord wants from us. All that remains is to apply them to this case, and this does not present any great difficulties. It is enough to have common sense. If you don’t guess, ask your spiritual father or someone else whose word you respect, and follow the instructions. But it is better in every possible way to refine your reasoning by reading the word of God and the writings of the Fathers, in order to always have a decider with you. Friday . ( 1 Cor. 11:8–22 ; Matt. 17:10–18 ). The Lord said about John the Baptist: “Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him.” Why is this? Because they did not listen to the ways of God and were not interested in them: they had a different mood, different tastes, a different outlook on things. Outside the circle of Divine things, their insight was strong, but in this circle they did not understand anything due to their alienation from it. The inner mood is also formed by one’s own instinct, which immediately notices and identifies what is familiar to it, no matter how hidden it may be. An artist, a scientist and an economist look at one thing equally carefully, but each pronounces a judgment about it in his own way - one based on its beauty, another based on causal relationships, a third based on its benefits. So were the Jews: as they were inclined, so they judged John, and then the Savior; and since they were not in the mood of God, they did not understand them, who were doing God’s work. So even now they have begun to understand neither the Forerunners nor the Lord - and they do with them as they want. A secret persecution of Christianity arose, which began to break out clearly, as recently in Paris. What happened there on a small scale must be expected over time on a larger scale... Save us, Lord! Saturday . (Rom.13:1-10; Matt.12:30-37). “A good man brings good things out of a good treasure, and an evil man brings evil things out of a bad treasure.” What you put into the treasury is what you will receive: if you put gold, you will take gold; you put copper - copper and you take it. Of course, even copper can be passed off as gold; but an expert will immediately recognize the forgery. How can we make sure that in our treasury there is only gold, that is, in our heart there is only good? The heart is by nature a treasure of good things; the evil one came later. Take the anatomical knife of attention and non-self-pity; separate out the unnatural and cut it off. The evil will depart one by one, and the good will strengthen and expand; Finally, only one good thing will remain. It's all about how to define natural and unnatural. Don’t listen to today’s natural scientists; They interpret everything topsy-turvy: what is natural is unnatural with them, and what is unnatural is natural with them - they call the evil one good, and the good evil. Look what the Lord says in the Gospel and St. the apostles in their writings, and according to their instructions, determine what is natural. So, finally, you will collect a lot of good things and will carry them out of your heart. Pray to the Holy Spirit: “...treasure of good things, treasury good things in my heart!” Eighth Sunday after Pentecost ( 1 Cor. 1:10–18 ; Matt. 14:14–22 ). Before the miraculous feeding of five thousand people, the Lord’s disciples wanted the people to be released, but the Lord told them: “...they do not need to go; you give them something to eat." Let’s memorize this word, and every time the enemy inspires us to refuse someone who asks, we will say on behalf of the Lord: “...they don’t need to go, you give them something to eat” - and we will give what is at hand. The enemy discourages many people from wanting to do good, suggesting that the one asking may not be worth it, but the Lord did not consider the dignity of those reclining: He treated everyone equally, but, of course, not everyone was equally devoted to Him; There were, perhaps, those who then shouted: “Crucify!” This is God’s general providence for us: “He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). If only the Lord would help us to be even a little merciful, “as our heavenly Father is merciful”! Monday . ( 1 Cor. 11:31–12 ; Matt. 18:1–11 ). “Unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Children's heart structure is exemplary. Children, until their selfish aspirations are revealed in them, are an example to follow. What do we see in children? Complete, unreasoning faith, unquestioning obedience, sincere love, carelessness and peace under the roof of parents, liveliness and freshness of life with mobility and the desire to learn and improve. But the Savior especially means one of their properties - humility: “... whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” For if there is real humility, then all the virtues are there. It appears in perfection when other virtues have already blossomed in the heart and come to maturity; it is their crown and covering. This is the mystery of spiritual life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The higher someone is, the more humble he is, for he sees more clearly and palpably that it is not he who is working in prosperity, but “the grace that is in him”; and this is “the measure of the age of the fulfillment of Christ.” For the main thing about Christ Jesus is that He “humbled Himself, becoming obedient even to the point of death.” Tuesday . (1 Cor. 12:12–26; Matt. 18:18–22, 19:1–2, 13–15). Wanting to know how many times one should forgive a brother, St. Peter asked, making a decision: “...shall I forgive up to seven times?” And having said this, I thought that I had prescribed the greatest measure. How short is human patience! The Lord, applying His long-suffering to our infirmities, determined: “... I do not tell you until seven times, but until seventy times seven.” This is the same as saying: always forgive and don’t think about not forgiving. All-forgiveness will be a distinctive feature of the Christian spirit, just as all-forgiveness is the source and constant support of life in us in the Lord, on the face of God. Constant forgiveness of everything to everyone is the outer garment of Christian love, which, according to the Apostle, is “long-suffering, merciful, not easily irritated, and covers all things” (1 Cor. 13:4-7). It is the surest guarantee for forgiveness at the final judgment, for if we let go, our Heavenly Father will also let us go (Matthew 6:14). Thus, if you want to go to heaven, forgive everyone sincerely, from the heart, so that not even a shadow of hostility remains. Wednesday ( 1 Cor. 13:4–14:5 ; Matt. 20:1–16 ). In the parable of the mercenaries, even the one who had to work for only one hour was equally rewarded by the landlord. The hours of the day in this parable are an image of the flow of our life. The eleventh hour is the last time of this life. The Lord shows that those who have lived to this point without working for Him can begin to work and please Him no less than others. There is no point, therefore, in making excuses for old age and despair, believing that there is no point in starting anything. Begin without timidity; the Lord is merciful; He will give you everything that he gives to others, both according to the order of grace here, and according to the law of righteousness there. Just become more passionate and more contrite about the negligence in which almost your entire life has been spent. You will say: the owner called there, may the Lord call me too. Isn't he calling? Don’t you hear the voice of the Lord in the church: “... come to me, all of you” - and the apostolic calling: “... as if God Himself exhorts through us, in the name of Christ we ask: be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20). Thursday . ( 1 Cor. 14:6–19 ; Matt. 20:17–28 ). Christianity fully satisfies our desire for primacy, but how? Completely opposite to the way it is used in the world. Do you want to be the first? Be a slave to everyone, that is, be the last before everyone, and this is just as important as it is essential to set up your life and your character according to the example of the Lord Christ. The Lord says: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” The Lord serves, even washes the feet of his disciples: therefore, there is no need to be ashamed to serve anyone. How and with what you can serve; There are opportunities at every step: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, bring the strange into the house, visit the sick and even go after him and do not refuse anyone who requires any other help. And serve not only the body, but also the soul of another: enlighten, give advice, point out a good book, comfort, strengthen. And the word is a powerful means of helping; the soul comes out in it and, combining with another, gives it strength. Friday . (1 Cor. 14:26–40; Matt. 21:12–14, 17–20). “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” Everyone knows that the church requires reverence, concentration of thoughts, deep contemplation of God and standing in the presence of God, and yet who does this? They go to church with the desire to pray, to stand in it for a while with warm zeal; and then thoughts begin to wander, and a bargaining takes place in the head even noisier than the one that the Lord met in the temple of Jerusalem. Why is this so? Because being in church is a reflection of your whole life. The way they live is how they behave in the church. The church influences and somewhat supports spiritual movements; but then the usual course of the spiritual order takes its toll. Therefore, if you want your stay in the church to be a worthy standing before the face of the Lord, prepare for this by living an ordinary life; walk as much as you can in a prayerful mood. This work will bring you to the point where you will stand in reverence all the time in church. This same reverence will inspire you to reverence in everyday life. So you will go higher and higher. God help me, start! Saturday . (Rom.14:6-9; Matt.15:32-39). And another time the Lord filled the people accompanying Him with a miraculous meal, in order to show that He is always ready to generously provide for the believing people. He could have done this every time, but he did not do it, so as not to wean him from the usual way of life, which He had established, approved and supported. This is also God’s general providence. The main comprehensive actions of industry were carried out at the beginning during the arrangement of all things; but, having arranged everything and set it in motion, God did not bind Himself to anything, but left Himself the freedom to bring in, when necessary, extraordinary help. He acts as the master of the house, who establishes order and, while maintaining them, does not, however, bind himself to them, but treats them with authority, with economic good intentions. Opponents of faith do not understand the significance of God's providence and, expanding it in their thoughts beyond its proper limits and not seeing the implementation of their considerations in practice, they reject providence itself. The industry they demand is definitely not there; but undoubtedly there is something that the Lord God Himself wants to establish and maintain. Ninth Sunday after Pentecost ( 1 Cor. 3:9–17 ; Matt. 14:22–34 ). St. Apostle Peter, with the permission of the Lord, leaves the ship and walks on the water, then gives in to the movement of fear and begins to drown. The fact that he decided to do such an extraordinary thing, trusting in the Lord, does not represent anything reproachful, for otherwise the Lord would not have allowed him to do so; it is reproachful that he could not withstand the first mental order. He was filled with inspired trust in the Lord that He could do anything, and this gave him the boldness to trust himself to the waves. Several steps have already been taken along this new path: it was only necessary to become stronger in hope, looking to the Lord, Who is near, and to the experience of walking in His power; and he delved into human thoughts: “the wind is strong, the waves are great, the water is not solid,” - this shook and weakened the strength of faith and hope in him. For this reason, he broke away from the hand of the Lord and, remaining devoted to the operation of the laws of nature, began to drown. The Lord reproached him: “...you of little faith! Why did you doubt?”, showing that this is the whole reason for the trouble. Here is a lesson for everyone who undertakes anything, great or small, to please the Lord! To preserve the first structure of faith and hope, from which great virtue is born - patience in doing good, which serves as the basis of a life pleasing to God. As long as these dispositions are preserved, until then the inspiration to work on the begun path does not fade and obstacles, no matter how great they are, are not noticed. When they weaken, the soul will immediately be filled with human considerations about human ways of preserving life and carrying out the affairs begun. And since these latter always turn out to be powerless, fear enters the soul of what to do; hence the hesitation as to whether to continue, and, finally, a complete reversal. It should be like this: start - hold on; Drive away confusing thoughts, but take heart in the Lord, Who is near. Monday . ( 1 Cor. 15:12–19 ; Matt. 21:18–22 ). The Lord condemned the fig tree to sterility because it looked so covered with leaves that there should have been fruits on it, which in fact were not there. When applied to Christian life, leaves mean external deeds of piety and external deeds, and fruits mean internal dispositions. The law is this: the former must proceed from the latter; but in terms of leniency towards infirmities - an extreme measure: the latter must develop together with the former. When the former are in power, but the latter are not even in embryo, then from here comes the lie of life, which is expressed as follows: to seem, but not to be. At first, perhaps, this unhappy mood is not present in thought, but then it appears unnoticed and establishes the order of life. Whoever places too much emphasis on appearance and becomes addicted to it, attention to the heart is closed, spiritual feelings are stifled, and coldness sets in. At this level, spiritual life freezes; the form of piety remains without its power. Behavior on the outside is correct, but on the inside everything is topsy-turvy. The consequence of this is spiritual sterility: things are done, but they are all dead. Tuesday . ( 1 Cor. 15:29–38 ; Matt. 21:23–27 ). In response to the Lord’s question about John the Baptist, the bishops and elders thought: whether we say this or that, everything is unprofitable for us, and therefore they decided to hide behind ignorance. His interest tied their tongues and did not allow them to testify to the truth. If they loved the truth more than themselves, their speech would be different, their deeds would be different. His interest closed the truth and did not allow it to reach his heart, prevented the formation of a sincere conviction and made him indifferent to it. And it’s always like this: selfish aspirations are the ultimate enemies of truth. All other enemies follow them and act through them. If we look at how all errors and heresies were born, it turns out that this is the source of all of them. In words the truth is the truth; but in fact, the truth interferes in this and that respect; we must eliminate it and put in its place a lie that is favorable to us. Why, for example, are there materialists – nihilists? Because the idea of ​​God the Creator, Provider and Judge, with the idea of ​​the spirituality of the soul, prevents them from living more widely according to their inclinations - so they remove it. That it is not the truth that guides the nihilists is evident from the insignificance of the grounds on which they are affirmed: they want it to be the way they think, and every ghost reflecting their thoughts is presented by them as a witness to the truth. If they had sobered up even a little, they would have immediately seen their lies. But they feel sorry for themselves, that’s why they remain as they are. Wednesday ( 1 Cor. 16:4–12 ; Matt. 21:28–32 ). In the parable of the two sons, the second of them quickly said: “... I went, but did not go.” This is an image of all hasty good intentions, which then lack constancy, will and patience to bring into execution. A light heart is immediately ready for any good thing that presents itself to it, but an unsteady and unhardworking will refuses to do it at first. This weakness occurs in almost everyone. How can one avoid such failure before oneself and before others? Here's how: don't start without thinking it through and without calculating that you have enough strength for what you are trying to do. This is what the Lord commanded in the parable of the one who starts a war and begins to build a house. What is this calculation? This, according to the same influx of inspiration from the Lord, is to arm ourselves in advance with self-sacrifice and patience. See if you have these supports of all the workers in goodness, and if you have, start the business; and if not, then stock up on them in advance. If you reserve yourself, no matter what you encounter on the way to what you intend, you will endure and overcome everything, and you will complete what you started. Calculation does not mean that if something is too difficult, quit, but rather to inspire yourself to do any work. From here will come firmness of will and constancy of action. And it will never happen to you that you say, “I’m going,” and then don’t go. Thursday . ( 2 Cor. 1:1–7 ; Matt. 21:43–46 ). The bishops and Pharisees realized that the Lord spoke parables about them, opened their eyes to see the truth, what did they do on this occasion? They were thinking of ways to kill the Lord. If prejudice had not distorted their sanity, they should have, if not believed, as the obviousness of the instructions required, then carefully discussed whether it was really so, as the Savior explains. Prejudice pushed them down a crooked road, and they later turned out to be deicides. And it’s always like that, and it’s like that now. The Germans, and after them our Germanized minds, as soon as they encounter a miracle in the Gospel, immediately shout: “It’s not true, it’s not true; this did not and could not have happened, we must cross it out.” Isn't this the same as killing? Look through all the books of these wise men, and in none of them will you find any indication of the reasons why they think this way; not one of them can say anything against what proves the truth of the Gospel, and not one of them bothered to delve into the arguments with which sane people expose their falsity: they all repeat only their own opinion, which cannot be, and therefore do not believe the Gospel. And nothing can be done about them: they are ready to go against God Himself. Friday . ( 2 Cor. 1:12–20 ; Matt. 22:23–33 ). About the image of the future life, the Lord said that they will not marry and do not encroach there, that is, our earthly everyday relationships will not take place there; therefore, all the orders of earthly life. There will be no sciences, no arts, no governments and nothing else. What will happen? God will be all things in all. And since God is spirit, unites with spirit, and the spiritual acts, then all life there will be a continuous flow of spiritual movements. One conclusion follows from this: since the future life is our goal, and this one is only a preparation for it, then living the entire time of life on only what is appropriate only in this life, and inapplicable in the future, means going against your purpose and preparing for yourself a bitter, bitter fate in the future. It’s not that it is absolutely necessary to give up everything, but that, working as much as is necessary for this life, the main concern must be turned to preparing for the future, trying, as far as possible, to turn earthly menial labor into a means to the same goal. Saturday . (Rom.15:30–33; Matt.17:24–18:4). The Lord pays the required church tax, and He fulfilled all other orders, both church and civil, and taught the apostles this way. And the apostles then passed on the same law to all Christians. Only the new spirit of life was accepted; externally, everything remained as it was, except for what was clearly contrary to the will of God, such as, for example, participation in idolatry sacrifices, etc. Then Christianity took over, supplanted all the previous orders and established its own. One would expect that in this way it would be more convenient for the Christian spirit to develop and strengthen. So it was, but not for everyone. The majority, having become accustomed to external Christian orders, settled on them, not caring about the spirit of life. This is how it continues to this day. Of the entire sum of Christians, someone will turn out to be a Christian in spirit. What about the others? “They bear a name as if they were alive, but now they are dead.” When the apostles preached the Gospel, their word chose a part of God from among the entire pagan world: now the Lord, through the same word, chooses his part from among the Christian world. “Let the reader understand,” and let him take care to find out for sure whether he is on the part of the Lord, and if he does not find confirmation of this, let him take care to belong to the Lord, for in this alone is salvation. Tenth Sunday after Pentecost ( 1 Cor. 4:9–16 ; Matt. 17:14–23 ). “This race can only be driven out by prayer and fasting.” If this kind is driven out by the prayer and fasting of another person, then even more so it cannot enter into someone who has his own fasting and prayer. Here's the fence! Even though there are an abyss of demons and the whole air is filled with them, they cannot do anything to someone who is protected by prayer and fasting. Fasting is all-round abstinence, prayer is all-round communion with God; that one protects from the outside, and this one from the inside directs an all-fire weapon at the enemies. Demons sense a faster and a man of prayer from afar and run far from him so as not to receive a painful blow. Is it possible to think that where there is no fasting and prayer, there is already a demon? Can. Demons, when they move into a person, do not always reveal their presence, but lurk, secretly teaching their owner all evil and turning them away from all good; so that he is sure that he does everything himself, and meanwhile he only fulfills the will of his enemy. Just take up prayer and fasting - and the enemy will immediately leave and wait on the side for an opportunity to return again, and indeed returns as soon as prayer and fasting are abandoned. Monday . ( 2 Cor. 2:4–15 ; Matt. 23:13–22 ). “Woe to you... because you close the Kingdom of Heaven to men.” This is said to the bishops, who themselves do not teach the people the path of salvation, and the priests are not forced to do this; It is also said to the priests who leave the people in negligence, not bothering to explain to them what is needed for the salvation of the soul. Because of this, the people remain blind, and one part remains confident that everything is going smoothly; the other, although she notices that things are not going well for her, does not go where she should, because she does not know how and where to go. This gives rise to various absurd concepts among the people; because of this, schismatics, Molokans, and Khlysty find a welcome with him, and because of this, every evil teaching conveniently comes to him. The priest usually thinks that everything is fine in his parish, and gets down to business only when this evil is already growing and coming to the surface. But then nothing can be done. The first thing a priest must consider in his conscience is to perfect adults in the knowledge of the Christian faith, and to prepare the young generation from their first conscious years, explaining to them what they need and can know. There's no point in waiting for school. This should be done verbally, getting the children together for church and home on Sunday evenings or when and how it is more convenient. Tuesday . ( 2 Cor. 2:14–3:3 ; Matt. 23:23–28 ). Cleanse the inner so that the outer can be clean. Our external behavior in the hostel is always almost correct: we are afraid of human judgment and hold back. If outwardly they indulge in vices, then this is the last thing; This means that all shame is lost. But while the visible behavior is correct, the internal structure of thoughts and feelings is not always correct. There, complete freedom is given to self-indulgence, which is externally satisfied, as far as it bears the human eye and to the extent that you can hide your affairs from it. This is exactly a painted coffin. At the same time, internal uncleanness makes the external unclean. Cleanse this inner, then the outer will become clean, and you will be completely clean, you will become a vessel fit for every good use by the householder. One must marvel why this inner remains neglected: after all, no one wants to perish for themselves. It is true that the enemy keeps such a soul in blindness: that this is nothing, as long as there are no obvious sins, or teaches it to put off the main thing until tomorrow - tomorrow we will take ourselves seriously, as we should, and now let the soul enjoy passionate thoughts and dreams, if not deeds. Let us be careful lest we become outdated in this mood, and lest correction become as impossible for us as retraining an old man. Wednesday (2 Cor. 3:4–11; Matt. 23:29–39). How many mercies the Lord showed to Jerusalem (i.e., the Jews)! And, finally, he was forced to say: “... your house is left empty.” Everyone knows what the consequences were: the Jews are still homeless. Doesn't the same thing happen with the soul? The Lord cares about her and admonishes her in every possible way; the obedient one follows the indicated path, and the rebellious one remains in her opposition to God’s calling. But the Lord does not abandon her either, but uses all means to bring her to her senses. Perseverance increases; God's influence also increases. But there is moderation for everything. The soul reaches the point of bitterness, and the Lord, seeing that nothing more can be done with it, leaves it in the hands of His fall - and it perishes, like Pharaoh. So, anyone who is overcome by passions, take a lesson from this that you cannot continue indulgence to the end with impunity. Isn’t it time to quit and not only deny yourself from time to time, but to make a decisive turn? After all, no one can say when the border will be crossed. Maybe this is the end of God's patience. Thursday . ( 2 Cor. 4:1–6 ; Matt. 24:13–28 ). “He who endures to the end will be saved.” But not everyone who endures will be saved, but only he who endures on the path of the Lord. This life is for enduring, and everyone endures something and endures until the very end. But patience is of no use if it is not for the sake of the Lord and the Holy One. His Gospel. Enter the path of faith and the commandments of the Gospel; the reasons for patience will multiply, but from this moment patience will begin to bear fruit, and the patience that was previously empty will become fruitful. With what blindness the enemy surrounds us, that only that patience is difficult and unbearable, which he meets on the path of good, and that which he himself imposes on those who work for passions, he presents as easy and worthless, although it is heavier and more dismal than that which is endured by those who fight passions and resist the enemy! But we are blind and do not see this... We work, endure and exhaust ourselves for the sake of the enemy to our own destruction. Friday . (2 Cor. 4:13–18; Matt. 24:27–33, 42–51). “Watch, for you do not know at what hour your Lord will come.” If this were remembered, there would be no sinners, but yet it is not remembered, although everyone knows that this is undoubtedly true. Even the most strict ascetics were not able to freely retain the memory of this, but managed to attach it to their consciousness so that it would not leave: some kept the coffin in their cell, some begged their companions in the feat to ask about the coffin and the grave, some kept pictures of death and judgment, some others did what. Death does not touch the soul, it does not remember it. But what immediately follows death cannot but touch the soul in every possible way; She cannot help but care about this, since this is the decision of her fate forever and ever. Why doesn't she remember this? She deceives herself that it won’t be soon and that, perhaps, somehow things won’t go badly for us. Bitter! There is no doubt that the soul that holds such thoughts is negligent and indulges itself, so how can one think that the matter of judgment will go favorably for it? No, you have to behave the way a student who is about to take an exam behaves: no matter what he does, the exam never leaves his mind; Such mindfulness does not allow him to waste a minute in vain, and he uses all the time to prepare for the exam. If only we could tune in like that! Saturday . ( 1 Cor. 1:3–9 ; Matt. 19:3–12 ). The Lord says that the marriage union was originally blessed by God Himself and put this law into our nature; about those who want not to marry, he said: “Whoever can accommodate, let him accommodate.” It is clear that although He recognized marriage as a natural law, it was not so necessary and inevitable that there was no place for celibacy. And one last thing. He allows, but protects with a condition that brings him closer to the law of nature. Skopets from birth is celibate according to natural law; but the one who, by his will, puts himself in a state in which a natural eunuch is by birth without the participation of will, becomes on the same line with him in relation to natural needs. Therefore, in this respect, both the first and the second are natural celibates. Why is spiritual espionage or arbitrary celibacy considered unnatural? Because they do not understand nature. For them, only what is natural is what is natural to the body, and what is natural to the spirit and what becomes natural due to its influence on the body, they do not want to consider natural. And it would be good if these people were all materialists, otherwise they are not: talk to them about something else, they argue reasonably. Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost ( 1 Cor. 9:2–12 ; Matt. 18:23–35 ). The Lord concluded the parable of the two debtors with these words: “So will My Heavenly Father do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother his sins from his heart.” It seems that such a little is required: forgive and you will be forgiven; and when forgiven, then accepted into mercy; and when he was accepted into mercy, he became a participant in all the treasures of mercy. Therefore, here is salvation, and paradise, and eternal bliss. And such a great gain for such a small thing that we will forgive!.. Yes, a small thing, but for our pride there is nothing harder than to forgive. Some kind of unintentional trouble, secretly caused to us, so that no one sees, we will probably still forgive; but a little more sensitively, and in front of people, at least don’t ask: there is no forgiveness. There are circumstances, whether you like it or not, but you cannot express displeasure, and you remain silent: but the tongue is silent, and the heart speaks and makes evil plans. Raise the unpleasantness one more level, and there is no holding back: neither shame, nor fear, nor losses - nothing will hold back. Egoism that boils over makes a person seem like a madman, and those who succumb to it begin to say nonsense. It is not just any people who are most susceptible to such misfortune, but the more civilized one is, the more sensitive to insults, the less forgiving. On the outside, relationships sometimes still remain smooth, but on the inside there is a decisive discord. Meanwhile, the Lord demands that we forgive with all our hearts. Monday . ( 2 Cor. 5:10–15 ; Matt. 1:9–15 ). The Lord began His sermon like this: “... the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the Gospel.” At the end of the ages it will also be said: the time is fulfilled, the Kingdom is at hand; but what will be added is not “repent and believe,” but “go forth to judgment.” The time of repentance and labors of self-correction is over; give every account of what you have done with your body, good or evil. So, while there is still time, hurry to use it to your salvation. The Father's arms are open to receive all those who come with a sincere feeling of contrition for the past and with the desire to serve God in the future by diligently fulfilling the commandments of His saints. For each of us, the end of the century is death: it is the door to another life. Look at it more often and more accurately determine for yourself: what next? - and having determined without pitying yourself, set to work in order to prepare what is unready for entering where there is endless joy, and for removing everything that could give the right to the servants of pitch darkness to dominate us and drag us into their own area, from where there will be no way out. Tuesday . ( 2 Cor. 5:15–21 ; Matt. 1:16–22 ). The Lord taught in the synagogue of Capernaum, and everyone marveled at His teaching: “For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” This power is not a commanding tone, but the power of influence on souls and hearts. His Word passed inside and knitted people’s consciences, indicating that everything was as He said. Such is always the word, imbued with the power of the Divine, the word from the Spirit, or the anointed word. This was the case with the holy apostles, and after them with all influential teachers, who spoke not from scientific knowledge, but from how the spirit allowed them to preach. This is a gift of God, acquired, however, by working not only on the study of the truth, but more on the heartfelt and vital assimilation of it. Where this is accomplished, there the word is imbued with persuasiveness, because it passes from heart to heart; here is the power of the word over souls. Scribes, who speak and write from a scientific point of view, are not given such power, because they speak from their heads and pour their speculations into their heads. There is no life in the head, but only the tip of it. Life is in the heart, and only what comes from the heart can influence the currents of life. Wednesday (2 Cor. 6:11–16; Mark 1:23–28). The demon praised the Savior, and the Savior said to him: “...shut up and come out of him.” Demons never say or do anything with a good purpose: they always have something evil in mind. It was the same here. The Lord, without exposing their intrigues, decided in one word: shut up and go out. He did not want to talk for a long time with an evil spirit. Here's a lesson for us. As soon as anyone succeeds in doing something good, the demon immediately sits down and begins to trumpet in his ears: you are like this and like that. Do not listen and do not enter into conversation with this flatterer, but immediately say flatly: “Shut up and go out” - and follow his trail with sighing and self-reproach, and cover his place with contrite prayer. He wants to generate self-esteem and well-being and then inflate from them self-praise and vanity - all such thoughts and feelings that are the same in spiritual life as thieves in everyday life. Just as these, having climbed into the house, rob the property of the owner, so those, by taking root in the soul, destroy everything that is good in it and throw it out, so that there is nothing left for which the Lord would then praise. Thursday . ( 2 Cor. 7:1–10 ; Mark 1:29–35 ). “In the morning, getting up very early, he went out and retired to a deserted place, and there he prayed.” Here is a lesson to get up early and devote the first hours of the day to prayer, in solitude. The soul renewed by sleep is fresh, light and penetrable, like the fresh morning air; therefore, she naturally asks to be let into the place where all her joy is, before the face of the Heavenly Father, into the community of angels and saints. It is more convenient for her to do this at this time than later, when the worries of the day are upon her. The Lord arranges everything. We must receive from Him a blessing for our deeds, necessary admonition and necessary reinforcement. And hurry early, while nothing prevents you from privately ascending to the Lord with your mind and heart and confessing to Him your needs, your intentions and asking for His help. Having tuned in to prayer and contemplation of God from the first minutes of the day, you will then spend the whole day in reverence and fear of God with your thoughts collected. Hence - prudence, sedateness and harmony in affairs and mutual relations. This is a reward for the work you force yourself to do in the morning solitude. This is also for everyday people, therefore, a measure of prudence, and not something alien to their goals. Friday . ( 2 Cor. 7:10–16 ; Mark 2:18–22 ). At the Transfiguration, a voice from heaven spoke nothing more than “Listen to Him” (Matthew 17:5). Why is this so? Because here the fruit of obedience was presented before our eyes. Heavenly Father said, as it were: do you want to achieve this? Listen to what He will inspire and command you. And if you follow His path, then you will undoubtedly enter the realm of light, which will embrace you not from the outside, but will come from within and always keep you in such a state that all your bones will say: it’s good for us to be like this. You will be filled with the light of joy, the light of good mood, the light of knowledge; all sorrows pass by, disorders of passions will disappear, lies and delusions will dissipate. You will become heavenly on earth, God-born among earthly beings, and eternally blessed among mortal beings. Then everything will be yours, because you yourself will become Christ's. He who loves Christ the Lord is loved by the Heavenly Father, and both come to him and make their abode with him. Here comes the light of Transfiguration! Saturday . ( 1 Cor. 1:26–29 ; Matt. 20:29–34 ). The two blind men of Jericho cry out, and the Lord restores their sight. But were it only these blind men who were in those places? Of course not. Why did these receive insight, while others did not? Because they did not cry out; but they did not cry out because they had no hope; they had no hope because they did not please God; They did not please God because they believed little. To whom real faith comes, he will immediately begin to please God; and with pleasing God, hope will begin to enter; and from all this comes prayer, compelling all help from above. There is no such thing as a refusal. Yes, they know how to ask, and they truly know what they should ask, and they understand the extent of asking, and they maintain patient persistence in prayer. All this is absolutely necessary to be successful; prayer itself is weak-winged. Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost ( 1 Cor. 15:1–11 ; Matt. 19:16–26 ). “It is difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Here, of course, is the rich man, who sees in himself many ways and many strengths for his well-being. But as soon as a person who has a lot cuts off all attachment to property, extinguishes all hope in it and ceases to see in it his essential support, then in his heart he becomes the same as someone who has nothing - the road to the Kingdom is open to such a person. Wealth then not only does not hinder, but helps, because it provides a way to do good. It is not wealth that is the problem, but the trust in it and the addiction to it. This idea can be generalized as follows: whoever puts his trust in something and is addicted to something is the one who becomes rich. He who trusts in God alone and cleaves to Him with all his heart is rich in God; He who trusts in something else and turns his heart to something other than God, is rich in that other thing, and not in God. From here it follows: whoever is not rich in God has no entry into the Kingdom of God. This refers to gender, connections, intelligence, ranks, range of actions, etc. Monday . ( 2 Cor. 8:7–15 ; Mark 3:6–12 ). The Lord forbade people and demons to praise Him when He was on earth, but demanded that they believe in Him and fulfill the commandments of God. The Lord has the same law now, and it will be the same at the judgment: “Not everyone who says to Me: Lord! God! He who does the will of My Father in heaven will enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 7:21). That is why in church they begin to sing: “Glory to God in the highest,” and towards the end they reach “... heal my soul... teach me to do Thy will.” Without this, praise to God has no value. Yes, then it does not come from the soul, but is only raised by the tongue from other people’s words, which is why the Lord does not pay attention to it. We must arrange it in such a way that others see our deeds and praise the Lord, so that our life is a praise to God, for He is the one who does everything in everyone, just don’t interfere; and praise for deeds ascends to Him. Everyone must become the fragrance of Christ, then even without praise there will be unceasing praise to the Lord. A rose flower does not make a voice, but its fragrance disperses far in silence - this is how all Christians should live. Tuesday . ( 2 Cor. 8:16–9:5 ; Mark 3:13–19 ). The Lord chose the apostles “to be with Him and to send them to preach, and so that they would have the power to heal diseases and cast out demons.” And every Christian is chosen, and chosen for similar deeds, namely: to be with the Lord by the unceasing memory of Him and the consciousness of His omnipresence, by preaching and fulfilling His commandments and by the readiness to confess one’s faith in Him. In the circle where such a confession is made, it will be a loud sermon for those who hear. Every Christian has the power to heal ailments, not those of others, but his own, and not physical, but mental, that is, sins and sinful habits; cast out demons, discarding the evil thoughts they inspire, and extinguishing the excitement of the passions they kindle. Do this and you will be an apostle, a doer of what you have been chosen to do by the Lord, the Finisher of your mission. When you initially succeed in all this, then perhaps the Lord will assign you a special mission - to save others after you have saved yourself, and to help those who are tempted after you yourself have gone through all the temptations, all the experiences of good and evil. But your job is to work on yourself: for this you have already been chosen; the rest is in the hands of God. He who humbles himself is exalted. Wednesday ( 2 Cor. 9:12–10:7 ; Mark 3:20–27 ). “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” As long as there is unanimity of sinful wickedness within us, the kingdom of darkness and sin remains strong within us; but when the grace of God attracts the part of the spirit captive to sin to itself, freeing it from captivity, then division occurs within: sin on one side, good on the other. As soon as, as a result of this excitement, a person is combined with goodness through consciousness and freedom, sin loses all support and goes towards decay. Constancy in the accepted good intention and patience in working on it completely upsets sin and destroys it. Then the kingdom of good begins within, and remains until some evil thought creeps in and, attracting willfulness to itself, again produces division. Just give way to the emerging sinful impulse, combine with it and put it into action - again good will begin to weaken, and evil will grow until it completely destroys it. This is an almost continuous history of the inner life of those who are weak-hearted and have no strong character. Thursday . ( 2 Cor. 10:7–18 ; Mark 3:28–35 ). “Whoever blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness.” How long will it take to fall into this terrible sin? Very briefly, for these are the types of sins: “…much and immeasurable trust in the grace of God; despair or lack of hope in God's goodness; contradiction to obvious and established truth and rejection of the Orthodox Christian faith. Others add to this envy of the spiritual gifts that one’s neighbor receives from God; persistence in sin and growing old in wickedness; neglect of repentance until departure from this life” (Orthodox confession, part 3, question 38). There are so many ways! If you go into any of them, it will be difficult to return, and you will be carried towards the consuming abyss. Resistance to the truth begins with small doubts, excited by an evil word or scripture. Leave them without attention and treatment, they will lead to unbelief and persistence in it. They also reach despair unnoticed: I will repent, they say, and they sin. This happens several times; then, seeing that repentance does not come, they say to themselves: so be it, you can’t control yourself, and they give themselves over to sin in full power. An abyss of sins is collected, and at the same time an abyss of resistance to the obvious attractions of God’s grace is allowed. When in this form a person comes to the idea of ​​​​correcting himself, a multitude of sins suppresses him, and resistance to grace takes away the courage to approach the Lord, and decides: “My greatest guilt must be left to me.” That's despair! Beware of the beginnings of unbelief and love of sin, and you will not fall into this abyss. Friday . ( 2 Cor. 11:5–21 ; Mark 4:1–9 ). “Behold, a sower went out to sow.” Since this Sower went out to sow, He has not stopped sowing. First, He personally sowed, then through the apostles, and finally through the Divine Scriptures and God-wise teachers. And to this day the word of God’s truth is spreading everywhere. Just be ready to reveal yourself to the good land, you will certainly be seeded; God will increase what is sown. How to imagine the good land? By attention and study of the word of God, sympathy and love for it, and readiness to immediately put into action what you learn. In such a mood, not a single word will lie on top of the soul, but everything will go inside. Combining there with the elements of the spirit that are native to it, it will take root and sprout. Feeding then - from above with spiritual inspirations, and from below with good desires and works, it will grow into a tree, give flower and fruit. God himself arranged this around us, and therefore one cannot help but be surprised at our infertility. And all from inattention and negligence. Saturday . ( 1 Cor. 2:6–9 ; Matt. 22:15–22 ). “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”; give everyone yours. Hence the law: do not please God with just one aspect, but with every aspect in which you can and must please; Direct all your strength and every way to serving God. Having said: “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,” the Lord showed that such an action was pleasing to Him. If by Caesar you understand all the orders of earthly life, necessary and essential, and by God - all the orders of the Church established by God, then it follows that all the paths of our life are overflowing with ways to salvation. Just pay attention and have time to use everything and act everywhere in accordance with God’s will, as God wants you to do—salvation is at your fingertips. You can arrange yourself in such a way that no matter what you take, it is a deed pleasing to God and, therefore, a step towards salvation, for the path of salvation is a procession along the path of God’s will. Walk in the presence of God, listen, reason and, without sparing yourself, immediately begin the task that your conscience points out to you at that time. Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost ( 1 Cor. 16:13–24 ; Matt. 21:33–42 ). “Mary chose the good part” (Luke 10:42). The Dormition of the Mother of God represents the good end of this election. The Savior Himself, at Her Dormition, took Her soul into His hands. Many saints were also granted the same; The same thing is met in different forms and degrees by all voters of the good part. At the hour of election, this end is only glimpsed by hope, and to some extent even foreseen; but then labors, struggles and self-compulsion follow one after another and darken the chosen path. The good end of the good part remains the guiding star. This is the same as a luminous light in the distance for a traveler caught in darkness. Hope is a stimulant of energy and a supporter of patience and constancy in what has been begun, and it itself is strong in faith. By faith they choose, by trust they are firm in their choice, and by patience they reach the good end. Monday . ( 2 Cor. 12:10–19 ; Mark 4:10–23 ). God breathed in the breath of life, and man became in the image of God. It is the same in rebirth: by the breath of the Spirit of God, which comes from unknown where and how, the beginnings of a new life are laid and the image is restored. This is the starting point; from here begins the work of raising the image into perfect likeness. He who is reborn in the image of the Creator is transformed by the Lord's Spirit from glory to glory, but not without us; Our work and diligence, but God creates and grows with the grace of the Most Holy Spirit, through faith in the Lord. This is the ideal and the way to realize the image and likeness of God in yourself! And how much they write and talk about education! Meanwhile, in the word of God it is all defined in a few words. Just undertake to carry out what is prescribed, and education will by itself proceed successfully towards the goal. This is God's way; but he does not exclude human ways, on the contrary, he gives them direction and crowns them with success. When only the human remains, then education is usually insufficient, with damage, and often completely distorts those being educated; then further and life all goes wrong. Where those who are crookedly brought up multiply, the whole society begins to become more and more crooked both in life and in its views. The end is a universal distortion: some bend in one direction, some in the other. Tuesday . ( 2 Cor. 12:20–13:2 ; Mark 4:24–34 ). The parable of the gradual growth from the seed of wheat depicts in relation to each person the gradual growth of what is hidden in the heart of a person, seeded and preserved by the grace of God, and in relation to humanity - the gradual increase in the body of the Church or society of those saved in the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the order established by Him. This parable resolves the question: why is Christianity not all-embracing to this day? Just as a person, having thrown a seed into the ground, sleeps and gets up, but the seed vegetates and grows by itself without his knowledge; so the Lord, having laid the seed of Divine life on earth, gave it the freedom to grow, subordinating it to the natural course of events and without forcing these latter; watches only the seed, assists it in particular cases and gives general direction. The reason for this is human freedom. The Lord is looking for man to submit himself to Him and is waiting for his freedom to decline; the matter continues. If everything depended only on the will of God, everyone would have been Christians long ago. Another thought: the body of the Church being created is being built in heaven; Only materials come from the earth, which are also formed by heavenly figures. The word from heaven passes through the earth and attracts those who want it. Those who listened and followed, like raw material, enter the laboratory of God, the Church, and here they are remade according to the models given from heaven. Those who have been transformed, upon leaving this life, move to heaven and there they enter the building of God, each one fit for purpose. This goes on continuously, and therefore the work of God is not worthwhile. The universal solemnity of Christianity is not required for this. The building of God is built invisibly. Wednesday ( 2 Cor. 13:3–13 ; Mark 4:35–41 ). The disciples are sailing on the sea; a storm arises and puts them in a dangerous situation, but the Lord sleeps. They cry out to Him: “Lord, save!” and He calms the storm with one word. Another factual representation of the order of Divine providence. And each person, and peoples, and the Church - sail on the sea of ​​life themselves, with the forces invested in them, natural and supernatural, according to the orders established by God. The Lord rests, although He remains among moving events; He himself begins to act when an imminent misfortune threatens, which could deviate the direction of events in opposition to His Divine plans. He is everywhere, preserves everything, warms everything with the breath of His love, but leaves it to His creatures to act, with the powers given by Him, according to the laws and orders established and preserved by Him everywhere. He is not personally omnipotent, although everything comes from Him and without Him nothing happens. He Himself is always ready to influence when it is necessary according to His infinite wisdom and truth. Prayer is the receiver of God's actions. But the best prayer is: “Lord! You know everything, do with me as you please!” Thursday . ( Gal.1:1–10, 20, 2:5 ; Mark 5:1–20 ). “My name is Legion, for we are many.” Spirits are not corporeal, therefore they do not fill space with themselves and do not occupy them, like bodies. This explains the physical possibility of many spirits residing in one person. The moral possibility on the part of spirits is understandable from their immorality or absence of any moral principles; and on the part of man - from the multilateral contact of his spiritual structure with the dark region of unclean forces. But this only explains the possibility; the reality of the possession of demons is subject to conditions that we cannot determine. We can only say that the possession of spirits is not always visible, and is not always revealed by the known actions of the possessed. There is an undetectable, secretive presence of spirits; there is also the power of spirits over minds, in addition to the body, when they lead them as they want through the passions that act in them; people think that they all act themselves, being the laughing stock of evil spirits. How can this be? Be a true Christian, and no enemy force will defeat you. Friday . (Gal.2:6–10; Mark 5:22–24, 35–6:1). Having resurrected Jairus’ daughter, the Lord “strictly ordered” her parents that no one should know about it. This tells us: do not seek glory and do not strain your ear to hear people’s praises, even though your deeds are of such a kind that they cannot be hidden. Do what the fear of God and conscience forces you to do, and treat human talk as if it did not exist at all. And watch your soul: as soon as it leans in the slightest degree towards this side, return it to your rank. The desire for people to know is caused by the desire for praise. When there is praise, then the goal is achieved; and this undermines energy and stops praiseworthy activity, and therefore the continuation of praise. It turns out that anyone who wants people to know his good deeds is a traitor to himself. When people praise good things, they do the deed - for what is good unless praised? - but don’t have this in mind and don’t expect and don’t look for it. If you indulge yourself in this, you will be completely spoiled. One indulgence will lead to another. Doing the same thing more often will turn into a moral, and you will be a lover of praise. And when you get to this point, then not all your deeds will be praiseworthy and your boasting will be reduced. For lack of external praise, self-praise will begin, which the Lord called blowing the trumpet before oneself. This is even worse. The soul then becomes petty, chasing only tinsel, and don’t expect true good from it. Saturday . ( 1 Cor. 4:1–5 ; Matt. 23:1–12 ). “The greatest of you shall be your servant.” The majority is measured according to the word of the Lord, not by birth, not by power, not by the measure of abilities and methods, but by the ability to arrange good for others. Whoever acts more tirelessly and widely in this way is the greatest. Just as in a family the greatest, becoming the greatest, takes to heart the concern for the entire family and places his honor and advantage in this in order to put everyone at ease, to make sure that everyone is happy, so in Christian society, one who wants to be the greatest must take upon himself full concern for the Christian comfort of everyone in the circle in which he is, and in the type of activity that he has chosen for himself. It’s better: give up every thought about being greater, and take heartfelt concern to serve as much as possible for the good of those around you, and you will be greater in the eyes of God, and perhaps in the minds of people. If all the great would make this law of Christ the law of their conscience, what prosperity and contentment would immediately come among us! But the grief is that the majority of us soon turns to serving themselves and their interests and is always accompanied by almost a demand to serve themselves instead of serving others; the conscience is calmed by the proper conduct of official affairs. That is why there are many great ones, but good does not happen among us, and all good institutions do not bring the good that is expected from them. Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost ( 2 Cor. 1:21–2:4 ; Matt. 22:1–14 ). The king arranges a wedding feast for his son, sends for those invited once, sends twice, but they do not come because of everyday worries: one took up farming, the other traded. A new invitation was made in other areas, and the wedding chamber was filled with reclining persons. Between them there was one, not dressed for marriage, and therefore ejected. The meaning of the parable is clear. Wedding feast - Kingdom of Heaven; invitation - preaching the Gospel; those who refused - those who did not believe at all; one who is not dressed for marriage - one who believed, but did not live by faith. Everyone can figure out for themselves which category each of us belongs to. That we are called is clear, but are we believers? After all, you can be among believers, under their common name, without faith. Others don’t think about faith at all, as if it doesn’t exist; another knows something about it and from it and is satisfied; others interpret faith crookedly; some are completely hostile to her, and everyone is considered to be a Christian, even though they have absolutely nothing Christian. If you believe, figure out whether your feelings, your deeds, the garment of your soul, are consistent with faith, for the sake of which God sees you dressed for marriage or for non-wedlock. You can know the faith well and be zealous for it, and in life work according to passions, dressing, that is, in the shameful clothing of a sin-loving soul. Such people say one thing in words, but another in their hearts; on the tongue: “Lord, Lord!”, and inside: “Have me renounced.” Reason about yourself, whether you are in faith and in the wedding garment of virtues, or in the shameful rags of sins and passions. Monday . (Gal.2:11-16; Mark 5:24-34). The bleeding woman, as soon as she touched the Lord with faith, and power came to her from the Lord, “immediately her source of blood dried up.” Bleeding is an image of passionate thoughts and plans, constantly exuding from a heart that has not yet been cleansed of all sympathy for sin; this is our sinful disease. It is felt by those who have repented and are zealous to keep themselves clean, not only externally, but internally. Such people see that evil thoughts constantly emanate from the heart, and they ache about it and seek healing for themselves. But this healing cannot be found either in oneself or in others; it is from the Lord, namely, when the soul touches the Lord and strength flows into the soul from the Lord, in other words, when tangible communication with the Lord occurs, which is evidenced by special warmth and inner burning, when, I say, this happens, the soul immediately feels “that it has been healed of the disease.” The good is great; but how to achieve it? The bleeding woman pressed her way to the Lord and received healing; and we need to press forward to the Lord, to walk unlazyly through the tightness of internal and external exploits. For someone walking like this, everything is cramped, everything is cramped and the Lord is not visible, and then suddenly the Lord is here. And joy! The Kingdom of God does not come by discretion... Tuesday . ( Gal.2:21–3:7 ; Mark 6:1–7 ). “Where did He get this from? What kind of wisdom was given to Him? This is what the Nazarenes said about the Lord, who knew His former, humble life. The same thing happens to everyone who truly follows the Lord. He who strictly adheres to the path of the Lord, after his labors, when he has overcome everything that is wrong in himself, changes completely, in his entire composition: his gaze, his gait, his speech, his self-control - everything bears the stamp of special harmony and dignity, even if he who appeared like this was previously from the lowest state and not at all educated. And you have to hear: where did he get this from? If the bodily and visible are transformed in this way, then what can we say about the internal and spiritual, which is more immediate and more closely subject to the action of transformative grace and in relation to which the external serves only as an expression and consequence? How bright your thoughts are about everything, precise and definite! How true is the judgment about what exists and what happens! His view of everything is beyond philosophical! What about intentions, what about actions, what about enterprises? Everything is pure and holy, shining with heavenly light. This is truly a new person! He did not receive an education, did not listen to lectures at academies and did not have any upbringing, but he is the most well-bred and wise. Attention to oneself, work on oneself, prayer and approach to God have all been transformed by the grace of God, but how - no one sees it. That’s why the question is: “Where did he get this from?” Wednesday (Gal.3:15–22; Mark 6:7–13). The Lord, sending St. apostles, commanded them not to have anything with them. One robe on the shoulders, sandals on the feet, a staff in the hands - and that’s it. And have no worries about anything, entering this work, as if they were comprehensively provided for. And indeed, the apostles were completely provided for, without any external support. How was this arranged? Their complete devotion to the will of God; That’s why the Lord arranged it this way so that they would not need anything. He moved the hearts of those listening to the sermon, and they nourished and gave peace to the preachers. But the apostles did not have this in mind and did not expect anything, but handed over everything to the Lord. That’s why they endured it patiently even if something unpleasant happened. They had one concern - to preach, and one sorrow - if they did not listen to the sermon. Hence the purity, independence and prolific preaching. And now it would be necessary; but our weakness requires external support, without which we will not take a step. This, however, is not a reproach to our current apostles. At first they definitely rely on this provision, but then it disappears from their minds, and by their own labor they are elevated to a state of devotion to God, from which moment, one must assume, the real fruitfulness of preaching begins. Devotion to God is the highest degree of moral perfection, and one does not suddenly reach it as soon as one realizes its value. It comes on its own after working on oneself. Thursday . ( Gal.3:23–4:5 ; Mark 6:30–45 ). “And they fled there on foot from all the cities... and gathered to Him” - this is to the desert of Bethsaida, where a miraculous feeding of five thousand with five loaves and two fish took place. What drew the people to the Lord? Compassion for the Divine. The divinity of the Lord, hidden under the cover of human nature, reveals itself in word, deed, look and in everything that was visible in the Lord. Manifestations of the Divine awakened the feeling of Divinity hidden in the heart and through it attracted one to the Lord. No one has the power to restrain such a movement, not only an outsider, but also one who feels it himself, because it is deeper and stronger than any other movements. The same Divine, later manifested by the Savior, attracted people of every language under heaven to Him. The same has been true throughout the history of the Church and is still valid today. A small trace of the Divine attracts to itself. What follows from this everywhere and all-time experience of the aspirations of our spirit towards the Divine? That which is Divine, that which is supernatural, that which is Divine, is its source. This desire lies at the basis of our spirit and constitutes its nature, as anyone can see from our mental, aesthetic and active concerns. But in nature there cannot be lies and deception; therefore, they are not present in this striving for Divinity. From this it follows that God and the Divine exist and that natural scientists who reject the supernatural go against the nature of the human spirit. Friday . ( Gal.4:8–21 ; Mark 6:45–53 ). “Be of good cheer; It’s me, don’t be afraid.” This is the support of our hope! Whatever the trouble and sorrow, remember that the Lord is near, and be inspired by courageous patience. Just as He suddenly appeared to the apostles who were in distress at sea, so He will suddenly show His help and intercession to you, the distressed one. He is everywhere and is always ready with His covering. Just stand with Him or before Him with faith, prayer, hope and devotion to His holy will. There will be a combination of the spirit with the Lord, and from here comes all good. However, this does not mean that dignity, glory, honor, and the like will immediately go away. The external can remain as it is, but a courageous and complacent stay will arrive in the order of events that the Lord will be pleased to determine for whom. And this is the main thing that everyone in need should look for. Happiness is within, not without. Internal happiness always exists for those who are in living union with the Lord. Saturday . ( 1 Cor. 4:17–5:5 ; Matt. 24:1–13 ). “Because iniquity increases, the love of many will grow cold.” Love is destroyed by lawlessness; the more sins, the less love. Where all the sins are, don’t look for love there. Therefore, whoever seeks the spread of love and the reduction of dislike must take care of the minimization of sins and the reduction of the area of ​​love of sin. This is the real beginning of humanity! Having accepted it, one must accept all the ways in which one can counteract sin. External sins are the fruit of internal sinfulness. Internal sinfulness is all rooted in selfishness and its offspring. Consequently, humanists need to make it their law to adopt such rules by which egoism is suppressed, and egoism is most strongly suppressed by not giving oneself the will. Don’t give yourself free rein and you will soon overcome selfishness. On the contrary, whatever means you want to use against egoism, you will not be able to do anything with it if you give free will. It follows from this: where they are looking for wills in everything, they are looking for the expansion of egoism and the drying up of love, they are looking for greater evil. Meanwhile, such is the spirit of the present time - and evil is growing. Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost ( 2 Cor. 4:6–15 ; Matt. 22:35–46 ). The Lord proposed the commandment about love for God and neighbors and immediately supplemented it with the teaching of His sonship to God and Divinity. What is this for? For the fact that true love for God and people is only possible under the influence of faith in the Divinity of Christ the Savior, in the fact that He is the incarnate Son of God. Such faith arouses love for God, for how can one not love God, who loved us so much, Who did not spare His only Son, but gave Him up for us? She brings this love to the fullness of completion or to what it seeks; and love seeks a living union. To achieve this union, one must overcome the feeling of God's truth punishing sin; without this it is scary to approach God. This feeling is overcome by the conviction that the truth of God is satisfied by the death on the cross of the Son of God; this conviction comes from faith; therefore, faith opens the way to love God. This is the first. Second, faith in the Divinity of the Son of God, for us who became incarnate, suffered and was buried, provides an example of love for neighbors, for this is love when a lover lays down his soul for his loved ones. It also gives strength to show such love. To have such love, you need to become a new person, instead of an egoistic one, a selfless one. Only in Christ does man become a new creature; in Christ there is one who, by faith and grace-filled rebirth through the Holy Sacraments, received with faith, is united with Christ. It follows from this that those who without faith hope to preserve at least moral order expect this in vain. All together; a person cannot be divided. All we have to do is satisfy him. Monday . (Gal.4:28–5; Mark 6:54–7:8). The Lord reproaches the Pharisees not for the external orders and rules of behavior they have established, but for their addiction to them, for the fact that they settled on only external worship of God, without caring about what was in their hearts. It is impossible without the external. The highest inner requires the outer as an expression and as its vestment. In fact, it is never alone, but always in union with the outside; Only in false theories are they separated. But again it is obvious that the external alone is nothing; its price comes from the presence of something internal in it, so if it doesn’t exist, then at least don’t have it. Meanwhile, we are greedy for appearances and appearances, in which the internal is imagined and in which it takes a certain form, to the point that, having fulfilled the external, we remain calm, not thinking about whether the internal is there or not. And since the internal is more difficult than the external, it is very natural to get stuck on the latter, without reaching out to the former. How can this be? One must rule oneself and keep in mind the internal, always strive towards it through the external, and with the external, consider a matter to be a matter only when the internal is combined with the external. There is no other way. Attention to oneself, sobriety and wakefulness are the only levers for raising our stout and self-absorbed nature. It’s wonderful that someone who has the inner never leaves the outer, although he doesn’t attach much value to it. Tuesday . ( Gal.5:11–21 ; Mark 7:5–16 ). “Nothing that enters a person from without can defile him; but what comes from it defiles a person.” This passage and similar ones, for example: “Brasno does not place us before God,” are usually put forward by those who do not like fasting, believing that this sufficiently justifies their non-fasting, according to the charter and order of the Church. How satisfactory this apology is is known to every faithful member of the Church. During fasting, it is decreed to abstain from certain foods, not because they are bad, but because this abstinence more conveniently achieves the refinement of the flesh necessary for internal prosperity. This meaning of the law of fasting is so significant that those who consider any food to be unclean are considered heretics. Those who are not favorable to fasting should not insist on this, but on the fact that fasting is optional, although it is definitely a means to overcome the sinful urges and aspirations of the flesh. But this is a point on which they cannot resist. If internal prosperity is obligatory, then the means to it that is considered necessary, namely fasting, are also obligatory. Conscience says this to everyone. To calm her down they repeat: I will compensate for the omission of fasting in another way; or: fasting is harmful to me; or I will fast when I want, and not on established fasts. But the first apology is inappropriate, because no one has yet managed, in addition to fasting, to come to terms with their flesh and properly establish their inner self. The latter is also inappropriate, because the Church is one body and to be separate from others in it is contrary to its structure; You can remove yourself from the general ranks of the Church only by leaving it, and while anyone is a member of it, he cannot speak like that and demand that. The second apology has a shadow of entitlement. And precisely, in the restrictions of fasting, the obligation to fast is removed from those on whom fasting has a destructive effect, because fasting is not established to kill the body, but to mortify passions. But if you list them in good faith, then they will turn out to be so few that there is nothing to count them. There will be only one reason left - reluctance. There is no point in arguing against this. And they won’t take you to heaven against your will; only when they are condemned to hell, go whether you like it or not; They'll grab you and throw you there. Wednesday (Gal.6:2-10; Mark 7:14-24). “From within, from the human heart, come evil thoughts, adultery, fornication, murder, theft, covetousness, malice, deceit, lasciviousness, an envious eye, blasphemy, pride, madness.” Walking sins are listed here, but all others, large and small, come from the heart, and the form in which they come is an evil thought. The first seed of evil falls into the idea of ​​doing this and that. Why and how does it fall? Some of these occurrences can be explained by the well-known laws of combinations and couplings of ideas and images, but only a part. Another significant part comes from the self-propelled irritation of passions. When passion lives in the heart, it cannot but demand satisfaction. This requirement is revealed by the urge to do both; This or that object is connected with the urge. Hence the thought: “here’s what needs to be done.” Here the same thing happens as, for example, during hunger: the one who feels hunger feels the urge to eat; food itself comes to mind with an urge; from here - get this or that and eat it. The third, perhaps more voluminous part comes from unclean forces. The air is filled with them, and they scurry around people in flocks, and each one, according to its kind, scatters around itself an impact on the persons in contact. Evil flies from them like sparks from hot iron. Where there is acceptability, a spark takes root, and with it the thought of an evil deed. This, and not anything else, can explain the incipient evil thoughts that arise in the midst of activities that are decidedly unrelated to them. But this difference in reasons does not make a difference in how to deal with evil thoughts. There is only one law: when an evil thought comes, throw it away and the matter is over. If you don’t throw it away in the first minute, it will be more difficult in the second, even more difficult in the third, and then you won’t even notice how sympathy will be born, desire and decision and means will appear... that’s sin at hand. The first resistance to evil thoughts is sobriety and vigilance with prayer. Thursday . (Eph.1:1-9; Mark 7:24-30). What prompted the Syrophoenician woman to come to the Lord and be so persistent in her petition? The established image of beliefs; she was convinced that the Savior was able to heal her daughter and came to Him; She was convinced that He would not leave her request unsatisfied, and she did not stop asking. Beliefs are the result of a lifetime, upbringing, current thoughts, impressions from the environment, from the teachings encountered and various incidents and activities in life. Under the influence of all this, thought works and reaches certain beliefs. At the same time, we must bear in mind that the truth of God is everywhere and from everywhere pressing into the human soul. Truth lies in the heart of man; the truth of God is imprinted on all creatures; there is the truth of God in the customs and morals of man; It exists in teachings, more or less. But all the time there are lies. He who is from the truth collects the truth and is full of true, saving convictions. And he who is not from the truth collects lies and is full of false beliefs and destructive delusions. Whether a person is from the truth or not from the truth - everyone can decide for himself, but meanwhile the judgment of God awaits everyone... Friday . (Eph.1:7-17; Mark 8:1-10). Having fed four thousand with seven loaves, the Lord “immediately entered the boat and arrived at the borders of Dalmanutha,” as if nothing special had been done. This is true good deeds - to do and do, not paying attention to what has been done and always forgetting what is behind, to stretch forward to what is ahead. For those filled with kindness, this happens as if naturally. Just as a hero lifts large weights without noticing it, but a weak person, even having lifted a small weight, cannot forget it, so a strong person with kindness does every good thing without effort, if only there is an opportunity; but one who is poor in kindness cannot do without tension: it is memorable to him, and he keeps looking at it, keeps looking around. A good heart thirsts for good deeds and is not satisfied until it has done enough good, just as a person is not satisfied until he has eaten enough. Like here, while hunger is felt, lunch is remembered, and when hunger is satisfied, everything is forgotten. So with a truly good person, a good deed is remembered until it is done, and when it is done, it is forgotten. Saturday . ( 1 Cor. 10:23–28 ; Matt. 24:34–44 ). “Watch, for you do not know at what hour your Lord will come.” To be vigilant does not mean to sit idly by, but, having in mind that the Lord will suddenly come, to behave in such a way and conduct your affairs in such a way that you are ready to meet Him at any moment, without fear of receiving reproach and condemnation. How to do this? Very simple. Walk according to the commandments, without breaking a single one, and if you happen to break one, you must immediately cleanse it with repentance and due satisfaction on your part. Then everything will be clean for us. And do not leave sin on your soul for a moment: repent immediately, cry in your heart and run to your spiritual father to confess and get permission; and then again take up work according to the commandments of God. If you zealously set out to be good in life, you will soon improve, just don’t remain in decline for long. With this order, falls will become less and less frequent, and then they will stop completely with the help of the all-healing grace of God. Then there will be joyful confirmation that you will not meet the Lord unprepared. Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost ( 2 Cor. 6:1–10 ; Matt. 25:14–30 ). The parable of the talents gives the idea that life is a time of bargaining. It means that we must hurry to take advantage of this time, just as at a bargain everyone rushes to bargain for what they can. Even if someone brought only bast shoes or bast, he does not sit idly by, but manages to invite buyers to sell his own and then buy what he needs. Of those who have received life from the Lord, no one can say that he does not have a single talent; Everyone has something, and more than one thing: everyone, therefore, has something to trade and make a profit. Don’t look around and don’t consider what others have received, but take a good look at yourself and more precisely determine what you have and what you can acquire with what you have, and then act according to this plan without laziness. At the trial they will not ask why you did not acquire ten talents when you had only one, and they will not even ask why you acquired only one talent with your one talent, but they will say that you acquired a talent, half a talent or a tenth of it. And the reward will be not because you received, but because you acquired. It will be impossible to justify anything - neither nobility, nor poverty, nor lack of education. When this is not given and there will be no demand for it. But you had arms and legs, tell me, they will ask what you acquired with them? Was there a language that they acquired? This is how the inequalities of earthly conditions are equalized at the judgment of God. Monday . ( Eph.1:22–2:3 ; Mark 10:46–52 ). The blind man of Jericho, learning that the Lord was passing by, raised his voice. His cry reached the Lord; nothing surrounding the Lord could interfere with this hearing, and the Lord, calling the blind man, restored his sight. And at every time and in every place the Lord does not just pass by, but is present; He rules the whole world. Judging humanly, it means He has a lot of worries; Moreover, hosts of angels surround Him with their praises. But if you manage to raise your voice, like the blind man of Jericho, nothing will stop your cry from reaching the Lord; He will hear and fulfill your request. It's not up to the Lord; and He Himself is near, and everything you need is already ready with Him; the stop is behind you. Manage to raise your voice to the extent of hearing the Lord and you will immediately receive everything. What kind of measure is this? Faith, hope, devotion to the will of God. But these measures also have their own measures. What should these measures be? Ask someone who prayed and received what he asked for; he will tell you: “I prayed for this and that, and received what I asked for; Now I need this and that, I pray and don’t receive it, and I know why: because I just can’t reach the level of prayer that I had before.” It turns out that this measure cannot be determined with literal accuracy. One thing is definitely true: the matter lies with us, and not with the Lord. Once you reach the point of receiving, you will certainly receive. Tuesday . (Eph.2:19–3, 7; Mark 11:11–23). The fig tree, covered with leaves, was beautiful in appearance, but did not receive approval from the Lord, because there was no fruit on it, and there was no fruit because there was no internal fertile power. How many such fig trees are there in the moral sense! Everything looks fine, but there is nothing inside. They are dignified, honest, and do everything Christian, but do not have the spirit of life in Christ Jesus; that is why they have no living fruit; and what is in them only seems to be fruit, but is not. What is the spirit of life in Christ Jesus? To this we say: one thing in him is from the Lord, and the other from us. What is from the Lord is, in fact, fertile spiritual power; and what is from us is only the receiver of this force. Take more care of the latter. Here the root is the feeling that you are perishing and that, if not the Lord, you will perish: from here throughout your life, in all your deeds and labors, your heart is contrite and humble. Further, since the future is unknown, and there are many enemies and stumbling is possible every minute, then there is fear and trembling in the achievement of salvation and an incessant cry: “In the image of fate, save me.” Woe to him who rests on anything other than the Lord; woe to him who labored for anything other than the Lord! Ask yourself, if you have worked in matters that are considered pleasing to God, for whom are you working? If conscience boldly answers: only for the Lord is it good; and if not, then you are building a house on sand. Here are some pointers about a fertile inner spirit. Understand this and other things. Wednesday (Eph.3:8-21; Mark 11:23-26). If you do not forgive others the sins against you, then your Heavenly Father will not forgive you your sins, said the Lord. Who doesn't let others go? A righteous person or one who recognizes himself as righteous. Such a person has no choice but to judge and pronounce only sentences and demand the execution of the guilty. Whoever feels like a sinner, who cares about others? He will not dare to condemn another and demand satisfaction from him, when his conscience constantly denounces him and constantly threatens him with the righteous judgment of God. So, isn't it better to sin than to be righteous? No, be zealous for righteousness in every possible way; but with all your righteousness, realize that you are an invincible slave, and recognize with a non-divided thought, that is, not that the thought of your inviolability is in front, and the feeling of righteousness is hidden behind, but with full consciousness and feeling, have yourself invincible. When you reach this (and you must reach this, for it is not acquired suddenly) - then, no matter how much your brother has sinned against you, you will not seek retribution, because your conscience will repeat: “You are not worth it, this is not enough for you,” and you will forgive; and having forgiven, you yourself will be worthy of forgiveness. So all your life: forgiveness for forgiveness, and at the trial you will be forgiven for this. Thursday . (Eph.4:14-19; Mark 11:27-33). The Savior proves His heavenly mission by the testimony of John the Baptist - they are silent, because there was nothing to say against it, but everyone does not believe. Another time, by His deeds, He proved the same thing - they came up with a twist: “about the prince of demons.” But when this twist was shown to be completely inappropriate, they also fell silent, but still did not believe. So, unbelievers always do not believe, no matter what you tell them and no matter how convincingly you prove the truth: they can say nothing against it, but everyone does not believe. One would say that their minds are paralyzed, but they think sensibly about other subjects. Only when it comes to talking about faith do people begin to get confused in concepts and words. They are also confused when they present their views as a substitute for the provisions of faith given by God. Here their doubt is built into such a support that yours is a strong rock. Listen to their whole theory - the child will understand that this is a cobweb network, but they do not see it. Incomprehensible blindness! The persistence of unbelievers can also be explained by their reluctance to believe, but where does the reluctance itself come from? And why does it take such power in this case that it forces an intelligent person to consciously adhere to an illogical way of thinking? There is darkness here - isn’t it from the father of darkness? Friday . (Eph.4:17–25; Mark 12:1–12). The parable of the vineyard depicts the Old Testament Church and God’s care for it. The New Testament Church inherited the Old Testament, therefore this parable can also apply to it; and since every Christian is also a living church of God, then to him. The latter is more necessary for us. What's a vineyard here? The soul that has received remission of sins, the grace of rebirth, the gift of the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of the inheritance of the eternal kingdom, the word of God, St. sacraments, Guardian Angel. Who are the workers? Consciousness and freedom. They receive gifts and commit to cultivating them and producing fruit for the Lord. Who are the faulty workers? Those who want to take advantage of Christian benefits and use them as much as is appropriate in the external order of life, but do not bear spiritual fruits worthy of the Lord. Who are the messengers from the Lord? Conscience with the fear of God, the word of God, teachers and shepherds with whom the Lord wants to admonish the faulty. Those who do not want to correct themselves do not listen to them; others persecute them and try to drown out their voice; others go so far as to begin to enmity themselves against the Lord Himself when they reject faith in Him in various forms. End: “The wicked will perish in evil.” Saturday . ( 1 Cor. 14:20–25 ; Matt. 25:1–13 ). The parable of the ten virgins is read. St. Macarius depicts its meaning this way: “... the wise five virgins, sober, hastening to something unusual for their nature, taking oil in the vessel of their heart, that is, the grace of the Spirit given from above, were able to enter with the Bridegroom into the heavenly chamber. Other foolish virgins, remaining in their own nature, were not sober, did not try, while they were still in the flesh, to take the oil of joy into their vessels, but, out of negligence or out of conceit about their righteousness, they gave themselves over to sleep; for this they were not allowed into the palace of the kingdom, unable to please the heavenly Bridegroom. Holding on to worldly ties and earthly love, they did not devote all their love and commitment to the heavenly Bridegroom and did not bring oil with them. And the souls who have sought the holiness of the Spirit, unusual for nature, are attached with all love to the Lord, walk with Him, turning away from everything, directing prayers and thoughts to Him, for which they were honored to receive the oil of heavenly grace. The souls that remain in their nature crawl on the earth with their thoughts, think about the earth, and their mind dwells on earth. They think of themselves that they belong to the Bridegroom and are adorned with carnal excuses, but without receiving the oil of joy, they were not reborn with the Spirit from above.” Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost The week before the Exaltation. (Gal.6:11-18; John 3:13-17). “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” Faith in the Son of God, crucified in the flesh for our sake, is the power of God for salvation, a living source of living moral aspirations and moods and a receiver of the extensive grace of the Holy Spirit, always abiding in the heart and hidden influxes in good time, in times of need, sent down from above. Faith combines beliefs that attract God's favor and power from above. Both together are the possession of an eternal belly. As long as this life is kept intact, a Christian is unyielding, for, clinging to the Lord, he is one spirit with the Lord; but nothing can overcome the Lord. Why do they fall? From weakening faith. As Christian convictions weaken, moral energy also weakens. As this weakens, grace is forced out of the heart, and bad urges raise their head. At a convenient hour there is a decline in these last ones: here comes the fall. Be cheerful and a guardian of the faith in its entirety - and you will not fall. In this sense, St. John says that he who is born of God does not commit sin. Monday . (Eph.4:25–32; Luke 3:19–22). Herod is an image of irritated pride due to the alarm of conscience by denunciations of the truth, hoping to get rid of this trouble by violence. John the Baptist is an image of truth, persecuted by pride, when it has the means to do so. No matter how you soften the truth with condescension and turns of phrase that the tenderness of love can invent, which does not want to hurt another in the heart, the face of truth will appear before the eyes of conscience and there within it raises a storm of conviction. The self is short-sighted and cannot discern that the reproof is not from the outside, but from within, and with all its strength it rises up against the external accuser. By blocking his lips, she hopes to drown out his inner voice. He doesn’t have time, however; this is not where the concern goes. We must appease our conscience; then, no matter how many external accusers, they will not disturb the inner peace, but will only deepen it, forcing one to gather calming convictions inside - faith in the crucified Lord, sincerity of repentance and confession and the firmness of the decision not to do anything against one’s conscience. This is where you should turn, and don’t put all the Johns in prison, for the word of God’s truth walks everywhere on earth, and every one of them is John the accuser for you. Tuesday . (Eph.5:20–26; Luke 3:23–4:1). During Lent, an honorable cross is offered for worship in order to inspire Lenten workers to patiently bear the yoke they have raised to the end, and in September, why is this done? Did that happen? But providential Wisdom, which arranges everything, has no cases. This is what this is for: in September they are removed from the field, at least here. So, lest some Christians, in a feeling of contentment, say: “Soul! You have a lot of good things for many years: rest, eat, drink, be merry! ”, and others did not lose heart from poverty, the erected cross appears before the eyes of everyone, reminding the first that the support of well-being is not possessions, but Christian internal cross-bearing, when the external, by the goodness of God, is put together, inspiring the second to gain their souls with patience, inspiring them with the confidence that from the cross they go straight to paradise; Therefore, let some endure, believing that they are going along the right path to the Kingdom of Heaven, while others eat external consolations with fear, lest they enter into heaven for themselves. Wednesday (Eph.5:25-33; Luke 4:1-15). The devil approaches the God-man with temptation - which of the people is free from that? He who walks according to the will of the evil one; he is not attacked, but is only directed towards greater and greater evil; as soon as someone begins to come to his senses and plans to start a new life according to the will of God, the entire satanic region immediately comes into motion: who is in a hurry to scatter the good thoughts and undertakings of the repentant. If they don’t have time to reject, they try to interfere with good repentance and confession; they don’t succeed here - they manage to sow tares among the fruits of repentance and labors in cleansing the heart; They don’t have time to suggest evil, but they try to twist the good; They are internally repelled - externally they attack, and so on until the end of life. They don’t even let you die in peace; and after death they chase the soul until it passes the airy spaces where they hover and hang out. “How can it be, it’s so bleak and scary?” For a believer, there is nothing scary here, because demons only fuss around a God-fearing person, but have no power. The sober man of prayer shoots arrows at them, and they stay far away from him, not daring to approach and fearing the defeat they have experienced. If they succeed in anything, it is because of our oversight. Let us weaken our attention or allow ourselves to be carried away by their ghosts - they are right there and will begin to disturb you more boldly. If you don’t come to your senses in time, they’ll spin you around, but if your soul comes to its senses, they’ll jump back again and spy from afar to see if it’s possible to approach again somehow. So, be sober, stay awake, pray - and your enemies will not do anything to you. Thursday . (Eph.5:33-6; Luke 4:16-22). The Lord not only came to announce a pleasant summer, but also brought it. Where is it? In the souls of believers. The earth will never be transformed into a paradise while the present order of things continues to exist; but it is and will be a field of preparation for heavenly life. Its beginnings are placed in the soul; the possibility of this is in the grace of God; Our Lord Jesus Christ brought grace - therefore, he brought a pleasant summer for souls. He who listens to the Lord and fulfills everything He commands, receives grace and through its power enjoys a pleasant summer within himself. This is faithfully accomplished in all who sincerely believe and act by faith. You cannot fill your soul with this pleasantness with thoughts; you must act, and the pleasantness will infuse itself. There may be no external peace, but only internal peace, but it is integral to Christ. However, it always happens that as soon as inner peace is established, external worries have no burden and bitterness. Therefore, on this side too, summer is pleasant; only from the outside it looks like cold winter. Friday . (Eph.6:18-24; Luke 4:22-30). The Nazarenes marveled at the word of the Lord, but still did not believe: envy interfered, as the Lord Himself revealed. And every passion is contrary to truth and goodness, but envy is the greatest of all, for its essence consists of lies and malice; this passion is the most unjust and the most poisonous both for the bearer and for the one to whom it is directed. It happens to everyone on a small scale, as soon as an equal, and especially a worse one, gains the upper hand. Selfishness gets irritated, and envy begins to sharpen the heart. It’s not so painful when the road is open for yourself; but when it is blocked, and blocked by those towards whom envy has already begun, then I cannot restrain its aspirations: peace is impossible here. Envy demands the overthrow of its enemy from the mountain and will not rest until it somehow achieves this or destroys the envier himself. Well-wishers, whose sympathetic feelings prevail over selfish ones, do not suffer from envy. This shows the way to extinguish envy and everyone tormented by it. You must hasten to arouse goodwill, especially towards the one you envy, and show it in action - the envy will immediately subside. A few repetitions of the same kind, and, with God’s help, it will completely subside. But leaving it like that will exhaust it, dry it out and drive it into the grave, when you cannot overcome yourself and force it to do good to the envied. Saturday . (1 Cor. 15:39–45; Luke 4:31–36). “Unless you believe that it is I, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It is necessary to receive remission of sins, but it cannot be obtained otherwise than through faith in the Son of God, in our flesh for the sake of Him who was crucified, under the condition of not wanting to indulge in sinful habits and deeds; for when we sin, we have only Him as our intercessor to the Father. He who has given the word to abstain from sins must accept the assisting grace of the Most Holy Spirit, and it descended to earth after the Lord sat down, ascending to the right hand of God the Father, and is given only to those who believe in this wondrous economy of our salvation and with this faith approach the Divine sacraments established in St. Church of the Lord through the apostles. So, whoever does not believe in the Lord as He is cannot be clean from sins. Without being cleansed of them, he will die in them; and having died, the judgment will accept them to the fullest extent of their severity. Whoever wants to benefit someone with eternally valuable benefits, guide him in faith in the Lord, true faith, which does not allow philosophizing and hesitation. Those who directly or indirectly upset faith in the Lord should be considered eternal villains, for they cause such evil that nothing can be corrected and the power of which extends to all eternity. Their ignorance will not justify them, for how can one not know the truth that is known to the whole world? Counter-convictions will not justify you, for if you just begin to strictly believe them, you will immediately shake their strength and then you will not be able to rely on anything except faith in the Lord. Those who lag behind the faith are those who do not, as they should, examine the foundations, the faith, and the teachings to which they cling. An accurate study of the conditions of salvation will lead to the conviction that they can only be fulfilled with God incarnate, dying on the cross and sending the Holy Spirit to earth. This is the essence of the Christian faith. Whoever sincerely believes this way will never die in his sins, for he himself carries within himself the power that brings pardon. The unbeliever is already condemned, for he carries condemnation within himself. Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost ( 1 Cor. 9:6–11 ; Luke 5:1–11 ). The fishermen worked all night and caught nothing; but when the Lord entered their boat and after the sermon ordered them to throw the trap, so much was caught that they could not pull it out and the trap broke. This is an image of all work without God’s help and work with God’s help. While one person works and wants to achieve something through his own efforts, everything falls out of hand; when the Lord approaches him, good after good will flow from there. In spiritual and moral terms, the impossibility of success without the Lord is palpably visible: “...without Me you cannot do anything,” said the Lord. And this law applies to everyone. Just as a branch, if it is not fused with a tree, not only does not bear fruit, but, when it dries out, it also loses life: so people, if they are not in living communion with the Lord, cannot bear the fruits of truth, valuable for eternal life. What goodness sometimes exists in them is only good in appearance, but in essence is of poor quality; Like a forest apple, it may look red, but try it and it’s sour. And in external, everyday terms, it is also tactilely visible: one fights and another fights, and everything is not for the future. When God’s blessing descends, where does everything come from? Those who are attentive to themselves and to the ways of life know these truths from experience. Monday . (Phil.1:1–7; Luke4:37–44). “And to other cities I must preach the Kingdom of God, for for this purpose I was sent.” This – “for this is why I was sent” – our priesthood must accept as an immutable law. And the Apostle commanded them in the person of St. Timothy: “Be persistent in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort” (2 Tim. 4:2). The Lord and the Holy Spirit, who filled the apostles on the day of Pentecost, brought the truth to earth, and it walks the earth. Its guides are the mouths of the priests of God. Whoever of them closes his mouth blocks the path to the truth that asks for the souls of believers. That is why the souls of believers languish, not receiving the truth, and the priests themselves should feel languor from the truth, which, not receiving an outcome, burdens them. Relieve yourself, priest of God, from this burden, release streams of Divine words to please yourself and to revive the souls entrusted to you. When you see that you yourself do not have the truth, take it: it is in the holy scriptures; and, being filled with it, forward it to your spiritual children: just do not be silent. Preach, for this is what you are called to do. Tuesday . (Phil.1:8–14; Luke5:12–16). The leper fell down to the Lord, praying: “Lord! if you want, you can cleanse me.” The Lord said: “I want to, cleanse yourself.” And immediately the leprosy left him. Likewise, any moral leprosy immediately goes away as soon as someone falls to the Lord with faith, repentance and confession - truly it goes away and loses all power over it. Why does leprosy sometimes come back again? This is why bodily illnesses return. They say to someone who has recovered: “Don’t eat this, don’t drink that, don’t go there.” He won’t listen and the disease will irritate him again. So it is in spiritual life. We must be sober, watchful, and pray—the disease is sinful and will not return. If you don’t listen to yourself, you allow yourself to see, hear, speak, and act everything indiscriminately, how can you not be irritated by sin and take power again? The Lord ordered the leper to fulfill everything according to the law. This is what it is: after confession, one must take the epithem and fulfill it correctly; it contains great protective power. But why does someone else say: a sinful habit has overcome me, I can’t control myself. Because either repentance and confession were incomplete, or after precautions he holds on weakly, or he lets himself into a whim. He wants to do everything without effort and self-coercion and dares to do it from the enemy. Decide to stand until death and show it in action: you will see what strength there is in this. It is true that in every irresistible passion the enemy takes possession of the soul, but this is not an excuse, for he will immediately run away as soon as you make, with God’s help, a turn within. Wednesday (Phil.1:12–20; Luke5:33–39). It is indecent for the sons of a marriage to fast while the groom is with them, said the Lord, and thus uttered the law that in virtues and deeds there is a place and time for everything. And this is so urgent that an untimely and inappropriate matter loses its quality, either completely or partially. In external nature, the Lord arranged everything by measure, weight and number; wants everything to be in good order and in order in the moral order. Internal goodness consists of the combination of each virtue with all of them together, or the harmony of the virtues, so that none stands out unnecessarily, and all are in order, like voices in a choir. External beauty gives every business its place, time and other connections. When all this is arranged as it should be, then the same thing happens as dressing a beautiful person in beautiful clothes. Virtue that is good, both internally and externally, is worthy; and what makes it so is Christian prudence, among the elders - reasoning acquired through experience, a sound discussion of the lives of the saints in the light of the word of God. Thursday . (Phil.1:20-27; Luke 6:12-19). “And he spent the whole night in prayer to God.” Here is the foundation and beginning of Christian all-night vigils. The fervor of prayer drives away sleep, and the admiration of the spirit does not allow one to notice the passage of time. Real prayer books do not even notice this; It seems to them as if they had just begun to pray, and yet the day had already appeared. But until someone reaches such perfection, the work of vigil must be raised. It was carried and carried by solitaries; the hostels carried it and carry it; it was carried and carried by reverent and God-fearing laymen. But even though vigil is difficult, its fruit remains direct and everlasting in the soul—peace of the soul and tenderness, with relaxation and exhaustion of the body. A very valuable fortune for those who are zealous for advancement in the spirit! Because of where the vigils are held (on Athos), they don’t want to leave them. Everyone realizes how difficult it is; but no one wants to abolish this rite for the sake of the benefit that the soul receives from vigils. Sleep most of all soothes and nourishes the flesh; vigil is what humbles her most of all. He who has had enough sleep is heavy on spiritual matters and cold towards them; the vigilant is as fast as a chamois and burning in spirit. If the flesh must be taught goodness as if it were a slave, then nothing can be more successful in this than frequent vigil. Here she fully experiences the power of the spirit over herself and learns to submit to it, and the spirit acquires the skill of ruling over her. Friday . ( Phil. 1:27–2:4 ; Luke 6:17–23 ). The Lord blesses the poor, the hungry, the crying, the reviled, under this condition, if all this is for the sake of the Son of Man; It means that life is blessed, surrounded by all kinds of needs and deprivations. Joy, contentment, honor, according to this word, do not represent good; Yes it is. But while a person rests in them, he is not aware of it. Only when he frees himself from their charm does he see that they are not representatives of the good, but only its ghosts. The soul cannot do without consolations, but they are not in the sensual; cannot do without treasures, but they are not in gold and silver, not in luxurious houses and clothes, not in this external fullness; cannot do without honor, but it does not lie in the servile bows of people. There are other joys, other contentment, other honor - spiritual, akin to the soul. Whoever finds them will not want external ones; but not only will he not want to, but will despise and hate them because they block the spiritual, do not allow them to be seen, keep the soul in darkness, intoxication, in ghosts. That is why such people wholeheartedly prefer poverty, sorrow and obscurity, feeling good among them, as if in some safe fence from the charm of the charms of the world. What about those to whom all this comes naturally? To be in relation to everything, according to the word of St. apostle, as having nothing. Saturday . (1 Cor. 15:58, 16:3; Luke 5:17–26). “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins,” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take up your bed and go to your house.” The remission of sins is an internal, spiritual miracle; healing from relaxation is an external miracle, a natural action of God on the world, and at the same time physical. This event justifies and confirms the attraction of the power of God both in the order of the moral world and in the course of the phenomena of the physical world. The latter is similar to the former, for it is the purpose of everything. The Lord does not force freedom, but admonishes, excites, and amazes. The best way to achieve this is an external miracle. He was supposed to be when he was supposed to be a rational creature governed by freedom. This connection is so significant that those who reject the supernatural action of God on the world at the same time reject human freedom in the consciousness that the latter necessarily causes the former; and vice versa, those who profess the truth of God’s influence in the world, beyond the natural course of phenomena, can boldly tell them: we feel that we are free. The consciousness of freedom is as strong and irresistible as the consciousness of being. Freedom urgently requires the direct providential actions of God: therefore, their recognition also stands firmly as the consciousness of freedom. Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost ( 2 Cor. 11:31–12:9 ; Luke 6:31–36 ). The root, primordial commandment is love. A small word, but expresses an all-encompassing matter. It is easy to say - love, but it is not easy to achieve the proper amount of love. It is not entirely clear how to achieve this; That’s why the Savior surrounds this commandment with other explanatory rules: “... love as yourself; and as you want people to do to you, so do you to them.” Here the measure of love is indicated, one might say, immeasurable; for is there a measure of self-love and is there any good that someone would not wish for himself from others? Meanwhile, however, this requirement is not unenforceable. The whole point is to enter into perfect sympathy with others so that you can completely transfer their feelings onto yourself, feel the way they feel. When this happens, there is no point in indicating what should be done for others in what case: the heart itself will indicate. Just take care to maintain sympathy, otherwise egoism will immediately come up and bring you back to itself and enclose you within itself. Then you won’t lift a finger for the other one and you won’t even look at him, even if he dies. When the Lord said: love your neighbor as yourself, he wanted our neighbor to stand in our place, that is, in our heart. If our “I” remains there as before, then don’t expect any good. Monday . (Phil.2:12-16; Luke 6:24-30). Woe to the rich, the rich, the laughing, the praised; on the contrary, good for those who endure all kinds of lies, beatings, robberies, forced labor - completely contrary to how people usually judge and feel! The thoughts of God are as distant from the thoughts of men as heaven is from earth. And how could it be otherwise? We are in exile; and the exiles are no stranger to insults and insults. We are under penance; and penance consists of hardships and labors. We are sick; and bitter medicines are more beneficial for the sick. And the Savior Himself throughout His entire life had no place to lay His head and ended it on the cross - why on earth should His followers have a better fate? The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of readiness to endure everything and complacently bear everything sorrowful. Comfort, ambition, pomp, contentment are alien to his quests and tastes. His path lies through a barren, cheerless desert. The example is the forty-year wandering of the Israelites in the desert. Who follows this path? Everyone who looks beyond the desert sees Canaan boiling with honey and milk. During his wandering, he also receives manna, but not from the earth, but from heaven, not physically, but spiritually. All the glory is within. Tuesday . (Phil.2:17-23; Luke 6:37-45). Don't judge, let go, let's go... apparently, everything is a waste and no profit. Meanwhile, this is what is promised: you will not condemn, and you will not be condemned; you will let go, and they will let you go; you give, and it will be given to you. Now this profit is not visible; but it will undoubtedly come to those who make the indicated expenses from the heart - it will arrive precisely at the time when the need for non-judgment and forgiveness will be felt most of all. How rejoiced will be the one who is suddenly honored to receive such benefits as if for nothing! And vice versa, how will someone who at one time did not know how to profitably manage their property grieve and grieve! I would let everything go and give everything away, but it’s too late: there’s time for everything. Not everyone is chasing the kind of profit that goes directly into one’s hands, almost immediately after spending. Throw the bread and salt back, according to the Russian proverb, and he will find himself in front. The modus operandi in the cases shown is indeed similar to throwing; but only here he throws himself not into trampling, but into the hands of God. In these hands the storage is certain, and the receipt from them is certain. Apply only faith and hope. Wednesday (Phil.2:24–30; Luke 6:46–7:1). “Why do you call Me: Lord! God! and do you not do what I say?” Why do they call Him Lord, but do not do the will of the Lord, why, that is, by deeds, do they not recognize His Lordship? Because they call it only with the tongue, and not with the heart. When the heart would say: “Lord, You are my Lord,” then there would be complete readiness to obey the one whom they confess as their Lord. And since this is not the case, then things go against the tongue, and things are always what the heart is. Well, therefore, there is no need to cry out: “Lord, Lord?” No, that's not it. But it is necessary to add to the external word the internal word - the feeling and disposition of the heart. Sit down and think about the Lord and about yourself: what the Lord is and what you are; what the Lord has done and is doing for you, why you live and what you will live to see... You will immediately come to the conviction that there is no other way but to fulfill the will of the Lord unswervingly; There is no other way for us. This conviction will give birth to a readiness to fulfill in deed what is said in the word: Lord. With such readiness, the need for help from above will be aroused, and from it the prayer: “Lord, Lord! help and grant strength to walk in Your will.” And crying to the Lord will be pleasing to the Lord. Thursday . (Phil.3:1-8; Luke 7:17-30). St. John the Baptist sends his disciples to ask the Lord: Is He the One Who should come or should we expect someone else? He did not ask this for himself, for he knew exactly who Jesus Christ was, having been informed about this from heaven, but for his disciples. And the disciples sought a solution to this issue not out of mutual questioning, but out of a sincere desire to know the truth. There is no need to say much to such people; The Lord does not speak, but only points out what He did at that time. Divine deeds testified to His deity. This was so obvious that those who asked did not ask any more questions. It's always like that. The power of God lives in the Church; a sincere seeker of truth immediately perceives it and is convinced of the truth. This experience certificate puts an end to all questions and completely reassures. Whoever does not want to believe and, having lost faith, begins to look in the Church and Christianity not for the basis of faith, but for reasons to justify his unbelief, no instructions seem satisfactory to him. He considers his unbelief to be well founded, even though its grounds are petty and insignificant. That’s what his heart wants, that’s why everything is bearable. Friday . (Phil.3:8-19; Luke 7:31-35). “To whom shall I compare the people of this kind?” - that is, unbelievers? If the Lord makes this question as if in bewilderment, is it not all the more fitting for us to be perplexed about the manifestations of unbelief? It would seem, how to go against all-round evidence? - and yet they go. That Satan resists is not surprising: his name is the opponent of truth and goodness; He clearly sees that God exists, that He will judge him and condemn him, that execution is already prepared for him, and everything is going against him, and for no other reason than evil and, therefore, to his own great detriment. Is it not this spirit of fighting against God that also possesses non-believers? At least according to the concepts that we have about the soul and its actions, unbelief, despite the obviousness of the foundations of faith, is inexplicable; just as the sinner’s slavery to sin is inexplicable when he clearly learns that sin is destroying him. And what a contradiction! Only unbelievers and passion-lovers reject the existence of Satan and unclean spirits. Those who would most need to stand up for them completely abandon them. Isn’t this science from them themselves? The dark ones love darkness and teach them to say that they do not exist and that the moral world is built by itself, without their intrigues and deceit. Saturday . ( 2 Cor. 1:8–11 ; Luke 5:27–32 ). “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” What a consolation for sinners! But one must abandon sins and do only good; and even while doing good, still consider oneself a sinner, and not only in the tongue, but in the heart. Don’t sin, but still, like a real sinner, repent and cry out to the Lord for mercy. When you are in this mood, it means you are standing in the truth; If you soon succumb to righteousness and begin to consider yourself sinless, know that you are deviating from the right path and have gone to those for whom there is no salvation. How to combine a good life with feelings of sinfulness - only scribes who write, but do not do, ask about this; For anyone who follows an active path, this is so clear that he cannot understand how it could be otherwise. Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Gal.1:11-19; Luke 7:11-16). The Lord sees a mother crying over the death of her son and has mercy on her; another time he was invited to a marriage and rejoiced in family joy. By this He showed that sharing ordinary everyday joys and sorrows is not contrary to His spirit. This is what true, reverent Christians do, leading their lives with fear. However, they distinguish between orders and orders in everyday life, for they contain many things on which God’s favor cannot be based. There are customs caused by passions and invented to satisfy them; others are fed only by vanity. He who has the spirit of Christ in him will be able to distinguish good from bad: he holds on to one and rejects the other. He who does this with the fear of God is not shunned by others, even though he does not act like them, for he always acts in the spirit of love and condescension for the weaknesses of his brothers. Only the spirit of jealousy, which is transitory, pricks the eyes and produces discord and division. Such a spirit cannot restrain itself from teaching and rebuking. And he only cares about establishing himself and his family in a Christian way; he does not consider it permissible to interfere in the affairs of others, saying to himself: “Who made me a judge?” With such quietness he endears himself to everyone and inspires respect for the order he adheres to. The pointer of everything makes himself unloved, and brings disapproval to the good order that he adheres to. In such cases, humility is needed, Christian humility. It is the source of Christian prudence, knowing how to act well in given cases. Monday . (Phil.4:10-23; Luke 7:36-50). Why did it happen that Simon the Pharisee honors the Lord and invites Him to himself, but immediately seeing that He graciously allows a sinner to come to Him, he is tempted and begins to think: “... if He were a prophet?...” Because he was busy with the treat and, in the midst of his troubles, abandoned sound reasoning about the orders of God. These two areas, everyday and spiritual, are not at all similar in their properties and laws. Meanwhile, our mind, when it is very busy, begins to judge according to the laws of that. According to everyday rules, it is impossible to have communication with an obvious sinner; Simon judges this way, forgetting that repentance makes everyone clean and equals sinners with the righteous. He thinks that the sinner should not be here and that the Savior, if he does not drive her away, is probably because he does not know who she is; from this thought another thought was immediately born: if he does not know, then what kind of prophet is he? In a word, he did not say this, but only thought, and outwardly no change occurred either in him or in his efforts as a good master, but the Lord saw his heart and admonished him according to his heart. He inspired him that sinners have a place near Him and that the sinner, who had her heart attached to Him, honored Him more than he, who honored Him only with a treat. The external leads a person into a feeling of righteousness that is unpleasant to the Lord, but the internal always keeps him in the feelings of his own indecency in the face of the omniscient Lord. Tuesday . ( Col. 1:1–2:7–11 ; Luke 8:1–3 ). The Lord preaches, the wives serve Him from their property and, thus, are, as it were, accomplices in the preaching itself. It is not given to everyone to preach the Gospel, but everyone can help spread it and be partners in this first work on earth. There were many such accomplices and accomplices during the preaching labors of the holy apostles, and then their successors, and, finally, throughout the history of the Church. They still appear. Our apostles in the Caucasus and in various places of Siberia work diligently, enduring every need and every hardship. They continue the work of the Lord and the holy apostles. Which wives and husbands send them help, they will become the rank of wives serving the Lord, and will receive equal reward with those. The Lord said: “...he who receives him whom I send receives Me” (John 13:20). This means that He identifies Himself with the one sent to preach; therefore, He will identify the service rendered to His messengers with service to Himself. According to the law of His goodness and righteousness, whoever accepts whomever receives him receives the same reward (Matthew 10:41). This seems to be a sufficient incentive not to reduce your hand in sacrifices to assist the great work of preaching the Gospel. Wednesday ( Col. 1:18–23 ; Luke 8:22–25 ). When boarding a boat to cross to the other side of the lake, did the apostles think that they would encounter a storm and put their lives in danger? Meanwhile, a storm suddenly arose, and they no longer expected to remain alive. This is the path of our life! You don’t know how and where trouble will come from that could destroy us. Now air, now water, now fire, now an animal, now a man, now a bird, now a house - in a word, everything around us can suddenly turn into an instrument of our death. Hence the law: live in such a way that every minute you are ready to face death and fearlessly enter its realm. You are alive this minute, but who knows whether you will be alive the next? Hold yourself according to this thought. Do everything that follows according to the order of your life, but do not forget that you can immediately move to a country from where there is no return. Failure to remember this will not delay a certain hour, and deliberately banishing this decisive revolution from thought will not detract from the eternal significance of what will happen to us after it. Having surrendered your life and everything into the hands of God, spend hour after hour with the thought that each of them is the last hour. In life, this will reduce the number of empty pleasures, and in death this deprivation will be innumerably rewarded with joy, which has no equal in the joys of life. Thursday . ( Col. 1:24–29 ; Luke 9:7–11 ). Hearing about the deeds of Christ the Savior, Herod said: “I beheaded John; Who is this? - and wanted to see Him. I wanted to see and looked for an opportunity to do so, but was not worthy, because I was looking not for faith and salvation, but out of empty curiosity. Inquisitiveness is a tickling of the mind; It is not the truth that is dear to her, but the news, and especially the spectacular one. That is why she is often not satisfied with the truth itself, but searches for something special among it, and having invented this special thing, she dwells on it, and attracts others to it. The truth here becomes backwards, and in front stands its own fiction. This is the way of the German mind these days. The Germans are obsessed with making things up. The entire area of ​​God's truth was covered, as if with fog, by their inventions. Take even dogmas, even moral teaching, even history, even the word of God - everything is so cluttered with inventions that you won’t even get to the truth of God. Meanwhile, they are interested in them and those who are of the same mood as them. The truth of God is simple; Is it a proud mind to engage in it? He'd better invent his own. It is impressive, although empty and weak, like a spider’s web. That this is so, look at the current theories of the universe: they resemble the delirium of a sleepy or intoxicated person. And how good inventors seem! How much effort and time is spent on this - and all in vain! The matter was accomplished simply: “...speech and speech; commanded, and it was created.” No one can come up with a better solution than this. Friday . ( Col. 2:1–7; Luke 9:12–18 ). The miraculous feeding of the people in the desert is an image of the feeding of believers in St. communion with the Most Pure Body and Most Pure Blood of the Lord. The Lord sits separately; the people are seated in rows; the apostles mediate, receive bread and distribute it. So it is now: believers are all divided into groups - small private churches, in which the Lord, invisibly present, distributes His Body and Blood through the apostolic successors. As He said then to the apostles, so now to their successors: “Give them something to eat.” Both then and now, the believing people relentlessly stand before the Lord in fasting, listening to the word and prayerfully seeking healing from sins when preparing to begin the Divine Mysteries. Thus, the sacrament initiated in the appearance of the Lord continues to this day and will continue until the end of the age. And in the next century there will be a kind of communion, for the Lord promises to give us a taste of the hidden manna and of the tree of the living (Rev. 2:7 and 17). And in the earthly paradise, their first parents had their own mysterious communion - eating from the tree of life; in the Old Testament church, his image is the eating of the Paschal lamb. Thus, the mysterious communion began with the human race, was and will be with it forever and ever, in different forms, but with one meaning - sincere communication with the Lord, for “in Him was life, and life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Those created in the image of God must be in such communion with Him “who is the radiance of glory and the image of the person of the Father” (Heb. 1:3). Saturday . ( 2 Cor. 3:12–18 ; Luke 6:1–10 ). The Lord's disciples pluck the ears of corn, rub them with their hands, and eat them on the Sabbath. The matter is very unimportant both in appearance and in essence; Meanwhile, the Pharisees could not resist and reproached them. What made them bring this up? In appearance it is unreasonable jealousy, but in its essence there is a spirit of overjudgment. This one clings to everything and presents everything in a gloomy form of lawlessness and destructiveness. This weakness is, to a greater or lesser extent, almost common among people who do not pay attention to themselves. In a word, not everyone will express judgmental thoughts, but few can refrain from them. Someone judges the heart and inflames it with gossip - it exudes them. But at the same time, the gossiper himself is ready to do evil deeds, as long as no one sees, and is certainly in bad order in some respect; it is as if he then judges and condemns, so that the sense of truth, insulted and suppressed in himself, is rewarded by attacks on others, even if they are wrong. He who loves truth and stands in truth, knowing how difficult it is to be correct in business, and even more so in feelings, will never judge; he is rather ready to cover with leniency not only the small, but also the great crime of others. The Lord does not judge the gossiping Pharisees, but condescendingly interprets to them that the disciples did an act that anyone, having judged properly, can excuse. And it almost always happens like this: judge the action of your neighbor and you will find that he does not at all have that important, terrifying character that seemed to you in him the first time. Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost ( Gal.2:16–20 ; Luke 8:5–15 ). By thorns and thistles, suppressing the word of Divine truth, in addition to wealth, pleasures and worldly sorrows, at the present time we must also understand various false teachings spread by scientists who have lost the truth and have lost their way to it. There are many such teachings that diverge among us: others openly and openly go against the truth; others - under conditional hints, understandable, however, to those to whom they are directed. They act in the being like a frenzy: entering unnoticed, they darken the head and lead to a loss of clear consciousness of everything around. Whoever gets caught up in this frenzy begins to rave like a sleepy person, because everything seems to him no longer in the same form as it is and as it appears to someone in his right mind. Having met such a person, you see that not only is all truth suppressed in him, but the sense of truth and lies have taken root in all components of the mind. How can this be? Do not listen or read these nonsense, but when you involuntarily hear or read it, throw it out of your head, and when it is not thrown out, subject it to reasoning, and everything will fly away like smoke. Monday . ( Col. 2:13–20 ; Luke 9:18–22 ). “Who do the people say that I am?” - asked the Lord. In response to this, the apostles conveyed the current opinions about Him among the people, which were all formed according to the then views: some said that He was John the Baptist, some said that He was Elijah, some said that one of the ancient prophets had risen. How do they respond now? It’s also different, and everyone has their own way of thinking. What answer will materialists, atheists and soulless monkeys give when they have neither God nor a soul? Spiritualists, like the Arians, get off with an answer that was cursed at the first ecumenical council. Deists see God very far from the world and, being unable to accommodate the mystery of incarnation in their system, respond like the Ebionites, the Socinians. You will find similar answers in Russian society, since the three types of individuals mentioned above exist and are multiplying in our country. But thanks be to the Lord, we still have an immensely predominant number of sincere believers and strictly upholding the apostolic confession that the Lord Jesus Christ is the incarnate only begotten Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the human race promised to our first parents in Paradise. Which side will prevail - only God knows. Let us pray for the preservation of the light of Christ in us and for driving away the darkness of false teachings. We are susceptible to evil, so it’s not surprising that lies will prevail. Even now she walks the streets of the city openly, whereas before she cautiously hid from the gaze of Christian believers. Tuesday . ( Col. 2:20–3:3 ; Luke 9:23–27 ). Do not be ashamed to confess the Lord Jesus Christ as the incarnate Son of God and who redeemed us by His death on the cross, and by His resurrection and ascension, who opened for us the entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven. If you are ashamed, then He will be ashamed of you, “when He comes in His glory and the Father and the holy Angels.” Nowadays it has become a fashion in society not to talk at all about the Lord and salvation, whereas in the beginning there was only talk about these expensive objects. Where the heart lies more, the conversation flows more readily. Has your heart really begun to turn less toward the Lord? Judging by the speeches, it should be so. Some do not know Him at all, others are cold towards Him; For fear of falling in with such people, those who are warm towards the Lord do not start talking about Him, and the priesthood remains silent. And it turned out that speech about the Lord Savior and about our main matter - salvation - was excluded from the range of speeches accepted in society. Well, you say, can we really just talk about this? Why only talk about this? Everything can be talked about from this point of view, so that the speech will generally be shaded by the spirit of Christ. Then it will be possible to guess whether Christians or pagans are speaking, but now you will not guess this either from speeches or from writings. Look through all the magazines, what don’t they write about? But no one wants to speak in a Christian way. Wise times! Wednesday ( Col. 3:17–4:1 ; Luke 9:44–50 ). “Whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me,” said the Lord: and He who sent Him is God, therefore, whoever confesses the Lord confesses God, and whoever does not confess Him does not confess God. You will say: I confess Christ as a great, wise, universal teacher. No, confess Him as He Himself says about Himself, that He and the Father are one and the same, of one Divine nature, Persons, separate, but of the same honor and co-throne. He who does not confess this way, no matter how much he magnifies the Lord, still does not confess Him; and not being His confessor, he does not confess the Father, he does not confess God. Therefore, no matter how much you may show yourself to be a reader of God, you are not a reader of God if you do not confess the Lord Jesus Christ as the Only Begotten Son of God, who became incarnate for our sake and saved us by His death on the cross. It is not all the same which God to confess, just to confess it: those who worshiped the sun and stars or imaginary creatures are not called worshipers of God, because they did not believe that God was God. Likewise, the one who does not confess the Lord is not a reader of God, because he confesses the wrong God, who is the true God. The true God does not exist without the co-eternal and co-originating Son. Therefore, if you do not confess the Son, you do not confess the true God. What is the price of your confession - only God will judge, but since God is revealed to us by the true God, then apart from this revelation it is impossible to have the true God. Thursday . ( Col. 4:2–9; Luke 9:49–56 ). How to treat unbelievers who do not confess the Lord? Just as the Lord treated those who did not accept Him. Young jealousy, which displays much heat, would like to bring fire down on them from heaven, but the Lord Himself restrains it: “You do not know what kind of spirit you are”... The Lord Savior, in the acceptance of Whom salvation itself consists, did nothing to those who did not accept Him, but, bypassing them, went to another one, leaving them to themselves. So it is now necessary: ​​let unbelievers go their way, and believers go theirs. There is a God who will sort everyone out in due time. It is necessary to regret and pray for them; one must want them to know the truth, and seek opportunities to hint them about it; and when they publicly begin to attack the truth, give them a loving, but intelligible rebuff - and that’s enough. Friday . ( Col. 4:10–18 ; Luke 10:1–15 ). Will there be in the next world such condescension towards those who do not accept the Lord as He showed towards those living on earth? No, it won't. Sending the “seventy” to preach, the Lord commanded them, so that when they were not accepted, they would say there at the crossroads: “...and we shake off the dust that has stuck to us from your city; however, know that the Kingdom of God has drawn near to you”; that is, we don’t need anything of yours: we don’t go preaching out of selfishness, but to proclaim to you the peace and the Kingdom of God. If you don’t want to accept this benefit, whatever you want; we move on. This is what is commanded for the present, but what about the future? “It will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that city”... Therefore, unbelievers have no reason to reassure themselves of the Lord’s condescension. They can only be free to do what is on earth, but like death, the whole thunderstorm of God’s wrath will fall on them. It is a great misfortune to fall into disbelief! And on earth they are unhappy, because without God and the Lord Jesus Christ the Savior and Redeemer, everything here is gloomy and joyless, and what is there is impossible to describe and imagine in words. It would be more gratifying to be destroyed, but even this will not be given to them. Saturday . ( 2 Cor. 5:1–10 ; Luke 7:2–10 ). What a bright personality the centurion is! How did he reach such faith that he surpassed all the Israelis, brought up by revelation, prophecies and miracles? The Gospel does not indicate how, but only depicts his faith and says how the Lord praised him. The path of faith is a secret, hidden path. Who can explain in himself how the convictions of faith are formed in the heart? This is best solved by St. the apostle, calling faith a gift from God. Faith is truly a gift from God, but non-believers are not unrequited, and therefore it is their own fault that this gift is not given to them. There is no receiver for this gift, it is not given, because there is nothing to accept it with, and in this case, giving is the same as wasting. How the soul becomes a capable recipient of the gift of faith is difficult to determine. Extreme humility is visible in the centurion, despite the fact that he was a powerful man, virtuous and reasonable. Is it not humility that attracts this great mercy that gives faith? Not very surprising. At least everyone knows that unbelievers always have a proud spirit and that faith most of all requires submission of the mind to its yoke. Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost (Gal.6:11-18; Luke 16:19-31). The parable of the rich man and Lazarus shows that those who did not live as they should will come to their senses, but will no longer have the opportunity to improve their situation. Their eyes will be opened and they will see clearly what the truth is. Remembering that there are many blind people on earth, like them, they would like someone to be sent to them from among the dead to assure them that they must live and understand things only according to the instructions of the Revelation of the Lord. But even this will be denied to them because Revelation is self-certifying for those who want to know the truth, and for those who do not want and do not love the truth, the very resurrection of any of the dead will be unconvincing. The feelings of this influx of rich people are probably experienced by all those leaving here. And therefore, according to their conviction, which will be the conviction of all of us, the only guide for us on the path of life is the Revelation of the Lord. But there such a conviction will be belated for many; It would be more useful here, but not everyone has it. Let us at least believe the testimony of those there, transferring ourselves to their state. Those in torment will not lie; pitying us, they want our eyes to be opened, so that we do not come to the place of their torment. You can’t talk about this subject the way we often talk about current affairs: “Maybe it will pass somehow.” No, it won’t go away somehow. We must be thoroughly sure that we will not end up in the place of the rich. Monday . ( 1 Thess. 1:1–5 ; Luke 10:22–24 ). “Who the Father is, no one knows except the Son, and to whom the Son wants to reveal it.” The Son was on earth and revealed everything we needed Himself and through the Holy Spirit acting in the apostles. Consequently, what you find in the Gospel and the apostolic writings is the only thing you will and can know about the Father and Divine things. Don’t look for this anymore and don’t think beyond this to find the truth about God and God’s plans anywhere else. What a great treasure we have!.. Everything has already been said. Don’t rack your brains, but just accept with faith what is revealed. It is revealed that God is one in essence and threefold in persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, accept it by faith and keep it so. It is revealed that the Trinitarian God created everything with the word, holds everything in His right hand and provides for everything, accept it by faith and maintain it so. It is revealed that we were in a blessed state and fell, and that for the restoration and redemption of us, the Son of God, the second person of the Most Holy Trinity, was incarnate, suffered, died on the cross, was resurrected and ascended into heaven - accept this by faith and hold it so. It is revealed that anyone who wants to be saved must believe in the Lord and, having accepted divine grace in St. sacraments, with its help to live according to the commandments of the Lord, fighting passions and lusts through appropriate exploits - accept this by faith and do so. It is revealed that whoever lives according to the instructions of the Lord, after death he enters the bright abodes, the first fruit of eternal bliss; and whoever does not live like this is destined to experience the torments of hell after death - accept this by faith and thus admonish and inspire yourself to goodness and deeds. So accept everything with faith and guard it faithfully. There is no need to rack your brains to come up with something of your own; And don’t listen to those who talk a lot, for they went without knowing where. Tuesday . ( 1 Thess. 1:6–10 ; Luke 11:1–10 ). The Lord gave a common prayer for everyone, combining in it all our needs, spiritual and physical, internal and external, eternal and temporary. But since in one prayer it is impossible to combine everything that you have to pray to God for in life, then after the general prayer a rule is given in case of private requests for something: “...ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." This is how it is done in the Church of God: Christians all pray in common for common needs, but each individual privately sets out his own needs and wants before the Lord. We pray in general in churches according to the established rites, which are nothing more than the Lord’s Prayer explained and presented in different forms; and privately, at home, everyone asks the Lord for his own things as best he can. And in church you can pray about your own, and at home you can pray about your own, and at home you can pray with common prayer. We only need to take care of one thing, so that when we stand in prayer, whether at home or in church, we have real prayer in our souls, a real conversion and ascension of our mind and heart to God. If anyone can do it, let him do it. Don't stand like a statue and don't mutter prayers like a wound up machine playing songs. No matter how much you stand there and no matter how much you mutter, you have no prayer when your mind wanders and your heart is full of vain feelings. If you are standing in prayer and have become accustomed to it, what is it worth to you to attract both your mind and your heart here? And draw them in, even if they become stubborn. Then a real prayer will be composed and will attract the mercy of God and God’s promise to prayer: ask and it will be given, it will be fulfilled. It is often not given because there is no petition, but only a pleading position. Wednesday ( 1 Thess. 2:1–8 ; Luke 11:9–13 ). The Lord convinces one to pray with the promise of hearing, explaining it with the compassion of a natural father, favorable to the requests of his children. But he immediately hints at the reason why prayers and petitions are sometimes not heard or not fulfilled. A father will not give his children a stone instead of bread or a snake instead of fish. If the natural father does not do this, much less will the Heavenly Father do this. And our petitions often resemble the petition of a snake and a stone. It seems to us that this is what we ask for, bread and fish, but the Heavenly Father sees that what we ask for will be a stone or a snake for us - and does not give what we ask for. The father and mother pour out warm prayers before God for their son, that he may arrange the best for him, but at the same time they also express what they consider to be the best for their son, namely, that he be alive, healthy and happy. The Lord hears their prayer and arranges the best for their son, only not according to the concept of those asking, but as it actually is for their son: he sends a disease from which the son dies. For those for whom everything ends in real life, this is not hearing, but doing in defiance, or leaving the person for whom they are praying to his fate; for those who believe that real life is only a preparation for another life, there can be no doubt that the son for whom they prayed fell ill and died precisely because the prayer was heard and that it was better for him to leave here than to stay here. You say: so what should we pray for? No, you can’t help but pray; but in prayers about certain objects one must always contain in one’s thoughts the condition: “... if, Lord, You Yourself find this saving.” St. Isaac the Syrian advises shortening every prayer like this: “You, Lord, know what is good for me: do with me according to Your will.” Thursday . (1 Thess. 2:9–14; Luke 11:14–23). “When a strong man guards his house with arms, then his property is safe; when his strongest attacks him and defeats him, then he will take all his weapons in which he hoped and divide what was stolen from him.” This allegory explains how the Lord destroys the power of demons over souls. While the soul is in sin, it is possessed by its own evil spirit, although it does not always clearly show this. He is stronger than the soul, therefore he is not afraid of rebellion on its part, he dominates and tyrannizes over it without resistance. But when the Lord comes into the soul, attracted by faith and repentance, then he breaks all satanic bonds, casts out the demon and deprives him of all power over such a soul. And while that soul works for the Lord, demons cannot prevail over it, for it is strong in the Lord, stronger than them. When the soul makes a mistake and recoils from the Lord, the demon again attacks and overcomes, and it, poor thing, is worse than before. This is the universal invisible order of phenomena in the spiritual world. If our intelligent eyes were opened, we would see a worldwide battle between spirits and souls: first one side, then the other, wins, depending on whether the souls communicate with the Lord through faith, repentance and zeal for good deeds or lag behind Him through negligence, carelessness and coolness towards good. Friday . (1 Thess. 2:14–19; Luke 11:23–26). “He who is not with Me is against Me; and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.” It turns out that you can work for a whole century and think that a lot of all sorts of good things have been collected, but everything is of no use, since it was not collected with the Lord. What does it mean to gather with the Lord? To work and act by faith in the Lord, according to His commandments, with the help of His grace, inspired by His promises - to live so that the spirit of life is the spirit of Christ. There are two areas in the world - good and evil, truth and lies. Only goodness and truth constitute real possessions, lasting and valuable; but good and truth come only from the Lord and are acquired only with His help. It is clear that whoever does not collect with the Lord will not collect truth and goodness, will not collect what can be called real estate, lasting and valuable, whatever anyone collects is of no use, it is all in vain, a waste of energy and time. Saturday . ( 2 Cor. 8:1–5 ; Luke 8:16–21 ). “There is nothing secret that would not become obvious, nor hidden that would not become known and would not be revealed.” Therefore, no matter how much we hide with our bad deeds, They keep a record, regardless of us, which will be presented in due time. What is this charter on which this entry is written? Our conscience. We sometimes force her to be silent - and she remains silent. But although he is silent, he does his job, keeping the most accurate chronicle of our deeds. What to do if there is a lot of bad stuff written down there? We must erase what has been written. How? Tears of repentance. These tears will wash away everything, and no trace will remain of the bad things that were written down. If we don’t wash it off, then at the trial we will have to re-read everything that was written ourselves. And since then the truth will be powerful in the consciousness, we ourselves will pronounce judgment on ourselves, and the Lord will confirm it. Then the decision will be peremptory, because everyone will judge himself, and no one will care about others. And all this will happen in the twinkling of an eye: you will look and see what you are, and from the omnipresent Lord you will immediately hear confirmation of the judgment; and then it's all over... Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost (Eph.2:4-10; Luke 8:26-39). The Gadarene demoniac, after being healed, cleaves to the Lord and desires to be with Him always; then, having heard His will, he goes and preaches about the benefit he has received throughout the city. The benefactor attracts, His will becomes the law for the benefactor, and the tongue cannot restrain itself from proclaiming what has been received from Him. If we did not have in memory all the benefits received and are receiving from the Lord, then there would be no ungrateful people among us, there would be no violators of His holy will, there would be no ones who did not love Him most of all. In baptism we are delivered from our ancestral sin and all its destruction; in repentance we are constantly washed away from the sins that constantly cling to us. By the providence of God we are protected from troubles, often invisible to ourselves, and we receive the direction of life that is most safe for us and favorable to our goals; and everything that we have is all from the Lord. That is why we should wholeheartedly belong to the Lord, do His will in everything and glorify His most holy name, and especially in life and deeds, so as not to be worse than the Gadarene demoniac, who immediately turned out to be so wise that he became a worthy example of imitation for everyone. Monday . (1 Thess. 2:20–3:8; Luke 11:29–33). “The queen of the south will rise up in judgment with the people of this generation and will condemn them.” For what? For indifference to the work being done by the Lord before their eyes. That queen, having heard about Solomon’s wisdom, came from afar to listen to him, but these men, having the Lord Himself in front of him, did not listen to Him, although it was obvious that He was higher than Solomon, as heaven is higher than earth. And the queen of the south condemns all those who are indifferent to the works of God, because the Lord is always and among us as clearly present in the gospel tales as he was then. Reading the Gospel, we have before the eyes of the Lord with all His wondrous deeds, for it is as sure as the testimony of our own eyes. Meanwhile, who listens to the Lord who is so imprinted on our souls? We have closed our eyes or turned them in the other direction, and that is why we do not see; and not seeing, we are not engaged in the affairs of the Lord. But this is not an excuse, but a reason for inattention, as criminal as the very thing that stems from it is criminal. The work of the Lord is our first task, that is, the salvation of the soul. We must heed what is from the Lord without regard to us, especially when it is all directed towards us, towards the organization of our essential work, the significance of which extends to all eternity? Judge how criminal the lack of attention to such a matter is! Tuesday . (1 Thess. 3:9–13; Luke 11:34–41). “The lamp of the body is the eye”; and the lamp of the soul is the mind. Just as when the bodily eye is intact, everything around us in our external life is visible to us and we know how and where to go and what to do, so with a sound mind, everything in our inner life is visible to us, in our attitude towards God and our neighbors and in how we should behave ourselves. The mind, the highest side of the soul, combines the feeling of the Divine, the demands of conscience and the aspiration of the best, in comparison with everything that we possess and know. When the mind is healthy, the fear of God, conscientiousness and unfettered by anything external reign in the soul; and when he is unwell, God is forgotten, conscience limps on both legs and the soul is completely mired in what is visible and possessed. In the latter case, a person has a dark night: concepts are confused, there is discord in affairs, and there is a joyless heaviness in the heart. Contiguous circumstances push him, and he is drawn after them, like a chip along the flow of a stream. He does not know what has been done so far, what he is now and how his path will end. On the contrary, he who has a sound mind, fearing God, conducts his affairs with prudence, listens to the law of conscience alone, which gives a monotonous structure to his whole life, and does not plunge into the sensual, crying out for the hope of future bliss. Because of this, his view of the entire course of life, with all its touches, is clear and for him everything is as bright as a lamp illuminating someone with radiance (Luke 11:36). Wednesday (1 Thess. 4:1–12; Luke 11:42–46). The Lord begins the reproach to His contemporaries with the fact that they “are careless about the judgment and love of God.” The drying up of truth and love is the root of all disorder both in society and in every person. It itself comes from the predominance of pride or selfishness. When egoism takes root in the heart, a whole horde of passions breeds in it. He himself strikes at truth and love, which require self-sacrifice; and the passions generated by it drive out all other virtues. And according to the structure of the heart, a person becomes unfit for anything truly good. He can still give “a tithe of mint, rue and all sorts of vegetables,” but he cannot find the courage to do anything more substantial. This does not mean that his external behavior was ugly. No, it is in every possible way brightened up with integrity, only in himself he is “a hidden coffin, over which people walk and do not know it.” The beginning of self-correction is the beginning of the emergence of self-sacrifice in the heart, after which righteousness and love are restored, and from them then all other virtues begin to revive one after another. In terms of the structure of his heart, a person then becomes handsome in the eyes of God, although to people, on the outside, he may sometimes seem not entirely attractive. But human judgment is not an important matter, as long as God’s judgment is not against us. Thursday . (1 Thess. 5:1–8; Luke 11:47–12:1). “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” A distinctive feature of hypocrisy is to do everything for show. Acting in front of others is not hypocrisy, because most of the things that are obligatory for us must be done for people, therefore, among them and in their sight. Although those who manage to do everything secretly do better, this is not always possible; That is why those who act in plain sight cannot immediately be reproached for wanting only to be ostentatious or to act for show. They may have a sincere desire to do good, and showing off is a necessary accompaniment of deeds performed externally. Hypocrisy begins from the moment when the intention is not to do good, but to show only oneself doing good. And this again is not always criminal, because it can be a momentary onslaught of thoughts that are immediately noticed and driven away. But when one sets out to establish a reputation for doing good, then there is hypocrisy that goes deep into the heart. When all this is added to the hidden goal of taking advantage of the benefits of such a reputation, then there is hypocrisy in all its strength. Look, everyone, what the Lord requires when he commands to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” Do good according to the desire for good for others, according to the consciousness of God’s will, for the glory of God, and do not worry about how people look at it - and you will avoid hypocrisy. Friday . (1 Thess. 5:9–13, 24–28; Luke 12:2–12). “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and then are unable to do anything more; but I will tell you whom to fear: fear the one who, after killing, can throw you into Gehenna: I tell you, fear him.” Our greatest fear is death. But the Lord says that the fear of God must be higher than the fear of mortals. When circumstances arise such that it is necessary either to lose your life or to act against the suggestions of the fear of God, it is better to die, but do not go against the fear of God, because if you go against the fear of God, then after your physical death, which still cannot be avoided, you will meet another death, which is immeasurably more terrible than all the most terrible bodily deaths. If this last thing were always in our thoughts, the fear of God would not weaken in us and we would not have any deeds that are contrary to the fear of God. Let us suppose that passions arise. At the time when they rebel, conscience, animated by the fear of God, demands to go against them; refusing the demands of passions seems like parting with life, killing the body. That’s why, when the last kind of anxious feelings are revived and your conscience begins to shake, hasten to restore the fear of God and the fear of God’s judgment with its consequences. Then the fear of the most terrible death will drive away the fear of the weakest death, and it will be easy for you to resist the demands of duty and conscience. This is how what is said by the Wise One is fulfilled: “... remember your last, and you will never sin.” Saturday . ( 2 Cor. 11:1–6 ; Luke 9:1–6 ). “And he sent them (the holy apostles) to preach the Kingdom of God.” This time only in Palestine, and then throughout the entire universe. The preaching that began then has not stopped to this day. Every day we hear the devotion of St. by the apostles on behalf of the Lord in the Holy Gospel and the Apostolic Epistles. Time makes no difference: we hear St. the apostles and the Lord Himself as if they were before us, and the power that acted in them is still active in the Church of God. The Lord does not deprive any of the believers of anything: what the first had, the last have also. Faith has always contained this and continues to contain it. But superstition came and divided between the present and the original. It seemed to him that there was a great abyss here, his head was spinning, his eyes were clouded, and the Lord and St. the apostles plunged him into darkness, which seems impenetrable to him. And it serves him right: let him reap the fruits of his sowing; there is only collapse of the spirit in him. That it is definitely mired in darkness and does not see the light, the consciousness in this cannot but be recognized as sincere - but who is to blame? It has fogged itself and continues to fog itself. Until now, it has not yet said anything such that the words of the New Testament Scriptures could not be considered the true word of St. the apostles and the Lord Himself. He just screams tirelessly: “I don’t see, I don’t see.” We believe, we believe that you don’t see! But stop emitting fog from yourself - the atmosphere around you will clear, then the light of God may appear - and you will see something. “But this is the same as stopping me from being me.” What a disaster! Well, stop it; others will be calmer. “No, you can’t. It is destined for me to remain until the end of the age, so that the most skilled will appear. “I began in the first created mind, even before this visible world, and as long as the world stands, I will rush like a whirlwind along the paths of truth and raise dust against it in a column.” But you’re only clouding yourself, but there’s light all around. “No, I’ll make someone’s eyes dirty; and if not, then let them know me for what I am. I will not remain silent and you will never be able to stop my mouth with your truth.” Who doesn't know this? Everyone knows that your first title is “pizma” - stubbornly standing your ground, despite any evidence exposing your deceit. You are a blasphemer against the Holy Spirit; So wait for yourself to fulfill the sentence already determined by the Lord for this. Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Eph 2:14–22; Luke 8:41–56). Jairus publicly, falling at the feet of the Savior in front of everyone, prayed to the Lord for the healing of his daughter, and was heard. The Lord, without saying anything, immediately stood up and went to him. On the way to Jairus, the bleeding wife was healed, of course, also not without prayer on her part, although she did not cry out in word and did not fall prostrate at the feet of the Lord: she had a heartfelt prayer of faith. The Lord heard her and gave her healing. Here everything was done in secret. The bleeding heart turned to the Lord; The Lord heard this cry of the heart and granted the request. This wife and Jairus have essentially the same prayer, although some degrees can be distinguished in them. Such prayers, full of faith, hope and devotion, never go unheard. Sometimes they say: “I pray and pray, but my prayer is still not heard.” But try to rise to the level of prayer that cannot be refused, and you will see why it is not heard. If you are in a position of prayer, like Jairus, or in a simple, ordinary position, like everyone around you, like the bleeding woman, when real prayer stirs in your heart, it will undoubtedly come to the Lord and bend Him to mercy. The whole point is how to get to such prayer. Work hard and you will get there. All orders of prayer have the goal of raising prayer books to such a measure of prayer, and everyone who intelligently follows this prayer course achieves their goal. Monday . (2 Thess. 1:1-10; Luke 12:13-15, 22-31). “Who made Me a judge or a divider between you?” - the Lord said to the one who asked for a division with his brother. Then he added: “Don’t worry” about what to eat and drink and what to wear. Before, he taught: leave the dead to bury their dead; another time he suggested that it was better not to get married. This means that the attention and heart of Christians, deviating from everything worldly, and freedom from rumors and worldly bonds constitute one of the features of the spirit of Christianity. The fact that the Lord blesses marriage and affirms its indissolubility, which restores the power of the commandment that defines the relationship between parents and children, and leaves its meaning to civil authority and civil order, does not erase this feature and does not give Christians the right to evade keeping it and planting it in the heart. Compare the two and you will see that you have a duty, despite the whole worldly system, to keep your heart lifeless. How is this possible? Decide for yourself with your life; This is all practical wisdom. The Lord guides us to this decision with the following rule: “seek first the Kingdom of God.” Focus all your attention on allowing God to reign in you, and everything in life will lose its astringent and oppressive charm for you. Then you will conduct your affairs externally, but your inner, your heart, will be possessed by something else. But if, as a result of this, the determination is born to stop this external attitude towards everyday things, you will not be at a loss: you will become closer to the goal that the faith of Christ will give you. Tuesday . (2 Thess. 1:10–2, 2; Luke 12:42–48). The parable of the overseer indicates how a Christian should behave in relation to everyday things. The bailiff diligently conducts the business, but is not attached to anything in his heart, is free from any bonds, and relates to everything externally. Likewise, a Christian must place himself in relation to everything in life. But is this possible? Maybe. Just as there is external piety without internal, so only external worldliness is possible without internal bonds. But in this case, everything between us will turn into one lifeless form, everything will smell cold, like a marble statue? No, then in the midst of everyday life another life will develop, which is more attractive than the fullest worldliness. The mundane as the mundane will indeed remain a form, and what will warm the heart will come from another source, and everyone who drinks from this source will no longer thirst. But in this case, is it better to give up everything? Why? After all, by giving up everything external, you can be bound in the heart, and without giving up, you can be free from bonds. Of course, it is easier for him to control his heart if he outwardly renounces everything. Choose what is more convenient for you; just tune in as the Lord commands. Wednesday (2 Thess. 2:1–12; Luke 12:48–59). “Do you think that I have come to give peace to the earth? no, I tell you, but division; for from now on five in one house will be divided, three against two, and two against three: the father will be against the son, and the son against the father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” What is the reason? Those who believe in the Lord are filled with a completely different spirit, opposite to the one that ruled in people before His coming, and that is why they do not get along together. The pagan world pursued exclusively worldly and earthly interests. Although the Jews had indications of higher blessings, towards the end they leaned towards the path of the pagans. The Lord, having come into the world, showed people other treasures, outside the family, outside society, and aroused other aspirations. Those who accepted His teaching naturally established a different way of life, and that is why they were subjected to hostility, oppression, and persecution. This is the division. The Apostle Paul later said that everyone “who desires to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). So it was and so it is. When worldly and earthly interests begin to prevail in society, then it looks unfavorably at those who reveal other unearthly quests; it cannot even understand how one can be interested in such things, and they cannot stand people who serve as representatives of a way of life that is different from their life. This is happening now in front of everyone. Isn't this a sign of the times?.. Thursday . (2 Thess. 2:13–3, 5; Luke 13:1–9). Pilate mixed the blood of the Galileans with their sacrifices, - the Lord said: “... unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way”; The pillar of Siloam fell and killed 18 people - the Lord also said: “... if you do not repent, you will all perish in the same way.” This makes it clear that when some misfortune befalls others, we need to talk not about why and for what it happened, but quickly turn to ourselves and see if we have any sins worthy of temporary punishment for the admonition of others, and hasten to blot them out with repentance. Repentance cleanses sin and removes the cause that attracts trouble. While a person is in sin, the ax lies at the root of the tree of his life, ready to cut him off. It doesn’t flog because repentance is expected. Repent, and the ax will be taken away, and your life will flow to the end in a natural order; If you don’t repent, wait for the beating. Who knows whether you will live to see next year. The parable of the barren fig tree shows that the Savior begs the truth of God to spare every sinner in the hope that he will repent and bear good fruits. But it happens that the truth of God no longer listens to petitions and only agrees to leave someone alive for another year. Do you know, sinner, that you are not living your last year, not your last month, day and hour? Friday . (2 Thess. 3:6–18; Luke 13:31–35). “Behold, your house is left desolate,” said the Lord about Jerusalem. This means there is a measure to God’s long-suffering. God's mercy would be eternally ready to endure, expecting good; but what to do when we reach such a breakdown that there is nothing to do with our hands? That's why they abandon us. It will be so in eternity. Everyone says: God’s mercy will not allow eternal rejection. Yes, it doesn’t even want to; but what to do with those who are filled with evil and do not want to correct themselves? They place themselves outside the mercy of God and are left there because they do not want to leave there. Spiritualists invented multiple births as a means to cleanse sinners. But one who is defiled by sins in one birth can appear in the same way in ten others, and then endlessly. Just as there is progress in good, so there is progress in evil. We see on earth those who are fierce in evil; they can remain the same outside the earth, and then forever. When the end comes to everything, and it will inevitably come, what should we do with these hardened in evil? Certainly, somewhere outside the area of ​​light, designated for those who have worked hard on themselves in cleansing their impurities. This is hell! Will those who have not corrected themselves under the best circumstances correct themselves under worse circumstances? And if not, then here is eternal hell! It is not God who is the culprit of hell and eternal torment in it, but the sinners themselves. If there were no unrepentant sinners, there would be no hell. The Lord really wants there to be no sinners, and that’s why he came to earth. If He desires sinlessness, then it means that He also desires that no one fall into eternal torment. It's all up to us. Let us come together and destroy hell with sinlessness. The Lord will be glad of this; He revealed hell so that everyone would beware of going there. Saturday . (Gal.1:3-10; Luke 9:37-43). After leaving the Mount of Transfiguration, the Lord heals the demon-possessed young man. The healing was preceded by a reproach for unbelief as the reason why the poor man was not healed by the disciples. No matter whose unbelief it is—whether it is the father who brought his son, or the gathered people, or perhaps even the apostles—it is only clear that unbelief closes the door of God’s merciful intercession and help, but faith opens it. The Lord said to the father: as much as you can believe, you will receive as much. Faith is not a matter of one thought and mind when it relates to the face, but embraces the whole being of a person. It concludes the mutual obligations of the believer and the One in whom he believes, even if they are not expressed literally. He who believes, relies on him in everything and does not expect anything to be denied from him, therefore he turns to him with an undivided mind, as to a father, goes to him as to his treasury, in the confidence that he will not return empty-handed. Such a disposition inclines without words even the one to whom it is present. This happens between people. But in its true form, the power of dispositions appears when they are addressed to the Lord, who is omnipotent, omniscient and who wants to give us every good; and a true believer is never disappointed in his expectations. If we don’t have something and, asking for it, don’t receive it, it’s because we don’t have the proper faith. First of all, we must seek and establish complete faith in the Lord in our hearts, seek and beg it from Him, for it is not from us, but a gift from God. The young man’s father, in response to the demand for faith, prayed: “I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.” He believed weakly, hesitatingly, and prayed for confirmation of faith. And who will boast of the perfection of faith and who, therefore, does not need to pray: “Help, Lord, my unbelief”? If faith were strong in us, then our thoughts would be pure, our feelings would be holy, and our deeds would be pleasing to God. Then the Lord would listen to us like a father to children; and whatever would fall into our hearts—and at the same time only one thing pleasing to the Lord could fall—we would receive all of it without refusal or delay. Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Eph.4:1-6; Luke 10:25-37). To the one who asked about how to be saved, the Lord, for His part, gave the question: “...what is written in the law? How do you read? By this He showed that to resolve all misunderstandings one must turn to the word of God. And so that there are no misunderstandings themselves, it is best to always read the Divine Scripture with attention, reasoning, compassionately, with application to your life and implementation of what concerns thoughts - in thoughts, what concerns feelings - in feelings and dispositions, and what concerns deeds - in deeds. He who listens to the word of God collects bright concepts about everything that is in him, and what is around, and what is above him: he clarifies his obligatory relationships in all cases of life and the holy rules, like precious beads, he strings on the thread of conscience, which then accurately and definitely indicates how to act in a manner pleasing to the Lord, tames the passions on which reading the word of God always has a calming effect. Whatever passion excites you, start reading the word of God and the passion will become quieter and quieter, and finally calm down completely. He who is rich in the knowledge of the word of God has above him the pillar of cloud that guided the Israelites in the wilderness. Monday . ( 1 Tim. 1:1–7 ; Luke 14:12–15 ). When indicating who to invite to lunch or dinner, borrow a rule for yourself: do not do anything for your neighbors in the form of reward from them here. But that doesn't mean you'll waste your money. In due time everything will be rewarded to you. In the Discourse on the Mount about all godly deeds - prayer, fasting, almsgiving - the Lord commanded to do them secretly, why? Because the Heavenly Father will clearly reward those who do this. Therefore, with all the labors of his life, a Christian must prepare for himself future bliss, build himself an eternal home and send provisions there for all eternity. This way of acting is not self-interest, because the interests themselves are limited to the life here, and such a life is to the detriment of these interests. Moreover, it is impossible to live like this without faith, hope and love for the Lord. Acting according to the commandments in the hope of reward is also a detached action. Meanwhile, it is closer and more intelligible to the heart than anything else that is too ideal, such as, for example, doing good for the sake of good. You won't find this last one anywhere in Scripture. The highest motivation here is: do everything for the sake of the Lord and do not be afraid of losses. Tuesday . ( 1 Tim. 1:8–14 ; Luke 14:25–35 ). “Salt is a good thing; but if the salt loses its strength, how can it be corrected?” Sol are the disciples of the Lord, who, teaching His instructions to people, destroyed moral rottenness in them. If we call such teaching enlightenment, then the title of salt should also shift to this latter. Then the whole saying will be in this form: good is enlightenment, but if enlightenment takes over, then what is it for? Throw it away!.. Enlightenment acts like salt when it is filled with the principles and elements of the Lord’s teaching, when it itself consists of discipleship with the Lord; and as soon as it deviates from this direction and, instead of the lessons of the Lord, assimilates alien teachings, then it becomes obsessed with itself and becomes indecent, it itself becomes infected with the rottenness of error and lies and begins to act not healingly, but contagiously. History has confirmed and confirms this through experiments everywhere. Why doesn't anyone listen to experience? The enemy brings darkness to everyone, and everyone thinks that there is light when in teachings they stay away from the teachings of the Lord. Wednesday ( 1 Tim. 1:18–20, 2:8–15 ; Luke 15:1–10 ). The parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin. How great is the Lord’s mercy towards us sinners! Leaves all the good ones and turns to the faulty ones to fix them; He looks for them, and when he finds them, He Himself rejoices and calls all heaven to rejoice with Him. How does it look? Doesn't He know where we are, having departed from Him? He knows and sees everything, but if the point was only to take it and transfer it to his own, immediately all the sinners would appear again in their rank. But one must first be disposed to repentance, so that conversion and return to the Lord can be free, and this cannot be done by command or any external order. The Lord's search for the sinner consists in bringing him to repentance. He arranges everything around him in such a way that the sinner comes to his senses and, seeing the abyss into which he is striving, returns back. All circumstances of life are directed here, all meetings with moments of sorrow and joy, even words and glances. And the internal influences of God through conscience and other right feelings lying in the heart never cease. How much is being done to convert sinners to the path of virtue, but sinners still remain sinners!.. The enemy brings darkness, and they think that everything will pass; and if anxiety arises, they say: “I’ll quit tomorrow,” and remain in the same position. So day after day passes; indifference to one's salvation grows and grows. A little more, and it will turn into bitterness in sin. Will conversion come then - who knows? Thursday . ( 1 Tim. 3:1–13 ; Luke 16:1–9 ). The parable of the unrighteous overseer exposed. See how he managed to get out of trouble! If only we could all manage to arrange a peaceful life for ourselves after leaving this life! But no, “the sons of this age are more perceptive than the sons of light in their generation.” Why did the bailiff get into such a fuss? Because trouble was close. The proximity of trouble aroused energy and intelligence, and he soon settled everything. It’s as if we’re not in trouble? Death can strike every minute, and immediately after it “give an answer in your governance.” Everyone knows this, and yet almost no one moves. What kind of delusion is this? The fact that no one thinks of dying now, but believes that he will live a day or two; although he does not specify a time limit, he is still sure that death is still ahead. That is why trouble still seems to lie ahead. Trouble is ahead - and considerations in case of trouble are postponed to the future. No one thinks about remaining in trouble for the rest of their life, but only puts it off until today. And since all life is made up of the present days and hours, then there is no concern about how to arrange for the future. Friday . ( 1 Tim. 4:4–8, 16 ; Luke 16:15–18, 17:1–4 ). “It is impossible for temptations to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!” Therefore, it is impossible to live from the shoulder, wide open. You have to look around carefully, so as not to seduce someone. The mind is puffed up and doesn’t look at anyone; and yet he arouses temptations all around in deed, and more so in word. Temptation grows and increases the misfortune of the seducer himself, but he does not feel it and expands even more in temptations. It is fortunate that God’s threat for temptation here on earth is almost not fulfilled in the hope of correction; this is postponed until future judgment and retribution; Only then will the seducers feel how great the evil is temptation. Here, almost no one thinks about whether he will or will not seduce those around him with his deeds and speeches. Two sins are very great in the eyes of God and are imputed to nothing by people: temptation and condemnation. The seducer, according to the word of the Lord, is better off not living; he who condemns is already condemned. But neither one nor the other thinks about it and cannot even say whether they are sinful in anything like that. What blindness indeed surrounds us and how carelessly we walk in the midst of death! Saturday . (Gal.3:8-12; Luke 9:57-62). “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God.” That is, whoever thinks to be saved, and meanwhile looks back at what he must give up in order to be saved, is not saved, does not go, is not directed to the Kingdom of God. It is necessary to finally resolve everything that is incompatible with the work of salvation. Those who plan to save themselves see this themselves, but parting with some attachments is postponed until tomorrow. Suddenly breaking everything seems too big a sacrifice. They want to give up gradually, so that it doesn’t catch the attention of others, and they almost always lose. Saving orders are established, but the dispositions of the heart remain the same. At first the incongruity is very sharp: but “tomorrow” and the promised change block the lips of conscience. Thus, everything is tomorrow and tomorrow - conscience gets tired of interpreting everything the same and, finally, falls silent. And then thoughts begin to come that we can leave it this way. These thoughts grow stronger and then become established forever. A face appears that is outwardly serviceable, but with an internal malfunction. This is a painted coffin before the eyes of God. The main problem is that the conversion of such people can be just as difficult as those who have become hardened in open sins, if not even more difficult... But it seems that everything is fine. Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Eph.5:9-19; Luke 12:16-21). Having told a parable about a man who became rich, who was only going to eat, drink and be merry, and for this he was struck by death, not having lived to enjoy the expected pleasures, the Lord concluded: “This is what happens to those who store up treasures for themselves, and do not become rich in God.” “So”, that is, such are the case or such a fate befalls both. Those who become rich and forgetful of God only think about carnal pleasures. Those who wish to avoid this bitter fate should not “gather” for themselves, “but grow rich only in God.” And since wealth is from God, when it flows, dedicate it to God, and holy wealth will come out. Share all excesses with those in need: this will be the same as returning to God what was given by God. He who gives to the poor gives to God. Seemingly depleting wealth, such a one truly becomes rich, rich in good deeds - rich for the sake of God, in ways of pleasing Him, rich in God, attracting His favor, rich in God, Who in a little places the faithful over many; He grows rich in God, and not in himself, for he does not consider himself a master, but only a steward and spender, whose whole concern is to satisfy everyone who comes to him with needs, and is afraid to spend anything especially on himself, considering this to be an improper use of the property entrusted to him. Monday . ( 1 Timothy 5:1–10 ; Luke 17:20–25 ). Having said that the Son of Man will appear on His day like lightning, instantly illuminating the whole of heaven, the Lord added: “First He must suffer much and be rejected by this generation.” From the connection of the speech it is clear that this “must suffer” must precede the appearance of the Lord in glory. Therefore, all the time until that day is the time of the Lord’s suffering. In His person He suffered at one certain time; after that, His suffering continues in the person of believers: the suffering of the birth of believers, their education in the spirit and protection from enemy actions, internal and external; for the Lord’s union with his own is not only mental and moral, but living, for the sake of which everything that concerns them is perceived by Him as the Head. Based on this thought, one cannot help but see that the Lord definitely suffers a lot. The most sensitive sorrows are the falls of believers; Falling away from the faith is even more sensitive to Him. But these are the final insults; the constant arrows are sorrows and temptations and wavering faith through unbelief. Speeches and writings that breathe unbelief are the kindled arrows of the evil one. At the present time, the evil one has set up many forges to forge such arrows. The hearts of believers hurt when they are defeated and when they see the defeat of others; The Lord also hurts with them. But the day of the glory of the Lord will appear - then the secret of darkness will be revealed, and those who suffered will rejoice with the Lord. Until then, we must endure and pray. Tuesday . ( 1 Timothy 5:11–21 ; Luke 17:26–37 ). “Whoever saves his life will lose it; and whoever destroys her will bring her to life.” You need to understand this: saving your soul means feeling sorry for yourself; and to destroy the soul is not to feel sorry for yourself; one only needs to mean: on the path of the Lord’s commandments or in working for the Lord. And it will turn out like this: whoever works for the Lord in fulfilling His commandments, without sparing himself, is saved; and whoever feels sorry for himself perishes. If you begin to feel sorry for yourself, you will certainly find yourself a violator of the commandments and, therefore, an unbreakable slave; And what is the sentence for the unswitchable slave? “Throw the worthless slave into outer darkness: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Take the trouble to watch yourself for at least one day and you will see that self-pity distorts all our deeds and discourages us from doing them. You can’t do anything without labor and tension; but it’s a pity to force yourself - that’s the stop. There are things that you want to do or not, you have to do. Such things are not worth doing, although it is difficult. But here self-pity is overcome by self-pity. If you don’t do it, there will be nothing to eat. And since the works of the commandments are not of this kind, then with self-pity they are always omitted. And indulgence in bad deeds is also made out of self-pity. It’s a pity to deny yourself what you wanted - the desire comes true; and it is either directly sinful or leads to sin. So he who always feels sorry for himself - does not do what he should, and indulges himself in what he should not do and ends up nowhere worthless. What kind of salvation is there? Wednesday ( 1 Tim. 5:22–6, 11 ; Luke 18:15–17, 26–30 ). “Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” How can you accept this like a child? Here's how: in simplicity, with a full heart, without hesitation. Rational analysis is inapplicable in the area of ​​faith. It can only take place in anticipation of it. Just as an anatomist decomposes the whole body down to detail, but does not see life, so the mind, no matter how much it reasons, does not comprehend the power of faith. Faith itself gives contemplations, which as a whole represent faith, completely satisfying all the needs of our nature, and oblige consciousness, conscience, and heart to accept faith. They accept it, and having accepted it, they no longer want to leave it behind. The same thing happens here as with someone who has tasted pleasant and healthy food. Having tasted it once, he knows that it is suitable and accepts it among the substances that nourish him. Chemistry, neither before nor after, has helped him in this conviction. His conviction is based on personal experience, directly. So the believer knows the truth of faith directly. Faith itself instills in him an unshakable conviction that it is faith. How then can faith be reasonable faith? This is the rationality of faith, to know directly that it is faith. Reason only spoils matters, cooling faith and weakening life according to faith, and most importantly, it boasts and drives away the grace of God - evil of the first importance in Christianity. Thursday . ( 1 Tim. 6:17–21 ; Luke 18:31–34 ). The Lord told the disciples about His suffering, but they did not understand anything from what was said: “... these words were hidden from them.” And after that they “did not judge what they were leading” the believers, “but rather Jesus Christ and Him who was crucified.” The time had not come, they did not understand anything about this secret; but when it came, it was understood and taught and explained to everyone. This happens to everyone, and not only in relation to this secret, but also to any other. What is unclear at the beginning eventually becomes clear; as if a ray of light enters the consciousness and makes clear what was previously dark. Who explains this? The Lord Himself, the grace of the Spirit living in believers, the Guardian Angel - but certainly not the man himself. He is a receiver here, not a producer. Despite all this, something else remains incomprehensible for a lifetime, and not only for individuals, but for all of humanity. A person is surrounded by incomprehensibility: some are explained to him during his life, while others are left until another life - he will see it there. And this is even for God-enlightened minds. Why doesn't it open now? Because the other is inconceivable, there is therefore no need to talk about it; otherwise it does not affect medical purposes, i.e. it would be harmful to know prematurely. In another life, much will be clarified, but other objects and other secrets will be revealed. The created mind will never be devoid of incomprehensible mysteries. The mind rebels against these bonds: but rebel - do not rebel, and the bonds of mystery cannot be broken. Humble yourself, proud mind, under the strong hand of God and believe! Friday . ( 2 Tim. 1:1–2, 8–18 ; Luke 19:12–28 ). The parable of the ten minas depicts the entire history of mankind until the Second Coming of Christ. The Lord says in it about Himself that He goes through suffering, death and resurrection to the Heavenly Father to accept the kingdom over humanity, which is all His ancestral property. Those remaining on earth are divided into two halves: into slaves who enslaved themselves to the Lord through obedience to faith, and into those who do not want to have Him as king and work for Him for the sake of their unbelief. Those who come to the Lord by faith, with a readiness to work for Him, are given the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Holy Spirit. sacraments: this is a mina - and every believer receives it for service in the circle of believers. When all of the human race who are able to submit to the Lord submit to Him, then He will come again as one who has accepted the Kingdom. His first task will be to judge the servants who have acquired what by this grace, and then judgment will follow on those who did not want to have Him as king, that is, either did not believe or fell from the faith. Impress these truths in your mind and do not take your attention away from them, for then there will be a decision that you will not expect to change. Flee unbelief, but do not believe idly, but also bear the fruits of faith. Having found you faithful in little, the Lord will place you over many. Saturday . ( Gal.5:22–6:2 ; Luke 10:19–21 ). “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Yes, Father, for such was Your good pleasure." This is the judgment of human wisdom and rationality. And it is apparently being fulfilled. Revelation is now before our eyes in the Divine Scriptures, and wise men read it, but do not understand it. One must be amazed: it is written simply, but to them everything there does not seem to be as it is written; as if it had blinded them. Babies see and understand; but for them what is revealed is hidden. It pleased the Heavenly Father to establish such an order; therefore, there is no point in arguing. If what was essential had not been discovered at all, then the wise men might still object; otherwise it’s open - come and take it, then it’s open for you to take it: just become a baby. “How – me?.. No way!” Well, as you wish; and remain wise and reasonable, however, not understanding anything essentially necessary and not containing it in your head, wandering among the ghosts and illusions generated by your cleverness and keeping you in complete blindness, according to which you think that you are sighted, but you are blind, “mzhey,” that is, you see something as if through a thick darkness. But this does not show you the real path and does not lead you to the goal, but only keeps you in an endless circle of self-delusion. Deliver us, Lord, from such a terrible state! Twenty-seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Eph.6:10-17; Luke 13:10-17). On the Feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Church, they begin to sing: “Christ is born,” preparing believers for a worthy celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. Understand this suggestion and act on it. Delve into the mystery of the incarnation of the Only Begotten Son of God, ascend to its beginning in the eternal council of God about the existence of the world and man in it, see its reflection in the creation of man, joyfully meet the first gospel about him immediately after the fall, trace the rationally gradual revelation of it in the prophecies and prototypes of the Old Testament; understand who and how prepared to receive the incarnate God, under the influence of Divine educational institutions and actions, among Israel - go, if you want, beyond the borders of the people of God and there collect the rays of God's light, shining in the darkness - and realize how much the chosen ones from all nations have reached the premonition of an extraordinary manifestation of God's care for people. This will be mental preparation. But here is fasting: get ready to speak, confess and receive Holy Communion. of the Mysteries of Christ - this will be an active and vital preparation. If, as a result of all this, the Lord allows you to feel the power of His coming in the flesh, then when the holiday comes, you will celebrate it not because of a joy that is alien to you, but because of your own. Monday . (2 Tim. 2:20–26; Luke 19:37–44). The people cry out: “Hosanna!”, and the Lord cries. Doesn't something similar happen during our church celebrations? Then the appearance was solemn; but the Lord looked at what was invisible in souls and saw it worthy of crying. And our appearance on holidays is always festive; But is this the inner mood of everyone? Others do not understand at all the power and significance of the holidays; others sense something darkly, but see nothing clearly; and unless anyone sees, feels, and is worthy of the celebration. Our holidays take many victims; but how many of them are allocated to the Lord and the brethren? Either nothing, or the most insignificant little thing; everything almost takes over the womb and vanity. This cannot be hidden from the Lord, and it is not surprising if, humanly speaking, He cries when we make solemn exclamations. Such are the redeemed, the justified, the sons of sons!.. They made a vow, accepted an obligation - to walk in the spirit and not to commit carnal lusts, but what happens to them? The sons of the Kingdom are worse than the last slaves!.. Tuesday . ( 2 Tim. 3:16–4:4 ; Luke 19:45–48 ). “My house is a house of prayer.” And sure enough, just enter the church, and it already calls you to prayer. Everything here is arranged in such a way and is done in such a way as to dispose and facilitate prayer. Therefore, if you want to kindle prayer in your heart, go to the church of God more often. You can’t pray at home like you can in church. There are those who pray warmly at home, but if this is so at home, then how much more so in church? But when you are in church, be in it not only with your body, but more with your spirit. Stand where it is quieter, and in vain, with the mind of the Lord before you, pour out your soul before Him. Dispel your dreams, do not allow worries and pay attention to one thing - the matter of prayer. Raise your heavy soul and break its fatness by contemplating Divine things. If there is anything behind you, remove yourself with repentance and a vow of correction. If your conscience is not full, add more acts of selflessness and love. While standing in the church, prepare yourself for the entire time you are outside the church, not to retreat from the Lord in thought, but to always see Him before you, so that your feet do not move from the right path to the wrong one. This will make it easier for you to behave in it as you should when you come to church. And by staying properly in the church, it will again be easier for you to maintain your attention before the Lord when you are outside the church... And so your abiding in the Lord will grow higher and higher, and what more could you wish for? Wednesday ( 2 Tim. 4:9–22 ; Luke 20:1–8 ). The priests, scribes and elders did not believe in the Lord. In order to lead them to faith, He asked them a question: “...was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” Reason about this impartially, and your reasoning will lead you to faith. What is said about the appearance of John can be said about every event that accompanied the coming of the Lord in the flesh, and about the coming itself, with all its connections. Think about all this, and there will be one conclusion: “... truly He was the Son of God.” Different thoughts may come, bewilderments may arise, inconsistencies may appear, but at the end of all research there will emerge one comprehensive conviction that it is impossible to think otherwise than as depicted in the Gospels and apostolic writings. “The great mystery of piety: God appeared in the flesh,” while remaining a mystery in itself, will be clear to the mind due to the moral necessity that its own research will impose on it, to confess one way and not another. Unbelievers either do not study everything as they should, or they study superficially, with someone else’s mind, or they adopt an unhappy mood that is contrary to the requirements of faith, and in order to justify their unbelief, they are content with the very little to deny faith. And believers are shaken by the speeches of unbelievers for the reason that believers, content with simple faith, do not explain to themselves the foundations of faith. Those speeches take them by surprise, which is why they hesitate. Thursday . ( Titus 1:5–2:1 ; Luke 20:9–18 ). The Parable of the Vineyard depicts the Old Testament Church; doers are its then-hierarchy. And since she did not correspond to her purpose, a sentence was passed on her: to take the vineyard from her and give it to others. These others were at first St. the apostles, then their successors - the bishops with the entire priesthood. The vineyard of God is one from the beginning of the world, and the purpose of its workers was, is and will be until the end of the age - to bring fruit to the Lord of the vine - saved souls. This is the task of the Christian hierarchy, and therefore ours. We all see to what extent it is being fulfilled. What can I say to this? In many ways – thank God! – but in many, many ways one cannot help but wish for the best. This is especially true for preaching the word of God. A sermon is heard somewhere; and yet this is the only garden knife in the hands of the workers of God’s grapes. As if it were not fulfilled for us: “The lord of the vineyard will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.” But lest these others break in and destroy not only the workers, but also the grapes themselves... Friday . (Titus 1:15–2, 10; Luke 20:19–26). “What is Caesar’s is to Caesar, and what is God’s is to God”; to each, then, his own. In our time, instead of “Caesarean” we must put “worldly” and say: worldly things take their course, and God’s things take their course. Otherwise, everyone rushes to the things of life, but leaves the Divine behind. That is why it is not only out of place, that is, not in the foreground as it should be, but is completely forgotten. The consequence of this oblivion, seemingly unintentional, is its darkening in consciousness; and then both its content and its foundations become unclear. Hence the weakness of conviction and the instability of faith; and then alienation from it and the influence of all winds of teaching. Everyone takes this path especially when they begin to neglect God; Society goes through the same path when it begins to ignore in its order what God requires of it. When God is relegated to the background, then emancipation from Divine demands begins to take hold in society - in mental, moral and aesthetic terms - and secularization (serving the spirit of the times) of politics, customs, entertainment, and then education and all institutions. Nowadays, they don’t think about the things of God, don’t talk about them, don’t write about them, and don’t even think about them in any undertaking. Is it surprising that in such a mood, teachings contrary to faith find access to society and that society is inclined towards general unbelief? Saturday . (Eph.1:16–23; Luke 12:32–40). “Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning.” You must be prepared at every hour: not to know when the Lord will come either for the final judgment, or to take you away from here, which is all the same for you. Death decides everything; behind her is the result of life; and whatever you acquire, be content with it for all eternity. If you have acquired good things, your lot will be good; evil is evil. This is as true as it is true that you exist. And all this can be decided this very minute - right at this very moment in which you are reading these lines, and then - it’s all over: a seal will be placed on your being that no one can remove. There is something to think about!.. But one cannot be surprised at how little one thinks about it. What a mystery is happening over us! We all know that death is just around the corner, that it cannot be avoided, and yet almost no one thinks about it at all; and she will come suddenly and grab you. And what’s more... even when a mortal illness seizes you, you still don’t think that the end has come. Let psychologists from the scientific side decide this; From a moral point of view, one cannot help but see here an incomprehensible self-delusion, alien only to those who pay attention to themselves. Twenty-eighth Sunday after Pentecost ( Col. 1:12–18 ; Luke 14:16–24 ). “Many are called, but few are chosen.” The called are all Christians, the chosen are those Christians who both believe and live as Christians. In the early days of Christianity, preaching called people to faith; we are called by our very birth as Christians and our upbringing among Christians. And thank God! We pass half the road, that is, entering into Christianity and rooting it in our hearts from childhood, without any difficulty. It would seem that the stronger faith should be and the more correct life in all subsequent times. It was so; but for some time things have not been like that for us. Non-Christian principles are allowed into school education, which spoil youth; non-Christian customs have entered society, which corrupt it upon leaving school. And it is not surprising that if, according to the word of God, there are always few chosen ones, then in our time there are even fewer of them: such is the spirit of the age - anti-Christian! What's next? If our way of upbringing and the customs of society do not change, then true Christianity will weaken more and more, and finally, it will end completely; Only the Christian name will remain, but there will be no Christian spirit. Everyone will be filled with the spirit of peace. What to do? Pray... Monday . ( Heb. 3:5–11, 17–19 ; Luke 20:27–44 ). The Sadducees had an objection to the Resurrection, which seemed insoluble to them; and the Lord decided it in a few words, and moreover, so clearly that everyone understood and recognized the Sadducees as defeated by the truth of His word (Luke 20:27-40). What were the Sadducees then, are now unbelievers of all sorts. They have accumulated many dreamy assumptions for themselves, elevated them to irrefutable truths, and are proud of themselves, believing that there is nothing to be said against them. In fact, they are so empty that it is not worth talking against them. All their wisdom is like a house of cards: blow it and it will fly apart. There is no need to refute them in parts, but it is enough to treat them the way one treats dreams. Speaking against dreams, they do not prove the inconsistency in the composition or parts of the dream, but only say: this is a dream, and thereby solve everything. This is exactly the theory of the formation of the world from foggy spots, with its supports - the theory of arbitrary generation, Darwin's origin of genera and species, and with his last dream about the origin of man. Everything is like sleepy delirium. Reading them, you walk among the shadows. What about scientists? What can you do with them? Their motto: if you don’t like it, don’t listen, and don’t bother lying. Tuesday . ( Heb. 4:1–13 ; Luke 21:12–19 ). “And you will be hated by all because of My name.” Whoever breathes into himself even a little of the spirit of the world becomes cold towards Christianity and its demands. This indifference turns into hostility when they remain in it for a long time without coming to their senses, and especially when at the same time they capture from somewhere a particle of false teachings. The spirit of the world with perverted teachings is a spirit hostile to Christ: it is the Antichrist; its expansion is the expansion of hostile relations towards the Christian confession and Christian orders of life. It seems like something similar is happening around us. For now there is only a thin growl going around everywhere; but it is not surprising that what was prophesied by the Lord will soon begin: “... they will lay their hands on you... and will persecute you... you will be betrayed... and they will kill you.” The spirit of Antichrist is always one; what was in the beginning will be now, in a different form, perhaps, but with the same meaning. How can this be? “Through your patience save your souls.” Endure with a firm word of confession of the truth in your mouth and in your heart. Wednesday ( Heb. 5:11–6:8 ; Luke 21:5–7, 10–11, 20–24 ). The disciples pointed out to the Lord the beauty of the building and utensils of the church, and He said: “... the days will come in which from what you see here, not one stone will be left upon another; everything will be destroyed." This is a signature to everything red in this world. It looks durable and timeless; but a day or two - you look as if nothing had happened: and beauty fades, and strength is exhausted, and glory fades, and minds become obsolete, and clothes wear out. Everything in itself carries a destructive force, which does not lie like an undeveloped seed, but consists of constant action, and everything flows towards its end. “The image of this world is passing away. This is how man walks; treasures and no one knows who will collect them for me.” And we are all fussing, we are all busy, and there is no end to our troubles. We encounter constant lessons all around us, but everything that is ours is as if we are blind and see nothing. And it’s true to say that we are blind or blinded: there is no end to ourselves, and to everything around us, and to what we own. And what else? Having, as it seems to us, a good situation, we are sure that we are standing firmly, as if on a cliff; then our position is more like if we were standing in a quagmire: we are about to fail. But we don’t feel this and indulge in the careless pleasure of the current, as if it is always going to remain. Let us pray that the Lord will open our intelligent eyes and may we see everything not as it seems, but as it is. Thursday . ( Heb. 7:1–6 ; Luke 21:28–33 ). “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with gluttony and drunkenness and the cares of this life, and lest that day come upon you suddenly.” “That day,” that is, the last day of the world or of each of us, comes like a thief and seizes like a net; That’s why the Lord commands: “Watch therefore at all times and pray” (Luke 21:36). And since satiety and over-concern are the first enemies of vigil and prayer, it is also indicated in advance not to allow yourself to become burdened with food, drink and the sorrows of everyday life. Whoever ate, drank, had fun, slept, slept and did the same again, what kind of vigil should he have? Whoever is busy day and night with the same things of life has no time for prayer? “What do you say we should do? It is impossible to live without food; and it must be obtained. That's the concern." Yes, the Lord did not say: do not work, do not eat, do not drink, but “let not your heart be burdened with this.” Work with your hands and keep your heart free; eat - eat, but do not burden yourself with food; and drink wine when necessary, but do not let your head and heart become indignant. Separate your outer from your inner and make the latter the work of your life, and the first an ancillary: there be your attention and heart, but here only your body, hands, feet and eyes: “Watch at all times and pray,” so that you may be worthy to stand fearlessly before the Son of Man. In order to be worthy of this, you must here, in your life, establish yourself before the Lord, and for this there is only one means - vigorous prayer in the heart, performed with the mind. Whoever tunes in this way will not find “that day” suddenly. Friday . (Heb.7:18–25; Luke 21:37–22, 8). Satan entered Judas and taught him how to betray the Lord: he agreed and betrayed. Satan entered because the door was open for him. Our inner being is always contained; The Lord Himself stands outside and knocks for it to be opened. How does it open? Sympathy, predisposition, consent. Whoever has all this leaning towards Satan, he enters into him; Whoever, on the contrary, has all this leaning towards the Lord, the Lord enters into him. That Satan enters, and not the Lord, man himself is to blame. Do not allow thoughts pleasing to Satan, do not sympathize with them, do not be influenced by them and do not agree to them - Satan walks and walks around, and then moves away: after all, he has not been given power over anyone. If he takes possession of someone, it is because he gives himself into slavery. The beginning of all evil is thoughts. Do not allow evil thoughts and you will forever close the door of your soul to Satan. And if unkind thoughts come - what can you do - without them there is no one in the world, and there is no sin here. Drive them away and it's all over; They will come again, drive them away again - and so on for the rest of your life. When you accept thoughts and begin to engage with them, it is not surprising that sympathy for them will appear; then they will become even more persistent. Sympathy will be followed by bad intentions, now for one or another bad deed. Vague intentions will then be determined by disposition towards one; choice, agreement and determination begin - that’s the sin inside! The door of the heart is wide open. As soon as agreement is formed, Satan jumps in and begins to tyrannize. Then the poor soul, like a slave or like a beast of burden, is driven and exhausted in doing indecent things. If she had not allowed bad thoughts, nothing like this would have happened. Saturday . (Eph.2:11-13; Luke 13:18-29). “Strive to enter through the strait gate.” Narrow gates - life not according to one’s own will, not according to one’s desires, not to please oneself; the wide gate is life according to all the movements and aspirations of a passionate heart, without the slightest denial of anything. Thus, the gate to the kingdom is self-restraint. Restrain yourself in everything - and it will be the same as tension or pushing against the door in order to open it and squeeze through it. How and what to embarrass yourself with? The commandments of God, opposite to the passionate movements of the heart. When you begin to get angry with someone, remember the commandment of the Lord: “... do not be angry in any way” - and thereby oppress your heart. When lustful movements come, bring to mind the prohibition of even looking at your wife with lust and thereby restrain your lust. When you want to condemn someone, remember the word of the Lord that by doing this you make the Judge of heaven inexorable towards you, and thereby restrain your arrogance. The same applies to any vicious movement. Collect the sayings of Divine Scripture against each of them and keep them in memory. As soon as any bad desire comes out of your heart, you immediately bind it with a saying directed against it; or bind all your desires and thoughts in advance with Divine words and walk in them: you will be as if in chains. But in these bonds there is freedom, or a free path to the Kingdom of God. Twenty-ninth Sunday after Pentecost ( Col. 3:4–11; Luke 17:12–19 ). Ten lepers were healed, but only one came to thank the Lord. Isn’t this the proportion of grateful people in total who are benefited by the Lord? Who has not received benefits, or rather, what is in us and what happens to us that would not be good for us? Meanwhile, is everyone grateful to God and gives thanks for everything? There are even those who allow themselves to ask: “Why did God give existence? It would be better if we weren’t.” God gave you existence so that you would be eternally blissful; He gave you existence freely, provided you freely and with all the means to achieve eternal bliss; It’s up to you: you just have to work a little for it. You say: “Yes, I have all the sorrows, poverty, illnesses, misfortunes.” Well, this is also one of the ways to achieve eternal bliss: be patient. Your whole life cannot be called a moment in comparison with eternity. Even if you had to suffer all your life in a row, it’s nothing against eternity, but you still have moments of consolation. Do not look at the present, but at what is prepared for you in the future, and take care to make yourself worthy of it, and then you will not notice the sorrows. They will all be absorbed in the undoubted hope of eternal consolations, and gratitude will not be silent on your lips. Monday . ( Heb. 8:7–13 ; Mark 8:11–21 ). The Lord sailed with his disciples to the other side of the sea; But they forgot to take the loaves, and had only one loaf with them, and began to think about what they should do here. Knowing their thoughts, the Lord reminded them of the feeding of four and five thousand people, thereby leading them to the firm hope that under Him they would not die of hunger, even if they did not have a single piece of bread. How much anxiety the thought of an unknown future sometimes brings to everyone! There is only one comfort from these worries - trust in the Lord; and revival and strengthening come from a reasonable consideration of what has already happened to us and to others. There is not a single person who in his life has not experienced unexpected deliverance from trouble or unexpected turns in his life for the better. Revive your soul with memories of such cases when gloomy thoughts about what to do begin to torment it. God will arrange everything for the better now, as it happened before. Rely on Him; even before deliverance from trouble, He will send you complacency, in which you will not even notice your trouble. “He who trusts in the Lord will receive mercy.” Consider the experiences of this in St. Scripture, in the lives of saints, in your life and the lives of your friends, and you will see, as in a mirror, how “the Lord is near to all who call on Him.” And insurance for your fate will not outrage your soul. Tuesday . ( Heb. 9:8–10, 15–23 ; Mark 8:22–26 ). The Lord did not suddenly heal the blind man of Bethsaida, but at first not completely, and then completely, so that he began to see everything clearly. Why the Lord did this, He alone knows. We will take from here the following thought: if it was considered necessary to heal bodily vision gradually, then all the more such gradualism is necessary in enlightening the eyes of our mind. And so it was. In the patriarchal period, revealed knowledge was not difficult; during the period under the law it became more complex and detailed; in our Christian period it is even more detailed and sublime; but is it the end? Don’t expect the highest on earth, but in the next world it will happen. Two St. The Apostles assure us of this, St. John and Paul. Nowadays we see everything as if through a dark glass; and then we will see everything clearly. But even there there will be degrees of mental enlightenment, for the scope of God’s knowledge is limitless. On earth, the revelation of God has already been completed; there is nothing to dream about the highest; we have everything we need; learn and live by it. The Christian revelation ahead does not promise a new revelation, but only that the Gospel will be known throughout the world and that this ubiquity and universality of the knowledge of the Gospel is the limit of the existence of the present order of things. Then faith will weaken, love will dry up, life will become difficult, and the goodness of God will put an end to the world. Wednesday ( Heb. 10:1–18 ; Mark 8:30–34 ). Having invited people to follow him with the cross, the Lord shows this path, eliminating the main obstacles to it, not external, but internal, rooted in the human heart. If you want, as He says, to follow Me, first of all, do not feel sorry for yourself; for whoever feels sorry for himself will destroy himself; secondly, do not be bound by greed, for “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” Third, do not be embarrassed by what others will say or how others will look at you: “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Self-pity, selfishness and shame on the human face are the main chains that hold a person in an unpleasing life, on the path of passions and sin. They are the main obstacles to the conversion of a sinner; They are also the main subject of spiritual struggle in a person who repents and who has already begun to bear the fruits of repentance. Until these threads are cut off, the Christian life in us is unreliable, full of stumblings and falls, if not always external, then internal. So, everyone, take a good look at yourself, and if there is anything in it from what has been said, take care to renounce it: otherwise, do not hope to ascend to perfection in Christ, even though outwardly you will be very correct. Thursday . ( Heb. 10:35–11:7 ; Mark 9:10–16 ). History flows and seems to inexorably determine particular events. How many preparations there were for the reception of the Savior!.. Finally, His closest guide, John, came, but what happened? They “did with John as they wanted”; and the Son of Man was humiliated and suffered. The tide of events could not be reversed: it took its toll. So, the current story always carries everything along with itself. The question now is: where is freedom? And what will she be like in this order of events? Nothing more than a ghost. This is how fatalists usually reason. But this all-determining necessity of the course of events is only apparent; in fact, all human events, both general and private, are the fruit of human free endeavors. The general flows exactly this way because everyone or the majority wants it; and the particular enters into an agreement with the general, because both in particular want it. The proof of this is obvious: among the good generalities there are particular bad ones; and among the bad things in general there are particular good ones. And one more thing: among the firmly established generalities, particulars arise, which, growing and strengthening more and more, overpower the former generality and take its place. But these particulars are always a matter of freedom. What does Christianity have to do with the character of the time in which it was born? It is seeded with several persons who were not the product of the necessary course of history; it attracted those who wanted it, expanded rapidly and became the common cause of the humanity of that time, and yet it was a cause of freedom. The same goes for the bad: how has the West become corrupted? He corrupted himself: instead of the Gospel, they began to learn from the pagans and adopt their customs - and they became corrupted. The same will happen with us: we began to learn from the Lord of the West, who fell away from Christ, and transferred his spirit into ourselves; we will end up, like him, recoiling from true Christianity. But in all this there is nothing necessary and decisive for the cause of freedom: if we want, we will drive away the Western darkness; we don’t want to - and, of course, we will plunge into it. Friday . (Heb.11:8, 11-16; Mark 9:33-41). The Savior sets a child as a model of faith and life. Simplicity of faith gives birth to simplicity of life; From both of them comes an exemplary moral system. Let the thinking in here - it will create discord inside and, under the guise of a better arrangement of affairs, it will upset your whole life. Cleverness is always twisted: “this is not so, the other is not that way; let me arrange everything in a new way; the old thing is no good, it’s boring.” But it has never created anything good anywhere, but only upsets everything. The mind should obey what is commanded by the Lord. True, he is called a king in his head, but this king is not given legislative power, but only executive power. As soon as he begins to legislate, he will pile up who knows what, and upset the moral, religious, everyday, and political orders; everything will go upside down. It is a great misfortune for society when the mind is given freedom to soar without being restrained by Divine truth! This is the wrath of God. It is said about him: “...cover yourself a little, until he passes by.” In this midst of mental waywardness, it is best to take refuge in the simplicity of faith. Just as during a storm it is better to sit at home and not go out in arrogance to fight it, so during stormy self-indulgence it is better not to go out to fight it and not to grab the weapon of reasoning in order to resist it. Simplicity of faith is stronger than speculation; put on it like armor, and you will stand. Saturday . (Eph.5:1-8; Luke 14:1-11). When you are called somewhere, do not sit in first place. Summarizing this, we get: always and everywhere stick to the last part. This simple rule briefly expresses all the rich content of humility. Take it, sit down and consider all the possible cases of your life and in advance choose the last part for yourself in all of them. This latter will be the practice of humility, which from external affairs will little by little move inward and lay there the sediment of humility as a foundation. Time will grow this seed among the same practice, and humility will finally fill the whole soul and body and all external affairs. What will happen? And the fact that moral greatness will shine on your brow and attract universal respect; and it will be fulfilled over you: “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” But do not keep this in mind when practicing humility, but humility itself. It itself brings a pleasing good mood into the soul. Where humility comes, all internal anxieties cease and all external adversities do not produce striking impressions. Just as a wave, without encountering an obstacle, spreads without noise or impact in the boundless sea, so external and internal sorrows do not hit a humble soul, but rush over, as it were, without leaving a trace. This, so to speak, is the everyday advantage of the humble; and what light from above overshadows him, what consolations are sent, what breadth of freedom of action opens up!.. Truly, humility alone combines everything... Thirtieth Sunday after Pentecost ( Col. 3:12–16; Luke 18:18–27 ). The Holy Forefathers are truly great people! And if we generalize the thought that determines their greatness, it will come out: truly great are only those who fall into the ranks of executors of God’s will for the human race - positive will, for many things happen only by God’s permission; There are again strong figures who act contrary to the will of God and even contrary to it. These too may seem great, but not in themselves, but because of the great opposition that God’s Providence erects to blot out the evil they have caused. We know the direct will of God for eternal salvation; but God’s plans for the temporary stay of people on earth are hidden from us. Therefore, it is difficult for us to determine who acts more directly according to the will of God. Only one negative criterion can be considered true: whoever acts contrary to God’s definition of the eternal salvation of people cannot be considered great, no matter how ostentatious his deeds may be, for it is obvious that he goes against the manifest will of God. Although this driven will concerns not the temporal, but the eternal, it is certain that one will of God cannot contradict another. Monday . ( Heb. 11:17–23, 27–31 ; Mark 9:42–10:1 ). “Everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt.” Before this, the Lord spoke about the fact that one must be ready for all kinds of sacrifices and all kinds of acts of selflessness, just to stay on the good path. Even if these sacrifices were as dear to us as an eye, or necessary as a right hand, we must make them without hesitation; for if you regret making such a sacrifice and, as a result, are carried away from the right path to the wrong, you will be forced to suffer forever in your future life. So, make a sacrifice, painful and sorrowful here, in order to avoid torment there. Without fiery purification here one cannot be saved from eternal fire. Anyone who wants to be saved must be salted by fire and undergo fiery purification. All of us, according to the law of creation, must sacrifice ourselves to God; but every one of us is unclean. It means that we must purify ourselves so that we can be made into a sacrifice pleasing to God. But if you start to cleanse yourself, tear passions away from your soul, it will hurt like being burned by fire. This action of internal self-purification is similar to the action of fire purifying metal. Metal is insensitive. If you give him a feeling, then he would feel both the cleansing and the burning at the same time; this same thing happens in a self-purifying person. After going through this action, it is as if he was completely burned by fire. The cleansing fire passes through all parts of it, just as salt penetrates a salted body. And only the one who undergoes this action becomes a real God-given sacrifice, and therefore it is necessary for everyone to be salted with fire, just as in the Old Testament every sacrifice was salted before it was offered as a burnt offering. Tuesday . ( Heb. 12:25–26, 13:22–25 ; Mark 10:2–12 ). “What God has joined together, let no man separate.” With these words, the Lord affirms the indissolubility of marriage; only one legal reason for divorce is indicated - infidelity of the spouses: but what if something like this is revealed? Be patient. We have a universal commandment to bear each other’s burdens; the more willingly such close persons as spouses should perform it mutually to each other. Unwillingness to endure stirs up trouble, and trifles pile up into the dividing wall. What is the mind given for? Smooth out the path of life. Prudence will sort out the opposites encountered. They do not get divorced from a lack of everyday prudence, but more from a reluctance to think carefully about the state of affairs and even more from the lack of another goal in life other than pleasures. Pleasures cease, and contentment with each other ceases; further and further, here comes the divorce. The more the goals of life are vulgarized, the more divorces become more frequent - on the one hand, and on the other - lawless temporary cohabitation. The source of this evil is in the materialistic view of the world and life. Wednesday (James 1:1–8; Mark 10:11–16). With what love the Lord treated children! And who doesn’t treat them with love? The longer someone lives, the more they love children. One sees in them the freshness of life, purity and integrity of character, which one cannot help but love. Others come to the idea, looking at the innocence of childhood, to believe that there is no original sin, that everyone falls on his own when he comes of age and encounters antimoral aspirations, which, it seems to him, he is not able to overcome. Everyone falls on their own, but original sin still exists. The Apostle Paul sees in us the law of sin, warring against the law of the mind. This law, like a seed, seems invisible at first, but then opens up and captivates. Thus, those born from lepers do not detect leprosy until a certain age, then it opens up and begins to consume them in the same way as it did their parents. Where was leprosy before time? She was hiding inside. So original sin is hidden for a while, and then it comes out and does its thing. The environment matters a lot both in suppressing this sin and in revealing it. If there were no sinful elements all around, there would be nothing for that hidden sin to feed on, and perhaps it would dry up on its own: but this is our grief, that there is always a lot around that is conducive to its nourishment. There is a lot of sin in every person and in society: but all this does not necessarily determine us to sin. Sin is always a matter of freedom: fight and you will not fall. Only those who do not want to fight fall. Why don't we want to fight? There is no rule for wanting or not wanting: I want because I want; and I don’t want to, because I don’t want to: autocracy is the original beginning; it cannot go any further. Thursday . (James 1:19–27; Mark 10:17–27). Someone turned to To the Lord with the question: “Good Teacher! What must I do to inherit eternal life?” What prompted this question? Were there no scriptures? Didn’t they read the law every Sabbath for everyone? There was everything - both Scripture and its interpreters; but in society there was controversy and confusion. The Pharisees said one thing, the Sadducees said another, the Essenes said theirs, the Samaritans said theirs; in Galilee, perhaps, pagan teachings were also heard, and everyone expressed theirs in a tone of conviction. Anyone who is zealous for salvation naturally comes to the question: what to do, what to follow, so as not to destroy your soul? Our situation is very similar to what it was then. What kind of teachings we have in schools, in society, and in literature! The indifferentist doesn’t care about this; and for those who are not all the same, no matter what teaching they follow, they cannot help but look for a solution: what to do? So what is the solution to this? The same as the Savior gave: believe and live as God commanded, and don’t listen to people’s talk, let them talk. And the talk of scientists is similar to rumor and fashion: today one thing, tomorrow another - but you listen to one word of God, which abides forever. What the Lord has commanded, no amount of wisdom can cancel. Everything is urgent and everything must be done. The judgment will be according to the word of the Lord, and not according to our speculations. Friday . (James 2:1–13; Mark 10:23–32). Hearing the word of the Lord about the inconvenience of the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, the disciples thought: “Who can be saved?” The Lord said to this: “... this is impossible for men, but not for God; for all things are possible with God.” It is impossible to renounce selfishness without a beneficial influence on the heart; It is impossible to cope with any other addiction, and with all the sin that lives in us, and with all its generation without the grace of God. The grace of God is given by faith in the Lord, in the sacraments of the Holy Church. Hold fast to the Holy Church of God and all its institutions, and the power of God, which contributes to all good, will always be inherent in you. Just always remember that these illuminating and life-giving institutions are means, not ends; Therefore, go through them only in order to revive and nourish the grace-filled forces hidden in you under their influence, and then go out to do your work as a strong husband, ready for every good deed. If you keep what you have accepted within yourself and do not give it an outcome in good deeds, you will be wrong; just as he who shuns everything churchly is wrong. From unjust zealots of piety the very system of pious life is criticized, but this does not take away the significance of this system and does not justify speculators who are alien to it on this basis alone. Saturday . ( Col. 1:3–6; Luke 16:10–15 ). “You cannot serve God and mammon.” A split thought and a split heart make a person worthless for anything, for “a person with double thoughts is not firm in all his ways.” He either does nothing, or he does and redoes it, that is, he builds with one hand and destroys with the other. The source of a truly godly life is a firm determination to please God in everything. This determination directs all the thoughts, desires and feelings of a person towards one thing, and, thus uniting his inner being, makes him strong in action, and brings unity to the entire totality of his activities, giving it one character. Deeds are so successful and fruitful because they are full of true life. Why lethargy, immobility, fruitlessness of affairs? From internal lifelessness, and internal lifelessness comes from the splitting of the internal. A single goal is not recognized, it is not set by the law of life - things go on as they should. That’s why some go in one direction, others in another; the building of life is not being built. Choose a goal and devote your life to it. The real, main goal is indicated by the godlike nature of man; she is a living communion with God. Direct your private, academic, everyday, civil, commercial, official, and governmental goals toward this main goal. If everyone in society adhered to this, one common system would be introduced into society and one spirit would fill everyone. ( Gal. 4:4–7 ; Matt. 2:1–12 ). Glory to Thee, Lord! And we still waited for the bright days of the Nativity of Christ: now let’s have fun and rejoice. The Holy Church, deliberately, in order to increase our joy in these days, instituted fasting before them - a certain constraint, so that, entering them, we would feel as if we were going into freedom. Despite all this, she does not want us to indulge only in the pleasures of the senses and only carnal pleasures. But from time immemorial, having called these days Christmastide, it demands that our very joy during them be holy, just as they are holy. And so that no one would forget while having fun, she put into our mouths a short song in praise of the born Christ, with which it calms the flesh and elevates the spirit, showing it activities worthy of these days: “Christ is born - glorify” and so on. Glorify Christ, and glorify so that your soul and heart are delighted with this glorification and thereby drown out the urge to any other work and activity that promises some kind of joy. Praise Christ: this is not like composing long songs of praise to Christ, no; but if, thinking or listening about the Nativity of Christ the Savior, you involuntarily exclaim from the depths of your soul: glory to Thee, Lord, that Christ was born! – that’s enough; it will be a quiet song of the heart, which will, however, pass through heaven and go down to God Himself. Reproduce a little more clearly what the Lord has done for us, and you will see how natural it is for us to make such an appeal today. To make this easier for us, let us equate the following cases with this. The tsar promised freedom to the one imprisoned and shackled... The prisoner waits for a day or two, waits for months and years... does not see the fulfillment, but does not lose hope, believing the tsar’s word. Finally, signs appeared that soon; his attention becomes tense; he hears the noise of those approaching with cheerful talk: now the constipation is lifted and the deliverer enters... Glory to Thee, Lord! - the prisoner involuntarily exclaims. The end of my imprisonment has come, I will soon see the light of God! Another case: a patient, covered with wounds and relaxed in all his limbs, tried all the medicines and changed many doctors; his patience was exhausted, and he was ready to indulge in desperate grief. They tell him: there is still a most skillful doctor, he cures everyone and precisely from diseases such as yours; we asked him - he promised to come. The patient believes, rises to hope and waits for what was promised... An hour passes, two, more - anxiety again begins to sharpen his soul... Already in the evening someone arrived... walking... the door opened, and the desired one enters... Glory to Thee, Lord! - the patient screams. Here’s another case: a menacing cloud hangs over; darkness covered the face of the earth; thunder shakes the foundations of the mountains, and lightning cuts through the sky from end to end - this makes everyone afraid, as if the end of the world has come. When the storm then passes and the sky clears, everyone, sighing freely, says: Glory to Thee, Lord! Bring these cases closer to yourself and you will see that our whole history is in them. A terrible cloud of God’s wrath was over us; the Lord the Reconciliator came and dispersed this cloud. We were covered with wounds of sins and passions - the Physician of souls came and healed us... We were in the bonds of slavery - the Liberator came and loosed our bonds... Bring all this closer to your heart and perceive with your feelings, and you will not resist exclaiming: glory to Thee, Lord, that Christ was born! I do not try to instill such joy in you with my words: it is beyond the reach of any word. The work accomplished by the born Lord concerns each of us. Those who enter into communication with Him receive from Him freedom, healing, peace, possess all this and taste the sweetness of it. There is no need to say “rejoice” to those who experience this within themselves, because they cannot help but rejoice, and to those who do not experience the need to say “rejoice,” they cannot help but rejoice. Bound hand and foot, no matter how much you tell him: “Rejoice at your deliverance,” he will not rejoice; covered with the wounds of sins, where will the joy of healing come from? How can one who is terrified by the thunderstorm of God’s wrath breathe freely? To such people one can only say: “Go to the Midwife, lying in the manger, and seek from Him deliverance from all the evils that beset you, for this Child is Christ, the Savior of the world.” I would like to see everyone rejoicing in this particular joy and not wanting to know other joys, but not all who are from Israel are Israel. Empty, violent, lust-inciting amusements will now begin: ogling, circling, werewolves. No matter how much you say to those who love all this, “tame yourself,” they close their ears and do not heed - and they will always bring the bright days of the holiday to the point that they will force the merciful Lord to turn His eyes away from us and say: “... all these celebrations of yours are an abomination to Me!” And indeed, many of our public amusements are truly a pagan abomination, that is, some were directly transferred to us from the pagan world, while others, although they appeared later, are imbued with the spirit of paganism. And as if on purpose, they are invented in large quantities during the days of Christmas and Easter. Being carried away by them, we give the prince of the world - our tormentor, the enemy of God, a reason to say to God: “What have you done to me with your birth and resurrection? Everyone is coming to me!” But may the words of the 50th Psalm flash more often in the depths of our hearts: “You are righteous in Your judgment and pure in Your judgment”... We are carried away by enlightened Europe... Yes, there for the first time the pagan abominations that were expelled from the world were restored; They have already crossed over from there and are moving over to us. Having inhaled this hellish frenzy, we spin around like crazy, not remembering ourselves. But let us remember the twelfth year: why did the French come to us? God sent them to destroy the evil that we adopted from them. Russia then repented, and God had mercy on her. And now, it seems, that lesson has already begun to be forgotten. If we come to our senses, of course, nothing will happen; and if we don’t come to our senses, who knows, maybe the Lord will again send our same teachers to bring us to our senses and put us on the path of correction. This is the law of God’s righteousness: to heal from sin is the one who is attracted to it. These are not empty words, but a deed affirmed by the voice of the Church. Know, Orthodox, that God cannot be mocked; and knowing this, rejoice and rejoice in these days with fear. Sanctify the bright holiday with holy days, activities and amusements, so that everyone, looking at us, will say: they are celebrating Christmas time, and not some riotous games of the wicked and debauched who do not know God. The end, and glory to our God!