ПОМОЩЬ БОЖИЯ

Reflecting on this, beloved, and imagining the love of our Lord for mankind, let us not be negligent, but first of all and most of all, let us take care of ourselves, cleanse the filth of sin, and then turn to the intercession of the saints. However, if we want to be sober and awake, then our own prayers for ourselves will bring us the greatest benefit. Our Lord loves mankind and does not listen so much when others pray to Him for us as when we ourselves [pray for ourselves]. Pay attention to the greatness of His goodness. He sees that we have fallen, have been dishonored, and have no boldness (before Him); but when we rebel even a little and decide to resort to the riches of His love for mankind, He immediately heeds our petitions, stretches out His hand to us, the prostrate ones, lifts up the fallen and cries out: “Do they not rise when they fall” (Jer. 8:4)? (1) When we do everything that depends on us, then we receive God’s help in abundance. Precisely so that we do not be lazy and remain inactive, (God) wants us to bring something of ourselves, and then He shows His assistance. Not everything comes from help from above, but we need to bring something to us; and does not demand everything from us (God), knowing our extreme weakness, but following His love for mankind and wanting to have some reason to show His generosity, He expects feasible labor on our part (1). When we take advantage of the care from above, we can not only avoid the slander of evil people, but even if fierce beasts attack us, we will not suffer any harm. The Lord of all, by the abundance of His power, changes the nature of animals and puts into them the meekness of a sheep, without taking away their natural ferocity, but, leaving them with the same nature, makes them manifest the properties of sheep. And this can be seen not only in animals, but even in the elements. When He wants, the very elements forget their inherent power, and fire does not reveal the properties of fire. Anyone can be convinced of this from the example of the three youths and Daniel. Daniel, surrounded by lions, did not suffer any harm, being, as it were, among sheep, because a higher power restrained the ferocity of the first. And that they really remained beasts, not only showing their bestial properties, this was actually learned by those who were more ferocious than dumb beasts. And this was to further expose the latter, because they, being respected by reason, surpassed, however, in cruelty even the unreasonable beasts. And they learned in practice that, through the action of God’s Providence, even the fierce beasts were afraid of the righteous man and did not dare to touch his body, and they themselves wanted to treat him worse than the beasts. And so that they would not consider such a phenomenon just some kind of ghost, the example of those who were then thrown into the ditch assured them that only in relation to the righteous did they discover the meekness of the sheep and forgot their nature, and after that they showed the properties of cruelty over those thrown. The same thing happened in the fiery furnace. This element was afraid of those who were in the furnace, among the fire, and did not exert the usual effects of fire on them: its power, being, as it were, bound, preserved the bodies of these youths unharmed, did not even touch their hair, as if someone’s command prevented the element from revealing its characteristic effect, and meanwhile it destroyed those who were outside the furnace, in both cases demonstrating the greatness of the power of God: as in the fact that those who were inside the furnace remained unharmed, and in the fact that those outside died. Thus, when we enjoy favor from above, we not only get rid of the slander of people who are at enmity against us, but if we are attacked by even the wildest animals, then we will not suffer any harm, because the hand of God is most powerful, it protects our safety from everywhere and makes us invincible (1). To get rid of the evils around me, it is enough for me to call on God. Why do we often call and not get rid of disasters? Because we do not call as we should call. And what God is always ready to give, listen to how He himself says in the Gospel: “Is there a man among you who, when his son asks him for bread, would give him a stone? and when he asks for a fish, would you give him a snake? So if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him” (Matthew 7:9-11). Do you see how His goodness is when ours turns out to be wickedness in comparison? If this is our Lord, then we will always resort to Him, and call on Him alone as our helper, and we will find Him ready to save us. If those who are shipwrecked and carried on planks, calling on people who are far away, immediately dispose them to love humanity, although they have nothing in common with them, but became known to them only because of the misfortune that happened, then how much more will God, who loves mankind and is essentially good, deliver those who are in misfortune, if only they want to resort to Him and sincerely call on Him, abandoning human hopes. Therefore, when you are exposed to some unexpected disaster, do not lose heart, but immediately rise up and resort to a serene haven, indestructible protection, to the help of God. He allowed you to suffer disaster so that you would call on Him. But many then especially fall and lose their former piety, while they should have done the opposite. He loves us very much, and that is why He allows us to undergo sorrows, so that we sincerely cleave to Him. Just as mothers, frightening disobedient children with various monsters, force them to resort to their bowels and do this not in order to upset them, but in order to tie them to themselves, so God, always wanting to tie us to Himself, as He loves greatly or more than anyone who loves, allows you to fall into such needs that you constantly practice prayer, constantly call on Him and, leaving everything else, think about Him. (2). God can provide a way out of hopeless circumstances. That is why the Wise One says: “Time changes from morning to evening, and everything is fleeting before the Lord” (Sir. 18:26). Don't you see how the nobleman remained hungry when there was plenty (see 2 Kings 7)? Do you not see how the widow had contentment during the famine (see 1 Kings 17)? When your circumstances become difficult, then especially hope. Then God especially reveals His power; not at the beginning, but when human means prove hopeless. Then it’s time for divine help. Therefore, He delivered the youths not at the beginning, but after they were in the cave; and he delivered Daniel, not before he was cast in, but after seven days. So, look not at the nature of the circumstances that lead to despair, but at the power of God, which imparts good hopes to the hopeless (2). You might be interested in: