САМОУБИЙСТВО

Let us not tremble at death. It is true that the soul by its very nature has a love of life; however, it is up to us to either resolve these bonds of the soul and weaken this desire for life, or strengthen and strengthen them. Just as we, although we have a lust for carnal intercourse, nevertheless, when we become wise, weaken the power of lust, the same thing happens with the love of life. Just as God instilled carnal desire in us for procreation in order to preserve the succession in our race, and not in order to prevent us from walking along the higher path of abstinence, so He instilled love for life in us in order to turn us away from suicide, and not in order to forbid us to despise real life. Knowing this, we must observe moderation and, on the one hand, we should never go to death on our own, even if we are oppressed by countless disasters, and on the other hand, we should not shy away from it and refuse it when we are drawn to death for godly deeds, but boldly go to death, preferring the future life to the present (9). The soul is reluctant to leave the body, so that even if the intention is firm, nature reveals itself. No one parts with his body without suffering, and God arranged this for the benefit, so that there would be few violent deaths. After all, if even at this the devil manages to induce suicide and drives very many to rapids and abysses, then, if such was not the love of the soul for the body, many would immediately rush to this even from the most insignificant sadness (9). You might be interested in: