СВОБОДА ОТ ЗАБОТ

Nothing makes a man a slave more than a multitude of needs; and nothing makes you free like contentment with only what is necessary. The same can be seen in dumb animals. What good is it for a donkey to be burdened with a heavy load, even if he could use it countless times? And what is the loss for another donkey, who is free from all burdens, if he has the necessary food? Therefore, Christ, wanting to make His disciples high, as those who were preparing to preach throughout the entire universe, freed them from all worries and thus inspired them and made them harder than adamant. Truly, nothing gives the soul so much strength as freedom from worries, and nothing makes it weak as much as the burden of worries. Just as one cannot soon find sadness there, it is not so soon one can find pleasure here. One of them has many cruel and inhuman masters and mistresses; and the other does not serve anyone, but he himself rules over everyone, enjoying the rays of the sun with great freedom, using the air and not having anyone to upset him. He is not tormented by anger, envy, or hatred; he is not tormented by care, jealousy, vanity, pride or anything else like that - but like a quiet pier, free from excitement, so his soul is in a calm state and easily strives towards heaven, not being delayed by anything real (2). Let's not care; We will get nothing from our worries, except that they will entertain us. If God gives us everything we need, whether we care about it or not, and moreover, He gives us more quickly when we do not care, then what benefit does your fussiness bring you, except that you are punishing yourself? Does one who goes to a sumptuous dinner care about food? Does he who goes to the source stock up on drink? And we, having blessings better and more abundantly than how much water is in streams and stews at suppers, that is, the Providence of God, should not worry and be faint-hearted. In addition to the above, the Savior, in order to arouse in us undoubted trust in all things in the Providence of God, provides further evidence, saying: “Seek first the Kingdom of God... and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Having removed from us every thought of unnecessary worries, Christ also mentioned heaven; This is why he came, to destroy the ancient and call us to a better fatherland; therefore He does everything to remove us from excesses and from addiction to earthly things (6). The sharper our vision, the more we know how far we are from the sky. Likewise, the more we succeed in virtue, the more we learn to recognize how great the distance is between God and us. And there is considerable wisdom when we can realize what we are worth. He knows himself best who considers himself to be nothing. That is why both David and Abraham, when they ascended to the highest degree of virtue, then especially showed the virtue of humility: Abraham called himself earth and ashes (see Gen. 18:27), and David called himself a worm (see Ps. 21:7). Like them, all saints consider themselves insignificant. On the contrary, he who is carried away by pride knows himself least of all. That is why we have become in the habit of talking about the proud: they do not know themselves, they do not know themselves. And who does not know himself know? Just as he who knows himself knows everything, so he who does not know himself cannot know anything else. Such was the one who says: “I will exalt the throne above the stars of God” (Is. 14:13). Without knowing himself, he did not know anything else. But Paul did not reason like that: he called himself a monster and the last of men, and after so many and such great deeds performed by him, he did not even consider himself worthy of the title of apostle. We will be jealous and imitate him. We will be able to imitate him only when we free ourselves from the earth and from earthly worries. Truly, nothing prevents a person from knowing himself so much as clinging to everyday things; and vice versa, nothing encourages him to cleave to everyday affairs so much as ignorance of himself. This ignorance and worldly attachment depend on each other. Just as someone who loves external glory and has great respect for real goods, no matter how hard he tries, cannot know himself, so, on the contrary, he who despises earthly things conveniently knows himself. And he who knows himself through this will also succeed in all other virtues. So, in order for us to acquire this good knowledge, let us free ourselves from everything temporary that so strongly inflames us, and having recognized our poverty, let us begin to show all possible humility and wisdom (6). The more you surround yourself with needs, the more you will be subjected to slavery, because the more you need, the more you will reduce your freedom. Perfect freedom consists in not needing anything at all, and the next one is in needing a little, and this freedom is predominantly enjoyed by Angels and their imitators. And to achieve this while being in a mortal body - think how much glory there is in this! This was also expressed by Paul, writing to the Corinthians: “I feel sorry for you,” and: “Let them not have sorrow in the flesh” (1 Cor. 7:28). Money is called money because it should be used for needs, and not stored and not buried in the ground; this means no longer to own, but to be in possession. If we only have in mind how to acquire more of it, and not just to use it for needs, then the order is already is perverted, and they own us, and not we them. Let us free ourselves from this cruel slavery and finally become free. Why do we invent many different bonds for ourselves? Are not the bonds of natural, everyday necessities and the accumulation of countless affairs enough for you? And you weave other nets for yourself and tie your legs with them! When will you reach the sky and have the strength to stand at such a height? It is desirable, truly desirable, that you, having broken all these ties, can reach the highest city (9). You might be interested in: