СВЯТЫЕ

Among people, slaves are called masters, and everyone usually says this: such and such is the attorney of such and such, such and such is the steward of such and such, a military commander or a mayor; but no one says: such and such mayor of such and such attorney; no, we usually always call the lower ones after the higher ones. But with God it turns out to be the opposite: not only Abraham is called God’s, but God is also Abraham’s, the Lord is called by the name of the servant. It is precisely at this that Paul, surprised, says: “Therefore God is not ashamed of them, calling Himself their God” (Heb. 11:16). The Lord is not ashamed, he says, to be called by the name of his servants. Explain why you are not ashamed? So that we too can imitate. But they, he says, are “strangers and strangers” (Heb. 11:13). This, it seems, was something to be ashamed of, because the wanderer seems to be an insignificant and despicable person. But the saints were pilgrims not in the sense that this word has in itself, but in another, special one. We call people wanderers who left their fatherland and came to a foreign land. But the saints were not such wanderers; no, having despised the entire universe and recognizing the earth as insignificant, they turned their gaze to the heavenly city, not out of pride, but out of generosity, not out of arrogance, but out of love for wisdom. Having examined everything earthly, they saw that it soon passes and perishes and that nothing here is solid and impermanent - neither wealth, nor power, nor glory, nor life itself, but everything has an end and strives for its limit - the heavenly, on the contrary, is not like that, but is endless and eternal. It was then that they wished to be strangers in relation to the fleeting and transitory in order to receive permanent benefits. So, they were strangers not because they had no fatherland, but because they strove for an eternal fatherland. Explaining this, Paul said: “For those who speak like this show that they are seeking the fatherland” (Heb. 11:14). What kind of fatherland, tell me? Is it not the old one that they left behind? No, he says: “if they had in their thoughts the fatherland from which they came, they would have time to return... they strived for the best, that is, for the heavenly. ...whose artist and builder is God... Therefore God is not ashamed of them, calling Himself their God” (Heb. 11:10, 15, 16) (1). Although God finds great joy in the host of saints and considers it his glory, nevertheless He is afraid of them. Saints are around God, approaching Him through holiness of life; but God is terrible for them when they sin, since He does not at all favor the righteous if they sin (3). Such are the souls of saints: loving, caring, love exceeding paternal disposition, conquering natural love, and surpassing maternal illnesses of birth, because they are filled with the Spirit and Divine grace (5). Let us have fellowship with the saints and not endure the storm, or, better yet, when the storm happens, we will have peace, silence and safety. That widow was in friendship with the saint, and her son was saved from death, and she again received her son alive (see 2 Kings 4). Where the feet of the saints tread, there will be nothing regrettable; and if this happens, it will be for testing and for the greater glory of God. Let their feet often trample the platform of your house, and the devil will not enter it. That's true. Just as where there is incense, stench does not exist, so where there is the ointment of holiness, the demon cannot exist; there is the joy of those present, pleasure and spiritual pleasure. Where there are thorns, there are wild animals; and where there is hospitality, there are no thorns: the mercy shown is sharper than any sickle, stronger than any fire, it destroys thorns. Don't be afraid; The devil fears the traces of saints, like foxes fear lions. “The righteous,” says [the Wise], “is bold like a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). Let us bring these lions into our house, and all the animals will flee, although they will not cry loudly, but speak simply. The roar of a lion does not put wild animals to flight, just as the prayer of a righteous man drives away demons: as soon as he uttered the word, they disappeared. Where, you say, are these men? Everywhere, if we believe, if we search, if we strive. Where did you look for them, tell me? When did you do this business? When did you care about this? If you are not looking, then do not be surprised that you do not find, because “he who seeks finds” (Matthew 7:8), and not the one who does not seek. Listen to those who live in the deserts; bring gold and silver there; they are all over the universe. If you do not accept a saint in your home, go to him yourself, stay with him, visit his home to find him and receive a blessing from him. A great thing is the blessing of the saints (10)! You might be interested in: