СКОРБИ

Sorrows or temptations serve as evidence of the great Providence and care of the philanthropic God for us. And therefore we should not strive by all measures only for a calm and carefree life; but both in prosperity and in sorrow we must equally send thanks to the Lord, so that He, seeing our good thoughts, will show even greater concern for us (1). We will never lose heart in sorrows and, carried away by our thoughts, we will not give in to despair; but, having great patience, let us be nourished by hope, knowing the good Providence of the Lord about us, who does not allow us to experience sorrow because he leaves us, but because he wants to crown us with a bright crown for our deeds. This is how all the saints achieved glory. Therefore, the apostles said: “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). And Christ himself said to the disciples: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). Let us not mourn too much about sorrows, but let us listen to Paul, who says that “those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Let us neither be troubled in spirit nor lose heart; but let us endure all adversities with firmness and patience, paying attention not to sorrows, but to the benefit that comes from here, because there is spiritual gain here. Just as those who want to collect wealth, busy with worldly benefits, can increase their wealth in no other way than by experiencing many dangers on land and sea, and, however, are willing to endure all this, in anticipation of profit, without feeling anything hard at all, so we should rejoice and be glad, thinking about the wealth and spiritual acquisition collected in this way and - look not at the visible, but at the invisible, as Paul inspires, saying: “we do not look.” to what is visible" (2 Cor. 4:18). Faith consists of this when we are not content only with what we see with our bodily eyes, but with the eyes of our mind we contemplate the invisible. And we must consider this more reliable than what we see with our bodily eyes. Thus the patriarch pleased [God], believing the promise of God and becoming above nature and all human thoughts; “and this was counted to him as righteousness” (Rom. 4:3). Know that truth lies in believing the words of God. When He speaks His promises, do not test them, I pray, by human considerations; but, rising above ordinary thoughts, firmly trust in the omnipotence of Him who gave the promise (1). Truly, nothing causes us so much suffering as passions intensified in the soul. All other disasters act externally, but these are born internally: this is where especially great torment comes from. Even if the whole world upsets us, if we do not upset ourselves, then nothing will be difficult for us. Therefore, it depends on us whether to experience sorrows or not to experience sorrows. And so that you may be convinced by the apostolic saying that freedom comes from tribulation, listen to Paul himself, who says about the fruits of tribulation: “tribulation produces patience, patience produces experience, experience produces hope, and hope does not disappoint” (Rom. 5:3-5). Do you see the indescribable space? Do you see the haven of fun? From sorrow comes patience. What could be calmer than a person who is the most patient and can easily endure everything? What could be stronger than an experienced person? What can compare with the joy that comes from here? Three joyful consequences, says the apostle, come from here for us: patience, experience and hope of future benefits. The prophet now speaks wisely about them when he says: In cramped conditions You gave me space. Having said: Hear me, he says in what he was heard, namely: not regarding property - because he did not ask for anything like that, not in overcoming his enemies - because he did not ask for this either - but regarding the peace that occurs in the midst of sorrows (2). It is no small matter to endure grief with gratitude. That’s why he [the prophet David] calls the reward for this a reward. So we will not lose heart during sorrows, but pray so as not to fall into temptation; and when it has come upon us, we will accept it; through this we get rid of our inherent sins, and if we have any virtue, then we make it brighter. This was shown by Job, who then especially shone. This is also good for the body, good not only for people, but also for dumb animals, and not only for animals, but also for plants. And farmers do not allow the vineyard and other trees to grow excessively with branches, but prevent their further growth and, pruning with a knife, turn all their strength to the root, so that they, having exhausted all their strength on the leaves, do not produce worthless fruits. This happens with people too. When zeal is spent on unnecessary deeds, then the soul becomes powerless to produce the mature and perfect fruit of piety. The same can be seen on the water. Standing and still water can be harmful; and moving, scooping and flowing water is not only healthy, but pleasant to see, touch, and drink. Constraint often overcomes nature. Thus, water tending and flowing downward, being constrained, rises upward. This definitely happens with people. Those who generously endure tribulations become higher, even if they were very low, the most earthly and humiliated, and thereby gain great benefit (3). Knowing when our sorrows should end belongs to God, who allows them, and to endure these sorrows with all gratitude is a matter of our gratitude. If this happens, then everything will be fine with us. And for this to really happen, for us to be more glorious here - on earth - and more brilliant in heaven, let us accept everything that befalls us with gratitude to the One who knows better than we what is good for us, and who loves us more than our parents themselves. Remembering these two thoughts to ourselves with every disaster that befalls us, we will tame our sorrow and glorify God, who in all cases creates and arranges everything in our favor (6). When we indulge in excessive grief for the deceased, then we insult God and bring no benefit either to ourselves or to the deceased; and when we do the opposite, we please God and gain a good opinion from people. If we ourselves do not lose heart, then [God] will soon destroy the remnant of sorrow; and if we become very upset, He leaves us in the power of sorrow. If we give thanks, we will not grieve. But how is it possible, you say, for someone who has lost a son, or a daughter, or a wife not to grieve? I am not saying not to grieve, but not to grieve beyond measure. In fact, if we think that God took them, that our husband and son were mortals, we will soon receive consolation. To mourn here means to demand something supernatural. If you were born human and mortal, then why do you grieve over what happened in accordance with nature? You don’t grieve that you support your life with food, do you? You don't want to live without food, do you? Do the same in relation to death and do not seek until the time of immortality, when you were born mortal. It is determined once and for all. Do not grieve and do not be distressed, but endure complacently what is generally prescribed for everyone. It is better to be sad about sins: this is good sadness, this is the greatest wisdom (8). A carefree life, beloved, there is always evil! That is why in the beginning (God) said to Adam: “By the sweat of your face you will eat bread” (Gen. 3:19). So, so that they, instead of great suffering, taking advantage of a carefree life, do not become vicious, He allows them to endure sorrow: sorrow is a great good. And that sorrow is good, listen to David, who says: “It is good for me that You have humbled me” (Ps. 119:71). If sorrow is a great blessing for great and wonderful men, then much more so for us. If you want, let us consider this grief in itself. Let's imagine that someone is overly happy, has fun and bursts into [laughter]: what is uglier, what is crazier than this? Let someone else grieve and grieve: what is wiser than this? Therefore, the Wise One inspires: lamentation is better than laughter; because with a sad face the heart becomes better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, and the heart of fools is in the house of joy (Eccl. 7:3, 4). Maybe you laugh at these words? But let us remember what Adam was like in paradise and what he was like after that; what Cain was like before [the murder] and what he was like after. The soul of one who is having fun does not remain in its place; but, as if by some wind, she is carried away by pleasure, becomes frivolous and has nothing solid. She is easy on inventions, quick on promises, and there is a great storm of thoughts in her. Hence - inappropriate laughter, unaccountable gaiety, excessive flow of speeches and a lot of idle talk. But what am I saying about the others? Let us imagine one of the saints and see what he was like in the midst of pleasure and what, in turn, he was like during sorrow. Let's look, if you like, at David. When he lived in pleasure and joy because of many trophies, victories, crowns, luxury and self-confidence, then look what he said and did? I said in my prosperity: “I will never be shaken” (Ps. 29:7). When he was in sorrow, listen to what he says: “And if He says this: “I have no favor with you,” then here I am; Let him do to me whatever pleases Him” (2 Samuel 15:26). What is wiser than these words? Let it be so, he says, as God pleases. He also said to Saul: “If the Lord has stirred you up against me, then let this be from you a fragrant sacrifice” (1 Sam. 26:19). When he was in sorrow, then he spared even his enemies, and after that neither his friends nor those who had not offended him in any way. Jacob, when he was in sorrow, said: “If [the Lord] God... will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear” (Gen. 28:20). And the son of Noah had not done anything like this before, but when he was assured of safety (from the flood), then you hear how bold he turned out to be (see Gen. 9:22). And Hezekiah, when he was in sorrow, look what he did for his salvation: he put on rags and sat on the ground; when he began to live in pleasures, then he fell from the height of his heart. Therefore, Moses exhorts: “you will eat and be satisfied... beware lest... you forget the Lord” (Deut. 6:11, 12), because the path of pleasure is slippery and leads to forgetting God. When the Israelites were in tribulation, they multiplied more and more; and when [God] delivered them, then they all perished. But why do I give examples of the ancients? Let us turn, if you like, to ourselves. Very many of us, when they prosper, are arrogant, enemies to everyone, angry, while they have power; and when it is taken away from them, they become meek, humble, quiet and come to the consciousness of their own nature. And that this is so, David also confirms, saying: their pride has completely taken possession of them: their unrighteousness comes as from fat (Ps. 73:6, 7). I say this so that we do not seek pleasure by all means. How then, they will say, does Paul say: “Rejoice always”? He did not just say: “Rejoice,” but added: “in the Lord” (Phil. 4:4). This is the highest joy; the apostles also rejoiced in it; this is joy that brings benefit; it has its beginning, root and foundation in bonds, in scourging, in persecution, in bad rumors and in general in sorrowful objects, but its end is desired. Worldly joy, on the contrary, begins with pleasure and ends with sorrow. I do not forbid rejoicing in the Lord, but I even especially urge you to do so. The apostles were scourged - and rejoiced; were connected - and thanked; were stoned - and preached. I wish for such joy too; it originates not from anything sensual, but from spiritual objects. It is impossible for one who rejoices in the world to rejoice in God; everyone who rejoices in the world rejoices in wealth, luxury, glory, power, honors; and he who rejoices in God rejoices in dishonor for His sake, poverty, lack of covetousness, forgiveness, humility. Do you see how opposite their objects are? He who does not have joy here is alien to [spiritual] sorrow; and whoever here has no sorrow is a stranger to joy [in God]. Undoubtedly, these [objects] bring true joy; and those bear only one name of joy, but in essence they constitute sorrow (10). Nothing promotes love and communication more than grief: nothing so unites and binds the souls of believers; Nothing helps us, teachers, so much that our words are listened to with attention. A prosperous listener is careless and careless and considers listening to the teacher to be a bother; and, oppressed by sorrow and suffering, he devotes himself to listening with great zeal. Whoever’s soul is burdened with grief seeks consolation from grief everywhere, and the word provides no small consolation. What do you say, Jews? Why, while suffering disasters, were they faint-hearted and did not listen? Because they were Jews, always weak and pitiful; Moreover, their grief was very great, and we are talking about moderate. Look, they hoped to be freed from the disasters that oppressed them and fell into even more severe and countless disasters; and this strikes the soul a lot. Sorrows keep us from being addicted to the present world; we complacently await death and are not attached to bodily goods; and this is the most important part of wisdom, not to be attached and partial to real life. A soul depressed by sorrow does not care about many things; she wants only peace and quiet; she would like to be freed from real [disasters] - and nothing more. Just as a tired and exhausted body is incapable of either indulging in pleasures or being satiated, but has a need for rest and tranquility, so the soul, depressed by many disasters, seeks rest and tranquility. The soul, alien to sorrow, is worried, restless, arrogant; on the contrary, the soul, alien to pleasures and not relaxed by anything, is entirely concentrated in itself and is not arrogant; This one is courageous, and that one is childishly weak, this one is solid, and that one is frivolous. Just as something light falling into water is shaken by waves, so is a soul given over to great joy. Because of the multitude of pleasures we also have a multitude of sins, which anyone can see (10). In us, healthy blood often gives rise to diseases if there is too much of it; and if there is little of it, then, even if it is not in a healthy state, it can easily be cured. So it is with the soul: if it is devoted to luxury and pleasures, then it is easily inclined to sin; it is close to pride, and intemperance, and vanity, and envy, and deceit, and slander. This is not the soul that lives in sorrow and abstinence - it is far from all this. Our city is great. Where does evil come from? Isn't it from the rich? Is it not from those who rejoice? Who drags [others] to judgment? Who steals property? Are they those who live in poverty and oppression, or those who are arrogant and rejoice? No evil can come from a soul oppressed by grief. Paul knows the benefit of it, which is why he says: “Tribulation produces endurance, endurance produces experience, experience produces hope, and hope does not disappoint” (Rom. 5:3-5). Let us not lose heart during sorrows, but give thanks [to God] for everything, in order to receive great benefit, in order to earn favor from God, Who allows sorrows. The greatest good is sorrow; We can see this in our children; they cannot learn anything useful without sorrow. But we need sorrow even more than they do. If they bloom when their passions are tamed, then all the more [this is needed] for us, who are subject to so many and such great [passions]. We, more than they, need mentors, since the misdeeds of children cannot be great, but ours can be very great. Our nurturer is sorrow. So, without bringing it upon ourselves when it befalls us, let us bear it complacently, as the cause of many blessings, so that we may be worthy of God’s favor and the blessings prepared for those who love Him (10). You might be interested in: