БЕДСТВИЯ

Let us not lose heart when disasters befall us. Whatever they may be, they are a stream and a fleeting cloud; whatever sorrow you call, it has an end; no matter what calamity is indicated, it has a limit. And if they had no end, then our nature would not be enough. But, you say, they captivate many people? Not because of their own impetuosity, but because those who are carried away are themselves careless and easily stumble. Therefore, so that we do not be carried away and go along the very depths of this stream, we will inspect its terrain and hold on to the sacred anchor, so as not to suffer shipwreck. Likewise, the flow of water can be terrible for a while, and then decreases immensely (2). When you see multiplying disasters, do not be discouraged, but be even more encouraged. God allows them to be in order to drive away your carelessness, in order to awaken you from sleep. Then everything superfluous is cut off, then everything worldly is forgotten, then a person becomes more zealous in prayer, more zealous in almsgiving and in contempt of the belly, and every passion is more easily overcome, turning to flight from sorrow. So in the beginning, God subjected us to labor and sorrow, not wanting to punish us, although He pronounced a sentence in the form of punishment, but to enlighten us and make us better. If even now, when sorrows surround us and life is full of toil, such wickedness reigns, then to what extent would evil not reach if they did not exist? And is it surprising that grief is good for the soul if it is also good for the body? Saturating the body with pleasures is harmful. Likewise, disasters, when they surround us on all sides, force us to be vigilant; and if we are careful, we do not suffer any harm from them. That is why someone says: “Know that you are walking in the middle of nets and passing along the battlements of city walls” (Sir. 9:18). And the Psalmist [Prophet David] says: my paths: in this way that I walked, they hid a snare for me (Ps. 142:3). If anyone takes these words in a figurative sense, he will understand that this is what the devil does, not plotting from afar, but hiding them close. This is why great vigilance is required on our part. He hides his network, in almsgiving - vanity, in fasting - pride, he hides it not on other paths, but on the very ones on which we walk, which is especially difficult (3). When God intends to do something extraordinary, He does not suddenly perform a miracle, but first allows those to whom it concerns to feel distress, so that when they are delivered from the misfortune they do not turn out to be ungrateful. Since many people, partly through pride, partly through carelessness, forget disasters after being delivered from disasters or, without forgetting, attribute successes to themselves, God first allows them to be shocked by sorrows, and then frees them from difficult circumstances (4). You might be interested in: