МУДРОСТЬ

Truly, virtue is the source and root of wisdom: just as every vice originates from unreason. Both an arrogant and an angry person are carried away by these passions due to a lack of prudence. That is why the prophet said: “My wounds stink and fester because of my madness” (Ps. 37:6), showing that every sin gets its beginning from foolishness. On the contrary, a virtuous person who has the fear of God in himself is wiser than everyone else; That’s why a certain sage says: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7). If to fear God means to have wisdom, and the wicked does not have this, then, without a doubt, he is devoid of wisdom, and he who is devoid of true wisdom is the most senseless of all. Although many are surprised at vicious people because they can do harm and harm to others, they do not understand that such people should be considered the most unfortunate of all, because, thinking of harming others, they plunge the sword into themselves; and this is a sign of extreme madness when someone, striking himself, does not realize it, but thinks that he is harming another, while he kills himself. That is why Paul, knowing that by afflicting others, we kill ourselves, says: “Why would it be better for you not to endure hardship?” (1 Cor. 6:7). In order not to be offended, there is no need to offend; in order not to tolerate evil, there is no need to do evil - although this may seem like a mystery to ordinary people and those who do not want to philosophize. So, knowing this, let us consider as unhappy and mourn not those who are offended and insulted, but those who cause insults and insults to others. These are the people who suffer the most, because they arm God against themselves, open the mouth of a thousand accusers, acquire bad fame in this life, and bring upon themselves a great execution in the next century. On the contrary, those who are offended and generously endure everything incline both God to mercy and all people to compassion for them, to praise and goodwill. Such people, presenting the greatest proof of their wisdom, acquire great glory in this life and will receive eternal benefits in the future (8). The giver should not give what He can give, but what the receiver can receive. Just as a mother can give simple bread to a child who lives on milk, but the child cannot use it, so it would not be impossible for God to offer higher and supernatural wisdom, but we cannot use it. While we live in a mortal body, we perceive knowledge corresponding to the mortal nature. Therefore, God did not say anything to us according to His perfection, but proportioned what He said to our weakness. Therefore, the Savior said: “I still have much to say to you; but now you cannot contain it” (John 16:12); and in another place the Savior says to Nicodemus: “If I told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” (John 3:12) (9). He who has the gift of wisdom, by passing it on to another, multiplies this wealth, making many wise; and whoever hides it in himself deprives himself of wealth without benefiting others. Also, he who has other gifts, by healing many, multiplies his gift; He himself does not lose from the transfer and fulfills many others with spiritual gifts. This rule remains unchanged in all spiritual [goods]. This is also the case with the [Heavenly] Kingdom: whoever makes many his partners in the Kingdom will enjoy it all the more; and whoever does not want to have anyone as a participant will himself lose many benefits. If sensual wisdom is not exhausted when many acquire it, and the artist does not lose his art when he makes many artists, then even more so the one who acquires the Kingdom does not reduce it, but on the contrary, then we will have greater wealth when we call many to it. Let us acquire that which does not run out, but is multiplied by giving; let us acquire that which no one slanderes, what no one envyes. If there were a place from which, as from a source, gold flowed continually, and flowed out the more the more it was drawn, and another place were in which some treasure was buried, then where would you want to receive wealth? Isn't it from the first one? Of course, from there. But so that we do not describe this only in words, apply what has been said to the air and the sun: they are absorbed by everyone and fill everything: and, however, they remain the same and do not decrease, even if they are used, even if they are not used. And what I'm talking about is much more. Spiritual wisdom does not remain the same, even if it is distributed or not, but it multiplies more precisely when it is distributed (12). You might be interested in: