Бедность

You are a man of low birth, not glorious, you are the poorest of the poor, you have neither home nor fatherland, you are weak, you have no daily food, you tremble at strong people, you are afraid of everyone because of your low condition, for it is said: the poor do not even hear threats (Prov. 13:8)? Do not despair of yourself and do not completely lose good hope because in the present there is nothing enviable for you, but raise your soul to the blessings that have already been given to you from God and which, according to the promise, are prepared for later. So, firstly, you are a man, the only living creature (earthly) created by God. Is it really not enough for someone who thinks sensibly to have the highest degree of complacency - to be created by the own hands of the God who arranged everything? Is it not enough that, created in the image of Him who created you, by a good life you can achieve equality with the Angels? You have received a rational soul, with which you understand God, penetrate with your intellect into the nature of existence, and reap the sweetest fruit of wisdom. All animals, both those that live on land, the gentle and the fierce, those that live in the waters and those that fly in the air, are enslaved and subordinate to you. Wasn’t it you who invented the arts, built cities, invented everything: both necessary and conducive to luxury? Was it not your mind that made the seas passable for you? Do not the earth and sea serve your life? Do not the air, the sky and the hosts of stars show you their harmonious rank? Why are you faint-hearted because you don’t have a silver-bridle horse? But you have the sun, which in its fastest flow carries a lamp in front of you throughout the entire day. You do not have shining gold and silver, but you have the moon, which illuminates you with its thousand times greater light. You do not enter gold-plated chariots, but you have legs - this is your own and natural chariot. Why do you please people who have accumulated a full pocket and, in order to move from place to place, need other people’s legs? You do not sleep on a bed of ivory, but you have land that is worth more than a lot of ivory, you have sweet peace on it, quick and carefree sleep. You do not lie under a golden roof, but you have a sky above you, shining with the indescribable beauties of the stars. But this is still human, but there is something else – more important. For you, God is among men, for you, the distribution of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the destruction of death, the hope of resurrection, God's commandments that perfect your life, the ascent to God with the help of the commandments, the prepared Kingdom of Heaven, crowns of righteousness, ready for those who do not shy away from deeds of virtue! (1) You call yourself poor and I agree. He is exactly the poor who needs a lot. And what makes us needy in many ways is the insatiability of desires (1). You are poor; but, without a doubt, there is another poorer than you. You have enough bread for ten days, and he has enough for one. As a kind and well-meaning person, give up your surplus to the poor. Do not hesitate to give from a small amount; do not prefer your own benefit to the common misfortune 3 . Even if you have only bread left for food, but there is someone standing at the door asking, then bring this one bread from the pantry and, placing it in your hands, raise it to the sky, say this plaintive and at the same time grateful word: “I have only one bread, which You see, Lord, and the danger is obvious; but I prefer Your commandment to myself and give it to my hungry brother. Give it to the needy slave too. I know Your goodness, I place my trust in Your power, You do not delay Your mercies until the time comes, but lavish gifts whenever You please.” If you say and do this, the bread you give in extreme need will be a seed for agriculture, will bear fruit a hundredfold, will become a guarantee of food, and will seek pardon. Say in the words of the Sidonian widow, in such circumstances, remembering her story in good time: the Lord lives! (1 Kings 17:12). If you give from the remainder, then you will have oil in a jug overflowing with grace, and flour in a tub that does not fail (1 Kings 17:14); because the mercy of God towards the faithful, like wells from which they always draw and which are never exhausted, surpasses them in this, rewarding them doubly. Poor, lend to the Rich God. Trust the One who, instead of the oppressed, always takes His own face and gives thanks from His own. The Surety is trustworthy: He has treasures scattered everywhere, both on earth and in the sea. And if during the voyage you demand your debt, then in the middle of the sea you will receive everything in full and with growth, because He is generous with increases (1). Why does the name “beggar” outrage you? Remember your nature: naked you entered the world, naked you will come out (see: Job 1:21). And what is poorer than naked? You won’t hear anything offensive if you internalize what they say about you. Who has ever been sent to prison for poverty? It is reproachful not to be a beggar, but not to have the courage to endure poverty. Remember the Master: He, although rich, became poor for our sakes (2 Cor. 8:9) (1). The discourse was delivered during a time of drought and famine. Storichny – a hundred times larger. You might be interested in: