Слово 12, блаженства и определения духовной жизни

Blessed is he who leads a desert life, has no communication with those tied to the earth, but has deified his mind. Blessed is he who, in communicating with many, is not amused by many, but has set his whole heart towards God. Blessed is the one who, instead of all acquisitions, has acquired Christ, who has one acquisition - the cross, which he carries high. Blessed is he who is master of his own acquisitions, pure from unrighteousness, and who gives the divine hand to those in need. Blessed is the life of happy virgins who, having shaken off the flesh, are close to the pure Divinity. Blessed is he who, having yielded a little to the laws of marriage, brings as a gift to Christ the greater part of love. Blessed is the one who, having assumed power over the people, reconciles Christ with the earthly beings through pure and great sacrifices. Blessed is he who, belonging to the flock, takes his place among the flock, like the most perfect sheep of Christ. Blessed is he who, in the high soarings of a purified mind, sees the luminosity of the heavenly lights. Blessed is he who with laborious hands honors the king and serves as the law of life for many. All of them fill the heavenly winepresses - these containers for the fruit of our souls, although each virtue leads to a special place; because there are many abodes for many kinds of life. Blessed is he who has shown a great spirit, impoverished by passions, who spends his life here in tears, who always hungers for heavenly food, who through meekness makes himself an heir of great promises, who with his compassion attracts God's great mercy to himself, who is a friend of the world and pure in heart, who endures great sorrows for the sake of Christ - the Great Glory - and himself goes to meet the great glory. Go whichever of these paths you want. If you all go, that’s best. If you go with a few, you will have a second crown. And if you go alone, but excellently, that’s nice. Abodes are destined for everyone according to their dignity - both the most perfect and the less perfect. And Rahab led an ungodly life, but she made it glorious through her excellent love of hobbies. The tax collector received an advantage over the Pharisee, who boasted a lot, for one thing - for his humility. A better virgin life is truly better! - but if she is devoted to the world and earthly things, then it is worse than marriage. The life of chaste non-covetous people who live in the mountains is high; but pride also overthrew them more than once; because they, without measuring their virtue by other most perfect examples, sometimes in their hearts call height, which is not high, and often, with a flaming mind, their legs, like hot horses, carry them further than the goal. Therefore, either fly higher and higher on light wings, or, remaining below, make a safe flow, not fearing that some weight will bend your wings to the ground and you, having ascended, will fall in a miserable fall. A small ship, fastened with frequent nails, lifts more cargo than a large ship, poorly tied. A narrow path is built to God's gates; but many paths lead to one road. Let some go this way, and others another, which nature shows to whom, as long as everyone enters the narrow path. Not everyone enjoys the same food; and Christians have more than one way of life. Tears, vigils and labors are excellent for everyone. It is good for everyone to curb the fury of restless passions, overcome intemperance, bow under the sovereign hand of Christ and tremble at the coming day (Judgment after the general resurrection). If you follow a completely mountainous path; You are no longer a mortal, but, according to Gregory’s word, one of the celestials. I swore by the Word Himself, Who for me is the highest God, the Beginning from the Beginning - from the immortal Father, the Image of the Prototype, the nature equal to the Father, God, who came from heaven and entered into human life - I swore: neither with a mind that conceived enmity, not to humiliate the Great Mind, nor with an alien word - the Word. And if, following the suggestions of the God-fighting times, I began to dissect the Divinity of the Blessed Trinity; if my mind were seduced by a high throne or if I gave my hand to the seeking of others; if I had preferred a mortal helper to God, having tied my ship to a fragile stone; if in happiness I had become proud in heart, or if again, having encountered adversity, I had become despondent in spirit; if I began to judge the court, deviating in any way from the law; if I gave preference to human pride over the saints; if, seeing how the evil enjoy the silence, and the good are dashed against the rocks, I deviate from the right path; if envy dried up my heart; if I laughed at the fall of others, although not saints, as if I myself were standing with an immovable foot; if my mind had fallen from the increased bile; if the tongue ran unbridled and the lustful eye carried away the heart; if I hated someone in vain; if I began to take revenge on my enemy insidiously or openly; if I had sent the beggar away from me empty-handed or with a heart thirsty for a heavenly word; then may Christ be merciful to another, and not to me; May my labors, right up to my gray hair, blow in the wind! I have bound my life to such laws. And if I achieve the end of what I want, then by Your grace, Imperishable One! You might be interested in: