Беседа 4

Delivered to the people in the Church of St. Martyr Stephen. About the Apostles. Reading the Holy Gospel: Matthew 10.5–10. Matthew 10.5–10. Jesus sent these twelve and commanded them, saying: “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter into the city of the Samaritans; but go ye especially unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel; As you go, preach that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand; Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons; freely you have received, freely give. Take with you neither gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, neither a bag for the journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor a staff, for the worker is worthy of food. 1. When it is known to everyone, beloved brothers, that our Redeemer came into the world to redeem all nations; when we see that He daily called the Samaritans to faith, what does it mean that He, sending His disciples to preach, says: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter the city of the Samaritans; but go especially to the lost sheep of the house of Israel!” . This means - as we conclude from the end of the matter - that He wanted first to preach to only the Jews, and then to all the pagans, so that when they rejected the call to conversion, the holy preachers would go in order to call the pagans; and that what was to the Jews a fulfillment (of the promise) might be to the Gentiles a superabundance of grace. And then there were people in Judea who were capable of hearing the calling; and in paganism there were those who were incapable. Thus, in the Acts of the Apostles we read that as a result of Peter’s preaching, first three thousand Jews believed, and then five thousand (Acts 2.41; Acts 4.4). And when the Apostles wanted to preach to the pagans of Asia, then this was forbidden to them by the Spirit (Acts 16.6); and yet the same Spirit who first forbade preaching later poured it into the hearts of the Asians. For long ago all Asia believed. Consequently, what was previously forbidden is then accomplished because before there were no people in it who were capable of salvation. - Then there were those in it who did not yet deserve to be restored to life, but did not deserve to be subjected to the strictest condemnation for contempt for preaching. So, according to a subtle and hidden judgment, holy preaching is not allowed to reach the ears of some, because these do not deserve to be restored by grace. Therefore, it is necessary, beloved brethren, that we fear the secret determinations of Almighty God on us in everything we do, so that when our soul, scattered in appearance, does not restrain itself from its voluptuousness, the inner Judge, in defiance of it, with fear encourages us to do otherwise. Looking at this correctly, the Psalmist says: “Come and see the works of the Lord, what devastation He has made on the earth” (Ps 45.9; Ps 65.5). For he sees that one is called by mercy, and the other is rejected by the insistence of justice. And since the Lord disposes of some mercifully and others in anger, He rejected what He could not touch. And whom He foresaw not only elusive, but also hardened in some of his opinions, he in his advice predestined to a terrible fate. 2. But let us listen to what is commanded to the preachers who were sent. “As you walk, preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” About this, beloved brethren, if the Gospel were silent, the world would cry out. For its ruins serve as its voices. Erased by such shocks, he lost his glory, as if pointing us to the closest Kingdom that follows him. He becomes bitter even for those who love him. His very ruins preach that he should not be loved. For if a shaken house threatened the owner with a fall, then every tenant in it would have to flee (from it); and whoever loved him while he was standing should come out of him all the sooner while he was falling. So, if the world is falling, and we love it, then we want to be oppressed rather than dwell in it; because we, whom love binds to the passions of the world, are in no way (no longer) separated from its ruins. So, now, when we see everything already being destroyed, it is convenient for us to separate our spirit from love for it. But this was very difficult at the time when they were sent to preach the invisible Kingdom of Heaven, when everyone saw that the kingdoms of the earth were blooming and expanding. 3. For this reason, miracles were added to the holy preachers, so that the power they demonstrated would strengthen faith in their words, and so that those who preached new things would do new things, as the same reading further says: “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.” With the prosperity of the world, with the multiplication of the human race, with the long stay of the flesh in this life, with the abundance of the wealth of things, who would believe when they heard that there is another life? Who would prefer the invisible to the visible? But with the healing of the sick, with the resurrection of the dead, with the cleansing of lepers, with the casting out of demons from those possessed by demons, with the performance of so many visible miracles, who would not believe what they heard about the invisible? “For visible miracles shine for this purpose in order to attract the hearts of spectators to faith, so that through what is wonderfully happening on the outside, what is inside is recognized as even more wonderful. “Therefore, now, when the number of believers has increased, there are many virtuous people in the Holy Church, but they do not have signs of virtue, because it is in vain that a miracle appears on the outside if there is not something that happens inside. For, in the words of the Teacher of Languages: “tongues are a sign not for believers, but for unbelievers; prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe” (1 Cor 14.22). Therefore, this same glorious preacher, in the midst of preaching, through prayer resurrected Eutychus, who during his sleep fell from a window and completely lost his life, in front of all unbelievers. (Acts 20.9ff.). Passing through Melitus and knowing that this island was filled with unbelievers, he healed Father Publius with prayer, suffering from “fever and pain in the stomach” (Acts 28.8). But Timothy, his traveling companion and assistant in his holy preaching, who suffers from a weak stomach, heals not with words, but with knowledge of medicine, saying: “From now on, drink more than just water, but use a little wine, for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Timothy 5.23). So, why does the one who heals a sick unbeliever with one prayer not heal his sick companion with the same prayer? – Precisely because one who did not have inner life must be healed by an external miracle, so that, through manifestations of external power, inner strength will inspire him to life. And for the sick faithful co-worker, who was healthy in his inner life, there was no need for external signs. 4. But let us hear what our Redeemer adds to the granted power of preaching, to the granted miracles of power. “Freely you have received, freely give.” For He foresaw that some would turn this very gift of the received Spirit into trade and degrade miraculous signs to satisfy the love of money. So Simon the Magus, seeing the miracles performed by the laying on of hands, wanted to receive this gift of the Holy Spirit for money (Acts 8.18 et seq.) precisely in order to sell even worse what he would have acquired worse. That is why our Redeemer drove the crowds out of the church with a whip from the ropes and overthrew the tables of those selling doves (John 2.15). For to sell doves means to perform an ordination through which the Holy Spirit is received, not according to the merit of life, but for money. But there are some who, although they do not take money for ordination, nevertheless bestow degrees of the Priesthood according to their kindness, and for this generosity they seek only praise as a reward. These people do not give the “tuna” that they have received, because they want coins of favor towards them for the fulfillment of a sacred duty. Therefore, the Prophet, describing a righteous man, says that he “restrains his hands from taking bribes” (Isaiah 33.15). For he does not say: “withholds his hands from the gift,” but adds: “from every kind.” Because one is a gift from obedience, another is from the hand, and another is from the tongue. The gift of obedience consists in submission beyond duty; the gift from the hand consists of money; the gift of the tongue is praise. So, the one who ordains to the degree of Priesthood shakes his hands of every gift when in Divine matters he not only does not want money, but also human gratitude. 5. But you, beloved brethren, who lead secular life, when you know our duties, turn your mental eyes to yours. Do mutually for each other "for free". Do not desire retribution for your activities in this world, which you know is already approaching its end with such speed. Just as you want others not to see that you have done something bad in secret, so beware that your good deeds are hidden from human praise. Do not do not only evil, but also do good for temporary reward. Desire that the witness of your activity be the One who will be your Judge. Let Him now see the good you do in secret, in order to make it obvious at the time of His reward. Just as you feed your body daily with food so that it does not weaken, so let good deeds be daily food for your soul. Food nourishes the body, and pious activities nourish the spirit. What you communicate to a body that has to die, do not deny to the soul that has to live forever. For when fire suddenly engulfs a home, then each owner jumps up, grabs what he can, and runs out, counting it as profit if he manages to take anything out of the fire with him. Now the flames of disasters are engulfing the world, and everything that seems precious in it is being devastated by the approaching end like fire. So, beloved brethren, consider as the greatest profit what you manage to take out of it with you, if, when running away from it, you take away something, if for eternal reward you preserve with generosity what could have perished from staying in its place. For we lose everything earthly by storing it, but we preserve it by doing good. Times pass quickly. So, since we are forced by great unexpectedness to see our Judge, let us hasten to prepare for it with good works, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Him belongs honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. You might be interested in: