Благодарение

God is our highest Benefactor. Whatever good a person has, he has from God. Whatever lives in the world comes from God. What he feels, he has from God. Whatever he is gifted with a verbal soul and a noble mind comes from God. The whole world, all God's creatures serve man by command. All the decorations of heaven, the sun, the moon, the stars, serve as God’s command to man. The air and everything floating in it serve God’s command to man. The seas, lakes, rivers and fish living in them serve as God's command to man. The earth and everything on it, various livestock, animals, numerous trees, various types of herbs serve as God's command to man. Moreover, God is long-suffering to a sinning person and, being bowed down with extreme mercy, expects repentance from him. So in a miraculous way He raised up fallen man over everyone, who perished - saved what God’s ineffable goodness is and the Angels themselves praise: glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men (Luke 2:14)! They praise, I say, thereby prompting the person himself to give thanks. And when a person, like an insensitive tree or like a hard stone, does not thank his great Benefactor and does not glorify His holy name, his extreme ingratitude is manifested, which is very annoying to God as a Benefactor. For nothing vexes us more than to endure ingratitude. Since we cannot adequately thank Christ for His highest kindness to us here, and He wants nothing more than our salvation (for this he came into the world, and suffered, and died), then let us try to be saved by His grace and thereby please Him. In the future life, through all endless eternity, we will sing to Him with His Father and the Holy Spirit a song of thanksgiving, praise and glorification. Man does not know how to truly and sincerely thank God - God’s grace teaches him this, showing him the countless blessings of God given and given to him, which he, vile, wretched, beggar and unworthy of anything, is awarded freely and without any merit of his own from the goodness of God. What does a sinner deserve except one execution? But God, the most kind and loving of mankind, despite the fact that he is a sinner and His despiser, gives him countless of His benefits. Realizing this goodness and love of God and his own meanness and unworthiness, man heartily thanks God as his highest Benefactor, bows his heartfelt knees before Him and falls, and if not with his lips, then with his heart he cries out to Him: “Who am I, Lord, that You give me such Your blessings? I am a sinner, I am a creature who has sinned before You and grieved You and who sins before You every day, but You do not leave me even like that, but You favor me with Your goodness and mercy. Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget all His good deeds (Ps. 102:1-2). For a grateful heart always brings the blessings bestowed by its benefactor before the eyes of its soul, and, looking at them and at its own unworthiness, it diligently thanks its benefactor. The sign of an ungrateful heart is forgetfulness of good deeds, as it is written about the ungrateful Israelites: they forgot His good deeds and His miracles that He showed them (Ps. 77:11). God's grace turns a person away from this evil and always reminds him of God's blessings and that he should keep them in memory and diligently thank God, the Benefactor, for them and admit his unworthiness. Those who are content with the blessings of God and do not thank the Benefactor show their ingratitude towards God the Benefactor, which is a great sin. Enlightened by the light of God, he must diligently thank God for His mercy shown to him, for the fact that He tolerated his damnation, that He did not delight him in such error, and that He gave him enlightenment and the mind of salvation. Thanking God is an inner, heartfelt and joyful feeling of His goodness and mercy, which He has shown and continues to show to us, unworthy, - and a testimony with the heart and lips. The image of this heartfelt thanksgiving was shown to us by Christ Himself, the Son of God, when he rejoiced in spirit and said: I glorify You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, and so on (Luke 10:21); showed His Most Holy Mother, the Most Pure Virgin Mary, when she sang this song with a joyful spirit: My soul magnifies the Lord, and My spirit rejoices in God, My Savior, because He has looked upon the humility of His Servant, and so on (Luke 1:46-55). Saint David in many psalms with a joyful spirit and a grateful heart and lips sings of the goodness of God and calls others to this sweet jubilation: magnify the Lord with me, and let us all exalt His name together. And one more thing: taste and see how good the Lord is (Ps. 33:4,9). For the property of a grateful heart is not only to glorify its own benefactor, but to try to have others glorify him. This feeling is born from thinking about the blessings of God that He has shown and continues to show us. And in [the troubles] that are sent to us, we must thank God even more, for which the following reasons encourage: 1. From a good God nothing but good can come to us, although it seems to us the other way around. For often, due to our foolishness and blindness, we consider good what is evil for us; and we consider what is truly good for us to be evil. But the all-good and wise Heavenly Father sees differently and instead of bread a stone and instead of a fish a snake does not want to give to those who ask Him (see Luke 11:13; Matthew 7:11). 2. Through the taking away of goods we learn to know goods and the Giver of goods - God. For while we have good and are filled with good, we do not know good, and so we forget God, the Giver of all good, but then we truly know good when we are deprived of it. How great a good thing is health, we know in illness; What a great gift of God is bread, we notice in times of famine; We will learn the benefits of light - in darkness or blindness, the benefits of peace and tranquility - during the invasion of enemies, the benefits of rain - during drought, the benefits of sunlight - during bad weather, the benefits of freedom - in captivity, the benefits of water - during thirst, the benefits of fire - during cold and winter. And having learned good, we partly taste and see how good the Lord is (Ps. 33:9), Who gives us good things. 3. When God takes away physical good from us, He wants to give spiritual good. When he takes away bodily wealth, he wants to give spiritual wealth; when it takes away physical health, it wants to give mental health; when he takes away temporary glory, he wants to give eternal glory. And he does this because, you know, he saw that the good of the body and the soul cannot fit in us. And therefore he acts like a skilled doctor who cuts off one part of the body in order to preserve the whole body. Likewise, the all-wise Physician of our souls, the Lord, cuts off bodily goods so that both – the soul and the body – are preserved in eternal life. We are not angry with the doctor when he shows such concern for us, but we even thank him, love him and give him payment. Much more than God, who so graciously and lovingly provides for us, we must thank. For the Lord punishes whomever he loves (Heb. 12:6). For when the all-good God gives us well-being and thus attracts us to Himself, then our corrupted nature is exalted by this more than it is prompted to the love of God. Therefore, God’s fatherly providence, by allowing troubles, humbles us and thereby corrects us. So, what seems to us to be troubled is for us true, direct and what well-being should desire. Our flesh is in trouble, but our spirit is happy; the flesh is exhausted, but the spirit is strengthened; the flesh fades, but the spirit flourishes. Troubles and punishments are like messengers of God who proclaim to us, who gratefully endure them, the subsequent grace of God. For troubles bring us to God. In their sorrow, from early morning they will cry out to Me, saying: let us go and return to the Lord our God, for He has struck us and will heal us, will wound us and heal us (Hos. 6:1-2), says the prophet. 4. When God takes away bodily goods, he does not take away everything, but leaves some, depending on the strength of our spirit. For our all-wise and all-good Creator knows our weakness, and therefore when he deprives us of one, he leaves us with another, so that we can bear the temptation without exhaustion, and, moreover, gives a helping hand to those who are tempted. Thus, when wealth is taken away, health is left behind; taking away health, leaves any other consolation. So, if you suffer poverty, but are healthy, give thanks that you have health and can earn bread through your labors. If you are poor and unhealthy, thank that the name of Christ feeds you. If you suffer illness and have wealth, give thanks that you have the consolation of contentment. If your belongings are stolen, be grateful that the house is intact and there is a place where you can find peace. If the estate and house burned down, give thanks that you yourself remained intact, for many themselves, with their houses and estate, are burned down. If you tolerate slander and slander, thank them for not beating you, sending you into exile, or putting you in prison. If you are sitting in prison, thank you for not being shackled. If you are chained, give thanks that you see the light, have food, and so on. If you have lost honor, thank you that you have freed yourself from many troubles, vanities, envy, curses, slander, indignation, malice, slander and other evils surrounding honor and that you have not yet lost your property. If you are deprived of honor and property, thank you for not being sent to prison. If you are sent to prison, give thanks that you are not put to death... So follow this example in other things. And besides, know that we have not deserved any good from God, but, on the contrary, we are worthy of any punishment; and whatever the punishment, our sins deserve even more. Here it is presented how we should thank the all-good God, our Benefactor and Provider, for all His benefits to us. Wherever we look, wherever we turn our eyes and mind, everywhere we have enough opportunities to glorify the goodness of God. At night you look at the clear sky, decorated with stars like beads, and between the stars you see the shining moon - they serve you. Give thanks to Him who created the moon and stars to rule the night (Ps. 135:9). The day has risen, the sun has spread its rays throughout the universe - its light shines on you. Give thanks to Him who created the Sun to rule the day (Ps. 135:8). The clouds sprinkle rain - they sprinkle it on you. Give thanks to Him who covers the sky with clouds and prepares rain for the earth (Ps. 146:8). The wind rose and began to drive away the clouds and clear the sky - it serves you. Give thanks to Him who drives out the winds from His treasures (Ps. 134:7). You see fields filled with various fruits, green meadows and forests, garden trees abounding in fruits, this is a work of God’s goodness - this is sent to you by God. Give thanks to Him who gave, saying: Bless the Lord, my soul (Ps. 102:1). Winter has come, the earth has been covered with snow, frost has frozen the lakes, rivers and swamps, and so everywhere the path has been free, there is no need for bridges and other needs for crossing - this is God’s blessing, it serves your needs. Bless the One who spreads out Your snow like a wave (Ps. 147:5). Winter passes and spring comes - thus, as it were, the approaching resurrection of all creation, which died from the frost, is announced to you - bless the Favored One in this way. Spring has come; here a new treasure of God’s gifts is revealed: the sun shines favorably and warms, the air is well-dissolved, the earth emits its treasures from its depths, fruits appear from seeds and roots and are presented to everyone for use; meadows, fields, fields, forests become clothed and green, decorated with flowers and emit all sorts of fragrances, springs and river streams flow through them and not only the sight, but also the ear amuses; various voices of various birds are heard everywhere, like some kind of sweet music; cattle disperse across the fields and steppes, do not require food from us, they feed and are satisfied with what the hand of God has opened for them, they are content, eat and play, and as if they thank the goodness of God. In a word, the whole of heaven again takes on a beautiful and cheerful appearance. The insensitive and feeling-gifted creature is, as it were, reborn. To you, an intelligent creature, all this wealth of God’s goodness has been revealed - say gratefully: bless the Lord, my soul (Ps. 103:1). The earth has brought forth various fruits for your satisfaction and comfort—give thanks to Him who arranged it this way, speaking with a joyful spirit to the prophet: You have made me glad, O Lord, in Your creation (Ps. 91:5). If you eat food, give thanks to Him who gives food to all flesh (Ps. 135:25). You put on clothes, the goodness of God clothes you - thank the Benefactor. Whether your peace is warming or your food is being cooked on the fire, fire is God’s gift, which works and serves for you - bless the One who created it. The day has passed - sing with gratitude, for the Lord has vouchsafed you to spend it without harm or destruction; sing with your heart and lips: “I will sing songs to You, O Lord!” I fell asleep at night and, having slept, got up - say: “I will bless You, Lord!” Speak to the prophet: I fell asleep, slept and arose, for the Lord will protect me (Ps. 3:6). If you feel the stress of your conscience for your sins, give thanks to God, who suffered your sins and did not deliver you into the hands of your enemy; Confess gratefully to the prophet: I will confess to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forever. For Your mercy to me is great, and You delivered my soul from the lowest hell (Ps. 85: 12-13). If you feel the fear of God’s judgment or the desire for God’s eternal life - then grace calls you to repentance - say: blessed is the Lord, who wants all people to be saved and to achieve the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4); obey the call of God’s grace while the time is favorable and the day of salvation, while the Lord listens and helps. For he says: in an acceptable time I heard you and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). When sorrow, sadness, illness or some other vicissitude comes, this is how your Lord seeks your salvation; give thanks to the One who desires and seeks your salvation, speak to the psalmist: it is good for me that You have humbled me, so that I may learn from Your lips (Ps. 119:71). If you think about the saving look of the Son of God towards the human race (and you should always think about such a great and important matter), sing with joy and deep humility: bless the Lord, my soul, and my whole inner being - His holy name! Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget all His good deeds, and so on (Ps. 102:1-2). Or so, with the prophet Zechariah, bless the Lord: blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who has visited His people and created deliverance for them, and raised a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David (Luke 1:68-69). You hear the prophetic and apostolic voices, you hear those preaching God’s Word, understand that these messengers of God serve you, bringing good news of peace, bringing good news (Rom. 10:15), preaching the remission of sins, the approaching Kingdom of Heaven, teaching the truth, guiding you on the right path, leading you to eternal bliss - say with a grateful spirit: Glory to God, To our benefactor, forever, amen! From the above it follows that in both prosperity and adversity we must thank God. In prosperity - for we, unworthy, receive His blessings freely from Him and are comforted by them. In misfortune - for we are corrected by Him, we come to our senses, we recognize ourselves, our meanness, unworthiness and damnation, we learn to consider the blessings of God great and to honor the Giver of blessings. Gratitude, since it is favorable, is rewarded with great and numerous benefits from God. And this, it seems, is revealed by Christ when he says: whoever has, to him will be given and he will have abundance (Matthew 13:12); and one more thing: to everyone who has, more will be given and he will have abundance (Matthew 25:29). For our most good Master accepts gratitude as a gift to Himself, and for this gift He will give new joys... Christ says to those on His right hand at His righteous judgment: just as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me (Matthew 25:40). For what do we have of our own except sins? And what can we give to Him from Whom we have everything, as said above? But with thanksgiving to God, he who gives God’s good to his neighbor gives, as it were, his own; and God imputes that gift to Himself and therefore with a new benefit, like one rich in mercy and generosity, He rewards the giver and repays grace for grace. True gratitude requires not only verbal confession and glorification of the benefactor, but also heartfelt love for him. Love is known by fulfilling the commandments of His saints. He who loves Me, says Christ, will keep My word (John 14:23). And verbal thanksgiving without heartfelt love is nothing more than hypocrisy; about such God says through the prophet: these people draw near to Me with their lips, and with their lips they honor Me, but their heart is far from Me (Is. 29:13). Therefore, one should show gratitude to God not only with the lips, but also with the heart and good deeds that come from the heart. Consequently, Christians who do not fulfill this duty are ungrateful to God, their Benefactor, although they approach Him with their lips, for through their deeds they deny Him (Titus 1:16). And since they abandon God, they themselves are abandoned by His righteous judgment. As a result, it happens that such people fall into every kind of error and sin. Such a person, who is without God's grace, is like a ferocious horse without a bridle, which awaits unauthorized death. Hence, for those who call themselves Christians, there is no sin - to offend a neighbor, to break an oath, to pervert the judgment of God, to make a judicial place a market place and an innkeeper, to inflict violence on an orphan and a widow, to justify the wicked and the innocent, to condemn, to lie, to deceive, to deceive, and to commit other lawless deeds that the pagans abhor. These are true signs of a godless heart, although they confess His name with their lips. Every Christian should be wary of this and show his gratitude to God through love and obedience, so as not to fall into the above error. The name of God is glorified with sincere thanksgiving for His benefits rendered and being rendered. For in thanksgiving we acknowledge our unworthiness, and God’s mercy, and goodness, which even bestows His blessings on the unworthy, as the psalmist sings: I confess to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forever. For Your mercy to me is great, and You delivered my soul from the lowest hell (Ps. 85: 12-13). And this is especially manifested when in sorrow and under the cross we thank Him and confess, as Saint David did: it is good for me, Lord, that You have humbled me (Ps. 119:71). They will ask: “What should Christians especially thank God for?” Answer: Although for all good things, Christians should especially thank God from the bottom of their hearts for the following: 1 That He sent His only begotten Son into the world for the redemption and salvation of the human race and gave Him up to death. 2. That he called them out of darkness into His wonderful light; once not a people, but now the people of God; not when they did not receive mercy, but now they have received mercy (1 Pet. 2:9-10). Therefore the apostle says: giving thanks to God the Father, who has called us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light, who has delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood and forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:12-14). 3. Who kindles in them the lamp of faith with the oil of His mercy, gives them His grace and remission of sins. Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph. 1:3), - the apostle of Christ thanks and praises God. 4. What gives hope of eternal life in Christ Jesus, for which the Apostle Peter thanks and sings to God and teaches Christians: Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has begotten us again by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to a living hope, to an inheritance incorruptible, pure, unfading, kept in heaven for you (1 Pet. 1:3-4). 5. What does he keep from the enemy the devil, who walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Pet. 5:8). 6. Which warns against sin, into which they would continually fall as the weak, if His mercy did not precede and preserve, and so on. If anyone wants to be grateful to God, his Creator and Redeemer, and not have a Christian name in vain, and at the end of his temporary life receive eternal life, let him think about this and let him sing with a grateful heart about the goodness of God. The Christian faith requires this from every Christian. Do you remember that the food you eat, the drink you drink, the clothes you wear, the houses you live in, the livestock that serves you, the fire that warms you, the water that washes and cools you, the air that keeps you alive, the land you live on, the grass, the potion that serves your needs, the sun, the moon, the stars that illuminate you, and so on, are all God’s? The earth is the Lord's and what fills it (Ps. 23:1). You taste the goodness of God, but do you remember the good God? You are satisfied with good deeds, but do you thank and honor the Benefactor? You do not see Him, but you see His benefits. Glory to God for creating me in His image and likeness! Thank God that He redeemed me, the fallen one! Thank God for taking care of me, unworthy! Thank God for calling me, who had sinned, to repentance! Glory to God that He gave me His holy word, like a lamp shining in a dark place (2 Pet. 1:19), and thus guided me on the true path! Thank God for enlightening the eyes of my heart! Glory to God for giving me His holy name to know! Thank God that the bath of Baptism washed away my sins! Thank God for showing me the path to eternal bliss! This path is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who says about Himself: I am the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6). Glory to God that He did not destroy me when I sinned, but in His goodness He endured my sins! Thank God for showing me the beauty and vanity of this world! Thank God for helping me in many different temptations, troubles and misfortunes! Thank God for saving me in times of disaster and death! Thank God for protecting me from the enemy, the devil! Thank God for raising me up when I was lying down! Thank God for comforting me, who was sad! Thank God for converting me, who had gone astray! Thank God for fatherly punishment! Thank God that His Last Judgment announced to me, so that I would fear it and repent of my sins! Thank God for declaring eternal torment and eternal bliss for me, so that I could avoid one and seek the other! Thank God that he gave me, unworthy, food with which my weak body was strengthened; gave me clothes with which to cover my naked body; provided the house in which I rested! Glory to God for His other blessings, which He gave me for my maintenance and comfort! I received as many benefits from Him as I breathed! Oil – vegetable oil.