Слово 46. О том, что если мы даже виновны во всех грехах, мы можем спастись через исповедь; и что каждый из нас верующих имеет Ангела Хранителя; и о священниках.

Among people, beloved, some are punished here and there, others only here, others only there, and others neither here nor there. Here and there are those who crucified Christ: here they suffered punishment when they suffered unspeakable disasters during the capture of the city, and there they suffer even more severe punishment; then the citizens of Sodom and many others. There was only a rich man, for example, who was burned and did not have even a drop of water at his disposal. Here is a fornicator, for example, among the Corinthians. Neither here nor there are the apostles, prophets, blessed Job, since what they suffered was not punishment, but a manifestation of struggle and exploits. Let us try to be in their lot, and if not in theirs, then at least in those who are committing sins here. After all, the Judgment is terrible, and the torment is inexorable, and the punishment is unbearable. If you want not to be punished here, then judge yourself and demand responsibility from yourself; listen to what Paul says: “For if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged” (1 Cor. 11:31). If you do this, you will go forward along the path and reach the crown. How, you ask, can we demand punishment for ourselves? Sorrow, sigh bitterly, humble yourself, blaspheme, remember your sins, each one separately: this is no small torture for the soul. If anyone has been in contrition, he knows that the soul is especially punished by this; if anyone has been in the remembrance of sins, he knows the sorrow that comes from here. Therefore, God considers righteousness to be a reward for such repentance, saying: “Speak thou, that thou mayest be justified” (“speak thou thy iniquity first, that thou mayest be justified”) (Is. 43:26). It means a lot in the matter of correction - having collected all the sins, constantly consider and examine them each separately. He who does this will reach such contrition that he will not even consider himself worthy of life, and whoever thinks so will be softer than any wax. Don’t just talk to me about debauchery or other obvious sins: you need to collect secret plans, and slander, and slander, and vanity, and envy, and all the like, because this also entails considerable punishment. The scolder is also thrown into Gehenna, and the drunkard has no fellowship in the Kingdom, and the one who does not love his neighbor insults God to such an extent that martyrdom itself does not bring him any benefit, and he who neglects his family is rejected from the faith, and he who neglects the poor is sent into the fire. Therefore, do not consider it unimportant, but collect everything and write it down like in a book. If you write it down, God will blot it out; if not, if you don’t write it down, then God will write it down and demand an answer. Therefore, it is much better when it is written down by us and blotted out from above, than on the contrary, when we forget, and God brings it out before our eyes on that day. And to prevent this from happening, we will carefully examine, and we will find ourselves guilty of many things. Who is truly pure from covetousness? Don’t tell me about the size, because we will also be punished for small things. Reflect on this and repent. Who is free from swearing? Meanwhile, it plunges into Gehenna. Who has not spoken secretly against his neighbor? Who hasn't gone crazy? And this one is the dirtiest of all. Who hasn't looked at a woman with wild eyes? And such a one is a complete fornicator. Who has not been angry with his brother in vain? And such a one is “obliged to the Sanhedrin.” Who didn't swear? And this is from the evil one. Who was not a slave to Mammon? And such a one is removed from the true slavery of Christ. I can say much more like this, but what has been said is enough to lead to contrition, unless someone is a stone and is not extremely insensitive. If each of these sins leads to Gehenna, then what will not all of them do together? “See,” it says, “do not despise one of these little ones; for their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:10), because every believer has an angel. So from the beginning, every glorious man had an Angel, as Jacob says: “An angel who delivered me from all evil” 6 (Gen. 48:15-16). So, if we have Angels, then we will stay awake, as if having some teachers with us. The demon is also present: therefore, let us pray and speak, asking the Angel for peace, and everywhere we will ask for peace, with which nothing can compare - peace in the churches, in prayers, in supplications, in rebuke; and once, and twice, and three times, and repeatedly the rector of the church teaches it: “Peace be with you.” Why? Because he (the world) is the father of all blessings, he is the foundation of joy. Therefore, Christ commanded the apostles, entering houses, to immediately say this, as if pointing to some symbol of good things: “When you enter a house,” He said, “say: peace be with you” (Matthew 10:12). If it is not there, everything is unnecessary. And Christ said to the disciples: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). He (the world) prepares the way for love. And the rector of the church does not just say: “Peace be with you,” but: “Peace be with all.” What really happens if we maintain peace with one, and wage war and struggle with the other? What's the benefit? After all, even in the body, if some of the constituent parts are calm and others are disturbed, it is never possible to maintain health - this is possible only with general order, harmony and peace; if not everything is calm, not everything remains within its boundaries, then everything collapses. And in our soul, if not all thoughts are calm, then there will be no peace. The world is such a blessing that its creators and organizers are called sons of God. This is correct: the Son of God came to earth for this purpose, to create peace between what is on earth and what is in heaven. If peacemakers are the sons of God, then troublemakers are the sons of the devil. What are you saying? Are you introducing discord and clashes? Who do you say is so pitiful? Yes, there are many who rejoice in evil and torment the Body of Christ more than soldiers pierced with a spear, rather than Jews nailed to a tree. That evil is less than this; those members, being cut, were united again; and these, being dissolved, if they do not unite here, then they will never unite, but will remain outside the society of believers. When you want to fight with your brother, then think that you are fighting with the members of Christ, and stop the madness. What does it matter if he is rejected, if he is insignificant, if he is despised? “Even so,” said the Lord, “it is not the will of your Father in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish,” and again: “Their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:14, 10). God became a slave for him and for you and was killed, and you consider him as nothing? Are you not fighting against God in this too, when you pronounce judgments contrary to Him? When the rector of the church enters, he immediately says: “Peace be with you”; when he talks - “peace to all”; when the sacrifice is made - “peace to all”; and meanwhile, again - “grace and peace to you.” How is it not reckless, having heard so many times that we have peace, to fight against each other? Having accepted and given peace, fight with the one who gave peace? You say: “and to your spirit,” but apparently you are deceiving him? Woe to me, because the shrine of the church has become a mere formality, and not some kind of truth! Woe is me, because the symbols of this army remain in words! Therefore, you do not know why it is said: “peace to all.” But listen further. What does Christ say? “Whatever city or village you enter... greet it, saying: Peace to this house; and if the house is worthy, then your peace will come upon it; if you are not worthy, then your peace will return to you” (Matthew 10:11–13). Therefore, we do not know that we consider it a form of words and do not put it together in our minds. Am I really not giving peace? Christ is pleased to speak through us. If at any other time we are deprived of grace, then not now - for your sake. If, according to the economy of God and for the benefit of the Jews, grace acted through the donkey and the soothsayer, it is clear that he will not refuse to act through us, and will condescend to do this for your sake. So, let no one say: “I am insignificant and low and do not deserve any respect”; this applies to me too, because that’s exactly who I am; however, God is pleased to pay attention to such for the sake of many. Know this: He deigned to speak with Cain for the sake of Abel, with the devil for the sake of Job, with Pharaoh for the sake of Joseph, with Nebuchadnezzar for the sake of Daniel, with Belshazzar for his sake. And the Magi were honored with revelation, and Caiaphas, although he was a Christ-killer and unworthy, prophesied for the sake of the dignity of the priesthood. For this reason, Aaron was not stricken with leprosy. In fact, tell me, why, while both of them spoke badly, did the sister only suffer punishment? Don't be surprised. If it happens with worldly virtues that even if thousands of accusations have been made against him, he is not brought to the court before the power is laid down, so that along with him and her there is no insult, then all the more in spiritual power, whatever it may be, the grace of God acts, even if everything is lost; and when he relinquishes power, whether by dying or remaining alive, then he will suffer the heaviest punishment. Do not think that we are saying this on our own - that it is the grace of God that acts through the unworthy, not for our sake, but for your sake. Listen to what Christ says: “If the house is worthy, then your peace will come upon it.” And how is one worthy? “If,” he says, “they receive you: but if they do not receive you and do not listen to your words... truly I say to you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city” (Matthew 10:14-15). What is the benefit of accepting us and not listening to what we say? What is the benefit when you accept service and do not listen to what is said to you? This is an honor for us, this is a wonderful and useful service for you and us - if you listen to us. Listen to what Paul says; “I did not know, brethren, that he was a high priest” (Acts 23:5). Listen to what Christ says: “Whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do” (Matthew 23:3). It is not me that you despise, but the priesthood; when you see that I am deprived of it, then despise it; then I won’t allow myself to be in charge; and as long as we sit on this throne, as long as we have the presidency, as long as we have power and strength, even if we were unworthy. If the throne of Moses was so respected that they listened to it for its sake, then even more so was the Throne of Christ. We inherited it, we speak from it, and from it Christ entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation. Ambassadors, whatever they may be, enjoy great honor for the sake of ambassadorial dignity. Look, in fact: they alone go to the center of the barbarian land, into the midst of so many enemies, and since the law on the embassy has great force, everyone reveres them, everyone looks at them with respect, everyone sends them off safely. And we received an assignment from the embassy and came from God: this is precisely the episcopal dignity. We came to you as ambassadors, asking you to stop the war, and we say on what conditions: we promise not to transfer cities, not so many measures of grain, not slaves, not gold, but the Kingdom of Heaven, eternal life, being with Christ and other benefits that it is impossible for us to say about while we are in this body and in this life. So, while fulfilling the embassy, ​​we want to enjoy honor, not for our own sake, no: we know our insignificance, but for your sake, so that you carefully listen to what we teach, so that you benefit, so that you retain what we say without negligence and inattention. Don't you see the ambassadors, how everyone respects them? We are God's ambassadors to people. If anything is unpleasant to you, it is not us, but the bishopric itself, not such and such a person, but the bishop. Nobody listens to me, but to the episcopal dignity. So, let us act in everything according to the will of God, so that we may live for the glory of God and be rewarded with the blessings promised to those who love him by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Ἐκλογαί άπό διαφόρων λόγων . Under this name are known collections of conversations compiled by various persons after the death of Chrysostom on certain topics, from those related to the topics and especially liked by the compilers of the works of the saint. The passages are given partly in a literal presentation, partly in a free retelling and are borrowed both from the original works of Chrysostom, and from works only attributed to Chrysostom, which have not only survived to this day, but have also been lost. These Eclogues (selections) were widespread and were used by both private individuals and kings. Known, for example, is the luxurious collection of Eclogues, owned by the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros Botaniatus (1078–1081), registered among the codices of the Koalene Library under No. LXXIX. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” In glory Bible: “The God who nourishes me from childhood even to this day, the Angel who delivers me from all evils.” You might be interested in: