Беседа 5. О счастье и несчастье

Many people think that when they become rich, when they enjoy fame, when everything goes well for them, when they defeat their enemies, then God remembers them; therefore they do not know when God forgets about them. Not knowing the sign of the remembrance of God, they do not know the sign of oblivion. God's remembrance of us comes from nothing other than diligent exercise in virtue; Equally, oblivion comes from nothing else but from remaining in sins. Therefore, you, man, when you are in misfortune, do not say: “God has forgotten me”; on the contrary, when you are in sin, and then especially when everything is going well for you. A sober and wakeful soul shows its nobility not only when things go well, but also in the event of misadventures it gives the same gratitude to God, without weakening in the least due to changes in circumstances. Just as a high-water stream, receiving an influx, forms bubbles, of which some burst immediately, and others, although significantly swollen, also burst later, so the sea of ​​real life swallows some as soon as they appear, and others, who have enough strength for a longer time, drowns them. And why are you embarrassed, he says, if one is cast out and the other is brought into the world? Christ was crucified, and the robber Barabbas was asked to be released; the murderer was preferred to the Savior. When a change for the worse occurs, then the masks of flatterers are removed; then the crowd of hypocrites and their pretense are exposed; all lips open, saying: despicable, vile, vile, didn’t you flatter him yesterday, didn’t you kiss his hands? It was a mask; the time has come, and I threw off the mask and opened my thoughts. Many people sympathize with friends when they suffer misfortunes; but they cannot rejoice with them when they enjoy fame. Indeed, “rejoicing with those who rejoice” is not only not a small virtue, but even much greater than “weeping with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15) and defending in danger. Many shared the dangers along with those enduring dangers, but they did not rejoice with those who were in happiness, but, on the contrary, were even upset; and thus, having endured the heavier, they turned out to be powerless for the lighter. Truly, nothing makes people so unreasonable and criminal as attachment to fame, and nothing makes people so honorable and firm as contempt for it. That is why a very courageous soul is needed for someone who wants to resist such a strong gust and pressure of the wind. When a man attached to fame prospers, he considers himself superior to all others; when he suffers the opposite, he is ready to bury himself in the ground, being consumed by sadness. The three youths were thrown into the oven and, despite this, did not forget piety. That is why the fire became a wall for them, the flame - clothing, the oven - a source; having accepted them bound, she returned them freed; took mortal bodies and did not touch them as immortals; did not know nature, but respected piety. The tormentor tied his feet, and his feet were tied by the power of fire. Oh, wonderful miracle! The prisoners were released by the flame, and he himself was then tied up by the prisoners. The piety of the youths changed the nature of things, or better yet, it did not change nature, but, what is even more surprising, without changing nature, it stopped its action: it did not extinguish the fire, but forced it, even in grief, not to exert its power. And what is wonderful and wonderful is that this happened not only to the bodies of the saints, but to their clothes. Just as among the apostles, Paul’s clothes drove away illnesses and demons, and Peter’s shadow put death to flight, so here the shoes of these youths extinguished the power of fire. I don’t know how to say it, because the miracle surpasses every word. The fire went out and did not go out. When he touched the bodies of the holy youths, he faded away; and when it was necessary to break the bonds, he did not fade away; broke the bonds, but did not touch the heels. Do you see how close it is, and the fire did not make a mistake and did not dare to go beyond the bonds? Why did the tormentor tie them up, intending to throw them into the fire? So that the miracle is more majestic, so that the sign is more amazing, so that you do not mistake what is visible for a deception of the eyes. If this fire had not been fire, it would not have destroyed the bonds and would not have burned (the warriors) sitting outside the oven. Now he showed his strength to those in the oven, and to those inside he showed submission. And when the tormentor saw that the youths had not suffered any harm, listen to how he changed. “Servants of the Most High God! - He says, “Get out and come!” (Dan.3:93). Not long before he had said: “And then what God will deliver you from my hand?” (Dan.3:15). What happened? Where does this change come from? Have you seen those outside the furnace perish, and are you calling those inside? Where did such philosophy come upon you? Do you see what a change has happened to the king? This is why God allowed everything that the tormentor wanted to happen, in order to show that no one can harm those whom He protects. He did the same with Job. He allowed the devil to show all his strength, and when he had exhausted all the arrows, and there was no longer any kind of intrigue left, then he brought the ascetic out of the field so that the victory would be glorious and undoubted. And blessed Paul, who enlightened the whole universe, was once blinded during his calling; but his blindness became an enlightenment for the universe. Since he looked badly, God blinded him well so that he could receive his sight with benefit; and since he excessively persecuted the Church and was very strong and indomitable, a very strong rein is placed on him so that, carried away by the impulse of his passion, he does not miss what was said to him, and also learns that from Whom he is fighting, he cannot endure from Him not only punishment, but even good deeds, since it was not darkness that blinded him, but an excess of light that darkened him. What can we say about Peter? It is said that Jesus, “entering into one boat, which was Simon’s... asked him to sail a little from the shore” (Luke 5:3). Do you see how someone who has no need for a ship enters a ship in order to catch the master of the ship? In fact, why does the Lord ask Simon? Why did Simon, having worked all night and not catching anything, remain idle? He was very annoyed, washing his nets with empty hands and adding labor to labor; and since he could not acquire anything, he was sad. Therefore, the Lord, looking at his saddened face, said to him: “Judge me, fisherman, for a short time your boat, so that from it I can teach Me the people who, as you see, follow Me.” Simon, still immersed in sadness from failure, says to the Lord: “Where did you come from, O Man? Why are you bothering me? Find another shuttle if you want to stay on the lake. Do you see that I am sad because I lack bread, and You promise to give in return the word of God? I don’t see where I can borrow money to feed my mother-in-law and wife, but I will give you a shuttle so that you can work in vain the day as you worked the night? If you present payment for transportation, enter my canoe; If you don’t contribute, then leave, I ask You, because it is the gift that feeds me, not the word.” “Do not grumble, Simon,” the Lord answers him, “truly, you speak like a shipbuilder; do not consider My presence a deprivation for you; it will bring abundance rather than scarcity.” Hearing this and somewhat brightening his face with the hope of receiving a reward, Simon takes the Lord into the ship. Jesus, it is said, “sat down and taught the people from the boat” (Luke 5:3). Simon, listening to the teaching, began to grumble, saying to himself: “Do I expect to receive a reward from this? And in the night I failed; and Who did I meet today? This One, who speaks of non-covetousness, teaches that no one should have anything; maybe He wants me to sell my boat too in order to give everything to the poor. And I expect to receive a reward from Him? Then, approaching the Lord, he says: “Your words are beautiful, and Your speech is pleasant, and Your teaching is worthy of respect; however, fulfill our agreement.” And the Lord says to Simon: “Do you want to receive payment from Me? Set sail into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.” - And Simon to the Lord: “Should I again catch, cast nets and undertake labor? Oh, if only I had not touched the night with empty hands! Are You more experienced than me in the art of swimming? Or do you own something in the hidden depths? You can be a Teacher; but are you also a fisherman? Get away from me. I see that you cannot pay anything. Why am I wasting my time? Didn’t I declare this to You from the very beginning? - Then the Lord to Simon: “Do not look at Me, Simon, as having nothing; Do not look at My hands or bosom; I bear your wages not in my hands, but in my mouth. Set sail into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.” But he answers: “Mentor! We toiled all night and caught nothing, but at Your word I will let down the net. Having done this, they caught a great abundance of fish, and even their net was broken” (Luke 5:5-6). Oh, wonderful thing! Peter's worries do not leave him. The nets were torn, and he looked at Christ, thought about the fish and reflected on the miracle. He was unable to remove the load and called for help. Those who were in another ship, where James and John were, arrived and began to collect fish, and the more they collected, the more the fish multiplied. The fish hurried in front of each other to fulfill the Master's command: the small ones overtook the large ones, the medium ones ahead of the larger ones, the large ones jumped over the small ones; They did not wait for the hands of the fishermen, but jumped into the boat themselves. The bottom of the lake was empty; not a single fish wanted to stay down; and, since the nets broke, some themselves jumped into the boat, while others remained near the nets, eager to be caught and not wanting to stay away from them. What about Simon? Impressed by two circumstances - unsuccessful fishing at night and successful fishing during the day according to the word of Jesus, he, seeing this, fell at the feet of the Lord with the words: “Depart from me, Lord! because I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8): I finally found out who You are. I have never seen such fishing. Usually, Lord, fish are confined within a net; but I see the opposite miracle accomplished: from the outside, the fish overcome the net. Finally, keep Your Divine command, leave at least two fish for the lake to breed. “Get away from me, Lord!” ; I do not reject You, but I recognize myself as unworthy. “Get away from me... for I am a sinful man.” What about Jesus? “Do not be afraid, Peter, from now on you will catch men” (Luke 5:10). Oh, the power of the Lord! Oh, the prudence of Peter! As soon as I heard it, I immediately obeyed. He did not sell the fish, nor did he say goodbye to his wife, but having brought the boat to land, he left everything and followed Christ. So the rich man saw Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham, so that just as the former was inflicted with the most severe torture by the fact that he lay at the rich man’s gate and saw other people’s blessings, so the latter would now be inflicted with a punishment that was more severe than the very stay in Gehenna, by the fact that he saw the bliss of Lazarus - so that not only by the nature of the torment itself, but also in comparison with Lazarus’ reward, he would suffer the most severe punishment. And just as God, casting Adam out of Paradise, placed him opposite Paradise, so that the constant sight of the latter, renewing his sense of sorrow, would make him feel more strongly the deprivation of the blessings of Paradise, so He placed the rich man opposite Lazarus, in order to see what blessings he had lost. But why did the rich man make a request not to Lazarus, but to Abraham? He was ashamed and embarrassed, and from his own experience he thought that he would certainly remember the insult. If, he reasoned, taking advantage of such wealth, without any offense to me, I despised a person who was in such a distressed situation and did not give him even crumbs, then all the more he, who was so despised by me, will not show me leniency. Therefore, he turned to Abraham, who, as he thought, did not know what had happened, not knowing that the patriarch was not speaking on his own, but was telling him God’s laws, and asked for the finger of the one whom he often left to the tongues of dogs. But look at the forbearance of the righteous. He did not say: “Inhuman, cruel, wicked, you allowed man to suffer so much evil, and now you remember about humanity, mercy and condescension? And you are not ashamed and do not blush?” He didn’t say anything like that, so what? "Child! remember that you have already received your good things in your life” (Luke 16:25). Do not confuse, he says, again a humble soul; Punishment is enough for him, let's not swear at his misadventures. What I can, he says, I give you; but to go from here to there is not in our power. Let's listen to what the rich man says to Abraham. “Father Abraham! have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:24). So, why does he plead not with Lazarus, but with the patriarch? Quite natural - he did not dare to look at the poor man. Remembering his inhumanity and the hardness of heart that he discovered in relation to Lazarus, he assumed that he might not honor him with an answer. Therefore, he makes a request not to him, but to the patriarch. But despite this, he achieved nothing. Do you see the honor and dignity enjoyed by the one who lay at the gate, the despised beggar, constantly struggling with hunger, covered with wounds that were licked by dogs? It is with pleasure that I constantly speak about this, so that no one who is in poverty or suffering from illness and hunger considers himself unhappy, but, enduring everything with patience and gratitude, is nourished by good hopes and expects future ineffable rewards and rewards for his labors, which may we all be worthy to receive by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom belongs glory, power, honor and worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and 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” You might be interested in: