Слово 7. О смиренномудрии

When sin is combined with humility, it runs with such ease that it defeats and outstrips truth, combined with pride; and if you combine humility with truth, then where will it not reach, what heavens will it not pass through? Without a doubt, it will stand with great boldness near the very Throne of God in the midst of the Angels. If those who confess their sins acquire boldness, then those who recognize many good things in themselves and at the same time humble their souls, what crowns will not be awarded? Thus, no matter how much you build on top, whether it be alms, or prayer, or fasting, or all the virtues in general, but if humility is not laid as the foundation, then everything will be built in vain and in vain. No, truly there is not a single virtue of ours that could survive without humility; Whether you call chastity, or virginity, or contempt for money, or anything else, everything is unclean, nasty and vile if there is no humility. For this purpose, God created us from two essences, so that when you are exalted by pride, you would be humbled and restrained by the baseness of the flesh, and when you think of something low and unworthy of the honor given to you by God, the nobility of your soul would raise you to compete with the heavenly powers. It is a great benefit to consider our nature and know what composition we have received. Indeed, consideration of nature is a sufficient teaching, since it can subdue all passions and establish peace in the soul. Think about your nature and structure, and this is enough for you to constantly keep yourself in proper condition. Adam was created from the earth, but did not know how he was created, because he should not have been a witness to what happened, so as not to become proud against God. If he, subject to such humiliation, ascends, does not recognize the Creator and rejects the Creator, then who can imagine the excessiveness of his pride if he received what is above nature? That is why God, having created man, put both great strength and a lot of humiliation into the creation, so that through the inherent strength the grace of the Creator would be reverently recognized, and through humiliation human arrogance would be humbled. He gave him a speaking tongue, praising God, praising Divine deeds, explaining the beauties of creation. A small particle of the body speaks about heaven and earth - a tongue, less than even two fingers in size - and what do I say: fingers? – even the tip of the nail; and such a small tip speaks of heaven and earth. But so that he does not consider himself something great and does not rise above his nature, boils and wounds often happen to him, so that he knows that, being mortal himself, he speaks about the Immortal, and that he must know what is the power of the One about whom he proclaims, and what is the weakness of the one who proclaims. He gave him an eye, this small grain through which he contemplates all creation. But so that he, embracing the whole creation with his gaze, does not ascend, eye diseases, and suppuration, and tears, and many other things that darken his gaze often happen to him, so that from weakness he knows himself, and from the dispensation he learns to honor the Artist. If a person, carrying such weakness within himself everywhere, forgets his insignificance to such an extent that he boldly rebels against the Creator, then who would bear his pride if he were completely deprived of this weakness? Think, man, to whom do you become an accomplice when you become proud, fall into arrogance and are ashamed to serve a stranger? But how is it possible, they will say, for a man of noble birth, famous, glorious, famous, to wash the feet of a wanderer himself? Isn't this shameful? On the contrary, it’s shameful not to wash it sooner. No matter how much you exalt your nobility, your celebrity and glory, you have the same nature with the one being washed and the same fellow servant, equal in honor with those whom you serve. Remember who washed the disciples’ feet, and stop talking about your nobility. Not boasting about wealth is useful not only in relation to the future life, but also the present. Indeed, nothing arouses envy more than a rich man; and when pride is added to this, a double danger arises. Meanwhile, the one who knows how to be modest suppresses the power of envy with his humility and securely owns what he has. So great is its power: it is useful to us not only for the future, but even here it already brings us rewards. So, let us not boast of wealth, nor of anything else. If he who exalts himself in spiritual goods destroys himself, then how much more does he who is proud of his fleshly ones. Let us think about our nature, think about our sins, let us know who we are, and this will be a sufficient reason for us to be humble in everything. Truly, he knows himself best of all who considers himself to be nothing. Nothing is more pleasing to God than to consider oneself among the last. “Come...,” says (the Lord), “learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:28–29). After all, if I were not meek, would I, being the Son of the King, have chosen a slave as my Mother? If I were not meek, would I, the Creator of visible and invisible nature, come to you? If I were not meek, would I, who own the wealth of all creation, accept the poor manger? If I were not meek, would I have given the backbone to be scourged for the captives? Not only that. I’m not talking about something more important: if I were not meek, would I, who owed nothing while others had to suffer, pay the debt of death for them? I am so meek that while you sinned, I was scourged; I am so humble that I am not ashamed to beg My servants, but prefer to ask so as not to be forced to punish them. So, when you want to praise yourself for your humility, think about where your Master has descended, and you will no longer be surprised or praise yourself, but will even laugh at yourself as at a person who has done nothing. Are you humble, more humble than all people? Do not be proud of this, do not revile others and do not ruin your own praise. You humble yourself in order to free yourself from pride; Therefore, if, due to humility, you fall into pride, then it is better not to humble yourself. If anyone says that it is better for those who live virtuously to be puffed up than for those who fall into sins to humble themselves, he knows neither the harm of pride nor the benefit of humility. Know clearly that a person who proudly lives virtuously - if that is what it means to live virtuously - can suddenly fall into complete destruction. Anyone who has allowed himself to fall, having learned humility from this fall, can rise up and soon restore his previous position, if only he wants; the one who, apparently, does good with pride, but does not tolerate any evil, will never even notice his iniquity, but, on the contrary, will only increase evil and suddenly leave here, deprived of everything that exists here. But why, they will say, do those who go right before temptations often fall after temptations? But who exactly knows the right of those who walk except the One Who created our hearts and penetrates into all our affairs? Often, many who seem virtuous to us are the most wicked of all. If we, having left such people, turn to those who really live virtuously, then who knows that they, while everything else is fulfilled in the proper way, the main blessing - humility - is not neglected? And for this reason God left them, so that they would know that they accomplished these feats not by their own strength, but by the grace of God. Meekness is called not only when someone meekly endures insults from strong people, but when he gives in, being insulted by people who are considered inferior. Look how loving God is and how much He shows concern for His servants. When Isaac was forbidden by the king of Gerar and the local residents to use his own labors, he did not complain, did not show cowardice, did not cry out in his soul and did not say: “Do I really not have the right to use wells? Am I really abandoned by Heavenly help? Am I really deprived of the care of the Lord? He neither thought nor said anything like that to himself, but he endured everything with meekness. That is why he was awarded greater honor and help from above. The Lord appeared to him that night and said: “I am the God of Abraham your father; Fear not, for I am with you; and I will bless you” (Gen. 26:24). Wanting to calm and encourage the righteous, He appears to him and says: I am God, who made your father famous, gave him such fame and made him, a stranger, richer and more powerful than the local residents. I am the One who helped him become so great. So do not be afraid, for I am with you, and I will multiply your seed for the sake of Abraham your father, to whom I owe many rewards for obedience to Me. Having heard this, the righteous man ceased to be afraid, since the One who said: “I am with you” and “I will bless you and multiply your descendants” gave him both glory and celebrity. Look at the power of humility: those who previously persecuted the righteous now come to him and not only apologize for what happened and ask him for forgiveness, but also glorify him. Indeed, who can be stronger than the one who has God with him? “We,” they say, “have clearly seen that the Lord is with you” (Gen. 26:28). Let's see how Isaac's son Jacob made the journey when he was persecuted - since from here we will receive considerable benefit. As he walked “to Haran... the sun set. And he took one of the stones of that place, and set it for his head, and lay down in that place” (Gen. 28:10-11). Do you see the unspeakable wisdom? Do you see how the ancients traveled? A man brought up at home, who used many services, took a stone and placed it at the head of the bed. Look what a courageous soul the young man has: he used a stone instead of a headboard and slept on the ground. For this he is rewarded with a vision of the Lord, who says to him: “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac” (Gen. 28:13). I raised both your ancestor and your father to such a glorious position; Therefore, do not be afraid, but believe that I, who have fulfilled My promises to them, will also honor you with My care. But even now I am with you, protecting you on your journey, wherever you go. Don’t think, he says, that you alone are making your way; You have Me as your companion, You have Me as your guardian throughout your journey, since I am with you. So, if you want to make your deeds great, do not consider them great, but recognize that you are saved by grace, so as to make God your debtor not only for your good deeds, but also for your gratitude. When we do good deeds, we owe Him only for these deeds alone; when we still think that we have not done anything good, it is because of our disposition, and even much more than because of our deeds. If, therefore, you want to be humble, then show this virtue not only in words and in appearance, but also in deed and word: do not be meek with one and impudent with another, but be meek with everyone, whether friend or foe, a great person or a small one, because this is what humility consists of. You can be meek, and yet irritable and angry; however, this is of no benefit, because one who is possessed by anger often destroys everything. Those who wish to learn true humility can best learn from the following. When Jesus came “to Capernaum, the collectors of didrachms came to Peter and said: Will your Teacher give didrachms?” (Matthew 17:24). And look, they did not dare to approach Christ Himself, but to Peter, and even to him, not with violence, but rather meekly - they did not say with reproach, but in the tone of a question: “Will your teacher give you didrachms?” . They did not yet have a proper opinion about Him, but treated Him as an ordinary person, although due to the miracles that had already happened, they felt some respect and reverence for Him. What about Peter? Yes, he says. But having told them what he would give, he did not tell Christ Himself, perhaps ashamed to talk to Him about it. What does God, who sees everything clearly, do? Prefacing Peter, He says: “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take duties or taxes? from your own sons, or from strangers? Peter says to Him: from strangers. Jesus said to him, “The sons are therefore free” (Matthew 17:25–26). So that Peter would not think that He was saying this after hearing it from the gatherers, Christ precedes him, opening the question and instilling in him courage, since he had hitherto hesitated to say about it. The meaning of his words is as follows. I am free from paying taxes. If earthly kings do not take from their sons, but from their subordinates, then all the more should I, the King and Son of not the earthly King, but the Heavenly King, be free from such tribute. And after that he says: “but so that we don’t tempt them, go to the sea, throw a fishing rod, and take the first fish that comes across, and... you will find... there is a statir in it; take it and give it to them for Me and for yourself” (Matthew 17:27). Look how He does not refuse the tax, and does not simply order to pay, but gives only after He has shown in advance that He should not give it: first, so that the collectors would not be tempted, second, so that the disciples would not be tempted, since He gives not because He has to, but out of condescension towards their weakness. But why does He command to give not from the money that was ready? In order to show through this that He is the God of all and that He rules over the sea. In fact, it was important to predict that the first fish caught from the depths of the sea would bring tribute, that His command, plunging like a net into the abyss of the sea, would bring out a fish bearing a stater, force the sea to bear gifts and prove its complete obedience. So, if you want to show your good deed to the great, do not be magnified, and then you will make it greater. If we, being sinners, when we consider ourselves to be what we really are, become righteous, like the publican, then how much more so when we consider ourselves sinners, being righteous? If you call yourself worthy of praise, then you become indecent, even if you were worthy of praise; if you call yourself worthless, then you become useful, even if you were worthless. Just as God usually opposes the proud, so He gives grace to the humble; to Him belongs glory and power 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: