Проповедь на праздник святых и верховных апостолов Петра и Павла

The memory of each of the saints is an occasion and reason for great joy and benefit. When we light a large candle at night, its light gives joy and helps everyone it illuminates to do what is necessary and not to remain in darkness. Likewise, the godly life, blessed death and grace received from God of any of the saints who lived in purity on earth shines like a torch, giving everyone spiritual joy and benefit. When the earth produces abundant fruits, not only farmers rejoice, but all people rejoice, since the fruits of the earth grow for the nourishment and enjoyment of all people. The saints, even when they live on earth, encourage us to practice virtue and, when we see and hear them, give us strength. After all, they are living images of virtues. By remembering and honoring the saints, we fulfill our duty to them. The spiritual benefits of this are enormous. An ordinary person cannot add anything to what the saints already have, because we are all weak and infirm. The saints themselves, as far as it was possible for them, took up an ambitious feat in order to live in such a way that it surpassed every word. The benefit for us will be that, as we approach the saints, we will become elevated and enlightened. By doing this, we will be able to become more aware of our own weaknesses and embrace the strength that comes from them. We commemorate each of the saints with hymns and praises. On the feast of the holy supreme apostles Peter and Paul, the common fathers and leaders of all those who bear the name Christian, we receive great spiritual help and enlightenment. These holy supreme apostles are the mentors and leaders of all other apostles, martyrs, saints, priests, hierarchs, teachers and all Christians. They are builders of piety and virtue, they enlighten the world, spreading the word of Life through the Holy Scriptures. By spreading this word, they make all people partakers of the Light. Both of these holy apostles, having become partakers of Christ, became at the same time partakers of glory and radiance. The Apostle Paul at one time was an opponent and fought against Christ. The Apostle Peter denied Christ three times. Both one and the other humbled themselves in the deepest way. Being tempted and drawn towards evil, they defeated the one who hates God and constantly tries to bring down every believer to evil. However, how did they manage to defeat the devil? Self-reproach, deep sadness and repentance. Tears flowing from a pure heart - this powerful weapon against the devil and the medicine of propitiation. The psalmist says that “God will not despise a broken and humble heart.” Sorrow for God leads to decisive repentance and salvation. In both apostles one can see that they not only healed through repentance and sorrow the renunciation into which they were carried away, but also completely eradicated all evil from their souls. Both of them received honor from Christ for their humility and contrition. Let us remember that Peter, shortly before he denied Christ, put himself above the other disciples of Christ. With confidence he said: “Lord, even if everyone denies You, I will not do this” (Matthew 26:33). However, very little time passed, and he, being asked three times whether he was connected with Christ, three times answered in the negative. But the Lord, seeing the depth of his heart, his deep love and humility, gave him the following promise: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church” (Matthew 16:18). God's love for us is enormous. It is enough for Him that each of us wants to follow the path leading to salvation. The change that occurred afterwards with both one and the other apostle is impossible to understand with the mind. What language could describe the patience for Christ until death shown by St. Paul? Knowing what the love of Christ is, he not only considered everything other than it useless, but also explained it in these words: “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither the present nor the future can separate us from the love of God, which is given to us through Jesus Christ” (Rom. 8:38). And in relation to himself, the holy apostle with so much humility says: “I am the last among the apostles and am not worthy even to be called an apostle” (1 Cor. 15:9). Paul is the same with Peter in humility, in confession of faith, and in love. The fact that they are equal in the radiance of glory is also evidenced by the fact that the Church gives them equal honor and celebrates their memory on the same day. So, having carefully examined the miracle that happened on both great apostles, let us begin to imitate their lives. We may not have the strength to imitate them in everything. But at least let’s do this in relation to their humility, their repentance and self-correction. We need self-correction and repentance more than they do. Each of us commits many sins every day. And we have nowhere to expect salvation except from constant repentance. Repentance is preceded by awareness of one's sins. In the end, our sins become a reason for cleansing the soul and receiving forgiveness. Feeling his sin, the holy psalmist David says to God: “God have mercy on me... for I know my iniquity” (Ps. 50). By realizing one's true state one attracts God's mercy. Self-reproach and confession of sins lead to complete remission of sins. Self-condemnation follows the knowledge of our sins, and then sorrow for our sins. The Apostle Paul called this very sadness grief for God. This is followed naturally by contrition of heart, confession, prayer to God and a promise to henceforth avoid all evil. This is all repentance. The Apostle Peter repented with this repentance. And he not only rose after his fall and gained forgiveness of sins, but also became the patron saint of Christ’s Church. And Saint Paul, after his conversion, prosperity and reconciliation with God, also became the patron saint of the Church. If repentance is true, if it really comes from the heart, then it itself convinces the repentant to no longer indulge in sins, and without clinging to the present age with his heart, to devote himself to the future, struggling against the passions. Then such a repentant person, by the grace of God, begins to love virtue, abstains in everything, does not cease to pray to God, stands far from all unrighteousness and shows mercy to those who are guilty before him. May God bless us to be supportive and merciful to those who ask us to help them in any need. Let us be ready to respond to the needs of our neighbors and help them with everything we have at our disposal. A humane soul brings everything to its neighbor: words, deeds, money. She bows to each and every one from the depths of her being. With such love for mankind God bows down to love for mankind. By loving our neighbor, each of us can receive love from God, attract God's favor and eternal mercy - the source of all blessing and joy.