Письмо к монахине Ксении о жизни во Христе

The life of the soul is union with God, just as the life of the body is its union with the soul. The soul, having violated the Divine commandment, broke away from God and died. Conversely, by obeying the commandments of God, she can again unite with Him and regain life. Therefore, the Lord says in the Gospel: “the words that I say are the spirit and the life” (John 6:63). And the Apostle Peter said to Him: “the words of the life of the eternal imashi” (John 6:68). The words of Christ are felt as words of eternal life by those who obey Him. The life that Christ gives is not only the life of the soul, but also the life of the body. It also gives the body eternal life in Christ, effortless, painless and carefree, truly immortal. Return to God is the resurrection of both soul and body. This resurrection will be followed by true incorruption of those who have united with God. The Son of God became Man and died only in the flesh. His soul was separated from his body, but remained inseparable from the Divine. Having resurrected His body, He took it to Heaven in glory, so those who lived here according to God, who are not separated from God during the separation of the soul from the body, will also take the body to God at the general resurrection, entering with Him in inexpressible joy where “Jesus went as a forerunner of us” (Heb. 6:20), so that together with Him they can enjoy the glory that will be revealed in Christ. For they will be partakers not only of the Resurrection, but also of the Ascension of the Lord, and of His entire Divine life. But of course, this will not happen to everyone. Those who lived on earth not spiritually, but carnally, and until death had no communication with God, killed their spirit with their lusts and bodily passions. Such people will be given over to the sorrow and hardships that reign where there is no God. True life has its beginning in earthly life. Let him not be deceived who does not make an effort to become a participant in eternal life in this earthly life: there he will also be deprived of it. And let such a person not hope for God’s love for mankind after death. God gave us earthly life as a place for repentance. And if not for this reason, then a person, after committing a sin, could immediately, immediately die. If there were no repentance, would there be any benefit from this life? However, now, after everything God has given, there is no justification for human despair. The evil one plunges people into despair in a variety of ways, and not only those who live indifferently, but sometimes also those who struggle. As long as a person is in this life, he will always have freedom of will. A person himself can freely choose either the path of repentance or the path that separates him from God and leads to death. So where is the cause for despair? After all, everyone can always, if, of course, they want to, acquire eternal life. Do you see the greatness of God's love for mankind? By being patient with us, He provides us with the opportunity to return to Him, that is, He gives us earthly life for this. At the same time, in this life, He leaves behind us the power to be adopted by Him, if we ourselves want it. We have the opportunity to unite with Him and become one spirit with Him. However, all this can only happen during our earthly life - during His long-suffering. If we move in the opposite direction, if we love death more than true life, then God does not deprive us of freedom of choice. And not only does He not deprive us, He Himself again lives among us and calls us to Himself, calling us to be reconciled with Him. Christ does this from the beginning to the end of our lives. The humane Father, through the Son, reconciles us to Himself and does not impute our sins to us. He constantly calls us to Himself, not as clinging to indecent deeds, but as doing nothing and standing idle, although idleness is a sin, since we will also give an answer for an idle word (See Matt. 12:36). God does not impute past sins to us and calls us again and again. What is He calling us to? He calls us to leave idleness and work in His vineyard. To work in His vineyard means to take care of the vine branches, that is, of ourselves. At the same time, He promises to pay us for this work, although we work for our own benefit. Indescribable heights of philanthropy! “Come,” He calls us, “receive eternal life, which I give in abundance.” I will pay you already for coming to Me, for the fact that you are tired on the way. For the mere determination to come to Me and receive eternal life from Me, I will pay you as if I owe you. Christ says: “I have come so that you may have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). But what is this excess of life? The abundance of life means not only to exist and live by His power, but also to be His brothers and joint heirs. This excess of life is a reward given to those who flow to the life-giving vine and become branches on it, to those who work on themselves and cultivate themselves. What do such people do? They cut off from themselves everything unnecessary, useless and preventing them from bearing fruits worthy of the granary of God. They cut off wealth, pleasures, vain glory, everything fleeting and transitory, every passion of soul and body, shameful and harmful, every hearing and vision and every word that can harm the soul. For whoever does not cut off all this and does not cleanse his heart with the greatest care of such growths will never bear fruit for eternal life. Those who live a married life can also carry out this struggle. Everyone can achieve this purity.