Беседа на Вознесение Господа нашего Иисуса Христа. Святого Иоанна Златоустого, архиепископа Константинопольского

Three amazing miracles, unknown from the beginning of time and surpassing the powers of our very nature, were inextricably and unshakably united with each other. Yes, the triple rope is not easy to break. These miracles are as follows: the birth of an unmarried Mother, the resurrection after three days of death, the ascension of the flesh into heaven. History knows barren women giving birth, but not giving birth outside of marital union; it knows the resurrected dead, but not resurrected for endless life; it knows the ascending Prophet, but ascending as if (as if) to heaven, that is, not to true heaven. Elijah changed one place to another, and the Savior ascended to the same place from where he descended - ascended in the presence of men and women, who contemplated Him in large numbers until their eyes, intently looking at the heights, weakened, and the angels gave testimony regarding what they saw and foretold His second coming. And behold,” says the Scripture, “there were two hundred men before them in white clothing, like the men of Galilee, who stand gazing at heaven (Acts 1:10–11)?... Oh, how much has been done by the good Lord for the sake of the wicked servants, for their salvation! He descended from heaven, ascended to heaven, will come again from heaven. But how will it come? - not having perceived another hypostasis, but in a fleshly form, in human form; however, not enduring humiliation, as before, not falling asleep in the ship, not experiencing painful thirst at the well, not sitting on the foal of a donkey (John 12:15), but rushing on a cloudy donkey - not leading the fishermen with Him, but accompanied by angels - not standing near the judge's pulpit, but Himself judging the ends of the universe and bestowing judicial power on the fishermen themselves. He Himself teaches about this, saying to His disciples: when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you also will sit on the double throne, judging the deceived tenth tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28); and to the Jews: And if I cast out demons because of Beelzebub, about whom shall I cast out your sons? For this reason you will have judges (Matthew 10:27), because, being from the Jews, they did not think like Jews, but preferred the sufferings of Christ and His wounds to their relatives, the murderers of the Lord... Since we are required to give an account of everything that we have done during our lives; since the world judgment is coming, at which they will ask about what we have done with the talents entrusted to us - they will punish us for rejecting the mysterious marriage - they will ask about the lamps of the wedding chamber, about the growth of the seed, about the fruit of the vineyard and about everything that He revealed to us through His parables: then let us weigh our life, change its affairs, no longer engaging in bartering silver, not getting gold for ourselves, not lending money at high interest (because the Judge abhors this), but delivering food to the poor, showing hospitable behavior, calling on God and doing everything that can soften the wrath of the Judge. Looking at Abraham, comprehend the benefit of the treasury of alms in Tabitha: she lay lifeless on her bed, they were preparing to bury her in the grave, but the widows, surrounding Peter and showing gifts to the dead, rescued the deceased from hell (Acts 9:36-41). If the tears of the widows revived the dead body, which, obviously, was about to die again later, then what will the Judge give in recompense for the benefits of those who generously fed the poor and did not deprive themselves of their testimony? That gift will be inalienable, since between it and its owner there will no longer be death, but instead of death there will be eternal life. The trumpet will sound, says Scripture, and the dead in Christ will rise incorruptible (1 Cor. 15:52) and unchangeable, following the example of the Lord. And just as a certain cloud took Him up (Acts 1:9), so we too, according to the word of Paul, will be caught up in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:17). And just as He ascended with a joyful cry and the sound of a trumpet, in exactly the same way we, having heard the Archangel trumpet and shaking off the cloud of death like a dream, will unite with the Author of life and thus, says Scripture, we will always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17), thinking about the Lord, keeping His commandments. May we all be worthy to hear that blessed voice: Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful for a little, I will set you over many: enter into the joy of the Lord (Matthew 25:21)! To him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen 79. Full Collection Created, St. Chrysostom, vol. III, 1897, pp. 847–849. In Curs. Compl. Patrolog. Migne is a word classified as Spuria. You might be interested in: