Поучение 22. Об отсечении своей воли. К саккудионским братиям.

Brother, child Sophrony! Conduct your service not lazily, with diligence and thoroughness; It is always necessary to write to you about this and arouse your zeal. Be attentive to everyone, and lead your brotherhood. Observe and consider the affairs and life of each of them, how they live and how they behave, so that we and those close to you know that you live for the glory of God, according to the statutes and canons laid down by our Holy Fathers, according to the commandments of our humility and according to existing rules. For in whatever place they live like this, and all this is observed, there God is pleased, there the light shines, there the world appears, there Satan has no place, from there passions run far away; and where there is no effort about this, everything is opposite: instead of good there is evil, instead of light there is darkness, instead of Christ there is the devil. Therefore, be attentive and vigilant, test the hearts of the brethren through confession, and being among them as an example, instruct them in every good deed. Under the pretext of prayer, silence and reading, do not abandon monastic affairs, so that they do not become upset in relation to bodily needs; and on the contrary, through constant and constant exercise and concern for affairs, do not allow your mind to be immersed in them and leave the memory of God and vision: this is the rule of piety. If you lead such a life, then your brothers will imitate you in every possible way, becoming like you both in deeds and in life. For we did not become monks in order to eat, drink and adorn ourselves, or this is not where our salvation lies; and again, we did not accept the monastic form so as not to eat, not to dress, and not to work, but in order to do both at a decent time, as the Apostle’s word says: “let all things be done in an orderly manner” (1 Cor. 14:40): for the Apostle himself says that he never ate free bread, but he obtained what was necessary for himself and for those who were with him by labor. their holy hands (2 Thessalonians 3:8; Acts 20:34). Do this and abide in this. Do not be attentive to what requires correction, so that through imaginary goodness the little does not remain without reproof and does not lead the brethren to greater evil. If anyone eats secretly, punish him; If anyone has anything as his own, even the smallest thing, impose penance on him. Doesn't want to work? Let him not eat. Gives away something without having the authority to do so, whether it be food or drink, or exchanges it for something else? Punish him. Slanders or steals? Drive him out of the gate, as the rules dictate. And you, children and brothers, hearing this, do not consider it cruel, and do not think that I am saying this out of hardness of heart, but out of fatherly love and condolences for the sake of the salvation of your souls. We must give an account of this; and great condemnation will fall on our head if we do not tell you this, if we do not affirm and teach you; for it is also the duty of a good father not to leave his children without punishment, but with small threats and reproaches leads them to the enjoyment of eternal life. Eli, according to the testimony of Scripture, was subjected, like a father, to censure and hatred, because he did not admonish with threats and did not punish, as he should, his sons who broke the law. For this one guilt he died along with his sons. Therefore, stand courageously in your asceticism, each in his own service, in every good deed, so that your physical labors may be added to your other virtues. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ always be with you, my most honest brothers. Amen. You might be interested in: