Поучение 29. О том, чтобы не ублажать иного жительства, кроме живущих в общежитии.

I am lying sick for the sake of illness, and I cannot stand before your face and teach you with my insignificant words. But if you are healthy and strong mentally and physically, I do not feel sick, and I am not at all grieving; for you are my children, truly my health and joy, my rest and crown. With you I have a happy life and prosperity, celebration and praise, wealth and pleasure, fun and joy. And if you were subject to mental illness, which will not happen, then this would cause me illness and contrition. Therefore, I earnestly pray to you, I throw myself at your feet, I ask, I beg and I fall down, like an unworthy father, like a brother, like a child, like your servant: stand, endure, courageously, dare, take courage, ascend in thought, ascend to heaven, so that in your mind you can see our Lord Jesus Christ, sitting on the Cherubim and Seraphim on the throne of His glory, Whom the whole rank of Angels stands and serves with fear and trembling. Then those who have worthily accomplished their feat, who have not desired anything from this world and have not been seduced by its vanity, will hear the blessed voice of the Lord. For “then,” it is said, “the righteous will be enlightened like the sun” (Matthew 13:43), when “they will come from the east and the west, and the north and the sea, and lie down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob” (Matthew 8:11), in inexpressible joy, when our King and Lord will divide His gifts according to the merits of each. Woe, woe, my brothers and children! What glory will the blessed novices inherit! Truly, everyone in whatever rank pleases God will receive benefits. Although great before God are those who served Him in the mountains, and in dens, and in the abysses of the earth, stylites, hermits and in every other life who glorified God: however, know, my beloved and longed for brothers, that when our Lord Jesus Christ, the divider of countless blessings, came to earth, he chose not a deserted or stylite life, but the image and rule of obedience. For He Himself says: “For I came down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of the Father who sent Me” (John 6:38), and also “I have spoken nothing from Himself, but the Father who has sent Me, He has given me commandment, whatever I speak and whatever I speak” (John 12:49). Again, girded with ribbon, He took the form of a servant, washed the disciples’ feet and wiped them with ribbon. And in another place he said: “I am... in your midst as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). So, behold, my children and brothers, as you see, the Lord chose preferably our life, a life of obedience, and not any other of all the others. How can you not be happy? How can you not have fun? How can you not be filled with joy and gladness that you too live in the likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ? Is there anything more blessed than this for you? Or will you still be surprised at some other way of life? So, do not please another life more than ours, if only you conduct it correctly. Therefore, as the Patericon tells about three images of monasticism: the hermit, the sick and the novice, was not the novice seen in revelation with a crown, brighter than the others? Indeed, I say to you, my brothers, our way of life is great and holy; and in every possible way, if you accomplish it worthily, then without a doubt you will be glorified with Abraham, you will rejoice with the martyrs and dwell with the righteous. So, perform the flow with care; anoint your feet with the oil of patience, so that your spiritual veins will warm up and give you strength for further progress. Put on the robe of truth and joy, drink the water of virginity and chastity. Don't say: how long? This is the word of the lazy. We don't have to live for a thousand years. Woe! In ancient times they lived for nine hundred, seven hundred and one hundred years, as for example. Enoch, Noah, Abel, Abraham, Job and others who pleased God; and in our time, even that would be a lot, if someone lived seventy years, as David says: “the days of our years... are seventy years... or eighty” (Ps. 89:10); Our life ends around these numbers. And now I see that both small children and infants die before they come of age and choose any kind of residence. This is how we, children, will die today or tomorrow. Remembering this every day, we do well by living our lives according to the spiritual law. This is how our fathers lived their short days. So, let there be among us, according to the holy prayer of our father, mercy, peace, love, non-envy, non-jealousy, non-covetousness, obedience, a good word, harmony, compassion for each other, humility; so abide, so live, praying for my humility, so as not to be cast into unquenchable fire. O that we may all get rid of it and be worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom belongs all glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. You might be interested in: