Поучение 46 52 . В неделю сыропустную. О посте и о том, что истинный пост истинного послушника состоит в отсечении своей воли.

Brothers and Fathers! Our good God, who gives us life and leads us from one time to another, has now, through his love for mankind, brought us to the time of holy fasting, during which each of the ascetics struggles and works for the salvation of his soul, according to his will and desire. One, observing abstinence, fasts for two or three days, the other, staying awake in vigil, reads or prays for more or less hours; and another genuflects, placing a greater or lesser number of bows on the stool according to his strength; and another is practicing some other feat; and who would look at their great care and diligence these days. But a monk who is in obedience and obedience, who is a true novice, carries out his feat not only at a certain time, but throughout his entire life. What is the feat of a true novice, and what is his great correction and his bright crown, if not not relying on his reason and not following his will at all; but should everything he does be done with the blessing of the Abbot, or his elder and steward? This is the greatest of all monastic feats. To put it briefly, obedience with obedience honors us with the crown of martyrdom, if, that is, someone cuts off his own will and fulfills the will of his superior; this is as valued before God as if he had shed his blood for Christ. However, we know well, my brothers, that during these holy days there is a change in food, an increase in kneeling and bowing, and an increase in singing and in services, according to the ancient tradition of our Holy Fathers. Let us accept this gift of fasting honestly and joyfully; Let us not grieve over the suffering and weakening of our body, but let us rejoice over the health and salvation of our soul. Let us spend these holy days in meekness of heart, in kindness, without condemnation, without anger, without guile, without envy, but especially in peace, in love for each other, in meekness and submissiveness, filled with mercy and good fruits. When the time of silence comes, let us remain silent; when the need for a word presents itself, we will respond with humility and reverence; Let us avoid verbosity, confusion and disorder, so that we, as servants of Christ, may carry out our obediences peacefully and without embarrassment; for confusion in the community brings great harm to the unanimity of the brethren. Above all this, let us be careful not to open the door to evil thoughts that come and defile our souls, and not to give place to the devil, just as the Divine Scripture, teaching us, says: “If the possessing spirit comes upon you, do not leave your place” (Eccl. 10:4); because our enemy, the devil, has no power to force us, but only throws evil thoughts, like a fisherman throwing bait. And when we deign and accept them, then they dominate us; and when we drive them away by prayer and calling on the glorious name of our Lord Jesus Christ, then the enemy flees from us, disgraced. Let us use labor and diligence to keep our soul undefiled and pure from every unclean thought and unwound by its arrows, like the bride of Christ, and we will be worthy to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and hear: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). And, as the Apostle says, “as much as is true, as much as is honorable and honorable, as much as is righteous, as much as is pure and pure, as much as is lovely, as much as there is good praise, if there is any virtue and if there is any praise” (Phil. 4:8). Let us do this, and God will be with us. Therefore, brothers, let us avoid gluttony and drunkenness, from which all sins are born; Let us eat and drink with reverence and fear of God, and glorify God, who delivered us from the delusion and rebellion of the world. However, among us there are monks, but in reality they are not monks, who sing satanic, that is, disorderly songs, and amuse themselves like senseless children, which even the worldly should not do, and especially monks, God’s chosen ones. We find something similar in the Old Testament, how God was angry with the Jews, and in one day three thousand of them died because they were “grayed... eat and drink, and rise to play” (Ex. 32:6). And if He was angry with the Jews, then what will we, the monks, who do similar things to them be subjected to? Therefore, be careful, brothers, and live as children of God. “Work for the Lord with fear, and rejoice in Him with trembling” (Ps. 2:11). Or don’t you see how the earth shakes and the hills tremble, and you play, mock and riot? Should we play before the King of heaven and earth? Listen, too, you who play and sing disorderly! Scripture says about those who commit outrages that their hearts are filled with the spirit of demons, and the heart of the one who humbly sings is filled with the Holy Spirit, just as the Apostle says: “Is anyone happy? let him sing” (James 5:13) intelligently, and not get drunk. I testify before God and the Holy Angels that if any monk commits such lawless deeds, he will not be worthy to receive communion and receive the antidoron during the entire Pentecost period; Will he have a confessor like himself who will forgive him? Therefore, be careful and keep the traditions and commandments of the Saints - eat and drink in moderation, as children of God; and give to the poor who have nothing, so that they too may be comforted on this holy day. If we do this, then now we will be worthy to reach the days of the Resurrection of the Lord, and in the next century, at the resurrection of the dead, we will receive the heavenly kingdom in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom belongs glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. See Patrol. Minya. Volume. 99, p. 580. You might be interested in: