Homily on the Day of the Holy Martyrs of the Maccabees

The Gospel, as the living word of God, penetrating into the depths of the soul and judging the most secret thoughts of the heart, is available to all of us; it does not speak to anyone personally, unless the person relates its words to himself. It is offered to us as a mirror in which we can see ourselves, and if one day we notice something unclean in ourselves, we must carefully try so that next time we can see ourselves in it without shame. The Gospel tells that once upon a time many people followed Jesus Christ, and that He, turning, began to speak to them; but everything he said applies to us, although we were not there then. Because we also believe in Him Whom they saw, and we confess Him Whom they looked at. It was not important to see Christ with bodily eyes; for if this were important, then the Jews would have inherited blessedness first of all; but although they saw Him, they nevertheless despised Him and crucified Him on the cross. And although we do not see, we believe, and not being able to see Him, we accept Him with our hearts. But Jesus Christ said to one of his twelve disciples: For when you saw Me, you believed: blessed are you who have not seen, and yet have believed (John 20:29). If our Lord Jesus Christ were on earth, and being present among us, remained silent, then what benefit would it be for us? But He is present with us through His word and converses in the Gospel. However, He is always present with us as God. For where is there no God? Don't move away from God, and God will always be with you. He promised this; and His promises are immutable: Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). And so, let us delve into the Gospel and listen to what Jesus said to the people, and, as I noted, let us look at ourselves in it, and if we notice on our face a lack of any beauty pleasing to God, then we will try to acquire it. If our own strength is not enough for this, then let us call upon Him for help. He transforms what He formed, recreates what He created, and perfects His creation. This is what He said to the people: whoever of you, even if he builds a pillar, will not first count what he has and what he has to spend? - Yes, no, when he lays the foundation, and is not able to complete it, everyone who sees it will begin to curse him, saying: for this man began to build, and is not able to complete it. Or which King, going to another King, dreams of fighting with him, doesn’t he sit down first and consult, if he is strong enough to meet the ten thousand of the next with twenty thousand? Otherwise, I still exist far away from him, sending a prayer and praying for humility. He concluded these two similarities as follows: for anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:28–33). He did not say that only those who renounce their property can be His disciples. But, since the Holy Scripture testifies that all Christians are disciples of Christ: one, it says, is your Teacher, Christ (Matthew 23:10): therefore, only he denies being a disciple of Christ who does not recognize Jesus Christ as his Teacher. While talking with you, I cannot call myself your teacher, because Jesus Christ alone is our common Teacher, whose chair is in heaven; in His name we come together into one meeting, where both you and we are only fellow disciples; but we admonish you, as the elders in the congregation usually do. Pillar and Possession, Faith and Patience. The pillar is faith, patience is the asset. If someone cannot patiently endure misfortunes in life, he has no property. An evil king with twenty thousand is a devil, and a king with ten thousand is a Christian. One - against twice the strongest, truth - against lies, simplicity - against deceit. Have simplicity of heart, do not be a hypocrite who says one thing and does another, and you will defeat the evil one, who sometimes transforms into an angel of light. What is this simplicity, always firm and unshakable? - That is, if you perform the most difficult feats. I said that the word of God does not speak to anyone personally. Thus, it says: Whoever does not renounce all his possessions cannot be My disciple. Many fulfilled this commandment and came to poverty before the time of persecution came, and, abandoning everything worldly, they followed Christ. Such, for example, were the Apostles who said to Jesus: Behold, we have forsaken all things, and for You we have died (Luke 18:28). Of course, they did not leave any wealth, because they were all poor, but their important sacrifice was that they destroyed all carnal desires in themselves. The apostles said these words to Jesus Christ at the time when the rich young man left Him with sadness, having heard from Him, as from a true Teacher, advice on how to inherit eternal life. He once came to the Lord and said to Him: Good Teacher, what good will I do, so that the Imam will have eternal life (Matthew 19:16)? I think that among the greatest riches he was worried and dry, remembering death; because he knew that he could not take anything with him to the grave, that in the midst of abundance and luxury he groaned, feeling spiritual poverty. Probably, looking at his wealth, he reasoned with himself: “They are good, pleasing to the eye, they comfort me and delight me; but when the last hour comes, then everything must be abandoned; then it will be impossible to take anything with you. After the death of the body, there will remain the life of the soul and only conscience. If this life is not life for me, but a second death, then it will be very painful. There is nothing worse than death, after which comes eternal death.” When he imagined all this among the abundance of earthly blessings, then he appeared to the Lord. He said to himself: “If I, having enjoyed these blessings, inherit eternal life, then who will be happier than me?” Therefore, he asked Jesus with concern: O good Teacher, what will I do that I may inherit eternal life? Jesus answered him: Why do you say good things to me? – no one is good, only one God (Matthew 19:17); those. God alone can make you blessed. The wealth that people possess are goods; but they do not make us virtuous. For if they made us such, then everyone would be the more virtuous the richer he is. But if we see that the more wealth many accumulate, the more vicious they become; then, without a doubt, we must look for other benefits that would make us more virtuous. Such goods that cannot be the lot of the vicious are: justice, reverence for God, moderation, fear of God, love of God, and, finally, God himself. We must seek this good; but we will not receive it if we do not despise them. If the Gospel does not speak either to you or to us personally, then I speak to you and exhort you, brethren, in the words of the Apostle: the time has ceased; and they that have wives, as though they had not; and they that mourn, as though they had not; and those that rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and they that buy, as though they had not; demanding (1 Cor. 7:29–31). When the Apostles left all their property, then the Apostle Peter said: behold, we have left everything. What have you left, Saint Peter? One boat and one net? I left the whole world, he answers, which left me nothing. As a rule, although the poor do not have wealth, they strongly desire it. But God does not look at possessions, but at wishes. He judges the will that he secretly experiences. Therefore, the Apostles left everything, completely abandoned the whole world, despised everything that they could hope for in it, and followed its Creator, with firm faith in His promises. Subsequently, many did the same. And is it not surprising, my brethren, who did this? - Those who lifted the Lord to the cross. When the Lord ascended into heaven, and ten days later, sending down the Holy Spirit, he fulfilled his promise; Then His disciples, having received this Spirit, began to speak in the languages ​​of all nations. Many Jews who were in Jerusalem, listening to them, were amazed at the gift of God's grace; when they reasoned among themselves in amazement how this happened, then they heard from the Apostles that He whom they crucified did this through His Spirit, hoping to achieve salvation through this. When the Jews despaired of receiving forgiveness for such an atrocity, which lifted the Lord of all creation to the cross, and in this despair they were consoled by the Apostles with the hope of pardon: then, having sold all their property, they laid the money at the feet of the Apostles, and they became the more virtuous, the more they were struck by fear. Excessive fear removed them from the delights of the world. This is what they did that killed the Lord; Many later did the same, and are doing so now. We know this, we see examples, we are comforted and rejoice that the word of God does not remain fruitless in those who listen to it with faith. And some, although they did not do this, nevertheless, with the onset of persecution, they deserved praise; because they used the world in a way that didn’t require it. Not only simple people, artisans, the poor and the poor, but even many very rich people, senators and famous wives, during the persecution, gave up everything in order to create a pillar and, through the simplicity of faith and piety, defeat the evil one. And so the Lord, exhorting them to martyrdom, said to everyone: whoever does not renounce all his possessions cannot be My disciple. I ask you, Christian: if I told you the same thing that was said to the rich young man: go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and have treasure in heaven: and follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:21): then, without a doubt, you would become as sad as that young man? However, these words apply specifically to you. Is it possible that when reading the Gospel, you can block your ears so as not to hear what it tells you for your salvation? Listen: whoever does not renounce all his possessions cannot be My disciple. Think about it: you became a believer and received baptism. You have not renounced your property; but I will ask you about your faith: how strong is it? A dangerous time is approaching for your faith. They will tell you: if you persist, we will deprive you of all your property. If you say: let them deprive me of my property, I will not deviate from the faith; then you really have faith and have renounced everything; because, having property, you do not cleave to it; and sin does not consist in possessing the goods of the world, but in excessive love for them. However, now there is no persecution yet; How will you prove your vow to the Lord? Without a doubt, daily activities. What if some strong man, who can harm you, persuades you, with threats, to give a false testimony? He will not tell you: renounce Christ, because you will not agree to this. He will tempt you differently, and with something that you did not even think about, that you did not expect. Give, he will say, false testimony; if you do not say it, then I will subject you to various misfortunes. He will threaten you with expulsion, even death. In seven cases, prove your faith. If you give false testimony, you will deny Christ. He said: I am the truth (John 14:6); therefore, if you renounce the truth, you will also renounce Christ. But what can a strong man do to you? Suppose he makes you poor; but will you really feel poverty if God is with you? Let us assume that he will threaten you with even greater misfortune, namely death; Of course, you understand the importance of this threat, but do you understand what you are doing? They threaten you with bodily death, but a lying mouth kills the soul (Wis. 1:11). You and your persecutor are mortal in body, but immortal in soul; both of you live in time, like strangers and wanderers on earth. He threatens you with death, not knowing that he may die before he fulfills his threat. Let us even assume that he will have time to fulfill it; but let's see who will harm you more, you yourself, or he? He raises the sword to kill your body; and you bring up a lying tongue to kill your soul. Which sword hits harder, kills more cruelly and penetrates deeper? His to the bones, and yours to the heart. You will lose everything if you lose your heart. A lying mouth does not kill the body, but the soul. These are the daily temptations to which people are exposed. When they incline you to wickedness, to sin, or when, by the will of God, you endure suffering; then use your property to build a pillar. If you feel the weakness of your own strength, then call on the heavenly Helper: He will strengthen you according to His promise. For what has God promised us, my brothers? What should you compare the promised benefits with in order to arouse your desire for them? If I point to gold, to silver, to honors and riches; all this will be insignificant in comparison with these. For whom eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has the heart of man sighed, what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9). He prepared Himself for us. As the Creator of everything, He is incomparably higher, better and more perfect than everything created. Whatever we love on earth is insignificant in comparison with God. This is not enough; not only is what we love insignificant, but even we ourselves are insignificant. You must love Him with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind; but loving Him, I must love your sincere one as myself. To this two commandments hang the whole law and the prophets (Matthew 22:37–40). If you have loved the Lord, then know that you love yourself; if you don’t love God, then you don’t love yourself. And so, if you learn, while loving God, to love yourself; then turn your neighbor to God, so that you can enjoy with him the good that God himself constitutes. We now remember the great feat of the seven brothers and their mother. What a feat this is, my brothers! Compare with this holy spectacle those you look at in theaters. These defile the sight, otherwise they cleanse the heart. Here the viewer will deserve praise if he imitates what he sees; and there he will incur dishonor and be condemned if he acts like a hypocrite. I love the Martyrs, I look with pleasure at their exploits, I listen carefully when they read about their suffering. Remembering the feat of the holy Maccabees, whose victory we now glorify, I want to talk with you about theatrical performances. Brothers! In your city, more than in all neighboring cities, morality has fallen due to excessive lust. Don't blush; Only with you this vice has become corrupt. Do you really enjoy trading in vice along with bread, wine, oil and animals? Perhaps foreigners will come here for such a dishonest purchase; if they ask them: what are you looking for? They will say: actors and harlots. Do you really hope to find your glory in this? As for me, I don’t know what dishonor could be greater than this. Truly, brethren, I sadly remind you that the neighboring cities will condemn you before the whole world on the day of judgment. Anyone who wants to set a bad example for others points to you. But you may say: we live like the Carthaginians; just as in Carthage there are holy and pious people, so in our city there are many of them, to justify themselves by the merits of others. But in Carthage only Jews and pagans do this, while here it is Christians. It is with great regret that I say this. Will the wound of my heart never be healed by your correction? I know yours and other cities, I know how vast and populous they are, and I see a great difference in the morals of their inhabitants. You are all known to the one who has been appointed among you as a preacher of the word and a performer of the sacraments. And now I don't see many of you here. The days of Christ's suffering will come, Easter will come; Of course, not many will gather here on these great holidays, especially from those who filled the theaters shortly before; but compare these two places and grieve your heart. Perhaps you will say: you, the Spirituals and Bishops, should move away from theaters, and not us laity. But is this fair? What will happen to us if you die? We are different for ourselves, and different for you. For ourselves we are Christians, and for you we are Spirituals and Bishops. The Apostle said not to the Spirituals, not to the Bishops: you are people of Christ; he said to the people, believers, Christians: you are the people of Christ. Notice what body you are members of? Whom do you have as your head? You have one spirit, which you received from Christ; Shall we take the hooks of Christ and create the hooks of harlots (1 Cor. 6:15)? But the Christians of this city not only love, but also support harlots; they even make those who were not harlots; as if the blood of Christ had not been shed for them, as if it had not been said: publicans and fornicators are boiling you in the kingdom of God (Matthew 21:31). We should try to save them; while we are preparing destruction for them, and this is done by us Christians, I won’t say unbelievers. With sorrow of heart I rebuke you, brethren; but if I had not denounced him, I would have been subjected to the same condemnation as you. May the Lord our God be pleased that in the future I will hear only good things about you and, in the hope of His mercy, be comforted by your correction. For after great sorrow our joy is much stronger. Amen.