Слово второе в Великий Пяток

“Whose image and writing is this?” (Matthew 22:20) This is how the Lord once asked the scribes of Jerusalem about the golden penyaz presented to Him, so that from what was depicted on it, they could get an answer to their bewilderment whether it was worthy... “to give the kinson to Caesar, or not?” (Matthew 22:17). And now we will ask you in this way, my brothers, about the image presented here, we will ask in order to show what kind of tribute of love and gratitude this Divine Sufferer should receive from us, who were redeemed from sin and death not with gold and penalties, but with His precious Blood, shed for us on the Cross. “Whose image and writing is this?” This is the image of the greatest Teacher in wisdom, Who was born for this purpose and came into the world for this purpose, in order to testify to the truth; - and he testified to it everywhere and before everyone, he proclaimed the ways of life in the temple and in the marketplace, among cities and villages, on land and on waters, on mountains and in valleys, he also testified before the procurator of Rome and the Samaritan woman, before the Sanhedrin and the blind man of Jericho, before the wise and the wise of the world, before the elders and youths, before the Jews and the pagans. What truth has not come out of His mouth in all the world? What commandment is not taught by Him with all its power? What promise of eternal life is not revealed and unshakably established by Him? The altar and the throne, the cradle and the coffin, the sword and the mud, the plow and the scales - everything is illuminated by the light of His Divine teaching. The voice of truth in His mouth was so strong that even His enemies had to be silent before Him and confess that “no man has spoken like this... like this man” (John 7:46). But poor sinners loved darkness rather than light; their passions and prejudices, not tolerating reproof, rebelled against the Preacher of truth; - and behold, He, as a flatterer and adversary of Moses and the prophets, was mocked, tortured and taken from among the living!.. So, this is your image and writing, lovers and favorites of holy truth! Surround with reverence the tomb of its greatest Witness and receive from Him the spirit of faith and courage to fight human error and stubbornness. If you want to honor the memory of His suffering and death, then make a vow never to hide the truth in the untruth of human opinions, but to proclaim it on rooftops and haystacks, not to betray it even when the whole world is against it, when the cross stands behind it for you. Behold the sacrifice that this Divine Sufferer for the truth expects from you! “Whose image and writing is this?” This image of the greatest friend and benefactor of mankind, passing from city to city, from city to city, He left traces of His goodness everywhere: He gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, walking to the lame, life to the dead; and while doing good to the body, at the same time he did even more good to the soul. According to the voice of His love, seeking all the lost: the money-loving Zacchaeus distributed half of their property to the poor, the despised publicans turned into apostles, harlots became chaste, thieves from the cross crossed into heaven. But human malice was not humbled by these miracles of love; - and the friend of humanity is presented to Pilate as an enemy of public peace; and the joy of Israel was given over to the heathen to reproach and was brought down to the grave!.. So, friends of humanity, this is your image and writing! Do not look for another leader and another example in your philanthropic deeds and labors for the benefit of your needy brothers, other than Jesus Crucified. Do not look for other means to reduce disasters on earth, other than those indicated by Him in His Gospel, or which themselves come out of the spirit of His commandments. Learn, like Him, to do good not only to the body of the unfortunate, but also to their soul - to do good, not expecting anything for your exploits on earth except consolations of conscience; even learn to endure for your good deeds, and to trust, out of love for your neighbor, not only your acquisitions and labors, but your very soul. Behold love for neighbors according to the order of Jesus! “Whose image and writing is this?” This is the image of the greatest Righteous and Ascetic in virtue. “Who of you convicts Me of sin” (John 8:46), He asked His enemies; and none of the enemies could convict Him of a single sin. In vain did the Sanhedrin look for false witnesses: they only slandered themselves. Pilate himself was forced by his conscience to wash his hands and say: “I am innocent... of the blood of this Righteous One!” (Matthew 27:24). Judas himself confessed before his death that he had sinned - betraying innocent blood. But human slander did not hesitate to impute this Righteous One with the evildoers. He, for whom it was a waste to do the will of His Father, was placed lower than Barabbas, and ascended to the Cross!.. So, devotees of virtue and piety, this is your image and writing! - Look more closely at this crown of thorns, at these hands and feet pierced with nails, at this heart opened with a spear; Look and believe in these wounds your love for God and your neighbor, your purity and truth, your patience and courage. It shows what it means to live for God and eternity, how one should preserve the law and truth, how to fight vice and wickedness, where to seek help among the sorrows and misfortunes of the age, and how to strengthen oneself in the terrible hour of death. If you want to serve the Lord truly, then accept the Cross of Christ on your shoulders. Without the crucifixion of the flesh and passions, there is no salvation for fallen man! This is the image of the Redeemer of men, the second Adam, “who is the Lord from heaven” (1 Cor. 15:47). Having taken the place of Adam the first for us, having taken upon Himself the sins of the entire human race, He, as the Redeemer and sacrifice, was ascended to blot them out on the cross, and, by His death, satisfying the eternal truth, reconciling us with God, returning us purity and innocence, opening for us the paradise that we had lost. After this there is no sin that conquers God’s love for mankind; after this, “there is one... condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1), and for those who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit; After this, paradise will be opened by the cross for the thieves, as soon as they leave sin forever and cry out with faith from the heart: “Remember me, Lord, ... in Thy Kingdom!” (Luke 23:42). So, sinners groaning under the weight of passions, this is your image and writing! What you had to endure for your sins, this Divine Intercessor endured for you. Hasten then to His life-giving tomb; lay down all your sinful burdens at His most pure feet; take truth and purity, purchased for you; draw grace and mercy flowing from His stripes. But, having made peace with God and conscience, do not return to the former idols of sin, lest you appear guilty of the Divine blood shed for you and abused by you. This is the image of the great King and all-powerful Lord, who, because, being in the image of God, humbled Himself for our sake to death on the cross, is now exalted above all, and received the name... “above every name” (Phil. 2:9), to whom the Heavenly Father, like the beloved Son, gave all power on earth and in heaven, in whose hands are the keys not only of all gifts and all the blessings of earth and heaven, but hell and death itself; but who, despite his height and glory, is not ashamed of his former humiliation, does not hide the wounds and the crown of thorns, deigns to appear crucified and buried, so that access to Him would be all the more convenient, so that no one could doubt His former love for all poor sinners. So, you who labor and are heavy laden, this is your image and writing! This is why the Sufferer of Golgotha ​​reigned over the whole world, so that everything would work out for good for those who believe in Him. Now there is no disaster that He cannot avert from you; there is no good that He cannot give you. “Ask, and you will receive” (John 16:24). Do you need knowledge, He has all the treasures of wisdom and understanding. Do you need protection from powerful enemies, He has all the strength and might. Do you need health, He is the resurrection and life. Do you need the blessing of the elements, fruit-bearing the earth, the springs serve Him, the deeps work for Him. Just ask with faith, it’s nothing hesitating; ask with determination to use what you ask for good, ask, betraying your fate and the very request of His wisdom and all-holy water. This is the image of the future of our Judge and Lord. Out of His unconditional goodness towards us, in the hope of our conversion, He continues to appear with the Cross and the Shroud, guarded by the Roman guards, buried by Joseph and Nicodemus, sealed with the seal of Caiaphas. But the time of long-suffering is not without end; the day will come when He will appear on the clouds of heaven, with much power and glory, surrounded by Archangels and Angels; will appear in order to awaken mortals from sleep and call all the sons of Adam before His righteous Court, and pronounce a decisive sentence on each of us for all eternity. Then it will no longer be necessary to worship and kiss, but only works of living faith and pure love. Then we will return from His presence no longer to homes, as now, to occupy ourselves with the vanity of the world, to prepare what flesh and blood requires, but either to heaven and the kingdom, to celebrate eternal Easter, or to hell, for endless weeping and gnashing of teeth. So, all who await the resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century, behold your image and writing! Stand at the tomb of this Dead Man, just as you once stood before the terrible throne of His Judge; stand and give Him an account of your deeds; compare what your Savior did for you, and what you do for Him, and especially for yourself. Remember what He will require of you at the Judgment; and consider whether there is at least some part of it in you. If you betray the truth for which He died; if they are alien to love and mercy, for which He lived; if you do not keep the truth and purity with which He has clothed you; if you remove those sins that He nailed on the Cross from the cross and place them in your soul and heart; if instead of preparing for Judgment and eternity; you give all your time and strength to sins and lusts, then know: no matter how much you worship this image, no matter how much you kiss these wounds, your “judgment is written” (Ps. 149:9), - written and signed - with the very blood shed for you! For unrepentant sinners there is no longer a Redeemer: only one Judge and Giver remains! Amen. You might be interested in: