Беседа VII

“And God said: Let the waters take away the spirits of the living creatures, and the birds that fly on the earth in the firmament of heaven: and so it was. And God made the great whales, and every living creature that moves along the waters, according to their kinds” (Gen. 1:20-21). 1. Yesterday we sufficiently exposed those who went to the horse races, showed them the great harm that they suffered, suddenly squandering the spiritual wealth they had collected from fasting, and from great abundance suddenly plunging themselves into extreme poverty. Today we will use an easier method of healing and bind the spiritual wounds as if they were our members: after all, yesterday we applied sharper medicines not only to sadden them and increase the pain, but to reach the 38th wound with a strong means. This is what both doctors and fathers usually do: the former apply stronger medicines, and as soon as the wound breaks 39 then they use sedatives; and fathers, when they see their children disorderly, first use strong reproofs, and then suggestions and exhortations. In the same way, yesterday we spoke a strong rebuke, but today we will speak meekly and heal them as if we were our own members. Just as your success gives us more boldness, and our spiritual wealth is to see you growing in the spiritual, shining with virtue and abstaining from harmful things, so when we notice that you are pierced and carried away by the devil’s deceptions, we are filled with sorrow, and shame, so to speak, pours into our souls. Like blessed Paul, “we then live, if you stand in the Lord” (1 Thess. 3:8). So, as you are perfect and intelligent, forget what is behind and stretch forward to what is ahead; and having renewed the covenants which you have made with Christ, keep them henceforth firmly; Having closed every entrance to the devil’s machinations with sound reasoning, with subsequent diligence wash away the uncleanness that has stuck to you from carelessness; overcome an inappropriate and harmful habit by reflecting that the evil lies not only in the fact that those who go there (to the horse fields) cause great harm to themselves, but also in the fact that they serve as a temptation for many others. In fact, when the pagans and Jews see that the one who goes to church every day and constantly listens to teaching suddenly appears there and mixes with them, will they not consider our (teaching) a deception and will they not have the same opinion about everything that we have? Don’t you hear how blessed Paul loudly convinces and advises: “Be without offense” (1 Cor. 10:32)? And so that you don’t think that such a suggestion concerns only his own people, who together with us belong to the same society, 40 he added: “both Jew and Greek,” and then said: “and the Church of God.” Nothing harms our faith so much as when we give temptation to unbelievers. When they see that some of us shine with virtue and show great contempt for the worldly, some of them are annoyed, while others are often surprised and amazed that people who are the same with them by nature live differently from them. On the contrary, when they notice even the slightest negligence in any of us, they immediately sharpen their tongue against all of us in general, and because of the carelessness of one, they pronounce a general verdict on the entire Christian people. And they don’t even stop there, but, to their own destruction, because of the carelessness of slaves, they dare to blaspheme the universal Lord, and consider the carelessness of others to be a cover for their own delusion. 2. And that this exposes to the greatest danger those who give rise to blasphemy, listen to the prophet, who cries and speaks on behalf of God: “Woe to you, for for your sake my name is blasphemed among the nations” (Is. 52:5). Terrible, terrifying word! This “grief” is, as it were, the cry of one crying for people who are about to undergo inevitable punishment. But just as such a great punishment awaits those who, through their carelessness, give the infidels cause for blasphemy, so, on the contrary, countless crowns await those who care about virtue. Inspiring this very thing, Christ said: “Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds; and they will glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Just as the infidels, tempted by the carelessness of some (Christians), sharpen their tongue against our Lord, so when you, says (Christ), live virtuously, people who see you do not stop at glorifying you, but seeing that your deeds shine and illuminate your faces, they are excited to glorify your Heavenly Father. And meanwhile, as they do this, our reward multiplies; for glorification from them, the Lord gives us countless benefits: “Those who glorify Me,” He says, “I will glorify” (1 Samuel 2:30). So, beloved, let us do everything so that our Lord is glorified, and we will not give anyone a reason to be tempted. The ecumenical teacher, Blessed Paul, constantly teaches us this; in one place he says: “If he wickedly seduces my brother, I will not eat meat forever” (1 Cor. 8:13), and in another: “If you sin against your brethren, and beat their weak conscience, you sin against Christ” (1 Cor. 8:12). The threat is strong, subjecting to grave condemnation! Do not think, he says, that the harm concerns only the one who is tempted by you; no, he goes over to Christ himself, crucified for that man. If your Lord did not deny being crucified for him, then won’t you decide to do everything so as not to give him any reason for temptation? And everywhere, as you will find, he instills this in his disciples, because the well-being of our lives depends on this. Therefore, in another epistle he says: “Look not at each one’s own, but also at each one’s friends” (Phil. 2:4); and, in another place: “all are years, but... not all edify” (1 Cor. 10:23). Do you see the apostolic wisdom? Although it would be possible for me, he says, to do something, and it would not harm me at all, I will not allow myself to do it, since it does not contribute to the edification of my neighbor. What a loving soul! This is how she cares not only about herself, but in everything she shows the greatest virtue, which consists in caring about the edification of her neighbor. Knowing all this, let us, please, take care and refrain from anything that can harm the wealth of your virtue; We will also never do anything that in any way harms our neighbor. This increases sin and prepares a more severe punishment for us. Let us not neglect even the most insignificant person and say such harsh words: “What do I care if he is tempted.” What are you saying? - Tell me. What do you care? Christ commanded you to lead such a pure life that those who see you not only marvel at you, but also glorify your Lord, but you do the opposite, force people to utter blasphemies against Him instead of glorification, and are not at all worried? Is this a sign of a pious soul that truly knows the laws of God? 3. But if someone previously, out of habit, indifferently, spoke like this, now, having accepted our suggestion, he will wean himself from these indecent words and will try to do everything so that he will not be condemned by that vigilant eye, and will not experience reproaches from his conscience, and so that those who see him will not utter blasphemy against the Lord. If we manage our actions with such caution, we will receive great mercy from the Lord and avoid the snares of the devil. When (the devil) sees that we are so vigilant and careful, then knowing that his attempts will be useless, he will leave in shame. But that's enough for the introduction. Now, let us offer your love the current reading (from Scripture), prepare you a spiritual treat and consider what blessed Moses wants to teach us today, or better yet, the Holy Spirit through his mouth. What is he saying? - “And God said: let the waters take away the souls of the living creatures, and the birds that fly on the earth, in the firmament of the heavens: and so it came to pass” (Gen. 1:20). Look at the Lord’s love for mankind, how He teaches us about all of His creation in order and consistency! First, He showed us how, by His command, He aroused the earth to produce fruit; then, having made known the creation of two luminaries, he also spoke about the various stars, through which he made the beauty of the sky most brilliant. Today he moves on to the waters and shows us that from them, by His word and command, animated animals emerged. “Let the waters,” he says, “take away the creeping souls of the living, and the birds that fly on the earth, in the firmament of heaven.” What kind of mind, tell me, can achieve this miracle? What language will be able to adequately glorify the Creator? He only said: “let the earth grow” - and immediately aroused it to bear fruit; and now he says: “Let the waters take you away.” Look how His commandments agree with each other! There he says: “let it grow,” here: “let the waters carry away the creeping souls of the living.” Just as he said about the earth only: “let it grow,” and a great variety of flowers, herbs and seeds appeared, and everything happened with one word, so here he said: “let the waters take away the souls of the living, and the birds that fly on the earth, in the firmament of heaven” - and suddenly there were so many genera of reptiles, such a variety of birds that it is impossible to count in words. The word is short, the saying is one, and the kinds of animals are numerous and varied. But do not be amazed, beloved: this is the word of God, and the word of God gave existence to (everything) that exists. Do you see how He brings everything from non-existence into existence? Do you see the thoroughness of the teaching? Do you see the Lord’s condescension towards our race? How could we have known this so thoroughly if He, out of His great and ineffable love for mankind, had not deigned through the mouth of a prophet to teach the human race, so that we would know the order of creation of creatures, and the power of the Creator, and how His word became deed, and His command gave the composition of creatures and (indicated) the method of origin. 4. But there are those ungrateful ones who, even after such teaching, dare not believe and do not even admit that there was a Creator of what is visible, but some of them say that everything happened by itself, and others - that it was created from some ready-made substance. Look at the deception of the devil, how he took advantage of the gullibility of those who succumb to error! That is why blessed Moses, instructed by the Spirit of God, teaches us with such thoroughness, so that we do not fall into the same error as these people, but can clearly know both the order and the method of creation of each thing. If God had not taken care of our salvation and had not directed the language of the prophet, then it would have been enough to say that God created the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the animals, without showing either the order of the days, or what was created before and what was created after. But so that the ungrateful would not have any excuse for excuse, (Moses) so clearly distinguishes both the order of creation and the number of days, and teaches us about everything with great condescension, so that we, having learned the whole truth, no longer listen to the false teaching of those who speak about everything according to their own conclusions, but could comprehend the ineffable power of our Creator. “And it will be,” it is said, “taco.” He said: “Let the waters of the creeping things take away the souls of the living, and the birds that fly on the earth, in the firmament of heaven” - and the elements obeyed, and the command was fulfilled. “And it came to pass,” it is said, “as the Lord commanded: “And God created the great whales, and every living creature that had come upon the waters, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind: and God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:21). “And I bless God, saying: increase and multiply, and fill the waters of the seas: and let the birds multiply on the earth” (Gen. 1:22). Look here too, what is the wisdom of the Spirit! Having said in general that “it was like this,” Blessed Moses teaches us in detail when he says further: “And God created the great whales, and every living creature that has come forth from the waters, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind: and God saw that it was good.” Here again the insolence of those who talk about everything thoughtlessly is curbed. Lest anyone think of saying: what are whales created for? What service do they provide us? What is the benefit of creating them? - Moses, having said: “God create the great whales, and every soul of the living creatures, reptiles, and birds,” immediately added: “And God saw that it was good.” Do not dare, he says, to revile God’s creations simply because you do not know their purpose. Did you hear how the Lord pronounced the sentence and said, “as good”? How foolishly do you dare to say: why was this done and to vilify the creation of these creatures as if they were unnecessary? If you are prudent, then from the creation of these creatures you can recognize both the power and the indescribable love of the Lord: the power is that He created such animals by word and command, and the love for mankind is that, having produced them, He assigned them their place in the immeasurable sea, so that they would not harm anyone, but would live in the waters and with their appearance would proclaim the highest power of the Creator, without causing any harm to the human race. Do you really consider this an unimportant benefit, that they bring you double benefit? They lead well-minded people to the knowledge of God and cause them to be amazed at His great love for mankind in freeing the human race from harm on their part. After all, not everything was created only for our use, but, due to His great generosity, some were created for our use, and others so that the power of the One who created it would be proclaimed. So, hearing that “God sees that it is good,” do not dare to contradict Divine Scripture, nor ask idle and unnecessary questions and say: why was this and that created? “And I bless God,” it is said, “and speech 41: grow and multiply, and fill the waters of the seas: and let the birds multiply on the earth.” 5. The blessing is for these animals to multiply. Since animate creatures were created, and (the Creator) wanted them to exist constantly, then (Moses) added: “And I bless God and say: grow and multiply.” And this word (of God) preserves them to this day; So much time has passed, and not a single breed has diminished. The blessing of God and this word: “grow and multiply” gave them the ability to continue their existence continuously. “And it came to be,” it is said, “evening, and there was morning, the fifth day” (Gen. 1:23). Have you seen how the Divine Scripture taught us about what was created on the fifth day? But wait a little, and again you will see the Lord’s love for mankind. He not only aroused the waters to give birth to animals, but also commanded the land animals to arise from the earth. It is not inappropriate that today we will touch upon a few things that were created on the sixth day. “And God said,” it is said, “Let the earth bring forth every living creature according to its kind, four-footed creatures and creeping things, and wild animals, and livestock, and every living thing that creeps on the earth, according to its kind 42 . And so it came to pass” (Gen. 1:24). You see how the earth, obeying God’s command, bears double fruit. Then she produced plants, and now animate animals, quadrupeds, reptiles, beasts and cattle. And now it turns out that what I said before, that is, that God created everything not only for our use, but also so that we, seeing the great wealth of His creations, would be amazed at the power of the Creator and could understand that all this was created with wisdom and unspeakable goodness for the honor of man who has to appear. “And God made,” it is said, “the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, and the cattle according to their kinds, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth according to their kinds 43 . And God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:25). Where now are those who dare to say: what are the animals for? what are reptiles for? Let them listen to the words of Divine Scripture: “And God saw that it was good.” Tell me, the Creator himself approves of what is created, and you dare to vilify? How crazy this is! After all, as for seeds and plants, the earth has produced not only fruitful trees, but also barren ones, not only herbs that are useless to us, but also unknown and even harmful to us; however, therefore, no one will dare to blaspheme these creatures, since nothing was created in vain and without a purpose: and it would not receive praise from the Creator if it were not created for some useful use. Just as among the trees, not all trees are fruitful, but many are also barren, and yet these latter, no less than the fruitful ones, provide us with an amazing benefit, contributing to our peace, because from them we prepare houses and many other amenities that contribute to our peace, and in general there is nothing that was created without a purpose, although human nature is not able to truly know the purpose of any thing - and so, both between trees and among animals some are good for us to eat, and others for work. Yes, both animals and reptiles provide us with considerable service, and if anyone wants to consider the matter in good faith, he will find that even now, when we, for disobeying the first man, have lost power over them, they are of great benefit to us. Doctors, for example, take a lot from them, from which they make up medicines that are beneficial to the health of our body. On the other hand, what harm would come from the creation of animals, when they too, like meek animals, were supposed to be under the authority of man, who was soon to be created? This is enough for now. 6. And in order for you to understand the immeasurable love that the Lord of the Universe shows to our race, (think that) after He stretched out the sky, spread out the earth, created the firmament, which formed a kind of wall separating species; then, commanding the waters to gather, he called them seas, and the dry land earth, which he then decorated with plants and herbs; then he proceeded to create two great luminaries and many different stars with which he adorned the sky; then, having produced from the waters animate animals and birds flying on the earth in the firmament of heaven, and on the fifth day, since it was necessary to create earthly animals, commanding that these, both suitable for food and useful for work, as well as animals and reptiles, appear, finally, when he had already arranged everything and given the proper order and beauty to everything visible, when he prepared a luxurious meal, full of various and all kinds of dishes and showing abundance and wealth in everything, when, so to speak, the royal palace is brilliantly decorated from top to bottom, then finally creates the one who has the pleasure of all this, gives him power over everything visible and shows how many times this, having to be created, animal is superior to everything created, when He commands all creatures to be under his power and control. But, so that we do not spread the word too much, we will be content with what has already been said, and we will postpone the conversation about the creation of this amazing, intelligent and animated animal, that is, man, until the next day. However, even now we will offer you the usual admonition, so that you keep what has been said in memory, and stir yourself up to praise the Lord with everything visible. And the very fact that we are not able to comprehend and understand the purpose of everything created, let it not be a basis for unbelief for us, but an incentive to glorify. When your reason turns out to be powerless and your mind is not able to understand, then conclude about the greatness of your Lord from the very fact that His power is such that we do not know with accuracy even the purpose of what He created. This is characteristic of a well-meaning mind, a sober soul. After all, the pagans also got lost because they trusted their own reasoning in everything and did not want to pay attention to the weakness of their nature; Having dreamed of themselves beyond measure and stepped beyond their boundaries, they lost the honor that belonged to them. Those who are gifted with reason received from the Creator the honor of primacy and were superior to all visible creatures - these same ones reached such unreason that they began to worship dogs, monkeys, crocodiles and other even lower creatures. And what can we say about unreasonable animals? Many of these people fell into such recklessness and madness that they paid homage to garlic and other most insignificant things. Pointing to such people, the prophet said: “Be like foolish cattle and become like them” (Ps. 48:21). Gifted, he says, with reason and worthy of such wisdom, he became like the dumb, and perhaps even worse than them. Those (dumb), as beings without reason, will not be punished; and the one gifted with reason, if he stoops to their unreasonableness, will suffer a heavy punishment for being unappreciative of such a benefit. Because of this, finally, (the pagans) called both stones and trees gods and deified these visible elements: once they deviated from the straight path, they went along the rapids and plunged into the very abyss of vice. 7. But we, even after all this, will not despair of their salvation, but will do what depends on us: we will speak to them with all zeal and patience, explaining to them both the absurdity of their error and the great harm from it; just let us never lose hope of their salvation. We can believe that over time they will be convinced, especially if we live in such a way as not to give them any temptation. Many of them, when they see that some of ours who belong to us and bear the name of Christians, like those who steal other people’s property, indulge in covetousness, envy, plot evil, build evil, love to be sated and have fun, and do everything else, no longer listen to our verbal instructions, thinking that our teaching is a deception, and that everyone is equally guilty. Think, then, what punishments will befall such (Christians) when they not only prepare an unquenchable fire for themselves, but also give others a reason to persist in error and close their ears to instruction in virtue, and, moreover, to blaspheme those who live virtuously, and, worst of all, when because of them the Lord is blasphemed? Do you see how much harm sin can cause? Do you see that those who live viciously expose themselves to not a small, but the most severe, punishment, when they will be responsible for everything, not only for their own destruction, but also for the temptation of the lost, and for the dishonor of those living virtuously, and for blasphemy against God? Having thought about all this, let us not be careless about our salvation, but let us become diligently concerned about a life pleasing to God, knowing that for this we are either especially condemned or rewarded with His mercy. Let us do everything so that we ourselves can live with a good conscience, and lead those who are stuck in error to the truth with our godly life - so that because of us, all our fellow believers will enjoy good fame, and first of all, our Lord will be glorified and will have all the more concern for us. When, looking at us, people are edified and glorify God, then we too will receive great favor from Him. Indeed, what could be more blessed than a person when he lives in such a way that those who see him are amazed and say: “Glory to you, God! What Christians are like! What wisdom they show! How the present is neglected! How they consider everything a shadow and a dream, and are not attached to anything visible, but they all act as if they live on a foreign side, and every day they prepare to move from here!” What kind of reward do you think these words bring from God even here to those who live like this? What is especially important and wonderful is that those who say this about us will soon leave error and turn to the truth. And how great boldness will bring such people there (in the future life) is known to everyone. So, knowing that we must be responsible for both the salvation and the destruction of our neighbors, let us arrange our lives in such a way that not only is there enough for us, but also for others to be edified, so that here we may attract God’s great favor to ourselves, and in the next century we will abundantly enjoy God’s mercy, according to the grace and love of His Only Begotten Son, with whom to the Father, with the Holy Spirit, be glory, power, honor, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen. τῶν μεθ ᾿ ἡμῶν τεταγμένων, i.e. Christian. Chrysostom reads: καὶ εὐλόγησεν according to Lucian. sp. and contrary to Alexander., where ηὐλόγησεν, but further καὶ εἴπεν instead of λέγων, as in Lucian. and other lists. So in Chrysostom: ... καὶ θηρία ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ τὰ κτήνη, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐρπε τὰ τῆς γῆς κατὰ γένος ; here ἐπὶ – “on” is not read except for Zlat., in Lucian. and other lists, the following words: καὶ τὰ κτήνη ... τῆς γῆς, not found in Alexander. sp. and Elizavetin. B., are read precisely in Lucian. lists; in Jewish Masoretic. The text also does not contain these words. In Chrysostom, the word γένος - “genus” is read here three times with the addition αὐτῶν - “their”, whereas in Alex. and Lucian. sp. this addition is found only with the third repetition of the word γένος: in this place the reading is Zlat. is quite consistent with the Jewish Masoret. text. You might be interested in: