Беседа 14

1 Timothy 5:8. If anyone does not take care of his own, and especially his family, he has renounced the faith and is worse than an infidel. Duty to care for relatives. - About widows. – Description of the life of monks. 1. Many believe that their own virtue is sufficient for salvation, and that if they manage their lives well, then nothing else will be lacking for salvation. But they think wrong. And this was proven by the one who buried one talent, brought it not diminished, but returned it whole and the same as he received it. Blessed Paul proves the same thing here when he says: “If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those at home.” Care means everything - both about the soul and about the body, since the latter is also care. Anyone who does not take care of his own, “especially those of his own family, that is, those belonging to his family, is worse than an infidel.” Isaiah, the head of the prophets, also says this: “Do not hide from your half-blood” (Is. 58:7). Indeed, how can someone who despises people of his own kind and relatives be merciful to strangers? Will not everyone call it vanity when someone, while doing good to strangers, despises and does not spare his own? Or, on the other hand, if, while instructing the former, he leaves the latter astray, despite the fact that it would be more convenient and fair for him to do good to the latter? Without a doubt. Will they not then say that can Christians be called merciful when they despise their own? “And the infidel,” he says, “is worse.” Why? Because the latter, if he despises strangers, then at least does not despise those close to himself. What was said (by the apostle) has the following meaning: whoever neglects his own, violates both the law of God and the law of nature. If he who does not care about his relatives has renounced the faith and has become worse than an infidel, then where should he be placed and where will he take his place who offends his relatives His own? But how did he deny the faith? “They say that they know God,” he says, “but in deeds they deny” (Titus 1:16) “We do not despise those who are related to us by tribal kinship. Let us think about this, all of us, who, saving money, despise our neighbors. God established family ties so that we would have more opportunities to do good to each other. Therefore, if you do not do what the infidel does, then have you not renounced the faith? So, faith does not consist in believing only by confession, but it is also necessary to demonstrate righteous deeds. You can believe in everything and not believe. Having spoken about satiety and lust, (the apostle) says that she perishes not only because she is satiated, but also because she is forced to despise her neighbors. And he says this rightly, because she who lived for the womb perished because she rejected the faith. But why does it become worse than being unfaithful? Because it’s not all the same to despise those near and far. Why? Because it is much more shameful to despise an acquaintance than a stranger, a friend than an enemy. “A widow must be chosen no less than one who is sixty years old, having been the wife of one husband, and known for good works” (1 Tim. 5:9-10). (The Apostle) said: “Let them learn to honor their family and pay tribute to their parents,” he said that “the voluptuous one died alive,” he said, “If anyone does not take care of his family, he is worse than an infidel,” he said that whoever does not have this is not worthy to take a place among the widows. And now he says that she should have. So what? Shall we judge her by her years? What is the merit in this? After all, it was not up to her to live sixty years. Not by age alone (must be judged), he says, so even if she had crossed this age, but had no merit, then even then she should not be counted (as a widow). Why he determines the age with such accuracy, the reason for this is indicated later, based not only on his own consideration, but on the situation of the widows themselves. In the meantime, let's listen to further words. “Known,” he says, “for good deeds.” In what deeds? “If she has raised children” (1 Tim. 5:10). Truly, raising children is an important matter. But raising children does not consist in simply feeding children, but in raising them as they should, just as the apostle said above: “if he continues in faith and love and in holiness with chastity” (1 Tim. 2:15). Do you see how everywhere he places benefits shown to loved ones above those given to strangers? First he says: “If she raised children,” and then: “she received strangers, washed the feet of saints, helped the needy, and was diligent in every good work” (1 Tim. 5:10). But what if she is poor? And then she is not deprived of the opportunity either to raise children, or to receive strangers, or to console the sorrowful. She is no poorer than the one who put in two obols. Let us assume that she is poor, but she has a house and does not live in the open air. “If the saints,” he says, “washed their feet.” There is no cost to this. "Known for Good Deeds". What commandment is he giving here? He commands to provide material assistance, since women are especially capable of serving, making a bed, and calming down. 2. Oh, what great perfection he demands from the widow! Almost the same as from a person invested with the rank of bishop - because the expression: “known for good deeds” has such a meaning that if she herself could not do this, then at least she took part and served. Cutting off luxury, (the apostle) wants her to be caring, managerial, and constantly in prayer. That was Anna. Look, he demands from the widow such perfection that he does not even demand from virgins, despite the fact that from these latter he demanded great perfection and high virtue, namely, saying: “They served the Lord decently and unceasingly without distraction.” (1 Cor. 7:35), it seems to denote in general terms every virtue. Do you see that in order to become a widow, it is not enough not to enter into a second marriage, but much more is needed? In fact, why, tell me, is he convincing her not to enter into a second marriage? Did he condemn it? No; this is characteristic only of heretics. But he wanted her to then practice spiritual achievements and turn to virtue; and marriage, although not unclean, is nevertheless associated with worries. Therefore, he said: “Let them exercise” (1 Cor. 7:5), does not say: Let them be cleansed. Indeed, marriage causes a lot of worries. Consequently, if you do not marry because you want to exercise in the fear of God, and yet you do not exercise, then it will not bring you any benefit if you serve strangers and saints in every possible way. So, when you do not do this, you (obviously) abstain from marriage more because you condemn this matter. Likewise, a virgin - if she has not been completely crucified to Christ - rejects marriage, because she condemns it as nasty and unclean. Do you see that (the apostle) calls hospitality not just one kindness, but combined with diligence, with good intention, with zeal, which is so taken to the task, as if (preparing) to receive Christ himself? He wants them not to entrust the services of the saints to maidservants, but to do it themselves personally. “If therefore,” says (the Lord), “Lord and Teacher, I have washed your feet, then you should also wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). Even if one of them were even infinitely rich, even if she achieved the greatest fame and was exalted by the nobility of the family of her ancestors, even then there would not be such a distance as there was between God and the disciples. If you accept a stranger as Christ, then you have nothing to be ashamed of; on the contrary, even boast about this matter; if you do not accept him as Christ, then it is better not to accept him at all. “Whoever receives you receives Me,” said (the Lord) (Matthew 10:40). If you do not accept it correctly, you will not receive reward. Abraham, it seemed to him, received people, passing travelers; Meanwhile, he did not order the household members to prepare everything necessary for their reception, but he personally performed most of the service, and ordered his wife to knead the flour, despite the fact that he had three hundred and eighteen household members, among whom there were probably maidservants. He and his wife wanted to receive a reward not only for expenses, but also for service. So we must fulfill the duty of hospitality, doing everything ourselves, so that we ourselves are sanctified, so that our hands are blessed. And when you give to a beggar, do not hesitate to give yourself: after all, you are not giving to a beggar, but to Christ. Meanwhile, who could be so pitiful that he would hesitate to stretch out his hand to Christ? This is what hospitality is, this is what it means to really do for Bora. And if you begin to give orders with pride, then at least order (the stranger) to take first place, this will not be hospitality and will not be done for the sake of God. The wanderer needs many services and great encouragement, since it is difficult for him not to blush after this. Since the matter by its very nature is such that a person who receives a benefit is ashamed, then an excess of services should dispel his shame and show both in word and deed that the benefactor does not do good, but finds the benefit himself, and rather receives the benefit than gives it. Thus, merit increases due to free intention. Just as the one who thinks that he is incurring a loss loses everything, just as the one who thinks that he is doing a good deed loses everything, so the one who thinks that he is receiving a benefit gains even more. “For God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). Therefore, you should also thank the beggar for what he takes. If there were no beggars, then you would not be freed from many sins: they are the doctors of your ulcers, their hands offer you medicine. The doctor does not bring you healing to the same extent when he stretches out his hands and applies medicine, as the beggar lifts the burden of your sins from you when he stretches out his hand and accepts alms from you. You gave him the silver, and with it your sins were removed. Such are the priests: “They feed on the sins of My people,” it is said, “(Hos. 4:8). Thus, you receive more than you give, you accept a benefit rather than do the benefit; you lend to God, not to people; you increase wealth, not decrease it; you reduce it if you don’t reduce it, if you don’t give it. “If she received strangers,” she says, “she washed the feet of the saints.” Which saints exactly? Those who endure tribulations, and not saints in general, because there may be saints who receive great services from everyone. Do not follow those who live in abundance, but follow those whose life passes in sorrows, in uncertainty, whom few know. “Just as you did it,” says the Lord, “to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:40). 3. Do not leave it to the head of the Church to share alms; Serve yourself in order to receive a reward not only for expenses, but also for service; Come on, sow the field yourself with your own hands. Here there is no need to set up a plow, or harness oxen, or wait for time, or cut through the ground, or fight the cold; this crop is free from all such worries. You sow in heaven, where there is no cold, no winter, or anything else; you sow in souls, from where no one can steal what is sown, but where it will be preserved constantly, and with great care and with great diligence. This one himself. Why are you depriving yourself of rewards? There is a great reward when someone can distribute the property of others. There is a reward not only for when one gives, but also for when one distributes what is given to others well. Why exactly are you not receiving awards? And that there is a reward for this, listen to what (Scripture) says: the apostles appointed Stephen with others to serve widows (Acts 6). Therefore, be you a distributor of your goods; Humanity and the fear of God put you in this position. It gets rid of vanity, it consoles the soul, it sanctifies the hands, it pacifies the mind, it teaches wisdom, it makes you more diligent, it gives you the opportunity to gain blessings; you depart, receiving upon your head the abundant blessings of widows. Become more zealous in prayers, look for holy men - truly saints who sit in the deserts, who cannot ask, clinging to God; make a long journey, give it personally; yourself and you will get a lot of benefit if you give it. Do you see the booth and the temporary shelter? Do you see the desert? Do you see a lonely place? Often, having set out on a journey to distribute money, you completely betrayed your soul, and were detained, and became a prisoner, and appeared as a stranger in the world. Visiting the poor is also a great thing. “It is better,” they say, “to go to a house of mourning for someone who has died, than to go to a house of feasting” (Eccl. 7:2). In the latter, the soul is inflamed with passion, because if you can be sated in the same way, then you receive an impulse to luxury, and if you cannot, you feel sadness. On the contrary, in the house of mourning nothing like this happens: there, not having the opportunity to be satiated, you are not upset, and when you have it, you abstain. Truly, monasteries are houses of mourning: there is hair shirt and ashes, there is solitude, there is no laughter, no swarm of everyday worries, there is fasting, there is reclining on the ground, there everything is removed from the smell of blood, from noise, confusion and human vanity. Monasteries are a quiet haven. They are like lanterns that, when placed in a pier, shine from a height on people coming from afar, attracting everyone to their silence, preventing those who look at them from being shipwrecked, and preventing those who look at them from remaining in darkness. Go to them, greet them in a friendly manner, approach them, touch the feet of the saints: it is much more honorable to touch their feet than to touch the heads of other people. Tell me: if some hug the legs of statues because they fully represent the royal image, then will you not hug the legs of the one who bears the image of Christ in order to receive salvation? Holy are these legs, although emaciated; Meanwhile, even the head of the wicked does not deserve respect. The feet of saints have great power. That is why they send down punishment when they shake off their ashes. When a holy person comes to us, we should not be ashamed to do anything like this for him. And saints are all those who have the right faith and live piously; they are saints, even if they did not perform signs and did not cast out demons. Go to the tabernacles of the saints. Seeking refuge in the monastery of a holy man means the same thing as moving away from earth to heaven. There you don’t see what you see at home: this place is pure in every way, silence and deep silence reign there, yours and mine are not there. If you spend a day or two there, you will then feel even more pleasure. The day comes, or better yet, before the day comes the rooster crows - and there is nothing there that happens at home: the servants are snoring, the doors are locked, everyone is sleeping like the dead, the mule driver is ringing his bells. There is nothing like that; but everyone, when the abbot wakes them up, immediately, reverently putting aside sleep, gets up and, forming a sacred face, stands in a row, and suddenly stretches out their hands to the mountain and chants sacred hymns. They do not, like us, need many hours in order to disperse sleep and relieve heaviness in the head. When we get up, we sit for a long time, stretching out, and go to meet our needs; then we wash our face and hands; then we put on our shoes and dress, and a lot of time passes. 4. But there is nothing like that: there no one calls for servants, because everyone can help himself, does not require many clothes, does not need to disperse sleep, but as soon as he opens his eyes, due to his sober life, he already resembles someone who has been awake for a long time. Indeed, when the heart, not being burdened with food, does not plunge into earthly things, then it does not need a long time to perk up, but is immediately sober. Their hands are always clean, because their sleep is decent: there you won’t hear anyone snoring or yawning, you won’t see anyone stretched out in their sleep or naked, but everyone sleeps, lying down more decently than those who are awake. Still, this comes from a good mood of the soul. They are truly saints - angels among people. And do not be surprised when you hear this - the great fear of God does not allow them to fall into deep sleep and immerse their souls in it, but it (sleep) seems to touch them from the outside, only to calm them down. And if this is their dream, then, of necessity, their dreams must be like this - they are not filled with dreams and terrible visions. But then, as I said, the rooster crows, and the abbot immediately comes and, simply pushing the one lying down with his foot, raises everyone up, because it is not allowed to sleep naked there. Having risen, they immediately stand in a row, and with great harmony and melodic harmony they sing the prophetic hymns. Neither the harp, nor the pipe, nor any other musical instrument produces such a sound as can be heard in deep silence and in the desert when these holy people sing. And these very songs are fruitful and filled with love for God. “During the night,” it is said, “Lift up your hands” to God (Psalm 133:1-2), and again: from the night my spirit grows dark toward You, O God, before the light of Your commandment is on earth, do not hide Your face from me; “Do not reject Your servant in anger. You were my helper; do not reject me and do not forsake me, O God, my Savior! (Psalm 29:9). (They sing) and songs of David, pouring out abundant streams of tears. After all, when he sang to them, saying: “I am weary with my groanings: every night I wash my bed, I wet my bed with my tears” (Psalm 6:7); and again: “I eat ashes like bread” (Psalm 101:10); and again: “What is man, that You remember him” (Psalm 8:5)? “Man is like a breath; his days are like a shifting shadow” (Psalm 143:4); also: “Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases” (Psalm 48:17); and again: (God) who brings like-minded people into the house “God brings the lonely into the house” (Psalm 67:7); also: “Seven times a day I glorify You for the judgments of Your righteousness” (Psalm 119:164); and again: “At midnight I rose to praise You for Your righteous judgments” (Psalm 119:62); Psalm 48:16); and again: “Even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4); and again: “You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day, the plague that stalks in the darkness” (Psalm 90:5, 6); sheep doomed to the slaughter” (Psalm 43:23) - then he expressed his ardent love for God. And when again they sing along with the angels (because the angels also sing then), saying: “Praise the Lord from heaven” (Psalm 149:1), while at this time we yawn, scratch ourselves, snore, or simply lie on our backs and invent thousands of deceptions, then what good does it bring them that they spend the whole night doing this? When it begins to dawn, then they finally rest, and while we begin our business, they have an hour of rest. When the day comes, each of us, calling the other, talks with him about the daily expenses; then one goes out into the public square, appears to the boss, trembles, fears punishment; another goes to the spectacle; different to his studies. Meanwhile, having finished their morning prayers and chants, they turn to reading the Scriptures. Among them there are also those who have learned to copy books. Each of them, having occupied one separate dwelling, constantly practices silence, no one makes fuss, no one says anything. Then they perform the third, sixth, ninth hours and evening prayers, and, dividing the day into four parts, at the end of each of them they glorify God with psalmody and hymns. While everyone else is dining, laughing, having fun, filling themselves with excess food, they are busy singing hymns, having no time either for meals or for sensual pleasures. And after lunch they again take up the same exercises, first strengthening themselves with sleep. The laity sleep during the day, and they are awake at night. Truly they are sons of light. The first, having spent most of the day in sleep, become heavy; and the latter, remaining without food until late and studying hymns, are still sober. When evening comes, the first hurry to the baths and entertainment, and the last, freed from labor, finally sit down to a meal, and do not raise a crowd of servants, do not run around the house, do not make noise, do not offer many dishes that spread the smell of meat, but serve only bread and salt, while others add more oil; Others, who are more infirm, are given additional herbs and vegetables. Then, after sitting for a while, or rather, ending the day with the singing of hymns, each of them rests on a bed adapted to find not bliss, but only tranquility. There is no fear of rulers, no arrogance characteristic of nobles, no slavish fear, no women's noise, no children's cry; there are no many chests, no excessive accumulation of vestments, no gold, no silver; They have neither internal nor external guards; there is no treasury or anything like that; but everything is filled with prayer, all hymns, spiritual fragrance; there is nothing carnal there. They are not afraid of attacks from robbers, because they have nothing that they could lose; there is no money, there is only body and soul. If it were taken away from them, it would bring them not harm, but benefit. “For to me,” says (the apostle), “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). They have renounced all bonds. “The voice of joy and salvation in the dwellings of the righteous” (Psalm 118:15). 5. No screams or sobs are heard there: under this roof there are no such sorrows, no such exclamations. Of course, they die too, because they are not immortal in body, but they do not consider death to be death. And those who have departed are seen off with hymns, calling it a companionship, not a removal. As soon as it becomes known that someone has passed away, there is now great joy, great pleasure. Or rather, no one even dares to say that so-and-so has died, but they say: so-and-so has achieved perfection. Then there is thanksgiving, great glorification and joy, during which everyone prays that he too may have the same death, in the same way come out of this struggle, rest from labors and exploits and see Christ. If someone gets sick, then not tears, not lamentations, but again prayers; and often it is not the hands of doctors, but faith alone that restores the sick. But if a doctor is needed, then here too there is great wisdom, great patience. There is no wife with her hair down, there are no children mourning their orphanhood that has not yet come, the slaves are not begging the dying master to somehow provide for them: his soul is free from all this and looks only at one thing - at his last breath, how to depart beloved by God. If illness occurs, it does not happen from gluttony or drunkenness, but the very causes of illnesses are worthy of praise and not condemnation, just like the illnesses themselves: illnesses occur either from vigil, or from intense fasting, or from other similar causes, which is why they are easily cured - to cure all these ailments, it is enough for them to just not work as hard. 6. Another will ask: tell me, did anyone wash the feet of the saints in the church; Is it possible to find these here too? It is possible, and very possible; Just because we have described the lives of these people, we will not neglect those who are in the churches. There are often many of these among churches; but they are hiding. Therefore, we should not despise them because they go from house to house, go to market places and occupy positions of authority. And God commanded it. “Defend the orphan,” He says, “stand up for the widow” (Is. 1:17). There are many paths to virtue, just as there are many different varieties of pearls; although they are all called pearls, one is bright and round on all sides, while the other does not have this beauty, but has a different one. Which one exactly? Like coral, skillfully crafted, they have an oblong appearance, chiseled corners and a different color much more pleasant than white, namely, some have a green color, which is much more beautiful than any green, others are like the color of blood in the freshness of their paint, others are bluer than the sea, others are more brilliant than purple; one can find countless others, which are as diverse as flowers, and are likened to the color of the sun's rays. Such are the saints, namely, some try to improve themselves, others contribute to the establishment of churches. Well, therefore, the apostle said: “If you washed the feet of the saints, you helped the needy.” He said this for the purpose of encouraging everyone to imitate. Therefore, we will hasten to do this, so that we too can boast that we washed the feet of the saints. If it is necessary to wash their feet, then all the more should you give them money from your hands and take care that this remains secret. “Let not your left hand,” says (the Lord), “know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3). Why do you take thousands of witnesses with you? Let neither the servant nor, if possible, the wife know about this. There are many temptations from the evil one. It often happens that before she has never interfered, but now she will begin to interfere, either as a result of vanity, or as a result of something else. That is why Abraham, despite the fact that he had an amazing wife, intending to sacrifice his son, hid it from her - although he did not know what was about to happen, since he was sure that he would really sacrifice him. But what would a person from a crowd of people say to this? Would he not say: who is he who decides to do this? Wouldn't you accuse him of insensitivity and cruelty? The wife was not even deigned to look at her child, to hear his last cry, to look at him when he gave up the ghost; he took him and led him as if he were a prisoner. But this righteous man did not think about anything like that, being inspired by love. He saw nothing else but how to fulfill what was commanded to him, and there was neither a slave nor a wife there; he himself did not even know what would happen, but he tried to make a completely pure sacrifice, not desecrated by tears or contradiction. Look, with what meekness Isaac asks him and what he says to him: “Here is the fire and the wood, where is the lamb for the burnt offering? What does the father answer? God will provide for Himself a lamb for a burnt offering, my son” (Gen. 22:7, 8). This was said as if prophetically, that is, that God will see His Son as a burnt offering; and so it happened then. But why, tell me, are you hiding this from the one who was about to be slaughtered? Of course, you will say, I was afraid that he would be struck with horror - I was afraid that he would appear unworthy. Do you see with what precision he did everything? Consequently, the Scripture said well: “Let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3), that is, at least we look at someone as if we were our own member, but we should not, unless absolutely necessary, rush to reveal our intentions to him, because many troubles come from this, and whoever is carried away by vanity often encounters an obstacle in this. Therefore, we must, if possible, hide from ourselves, so that we can acquire the promised blessings through the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father with the Holy Spirit be glory, power, honor, now and forever and ever. These conversations were delivered by the saint, probably in Antioch around 397. You might be interested in: