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Wars, illnesses and other misfortunes are healed in the hands of the all-good Heavenly Father. When a people is corrupted, their sacrifices are unpleasant to God. He is pleased only with the sacrifice of a contrite and humble heart (2). I see here clearly the Creator of the world and people: just as it costs nothing for a skilled mechanic to correct the most skillful and delicate machine, because he is its master and has all sorts of tools and materials for correcting it, so the Creator of the world all the more does not cost anything to correct a machine of the human body that has been damaged in some place, since He is its Master and in His creative mind and word lie all the means not only for correcting a damaged machine created by Him, but also for creating again in one word Any car of any size. Man, answer me: why does the huge machine of the world not deteriorate over time and from such long use, but your small, invisible in comparison with the world, microscopic machine so quickly deteriorates and is damaged? Because the universe, or the visible world, is filled with the Spirit of God - the Life-Giving Spirit: “The Spirit of the Lord fills the universe” (Wis. 1:7), because the world, like a meaningless creature, is carried by the powerful word of God; and your lawless, sinful soul fills your body and penetrates. But can there be no damage, can there be a correct course, a correct life where they do not follow the law of life indicated by God? Your physical illnesses are for the most part the fruit of the iniquities of your soul. And since you have subordinated the unreasonable creation to your vanity, then because of you it too is soon damaged and destroyed, and together with you it sighs and suffers, wanting to be freed from the work of corruption (2). We must feel and recognize ourselves as one Body, as members of one Body, in joy, in grief, in sorrow, and in illness, sympathize with each other and help and pray for each other (3). The Holy Church teaches us in all our everyday circumstances to place all our trust in God: in prosperity and deprivation, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and joy - and never to lose heart, not to be embittered by anyone or anything, to endure everyone with love (3). From the all-good God only good things come, and not evil, - and your illness itself is good, but you grumble, are faint-hearted, despondent: be patient, give thanks; for free indulgences in youth - involuntary illnesses in old age (4). With peace, space, and pleasure of the flesh, it comes to life with all its passions and inclinations, and with cramped conditions, embitterment, and languor, it is mortified with all its passions. This is why the wisdom and goodness of the Heavenly Father exposes both our soul and body to severe sorrows and illnesses, and this is why we must not only graciously endure sorrows and illnesses, but also rejoice in them more than in a state of mental peace, space and physical health, for undoubtedly the mental state of that person is bad who is not subjected to mental sorrows or physical illnesses, especially with an abundance of earthly blessings; his heart inconspicuously produces all types of sins and passions and subjects him to spiritual death (6). Since God is life, and illnesses and illnesses are deviations from life, then one touch of the original, first Life on us heals them; That is why the Savior, Who is the Belly of all, healed and heals people with one touch. The same should be said about the correction of any infectious objects: one wave, the word of the All-Creator and All-Giver - and they are non-infectious (air, water, plants, animals) (6). In illness and in general in bodily weakness, as well as in sorrow, a person at first cannot burn for God with faith and love, because in sorrow and illness the heart hurts, and faith and love require a healthy heart, a calm heart, therefore there is no need to grieve greatly that in illness and sorrow we cannot, as we should, believe in God, love Him and fervently pray to Him. Time for everything. Sometimes it is not an unfavorable time to pray (6). By infecting our physical makeup with disease, the Lord crushes the old, sinful, carnal man in order to give strength to the new man, whom we have weakened through carnal deeds: gluttony, idleness, entertainment, and various passions. “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). We must accept illness with gratitude (6). You ask the Lord that you may love Him with a love like death, strong or unto death. Listen: the Lord is sending you a fierce internal illness, bringing you closer to death itself. Do not murmur against the Lord, but endure it courageously, with thanksgiving to the Lord for this fatherly visit of Him, and this will mean what you call love for God, as strong as death. And in the event of strong blows or writhing illnesses, trust that God is able to deliver you not only from illness, but also from death itself, if He pleases; do not spare, do not love for Him your corruptible body, but give it voluntarily and completely to the Lord, like Abraham did his son Isaac for a burnt offering, to the will of the Lord who punishes you, without losing faith in the goodness of God, without losing heart, without giving your lips madness to God, who allegedly unrighteously punishes you so much - and you will make a great sacrifice to God, like Abraham or like a martyr (6). When your flesh suffers from illnesses, remember that the first enemy of your salvation suffers, who is weakened by illness, and generously endure your illness in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who endured the cross and death for us; also remember that all our illnesses are God’s punishment for sins: they cleanse, reconcile us with God and lead us again into His love... Remember that in illness the Lord is with you: “I am with him in sorrow” (Ps. 90:15), that it came from the beck of the Master, fatherly punishing us. Believing in times of prosperity, be careful not to fall away in times of adversity, but, like a martyr, be constant in faith, hope and love (6). Diligent, tearful prayer not only cleanses sins, but also heals bodily infirmities and illnesses and renews a person’s entire being and, so to speak, regenerates (I speak from experience) (6). If a human doctor sometimes revives a half-dead person because of his knowledge of his work and through skillful, well-aimed influence on the cause of the disease, then does not the Creator of doctors and healing heal every disease with one will and a word? Will not the Creator raise up the dead with one word? Let us give glory to Him, we of little faith, and tell Him from our hearts: everything is possible for You, Master, but nothing is impossible for You (6). Someone who was mortally ill with inflammation of the stomach for nine days and did not receive the slightest relief from medical benefits, as soon as he received communion of the life-giving Mysteries on the ninth day in the morning, by the evening he became healthy and rose from his sick bed. He took communion with firm faith. I prayed to the Lord for him, so that He would heal him. “Lord,” I said, “heal Your servant from his illness. He is worthy, this is to him, for he loves Your priests and sends his gifts to them.” I prayed in church at the throne of the Lord during the liturgy, during prayer: “who has given us prayers that are common and agreeable...”, and before the Mysteries themselves. Among other things, I prayed like this: “Lord! Our belly! Just as it is easy for me to think about healing, so it is easy for you to heal every disease; Just as it is easy for me to think about the resurrection from the dead, so it is easy for You to raise every dead person. Heal your servant Vasily from his cruel illness and do not allow him to die, so that his wife and children do not give in to weeping.” And the benevolent Lord pardoned. And then he was on the verge of death. Glory to Thy omnipotence, goodness and good obedience, O Lord (6)! When you receive healing from any illness, give thanks to the Lord with the following brief praise: Glory to You, Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the beginningless Father, who alone heals every ailment and every disease in people (cf. Matt. 4:23), for you have had mercy on me, a sinner, and delivered me from my illness, without allowing it to develop and put me to death in my sins (6). The Lord tests the many different sinful affections of our hearts in different ways: some (the stingy) are tested by the loss of money or property or any part of the property, he allows thieves to steal, robbers to rob, others by fire, others by floods, others by vain expenses for failed business, others by illness and the costs of medicines and doctors associated with the disease; another by the loss of a wife, sister, boyfriend or girlfriend; others by dishonor - everyone is tested in every way, so that everyone will reveal the weak, painful sides of the heart in everyone and teach everyone to correct themselves (6). When the Lord strikes you with severe sorrow, or illness, or misfortune, then be trustworthy that He will faithfully send you joy and, in accordance with your suffering, will then give you the grace of peace, strength and joy. For the Lord is generous and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. He will not be completely angry... He did not deal with us according to our iniquities, nor did He repay us according to our sins (Ps. 102:8-11) (6). When you pray, say in your heart against various enemy thoughts and incitements: The Lord is everything to me. So throughout your life, when attacked by passions and under any taxes 11 of the enemy, in illness, in sorrows, in troubles and misfortunes, say: everything is for me the Lord, I myself cannot do anything, endure anything, overcome, conquer: He is my strength (6). We must take care of a person in every possible way so that the fire of sin does not burn him, does not darken him, does not bind him, does not plunge him into illness, does not destroy him (6). The Lord constantly acts in the spirit of truth and goodness in human hearts, humbling the proud by various everyday circumstances, illnesses, losses, humiliation from people, and exalting the humble (6). The treatment of mental illnesses (passions) is completely different from the treatment of physical illnesses. In physical illnesses, you need to dwell on the illness, caress the sore spot with soft remedies, warm water, warm poultices, etc., but in mental illnesses it is not so: if an illness has attacked you, do not dwell on it, do not caress it at all, do not indulge it, do not warm it, but beat it, crucify it; do the exact opposite of what she asks. Hatred towards your neighbor has attacked you - quickly crucify it and immediately love your neighbor; stinginess has attacked - be generous quickly; envy attacked - rather be kind; pride has attacked - quickly humble yourself to the ground; the love of money has attacked - rather praise non-covetousness and be jealous of it; tormented by the spirit of enmity - love peace and love; If you are overcome by gluttony, quickly become jealous of abstinence and fasting. The whole art of treating illnesses of the spirit consists in not dwelling on them at all and not in the least indulging them, but immediately cutting them off (7). You are sick, and your illness is very painful. You have lost heart, are despondent, thoughts are overwhelming you one darker than another, your heart and your lips are ready to murmur, blaspheme against God. My brother! Take sincere advice from me: endure your illness generously and not only do not be discouraged, on the contrary, if you can, rejoice in your illness. What’s there to be happy about, you ask, when it’s breaking far and wide? Rejoice in the fact that the Lord has punished you with temporary punishment, that He may cleanse your soul from sins, “The Lord punishes whomever he loves” (Heb. 12:6); rejoice that now you do not satisfy those passions that you would satisfy if you were healthy; Rejoice that you bear the cross of illness and, therefore, walk the narrow and sorrowful path leading to the Kingdom. Diseases, to our eyes, represent only one thing painful, unpleasant, terrible: rarely do any of us during illness imagine the benefit that illness brings to our soul; but with the all-wise and all-good Provider of God, not a single illness remains without benefit for our soul. Illnesses in the hands of Providence are the same as bitter medicines for our soul, healing its passions, bad habits and inclinations. Not a single disease sent to us will ever return. Therefore, we must keep in mind the benefits of illness, so that we can suffer more easily and calmly. “He who suffers in the flesh ceases to sin” (1 Pet. 4:1), says Scripture (7). Do not be discouraged by strong temptations, sorrows, or illnesses, or stumblings from the embarrassment of the enemy: all this is reproof and righteous punishment testing the heart and womb of the Lord for your cleansing, awakening and correction, for burning out the thorns of carnal passions, and therefore do not complain if sometimes it hurts you very much. Look not at the pain, but at the good consequences of this punishment and the health of your soul. What are you not doing to keep your body healthy? Moreover, for the health and salvation of the soul, which has immortal life, one must endure everything (7). When you get sick or when your wife or children or any of your relatives or friends or servants get sick, turn first of all with a prayer for help to Jesus Christ, the Physician of our souls and bodies, who is quick to intercede for all who resort to Him in faith; invite your spiritual father into the house with the divine Mysteries of the Body and Blood of the Lord and believe that you will not be put to shame in your hope. How many examples were there during my spiritual correction of needs, that the sick, who turned first of all to God for help, resorted to repentance and communion, quickly recovered after receiving the Holy Mysteries! I can name you many who have been honored with such great mercy of God (9). How many Christians are there today who, in their illness, turn only to doctors, forgetting to turn to Jesus Christ, Who makes doctors wise, especially those who believe in Him, and, like a bleeding woman, they are sick for a long time and are treated and give away almost all their property to the doctors and still receive no benefit or little benefit, whereas if soon after illness they turned to the Savior and invited His servant with life-giving Mysteries and tasted life-giving Food, they would soon receive healing and glorify the Lord for His power and goodness. But for their lack of faith they are punished by the duration of the illness and the waste of property on medicines and on a doctor (9). All illnesses and death began from sinful relaxation of the human soul. And for many thousands of years sin has been producing all the diseases of the soul and body (9). The faith of a woman who suffered from bleeding for twelve years is instructive, and the circumstances of her painful condition are instructive (see Luke 8:43–48). This woman, according to another evangelist (see Mark 5:25–34), before touching the Savior’s robe, thought to herself: “If I just touch His robe, then I will be healed,” and with such faith she touched the hem of His robe and was immediately healed; meanwhile, previously, having been treated by doctors for about twelve years and transferring all her property to them, she did not receive any benefit from any of them, but, on the contrary, came to an even worse state (9). We are relaxed. And some of us, prompted by conscience, ourselves recognize our illness and go to Christ to be treated for our sinful relaxation, but for others - alas! – outside, diligent help is needed so that they sincerely realize their illness and with all their hearts wish themselves healing from Jesus Christ (9). When any illness weighs down and suppresses the energy of your spirit, then say with obedience to the Lord: because of my sins, I am worthy of the most serious illnesses. Blessed be Thy Providence for me, O Lord, who visited me with illness (10). The paralytic was brought to Jesus Christ, apparently for healing from the disease of paralysis that held him. And Jesus Christ first heals his soul from sins and then his body from illness. “Son,” He says to the paralytic, “your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5), - and after the remission of sins he said to him: “Get up, take up your bed and go to your house” (Mark 2:11). What does this method of healing mean? It means that the illnesses that befall us are the consequences of our sins and that it is impossible to completely get rid of illnesses without first being cleansed of sins, just as it is impossible to destroy the effects without destroying the causes. Is there really such a close connection between sins and bodily illnesses and sufferings that illnesses of the body, more or less severe and prolonged, are the consequences of sins? Truly, there is such a connection between illnesses and sins: sin is destructive for the soul, at the same time it is destructive for the body: “The pattern of sin is death” 12 (Rom. 6:23), that is, sin, like a cruel tyrant, collects tribute from people. people working for him, and everyone working for him. This tribute is death. So, death is our necessary tribute to sin, and death is almost always preceded by illness, more or less prolonged. Hence it is clear that there is a very close connection between sin and illness. When there is no sin, then there will be no sickness and death. That is why there will be no diseases in the next century. “There will be no more death; no crying, no crying, no sickness” (Rev. 21:4), testifies the seer John in the Divine Revelation. Often, for human sins, God Himself directly sends diseases, for example, “handing over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh” (1 Cor. 5:5), as was the case with the incest mentioned in the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, or depriving the use of certain senses and members, or subjecting them to various other diseases. In this case, illnesses are a matter of the goodness of the Lord, who does not want the eternal death of the sinner, “but that the sinner should turn from his way and live” (Ezek. 33:11). People are extremely seduced by the temporary sweetness of sin and perish, but God, in His goodness, does not want our eternal destruction, but wants to make everyone participants in bliss. But how can this be done when a person does not want to pay attention to future bliss or eternal torment and when with his whole being he is devoted to earthly entertainment and pleasures? He feels full of strength and thinks that he should live here as he wants while he lives. How to make him think about God, about eternal life for which he was created, how to make him resort to faith and virtue so that they turn into the life of his heart? Illness and suffering in this case are the best remedy. One has only to look at someone who is sick or subject to some other misfortune to be convinced of how beneficial illnesses and misfortunes are sometimes for us here. Man comes to his senses at this visitation of God, enters into himself, sees that he is insignificant and fleeting, like grass, like a flower of the field (cf. Is. 40:6), that everything earthly is dust and vanity, that only God and virtue are eternal, that man needs in this life to serve God in spirit and truth and stock up on good deeds for eternal life. Brethren! We all are sick or unhappy in some way and we all want, according to the natural law of self-preservation, to be healthy and prosperous. Let us remember that our illnesses, being often the fruit of our iniquities, our own carelessness or intemperate life at the beginning, are very often God's punishment in their strength and duration for our sins. If we want to be free from diseases, we must first destroy their internal cause - sins, then the external misfortune will pass by itself. Let us remember that sickness and death would not have existed in the human race if sin had not entered the world through the first man. Let others imagine whatever causes of illness they want; but if they delve deeper into the essence of the matter, then in their explanation they will come to the same main reason for them, namely, that the bodily nature of man was once greatly damaged and is now being damaged by some internal, hostile force, and that is why it is so sensitive to the slightest spontaneous changes, that is why it has become so weak and easily destructible (14). When you are sick, first of all, bring repentance to God for your sins, resort to the Almighty Physician - eat His life-giving Body and life-giving Blood. There is a secret and intimate connection between sin and illness (14). Here: tax - oppression, oppression. In the synodal translation: the wages of sin is death. You might be interested in: