Омилия XII 33 .

On the Fourth Sunday of the Holy Pentecost, concluding the presentation of what is on that day of the Gospel; it also speaks of zeal for inner thoughts Often and especially on these holy days, speaking to your love about fasting and prayer, I, however, have not yet explained to your pious ears and your souls: what gifts their zealots are honored with, and what great benefits fasting and prayer are intercessors for those who perform them. What is this? - Oh, this is great! And one might say – the greatest of all. For, among other things, fasting and prayer can give power over evil spirits so as to drive out and drive them away and free those possessed by them from the harm they cause. For when the Disciples said to the Lord regarding the dumb and deaf demon: “why could we not cast him out,” the Lord said to them: “This generation is cast out only by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:19–20 and par.). And perhaps for this reason, after prayer on the mountain and during the appearance of its divine illumination, descending immediately, He comes to the place where he was possessed by that demon. Because, having taken the chosen Disciples, it is said, He went up to the mountain to pray, and shone like the sun; and, behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to Him conversing - who, perhaps, of all people, labored most in prayer and fasting - who, through their presence during His prayer, revealed the consonance and solidarity between prayer and fasting, so that fasting seems to converse with prayer, which, in turn, converses with the Lord. For if the blood of the tortured Abel cries out to the Lord, as He Himself says to Cain, as we learn through Moses, then, of course, both the parts of the body and all the members that suffered in fasting will cry out to the Lord, and in accordance with the prayer, those fasting and as if co-praying, will rightly make it (the prayer) more favorable and give due appreciation to the voluntarily accepted feat of fasting. So, after praying and divinely shining, descending from the mountain, the Lord goes to the people and to the Disciples, to whom this demon-possessed man was brought, so that Christ, as on the mountain, showed the reward inherent in fasting and prayer, not only great, but also greater than great, for He showed that the reward for them is divine illumination, and having descended down, He would also show that the reward for them is expressed also in power over demons. But since on this Sunday it is the custom in churches to read what relates to this miracle, then let us go through from the beginning the entire proclaimed Gospel story about this. So, it is said that when Jesus came to the Disciples and to the people who were with them at that time, and asked what they were talking about, then one of the people, in response, said to Him: “Teacher, I brought my son to You, having a dumb spirit; Why did he foam and grind his teeth and become numb? – Because in those possessed by a demon, first and more than other parts of the body, the brain is exposed to disaster, for the demon uses this psychic center as a kind of springboard, from where, as if from a certain fortress, it oppresses the whole body; and when the brain is in distress, then a certain inflammatory process is released on the nerves and joints of the body, interfering with the normal function emanating from the mental center; and on the basis of this, confusion and weakness and unconscious movements occur in all parts of the body controlled by the will, and especially in the jaws, as those closest to the primarily affected part (i.e., to the brain). Due to the large release of moisture flowing to the lips through the channels and due to the proximity to the brain, and when increased breathing cannot occur correctly due to disruption of the correct functions of the organs, the unfortunate people begin to foam at the mouth. That is why the demoniac was foaming and gnashing his teeth, terribly striking each other in insane excitement. He becomes numb and dries up after this due to severe demonic harm: for just as the vapors created as a result of the action of the sun's rays, then, if this heat increases, are finally destroyed by it, dissipating, so it happens from harm from the demon: the emitted moisture of the insides, a little then, when this harmful demonic action increases, is consumed, like the moisture inherent in the body in general, and this demoniac, as a result of this, dries i.e. numb. Speaking to the Lord, the father of the demoniac added that he told the Disciples to cast out the demon, but they could not do it. The Lord, speaking not only to him, but to everyone, says: “O infidel generation...! How long will I be with you, how long will I bear with you?” (Matthew 17:17). It seems to me that on the basis that the Disciples were unable to cast out the demon, the Jews present at that time took this as a reason for no small blasphemy; for even when the miracles were happening, they did not stop blaspheming, I can imagine what they did not say when they had a reason. Therefore, the Lord, seeing their grumbling, completely refutes and shames them not only with harsher words, but also with deeds and words full of love for mankind. For in saying this, He added: “Bring him to Me” (Matthew 17:17), and “bring him” (Mark 9:20). And when the demon saw the Lord, he shook the man, so that he fell to the ground and rolled around, emitting foam; for the demon was allowed to show his evil clearly. The Lord asked the boy’s father: “How many years should he be?” (Mark 9:21). The Lord poses such a question out of love for mankind, leading him to faith and through faith to prayer. For this man was so far from faith that he did not even pray for the salvation of his son. Therefore, he did not at all beg the Disciples, for it is said that he said: “Reh for them, that they may marry him” (Mark 9:18); didn’t fall at my feet, didn’t beg, didn’t ask. But it is clear that he does not ask the Lord at all. Therefore, the Lord, mercifully leaving his youth lying in front of him, Himself speaks to him, asking about the time of his illness and at the same time encouraging him to make a request. And he answers: “Izdetskaya.” And many times he cast him into fire, and into water, that he might be destroyed,” and adds: “But if you can, help us, be merciful to us” (Mark 9:21-22). Do you see how great is this man’s unbelief? - For by saying: “If you can,” of course, he showed by this that he did not believe that He could. The Lord said in response to this: “Even if you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). He says this not because he does not know about his unbelief, but in order to gradually lead him to faith and at the same time shows that it was precisely his unbelief that was the reason that the Disciples could not cast out the demon. Carefully examine what the Evangelist narrates: he does not say that the Lord said to the father of the boy: “If you can believe,” in the sense that the Lord always demanded that those who sought healing have faith; but He said this in this case because, being the Lord and Guardian of souls, He had the concern to heal them through faith. The father of this youth, as soon as he heard that his faith would be followed by the healing of his son, said with tears: “I believe, Lord, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). Do you see the wonderful progress of this man’s character? “He not only believed in the possibility of healing the boy, but also in the fact that if the Lord wants, He can overcome his unbelief. And while the people came running at these words, the Lord, it is said, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him: “O dumb and deaf soul, I command you: come out of him, and do not let anyone enter into him” (Mark 9:25). It seems that this demon was extremely difficult and extremely impudent, for the power of the prohibition and the command not to enter again indicates that extreme impudence of this demon; for if it had not been for this command, he would have returned even after being expelled. He firmly took possession of this man and clung tightly to him and was deaf and dumb, and since human nature could not satisfy the excess of his rage, it was therefore reduced to almost complete insensibility. And after this, “having cried out,” it is said, “and having danced much, he went out: and he was as if he were dead, as many have said, as if he were dead.” The fact that there was a cry does not contradict the fact that the demon was mute: for the concept of speech is a manifestation of something intelligible, while a cry is an inarticulate sound; The demon is allowed to shake this person to such an extent and bring him, as it were, to a state of death, so that all his evil becomes obvious. The Lord, taking this man by the hand, raised him and stood him down, showing by this that He has a many-different way of action: to take the hand - this was a manifestation of a created action, characteristic of us; but to raise it up healed from disaster was a manifestation not of a created, but of a divine and life-giving action (energy). When the Disciples later asked Him in private: “Why are we not able to drive him out” (Matthew 17:19), He told them that this demon: “can only come out through prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29). Now, some say that such prayer and fasting should have been on the part of the sufferer. But in reality the situation is different. For how could one pray or fast with benefit for oneself while under the influence of an evil spirit, and even such a strong one, being its instrument and possessed by it? It seems that this so terrible demon was a demon of licentiousness, which, precisely, either throws those captured by it into the fire - for such are disorderly and insane love passions - or plunges him into water, due to gluttony and immoderate and frequent feasts and drinking bouts. For this deaf and dumb demon dwells in people of this kind; because one subject to the suggestions of a demon of this kind is not easily allowed to hear or speak divine objects. But as for the one who is not possessed by an evil spirit, although he is subject to its suggestions, when he arises to conversion - for he still retains power over himself - must pray and fast, in order through fasting to curb the body and restrain its rebellion, through prayer to inactivate and lull predispositions and thoughts that excite passions, and thus, he will prevail over the passions, in prayer driving away the satanic attack and mockery him. But when someone is not only subject to the devil’s suggestion, but is also possessed by it and suffers suffering that people are unable to cure, nor can he himself do anything for his recovery, then the very thing that he himself would do if he had a free mind, this is done for his sake by free, or better yet, people inspired by the Divine Spirit, will contribute to the greatest extent to cast out the demon. But we are by no means required to have the power to cast out demons, and even if we could cast them out, it would do us no good if we lead a careless lifestyle. For Christ says: “Many people will say to Me in that day: Lord, have they not prophesied in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons? “And then we will confess to them, because I have known you no more: Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23). So, it is much more useful to drive out the passion of fornication, anger, hatred and arrogance from the soul than to cast out demons. For merely removing oneself from carnal sins is not enough, but one must also cleanse the inner, hidden activity of the soul. For from our hearts come evil thoughts, adultery, fornication, murder, theft, extortion, etc.; and this is what moves a person. And - “whoever looks at a woman to lust after her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28); for although the body was inactive, sin was allowed to be committed mentally. But when the soul inside, through prayer and sobriety, and remembrance of death, and sorrow for God, and crying, rejects the pretext of the evil one, then the body also receives sanctification, becoming inactive against evil. And this is exactly what the Lord says: that not the one who cleansed the cup from the outside cleansed it from the inside, but make the inside of the cup clean, and then it will all be clean. Because if you make every effort to ensure that your inner work is according to God, then you will overcome the passions that come from outside. For if the root is holy, so are the branches; and if the leaven is holy, then the dough is holy. For Paul says: “Walk in the Spirit, and do not commit carnal lust” (Gal. 5:16). Therefore, Christ did not destroy Jewish circumcision, but fulfilled it. For He Himself says: “I did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it” (Matthew 5:17). How did he fulfill it? – The Law was the seal and designation and symbolic teaching of circumcision in the heart of evil thoughts, about which the Jews had no care and for this very thing they were reproached by the Prophets as not circumcised in heart, and were hated by Him who looks into the heart, and were finally rejected. “As man sees on the outward appearance, but God sees on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). And if it is filled with unclean and evil thoughts, then such a person becomes worthy of God turning away from him. Therefore, again, the Apostle exhorts us to pray without anger and doubt. Teaching us that we should be diligent about this spiritual circumcision of the heart, the Lord pleases the pure in heart and the poor in spirit and proclaims that the reward for this purity will be the vision of God; He promises the Kingdom of Heaven to the poor in spirit. He calls those who live in need and misery poor; but not just all people of this kind. He pleases, but precisely those who are poor in spirit, that is, those who, out of inner and heartfelt humility and good will, have disposed of everything external in such a way that they spend their lives in squalor. He forbids not only murder, but also anger, and commands from the heart to forgive those who have committed wrongdoing against us, and does not accept gifts brought to Him from us, unless we first reconcile and leave anger. So it is with regard to carnal passions: for He condemns the very view of curiosity and the resulting lust in the heart as adultery. And having embraced everything in a more general sense, he says: “If there is light in you,” – i.e. intelligence and prudence, - “there is darkness” - when the manager is filled with darkness, - “that darkness is immense!” (Matthew 6:23), i.e. body and feelings, which in themselves do not possess the intelligent light that gives birth to truth and dispassion. If the light that is in you is pure, when carnal thoughts do not darken you, then your soul will become completely radiant, as when a lamp illuminates you with light. Such, behold, is the spiritual circumcision of the heart, with which the Lord fulfilled the legal circumcision of the flesh, which was given to the Jews as a sign of this spiritual and leading to it; for those who did not show diligence to acquire it (spiritual circumcision), their carnal circumcision became, as Paul says, uncircumcision, and they alienated themselves from the one who does not look at the face of God, i.e. looking not at obvious carnal justification, but at the heart, i.e. to the invisible and existing movements of thoughts within us. Therefore, let us also make efforts, brothers, I pray, and cleanse our hearts from all filth, so that we do not merge with those condemned. For if the law spoken through Moses was firm, and every crime and disobedience received a righteous reward, then how can we escape by neglecting our salvation, which, having been first preached by the Lord, was confirmed in us by those who heard from Him, witnessing from God with signs and wonders, and various powers, and the dispensing of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 2:2-4). So, let us fear the One who searches the hearts and innermost thoughts; let us appease the Lord of vengeance; let us let peace, holiness, and prayer in contrition dwell in us, without which no one will see the Lord; Let us fervently desire in the full confidence of faith the vision of God promised for the pure in heart; and we will do everything to receive this, with which goes hand in hand eternal life, pure, true beauty, inexhaustible wealth, unchangeable and endless pleasure and glory and kingdom, which may we all receive in the King of the ages, Christ Himself, to Whom alone befits all glory, honor and worship, with His Beginning Father, and the Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, in endless eyelids. Amen. PG.151:145–157. Homilia XII. In Evangelium quartae in sacra Quadragessima Dominicae, et in necessitatem suis invigilandi cogitationibus. You might be interested in: