О том, что не должно бояться укоризн за доброе дело

If it happens to us, brethren, that we suffer reproach for a good deed, then we will not be ashamed of this reproach that people unjustly inflict on us, and we will not do what we should not do. For it is written: “My people, who have My name in your hearts, do not be afraid of the reproaches of man, and do not repent of their blasphemy. As the robe wears out with time, and as the cloth is destroyed by the moths, My righteousness will endure forever, and My salvation will endure forever” (Is. 51:7-8). And again: “I do not resist, nor oppose the verb. I put My cloaks on wounds, and My cheeks on blows, but I did not turn My face away from the cold of spitting. And the Lord the Lord was My helper: for this reason we were not humbled, but set His face like a hard stone, and knew that I would not be put to shame” (Is. 50:5-7). Therefore, we, beloved, if for a good deed we suffer from people an insult, or a reproach, or anything else that is difficult for us, we will not be afraid and will not abandon the straight path, according to the word of the prophet, who says: “If an army gathers against me, my heart will not fear” (Ps. 26:3). And again: “The pride has transgressed the law to the bitterest extent, but I have not deviated from Your law” (Ps. 119:51). And in another place: “For your sake I have endured reproach; shame has covered my face” (Ps. 68:8). And the Savior says: “Blessed are you when you are reviled and exhausted,” and so on. (Matthew 5:11). So let us not be ashamed, beloved, if those who despise the commandments of the Lord call us hypocrites. For it is clearly evident that they do not remind us of hypocrisy to correct us, but they want us, ashamed of their reproaches, to fall into a state of ignorance. For “death meets the unpunished,” according to Scripture (Proverbs 24:8). And in another place it says: “If our hearts do not deceive us, the imam’s boldness is towards God” (1 John 3:21). And again: “If you are reproached in the name of God, you are blessed: for the glory and God’s Spirit rests upon you... Let no one suffer from you as a murderer, or as a thief... If you are a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but glorify God” about this name. “And even if the righteous are barely saved, where will the wicked and sinful appear?” ( 1 Pet. 4:14–16, 18 ). Let us avoid freedom and laughter, because this corrupts the soul of a monk, as Scripture says: “Blessed is the man who fears everyone for the sake of reverence” (Prov. 28:14). Let us turn away from laughers and inattentive people, for it is said: “Or what honor will I return with an infidel... What agreement is there between Christ and Belial?” (2 Cor. 6:16–15). Abba John Kolov says to his disciple: “Let us honor the One, child, and everyone will honor us; if we neglect the One, that is, God, everyone will neglect us, and we will go to destruction.” One of the fathers talks about Abba Theodore from Ferma: “One day I came to him in the evening in the summer and found that he was wearing a sleeveless leviton, his chest was bare, and the kukul was lying in front of him. We started talking; and then some komit (komit is an official in charge of collecting royal tribute, or a mayor) comes to see him. As soon as he knocked, the elder came out to open the door for him. Having met him, he sat down with the newcomer at the door and began to talk to him. I took the cloth and covered his shoulders. But the elder, grabbing the cloth in his hand, threw it off him. When the committee left, I said to him: “Why did you do this, Abba? The person came to receive benefit from you, and not to be tempted.” The elder answered: “What are you telling me, Abba? Are we really still obliged to slave people? I did what was necessary, and he left. As they catch me, that’s how I meet them.” - And he ordered his disciple that if anyone comes, wanting to see the elder, not to tell the person anything human or any lie allowed out of human-pleasing; but if the elder eats food, tell the newcomer what he is eating; if he is sleeping, say that he is sleeping. To such a high degree the elder hated human glory.” We, as weak people, are not able to fully imitate such a wonderful behavior of the elder and trample on man-pleasing to the same extent. At the very least, we will abhor that which defiles the very conscience, and out of pleasing people we will not become enemies of God. You might be interested in: