О том, как приобретается человеком смиренномудрие

The beginning of fruitfulness is color, and the beginning of humility is submission to the Lord. The fruit of obedience is long-suffering, and long-suffering is the fruit of love, love is the union of perfection, perfection is keeping the commandments of God, and “the commandment of the Lord is bright, enlightening the eyes” (Ps. 18:9), and enlightened eyes flee the paths of lawlessness. So, let humility of mind be both the foundation and the clothing of your response; Let your speech be clear and welcoming in the love of God. For the Savior said: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Where does arrogance apparently come from? From the fact that it does not obey, that it is disobedient, disobedient, driven by its own thoughts. And humility obediently, submissively, modestly gives honor to both small and large. Whoever acquired it, I am confident that he will receive a reward from the Lord with eternal life. If two people live in the same cell, then be strictly attentive to yourself, knowing that the Lord is in your midst. For He Himself said: “Where two or three are gathered in My name, I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Although we, the unworthy, do not see Him, yet He, as God, knows and sees the thoughts and deeds of everyone. Glory to him forever and ever! Amen. We have heard, says wisdom: “All bread is sweet to a fornicating man; it will not fail, until the end he will die. A man transgresses his bed, saying in his soul: whoever sees me; Who am I afraid of? Darkness surrounds me, and the walls cover me, and no one sees me. The Most High will not remember my sins. And the eyes of mankind fear him. And foolishly, for the eyes of the Lord are darker than the brightest sun. He who despises all the ways of man and looks into secret places: before God was created, everything was taken to Him, and so it is after the end. This will be avenged on the way of the city, and even though there is no hope, it will happen” (Sir.23:23-30). If you, beloved brother, have chosen a reverent life for yourself, then be sober, so that the evil one, under the guise of reverence, does not instill in you an alien thought, namely, vanity and pride, because of which you do not want to work with the brethren. On the contrary, work like the brothers who are like-minded with you, and guard your reverence. For laziness destroys reverence, and brings a reproachful name to those who acquire it. Therefore, combine reverence with diligence and knowledge (knowledge), and you will be truly reverent. If you acquire humility for yourself, beloved, then intensely strain your attention so that the enemy does not lie in wait for you and lead you onto an alien path, instilling in you something of his own, as wisdom says: “Do not say: I will hide from the Lord, food from above who will remember me? I will not be remembered among the multitude of people, for my soul is in countless creatures.” He also adds, saying: “Behold, the heavens, the heavens of God, the abyss and the earth will be moved by His visitation: together the mountains and the foundations of the earth, when he looks at her, they shake with trembling” (Sir. 16:16-19). Therefore, faith must be combined with humility, and then you will pave the straight paths of humility. One brother entered the hostel, wanting to become a monk, and decided to stay in a cell with one of the older brothers; A few days later, struggling with thoughts, he said: “I can’t stay with this brother.” Therefore, the other brother began to persuade him, saying: “And if you were caught by the barbarians and were given into the hands of some barbarian, would you really be able to say: “I don’t want to live with him”?” - The brother, having heard this, brought into contrition by such a word, bowed to him, saying: “Forgive me.” The brother also said: “Whoever wants to become a monk and cannot bear insult, humiliation and damage, will not become a monk.” If a person enters monastic life without further consideration, then the enemy manages to instill freedom and shamelessness in him. And if someone becomes a monk out of reverence, then the enemy instills his idea in him, and if he is young, then out of his reverence he gives him zeal for a feat that he cannot accomplish. But he who truly fears the Lord is not carried away by either the first or the second thought. And even if he is caught by demonic delusion, then the fear of the Lord, Whom he truly loved, will enlighten his heart to walk the straight path. He who is ungodly and shameless has not yet believed that there will be a Judgment. The arrogant and arrogant man, who is not reverent for God’s sake, also did not believe in this, because he considers himself great. Therefore, if the passion of conceit bothers you, then say to the one who is fighting you: “Get away from me, evil thought. What kind of person am I? And in what virtue have I succeeded that he instills such thoughts in me? The saints were “slain with stones, scorned with stones, tempted with the sword, and killed with the sword” (Heb. 11:37). And what can we say about the people subservient to me? The Lord of all things for us “endured the Cross, heedless of the shame” (Heb. 12:2). And I, having spent the entire time of my life in sins, what answer will I give on the Day of Judgment?” - And thus you will drive away arrogance from yourself. If you have succeeded in anything, then imagine that you succeeded not by your own strength, according to the words of him who said: “Not I, but the grace of God which is with me” (1 Cor. 15:10). And if shamelessness bothers you, then, having weighed your deeds, say: “I have participated in so many bad deeds, how can I dare to open my mouth, when the Lord said that even for an idle word “men will give an answer ... on the day of judgment” (Matthew 12: 36)?” Therefore, we must fall to the Lord, following the example of him who said: “Lord Almighty, God our father, Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob and their righteous seed, having created heaven and earth with all their beauty and bound the sea with the word of Thy commandment: having closed the abyss and sealed it with Thy terrible and glorious name: of whom all fear, and tremble at His presence. Thy strength: for no one can stand before the splendor of Thy glory, and the wrath of Thy rebuke against sinners is unbearable. Immeasurable and unexplored is the mercy of Your promise: For You are the Lord on High, gracious, long-suffering and abundantly merciful, and repent of the evils of men. Thou, O Lord, according to the multitude of Thy goodness... For Thou, Lord God of hosts, Thou didst not ordain repentance for the righteous Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, who sinned not Thee, but Thou didst ordain repentance for me, a sinner: I have sinned more than the number of the sand of the sea: my iniquities have multiplied, O Lord... and I am not worthy to look up and see the heights of heaven" ( 2 Chronicles 36, Prayer of Manasseh), and so on. And thus fear and prayer itself will drive away shamelessness from you. One brother struggled with a vain thought that inspired him to believe that he had already achieved some success in virtues. But, wanting to overcome the thought of arrogance, he put his hand under the lit frying pan and said to himself: “You are burning, don’t be arrogant anymore. For we see that the three youths were among the burning flames and not one of them was exalted in heart, but, singing with great humility in the midst of the furnace, they glorified God, saying: “With a contrite soul and a humble spirit, let us be accepted” (Dan. 3:39) before You. And you, being in the cool, become highly intelligent.” And thus he defeated the demon of arrogance. If there is a hardworking person who especially strives in virtues, then no one should disparage him, but, on the contrary, such people should be accepted into one’s life, because they are pleasing to God and useful to society. Let two camps convince us of this: the Jewish camp and the Philistine camp; David, who fought Goliath; also those who were shipwrecked at sea and saved for the sake of the righteous man who was found with them, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Paul, it is fitting for you to appear before Caesar: and behold, God has given you all those who sail with you” (Acts 27:24). The brother, after accepting the monastic image, struggled with the thought of leaving the hostel. And his thoughts presented him with the following example: “Look,” they said, “at this greenery in the garden; If the person caring for these ridges does not pull out the plants and transplant them to another place, then they will not grow.” To this the brother answered the thought like this: “Will the gardener really pull up everything sown on these ridges? Will it leave something on the ridge that it can soak in? Moreover, something pulled out is not as reliable as something left in place. Therefore, you too will be among those who cannot be pulled out.” And thus, with the assistance of grace, he overcame the thought. If you, beloved, wish to be in silence in a hostel, then be careful that your thoughts do not instill in you a deceptive thought that will upset you when you change your mind and say: “I live here for a high price, but my food is worthless.” Therefore, do not ruin the works of God for the sake of food. For if you harbor such thoughts within yourself, then you are not walking out of love. But let us rather listen to the saving voice that says: “Who is the faithful and wise servant whose master will appoint him over his house, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant, who, when his master comes, will be found doing such things. Amen I say to you, for he will set him over all his possessions. Should the evil servant say in his heart: My master will hinder his coming. And he will begin to beat his minions, and eat and drink with the drunkards: the master of that servant will come on a day he knows not, and at an hour he knows not. And half of it will be cut up, and part of it will be placed with the unbelievers: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:45-51). So, let us present ourselves to the Lord and not judge a servant like us, whom our common Master has appointed to rule the house. For we will all give an account to Him, and He will reward each one according to his deeds. One brother says: “I will pray to God to give grace to my handicraft, and that the whole hostel or the whole monastery will be fed from it. Wouldn’t that make me happy?” Have you heard, steward, what the apostle says: “Govern with diligence” (Rom. 12:8). “Let no one care about your youth” (1 Tim. 4:12). So, be careful not to use the commandment biasedly, for in another place the apostle says: “Not as one who has honor, but be an example to the flock: and when you appear to the Chief Shepherd, you will receive an unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:3-4). And he also says: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). For pride is alien to the faithful, according to the words of him who said: “The Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). If a spirit of despondency troubles you, beloved, then do not be carried away by the thought of despondency, but remain in the place where God placed you, reflecting within yourself on what kind of love you had for God when you first came to the monastery doors. We will have the same love to the end, so that what has been said will not be fulfilled on us: “And Jacob was satisfied, and his beloved was rejected: fat, fat, wide: and forsake God who made him, and depart from God his Savior” (Deut. 32:15). So, be patient with the Lord for now, like a wrestler who with patience overcomes the one who strikes him. For “he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). There was one brother who joined the dormitory as a leader. He was constantly silent, depriving himself of the freedom to speak. Other beginners said about him: “He is silent not out of reverence, but because he does not know how to speak.” Others said: “No, not because he has a demon.” The brother, hearing this, did not answer them, but in his heart he gave glory to the Lord. One brother said: “I asked the Lord for such a thought of humility, so that when my brother commands me to do something, I would say to the thought: “This is your master, listen to him,” and if another brother orders, I would say again: “This is your master’s brother.” If the child commanded, then he said: “Listen to your master’s son.” And thus, resisting alien thoughts, with the assistance of grace, he serenely did his work. One day, when the brothers were busy working at night, one of them, feeling a feverish chill, returned to his cell; the other brother began to grumble against him. Therefore, they sent their brother to him to call him. The sent brother went and found that he was suffering greatly, and said to him: “The brothers are asking, are you healthy? Don’t worry about your business, we will work for you.” He answered: “Let your love remember that I also wanted to work with you, but my weakness prevents me.” And the brother, returning to those who sent him, said to them: “My brother is very exhausted, but he said to me: “I also wanted to work with you.” One brother joined the dormitory as a leader, but because of the difficulty, he was struggling with his thoughts. He answered them, saying: “Wretched brother, you are already sold, and what else can you do?” “And the Lord gave him consolation.” One day, while the brothers were eating food, a certain monk stood up to offer a cup. One of the elders, having received it, found that the dissolved wine was very hot. The elder said: “You burned me, child.” Therefore, as soon as the brother came to his cell, he began to beat himself, saying: “If you were a slave to a cruel man and did this, would not blows fall on your flesh at the same time? Therefore, do not be careless about yourself.” Blessed is the monk who keeps the Lord's commandments and takes care of three things: exercise in prayer, handicraft and meditation. For it is written: “Become void, and understand that I am God” (Ps. 45:11). And again: “I am a beggar, and in labor from my youth” (Ps. 87:16). And again: “And in His law he will learn day and night” (Ps. 1:2). If you see a brother who is careless about his salvation, do not be tempted by your brother’s negligence and do not imitate his laziness, but keep yourself clean. If we do not bear each other’s burdens (Gal.6:2), then how will we find grace before the Lord? Let us take care of this, “so that we do not cause any stumbling block or offense for our brother” (Rom. 14:13). He who has not offended his brother in any way, “will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19). In whatever place you are, do not be careless about your salvation, for in the Law of Moses it is written: “If your Hebrew brother, or Jewish woman, sells himself to you, let him work for you for six years, and on the seventh day let him go free from you. ... If he says to you: I will not leave you, because I have loved you, and your house, because you have good for him: thou shalt stir an awl, and test his ear... and thou shalt be thy servant forever: and thou shalt do likewise unto thy servant" (Deut. 15:12, 16-17). Monk, you have renounced the world, you have been set free, Christ has freed you, but after this, do not love slavery to the vain world, lest they be “the last... the pot of the first” (Matthew 12:45). On the contrary, let us serve Christ who freed us. Glory to him forever and ever! Amen. If you are, beloved, in a distinguished place, then be careful not to be overcome by arrogance, and do not disparage (other) brothers in your thoughts, as if they belonged to a miserable society. The Lord alone knows the secrets of the heart. Be careful that you do not exalt yourself with leaves, when they also have fruit. But it’s better to humble yourself as much as you can, and you will find grace before the Lord: “For the power of the Lord is great, and it is glorified by the humble” (Sir.3:20). If you, beloved, are in obedience to your spiritual father, do not set rules for yourself, saying: “You cannot do this or that.” For if you do not do it, and then do it under duress, you will not escape the charge of disobedience. Therefore, one must submit oneself to God’s control, for not the same thoughts exist in the soul. But if what is ordered is beyond our strength, then we will resist the order of the abbot not with anger, but pleadingly, begging in a plaintive voice, we will present to the abbot that the matter is beyond our strength. “Be careful against sin” (Heb. 12:4). Superiors must keep in mind the strength of each of their subordinates, remembering the Lord, who says: “He who bears fruit and creates a hundred, and sixty, and thirty” (Matthew 13:23), so that everyone in his rank pleases the Lord. If you, brother, having left the hostel, live alone, and after a sufficient time have passed, you return to where you came from, then humble your thoughts, as if you have now begun monasticism, and you will have peace. Do not act in such a way as to remain reverent one day and not have reverence the next day, but at all times may humility be with you and you will find peace. The brethren sometimes have something similar to this. If a brother succeeds in reverence, then the enemy of another negligent brother equips him to confuse him and together makes the silent one answer that brother to his madness. In the same order of affairs, someone else will raise his voice and say: “So much for reverence!” – And when the grief passes, the reverent person himself will begin to be hurt by nasty thoughts and say to himself: “You have ruined your reverence; This is how indecently he behaved in front of the brethren. And now what will you do after this indifference? - Be careful that it does not crush you as weak and humiliated, for it is written: “And with the obstinate you have become corrupt” (Ps. 17:27). And again: “And do not lie down for a man” (Sir. 4:31), so as not to be carried away with him into iniquity. Thus, one should not become corrupted with the obstinate and throw oneself under the feet of sin, for it is written: “Amen, I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin” (John 8:34). But it is also ordered to offer the cheek to the one who struck, therefore the Apostle commands, saying: “Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). And the Lord gave a commandment, saying: “If someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other one too” (Matthew 5:39). If a brother does not resist his enemies in these thoughts, they will not leave him in a virtuous life, but will soon make him grumpy, pugnacious, irritable and angry, a man of rude disposition, who not only does not edify himself, but also corrupts the souls of others. And if, having repented, he takes up an honest life again, then he will be smarter in the fight - like someone who has known harm from experience. During the vigil, two brothers pulled threads from a piece of canvas, and one’s thread kept breaking; the other one began to be troubled by thoughts of his brother. But he, wanting to overcome irritability in himself, so as not to sadden his brother, when his brother’s weft was torn, he himself cut off his own thread. And both had nothing to exact from each other, and that brother did not know how the other brother acted (was tempted). The brother was reading during the vigil and, wanting to finish the chapter, hesitated a little. Another monk began to grumble at him, saying: “I heard that it was said: get up, but he doesn’t get up.” Another brother said to him: “If we had dinner, and the abbot invited us to drink an extra cup, wouldn’t it be pleasant for us?” - The brother, having heard this, bowed to him, saying: “Forgive me.” One brother said to another brother: “Why are you taking our dish so quickly and not letting us finish?” - The brother answered him: “I am a servant, and whatever my elders command me, that’s what I do.” Hearing this, the brother said: “Forgive me.” I think that it is useful for the brethren for the abbot to take upon himself the concerns of the subordinate, and make the brother carefree and unentertained in all respects, especially from the visiting laymen, so that the brother’s thoughts are occupied with one prayer, so that he, like a pruned palm tree, carefully ascends to the heights of virtues. For “good customs corrupt,” says the apostle, “evil conversations” (1 Cor. 15:33). Great is the ruin of souls where the rules and orders of the abbot have no force. If another monk or layman comes to you, monk, then do not try to treat him beyond your strength, so that after your brother’s departure you do not feel sorry for your good, which was reserved for him, but offer him what the Lord will send you. It is better to offer potions with love than thousands of dishes with heartache: “God loves a good giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). I say this, brother, not with the intention of stopping your love of hobbies, but so that your offering will be favorable, according to the words of the one who said: “Be lovers of hobbies one another, without grumbling” (1 Pet. 4:9). And there is no need to write to you about love of hobbies, for you know that love of hobbies is higher than many virtues. Out of love for strangers, Patriarch Abraham also entertained the Angels; out of love for strangers, righteous Lot did not die during the destruction of Sodom. Likewise, Rahab, known by the name of the harlot, did not perish with the unbelievers, but out of love for strangers she accepted the spies (messengers) in peace. The Savior says: “He was strange, and he knew Me” (Matthew 25:35). “Blesseds of mercy: for these will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7). If a brother comes to you, beloved, and you both begin to perform the usual rule of the service together, and you ask your brother to say something from his heart, and he refuses once, twice, or even three times, then do not force him, for many do not know how to preach virtues in word, but preach the truth in deed. And with this you will gladden your brother’s heart; curiosity (quarrelsomeness) does not lead to virtue, but rather leads to irritation. If you visit a sick person, then see to it that the enemy does not instill in you the idea of ​​engaging in idle talk or gossip, and thereby deprive you of your reward; for it is the devil’s custom to harm one with his hearing, and another with his tongue. On the contrary, it is necessary to console the sick person with Divine Scripture and the sufferings of the Savior. Glory to him forever! Amen. If, beloved, a stranger comes to your brother, then help your brother to the best of your ability, so that you too can become an accomplice in his love of strangers; and the Lord will prosper your ways. If you, beloved, went out together with your brothers to share, then, to the extent of the strength given to you by the Lord, help the weaker, knowing that you will receive a reward from the Lord for your work and compassion. If you are weak and weak, then do not talk much, give orders and take liberties, but rather remain silent and silent, and the Lord, seeing your humility, will convince the hearts of your brethren not to place a burden on you. Those who are silent in unity call those who are in community blessed, because they lead an unentertained life. And if the brethren have no love, then those who live in society, especially those who live carelessly and give in to despondency, call the hermits blessed. But he who has a perfect mind easily avoids the snares of the enemy. The passion of the love of money is the heaviest, because it is “the root of all evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). Is it good to know how the passion of love of money is eradicated? - So that with all your heart and all your soul you can trust in God. If you, brother, are agile in your handicraft, so that you sometimes do a lot of work and something important and expensive, then do not be proud of this and do not humiliate other brothers who are weaker than you, for you have not yet completed your virtue by this. It is better to honor and fear the Lord, so that he will give you strength to the end, because those who rely on their own strength are vain: “Let him boast; let him boast in the Lord” (2 Cor. 10:17). We should not envy a brother’s success, because we are all members of the body of Christ. If, monk, your abbot, or whoever distributes your work, makes a remark regarding the goodness of what you have done, then accept the reproof without grief. But let us be all the more lovers of goodwill, with a good conscience, so that the one who sells and the one who buys both give thanks to the Lord. Let us also say to our thoughts: “After all, if we go to buy a vessel or clothing, then aren’t we concerned about the beauty of the purchase?” - Therefore, let us be lovers of good conscience according to our conscience. But we, beloved, who have been entrusted with the stewardship of our household, will bear upon us the infirmities of the weak. For the Savior said: “They do not require the health of a doctor, but those who are sick” (Matthew 9:12). Even if our superiors, beloved, were obstinate towards us (which let them not be!), we will nevertheless serve them with a good conscience - as the Lord, and not as men, knowing that we will receive a reward from God. A monk must be prudent and pure in order to recognize what the enemy is planning against him; let go of some things with laughter, others with humility, and depose others with a well-seasoned word. If an enemy provokes your brother to slander you, beloved, and call you an evil or wicked old man, then bear the insult generously. And if for the sake of peace we strengthen ourselves in thought, then we will take the name “evil” for the name good, and the name “wicked” for the name beautiful. “For it is not fitting for the servant of the Lord to be wicked, but to be quiet to everyone” (2 Tim. 2:24). During a vigil, one brother was inspired by the following thought, saying: “Today, give yourself rest and do not get up for the vigil.” But he answered the thought: “Reflect that you won’t get up tomorrow, so you must get up today.” And while he was working, he also instilled in him the thought: “Give yourself rest today, and work tomorrow.” He again answered: “No, work today, and the Lord will take care of tomorrow.” If you, beloved, gain someone’s friendship and become convinced that this person truly fears the Lord, then, as the Lord says: “By their fruit you will know them” (Matthew 7:16). But don’t suspect him of anything bad! However, it is good to be sober at all times. And if someone wants to have flattering friendship with you and take liberties that are displeasing to God, then carefully guard yourself from such a person and do not at all allow yourself to take liberties with him that are displeasing to God. If he begins to reveal his secret passion in a smile or a grin, showing his feigned obedience, and intends to deceive you, then do not let the thought reach the point of unreason, but look at him with a stern eye, so that he recognizes the good foundation laid in you, and then either changes the evil thought, or moves away from you. If you, beloved, courageously struggle against those who are trying to steal the labors of your work, then be careful that someone does not manage to sneak up from below and drop you. But put your thoughts in order and you will not overlook the wind that is favorable to you, and you will have the projectile ready, and you will save the ship, bringing life into the harbour. Who, having planted a fig tree, leaves its fruit unattended? Moreover, innocence and chastity should be observed. The Lord hates the company of people who love pleasure, which is why it is written: “It is a terrible thing to fall into the hand of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). Or who, having been bitten once by an asp, does not take care not to come close to its hole? If, after remorse, he puts his hand into his hole, and is bitten again, who then is guilty of death? Is it a poisonous animal, or a person who did not take care of himself? And you understand what was said. The Holy Spirit reveals to a person which path is good and which is bad. And also shows him what is prepared on the good path, and what is hidden on the evil path, so that a person, knowing the reward for both, avoids the harmful. And if, having learned, he does not escape, then what excuse will he have on the day of Judgment? - The decoration of clothes, the wandering eye, the elongated neck, bare shoulders and legs, open from passionate movement - all this calls for death. Blessed is he who cares for the edification and salvation of others. He will not be excommunicated from the Kingdom of Heaven (together with) those who cause temptation, but his dwelling will be (together with) those who have pleased the Lord Christ. Glory to him forever! Amen. Tell your parents according to the flesh not to come to you often. For, speaking in front of you about their affairs, they will relax your thoughts, and at the same time they will teach you intemperance. It is enough for them to visit you once or twice a year. And if you completely stop useless dates, you will do even better. Eating and drinking a lot in the present only has a pleasant effect, but the next day leaves unpleasantness and relaxation in the mind. If you happen to fall into illness, then do not write often to your parents according to the flesh - do not resort to dead help and human protection. But it is better for us to have long-suffering, waiting for mercy from God, so that He can guide us in everything, for there comes a time when the flesh also needs admonition. In everything, let us please the Lord, “for He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7). The brother fell ill one day and, forcing himself, worked; alone, in his cell, he begged the Lord with tears to grant him health. Then he said to himself again: “Woe to me, the careless one! My soul is sick every hour, and I have no concern for it; and when my body is a little upset, with tears I ask the Lord for healing.” And he also said: “Lord Jesus Christ, heal my soul and body, so that I will not be a burden to my brethren, because, Lord, man does not feed on his own strength. If You, Lord, do not provide what is necessary and sufficient, then man is nothing. However, Master, grant me health, Thy indecent servant, only because You are the God of the repentant, and You will show Your greatness in me.” And, without letting go of the work, he received healing and said in the words of the apostle: “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10), for this was truly fulfilled for me.” When a person is sick, then his soul begins to seek the Lord beyond measure. This is why admonition is good, if only the one who is admonished gives thanks; such a one will say: “If good things are received from the hand of the Lord, will we not endure the evil ones” ( Job 2:10 )? “Blessed be the name of the Lord forever” ( Job 1:21 )! Amen. If, beloved, you live under the rule, then do not give in to despondency and do not spend the second or third day of the week in idleness, otherwise thoughts will bother you all week, as happens to others in hostels. For it is the spirit of despondency that instills in the monk the idea of ​​doing nothing on the second and third days of the week, and then, on the other days of the week, it leaves him under the yoke of thoughts until the time comes to give up the work. But you, beloved, be sober in everything, so that the enemy has nothing to catch you with. Therefore, try to finish your daily work on the appointed day; and the mind, unfettered by care and sorrow, will have free time for prayer. When someone, having renounced the world, enters the brotherhood and just begins to undergo obedience, the enemy puts into him the desire to prematurely accept the monastic image, so that the brother, unable to bear the excessiveness of the desire, will flee from the field. And if he endures obedience to the monastic form, the enemy encourages him to leave the hostel and remain silent in solitude, putting something like this into his mind: “Get out of here, live in solitude and work little by little, because you are weak and cannot bear the difficulties of this matter.” And if the brother goes out and does not courageously carry out the labors of asceticism, he will become even more exhausted; and if illness befalls him, he will begin to repent even more for leaving his place. The tempter makes another brother ready for asceticism, to accept strict rules and to live a high life. After a little time or a few years, the tempter begins to present to him the duration (of the feat according to) time and says: “It is difficult for you to remain under this strict rule to the end, and your body may become completely exhausted.” But if a brother’s soul thirsts for salvation, he will not entrust himself to deceptive thoughts, but will listen to the instructions and advice of experienced men who fear the Lord, or will forbid the rebellion of thoughts within himself. And whoever is not so strong in virtue hides his weakness and, intending to undergo asceticism only for the sake of the unanimous brethren, leaves his place to satisfy his desires as he pleases. But such people bring themselves to the point of falling, because out of man-pleasing they practice virtue. Their foundation is laid not on stone, but on sand: as soon as the rain falls, the rivers flow and the winds blow, they fall from thoughts. When such people apparently acquire virtue, they become puffed up with great pride; and when they fall, they give in to useless despair, for it is written: “If you fall, food will not rise,” says the Lord (Jer. 8:4). And again: “I do not want the sinner to die, but to be converted... and live to be him” (Ezek. 33:11). And whoever lives according to God, even if he has succeeded in great virtue, does not become arrogant, does not become conceited, thinking about the greatness of the Lord and how He humbled Himself: “having become obedient even to the point of death, even death on the cross” (Phil. 2:8). Even out of such fear, he despises himself, like the one who says: “I consider earth and ashes for myself” (Job.42:6). Virtue is like a royal scarlet; you cannot stick anything alien into it. This is why those who set out to live according to God do not fall the hardest. If a person hesitates, then the Lord, knowing the integrity of his heart, will strengthen his soul by admonishing His servants. But if anyone who is admonished contradicts, he is like a stubborn horse that is not afraid of the bridle until it throws off its rider. For the hard-hearted falls miserably (Proverbs 28:14). He who does not care about his salvation and about his work in the community becomes a model of laziness for many brethren. And whoever cares about his salvation will be awarded great glory in heaven, because he was an example of a virtuous life and aroused zeal in his careless brethren to excel in virtues. Just as the one who fights in front in a military formation has great honor before everyone, so everyone who is sober in the work of the Lord will be honored by God. When you sin, monk, and do what you should not do, then do not be deceived by the thought of boasting and saying: “No matter how much bad a monk does, he is still better than a worldly man.” It is written: “Do not praise yourself, for this man is skilled, but God praises him” (2 Cor. 10:18). And first of all, test your deeds: did you really spend your life in obedience, how did you exalt yourself, did you overcome lust, did you love poverty, did you hate gossip, did you put aside the love of vanity, did you hate sin, did you abhor lust, did you really not do harm to anyone, did you overcome passions, did the person insulted not become angry and, hearing praise for yourself, did you not become exalted? have you loved the Lord with all your might and your neighbor as yourself? If we have not observed this, then why do we boast (be vain) about ourselves? We should cry about this before His goodness, so that He would heal us from hardness of heart and make us worthy to lead an exalted life. Woe to that monk who, having destroyed reverence, takes courage in wine (Sir.31:29)! If he does not stay sober, then at his end he must suffer bitterly. And whoever keeps his ways in the Lord will inherit eternal glory. There should not be a (heavy) rule imposed on newly catechumens so that they do not pass from one elder to another, even when their separation is considered fair, for there are many wiles of the devil. Children should not be given the freedom to treat their brothers freely, but it is better to keep them silent and submissive to the Lord. Let none of the higher seduce the lower and serve as an example for them of bad treatment, because it is written: “Woe to him who besieges his companion with muddy corruption” (Hab. 2:15). But it is better that they be models for the faithful. Those who want to be saved should pay attention not to the fall of others, but to themselves, for it is written: “For those who strive, whether they come in or go out, He is well pleased to be. For it is fitting for us all to appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that everyone may receive either good or evil for what they have done with the body” (2 Cor. 5:9-10). If someone does not submit to the elder, as he should, then let the elder bear the weakness of the newcomer, so that through this labor he may observe the labors of the past, as the apostle says: “We must bear the strength of the weaknesses of the weak, and not please ourselves. Let every one of you please his neighbor for good, so that he may build up” (Rom. 15:1-2). A monk will not stay long in one place and will not find peace for himself if he does not first love silence and abstinence. For silence teaches silence and constant prayer, and abstinence makes thoughts unentertainable. Finally, a peaceful state awaits those who acquire this. During temptation, the dignity of the faithful is demonstrated. But one should not be faint-hearted during temptation, but should be sober in prayers and good deeds. Those sailing on the sea, when a strong storm arises, are sober, watchful in a special way and call on the Lord, as it is written by the prophet Jonah: “And your ship is in trouble, even to be broken. And the shipmaid was afraid, and each one cried out to his God: and he cast away the vessels that were in the ships into the sea” (Jonah 1:4–5). This is an example of renunciation of earthly things. One must despise everything worldly and strive for one eternal life. And when misfortune befell us, let us not despair of ourselves, for we see that the prophet in the belly of the whale did not lose hope of his salvation, but prayed and said: “I cried out in my sorrow to the Lord my God, and when I heard me, you heard my cry from the belly of hell. You have cast me away into the depths of the heart of the sea” (Jonah 2:3–4). The Lord does not despise those who call on Him in truth. Therefore, when sorrow befalls us, we will resort to the Lord, just as He said: “Lord, in sorrow I remembered Thee” (Is. 26:16). The sea is not always calm, and it is impossible to swim across real life without temptation. And if we hold on to faith in the Lord like the helm, then He will lead us into the harbor of life, and, having laid aside our labors, we will be clothed with life and incorruption. If the spirit of despondency troubles you, beloved, then do not fall, but pray to the Lord, and he will give you patience, and after prayer, sit down and gather your thoughts, and console your soul, like the one who said: “Are you in sorrow, my soul? And Vskaya embarrassed me? Trust in God, for we will confess to Him, the salvation of my face, and my God” (Ps. 41:6), and say: “Why are you not glad, my soul? We don’t always have to live in this world.” Listen to the one who says: “I am a stranger” on earth, “and a stranger like all my fathers” (Ps. 39:13). Imagine in your mind those who lived before you in the monastery in which you now live, examine and find out - how did they pass from this century? So we too, whenever God pleases, must move. The life of the righteous begins at their death. Why does the prophet, longing for the future life, say: “In the same way the tree desires the springs of water: my soul desires thee, O God, when I come and appear to the face of God” (Ps. 42:2-3). The saints considered real life a prison. That is why it is said in another place: “Now you are releasing Your servant, O Master, according to Your word” (Luke 2:29). So the apostle had the desire to be resolved, “and to be with Christ” (Phil. 1:23). The two elders had a grudge against each other. One of them fell ill. One of the brethren came to visit the elder, and he began to ask his brother, saying: “I am in a quarrel with such and such an elder and would like you to persuade him, and we would be reconciled. And I myself would be glad to do a good deed for someone.” The brother answered: “By your order, Abba, I will tell him.” But, having left, the brother began to reason with himself: “Perhaps the elder will not accept my words, perhaps even more grief will result.” According to God's will, one of the brethren brings five figs and a small number of mulberries. The brother, having chosen one fig and several berries, took it to that elder in his cell and said: “Someone brought this to the elder, and he says to me: “Take it and give it to so-and-so.” The elder, hearing this, was surprised and said: “He sent this to me?” - The brother answers: “Yes, Abba.” And the elder took what was brought, saying: “You have come with a good deed.” The brother, having parted with the elder, went to his cell and, taking two figs and several mulberries, took them to another elder, and, bowing, said: “Take this, Abba, such and such an elder sent you.” And so, with three figs and several mulberries, he brought them to reconciliation. But the elders did not know that their brother had done this. One of them said: “Shall we be reconciled now?” “Yes, Abba, with your prayers,” answered the brother. The elder said: “Glory to God!” – And the elders made peace with the grace of God. In one dormitory there was an urgent need to appoint a brother to look after the house, and the abbot chose the brother he wanted. This brother, intending to leave his cell, gave his junk into the hands of another brother, saying: “If it happens to me to leave my position, you will return it to me.” And he promised to give it. A little time passed, and the brother left the position of caretaker in the house, saying: “I’d rather rest in the silence of my cell.” And he said to that brother: “Return to me what I gave into your hands,” but he did not want to return it. And the brother, seeing that he was irritated, having no desire to give, fell silent. Then the other brother began to beg him, saying: “Do me a favor, if your brother has given you something in his hands, then do not deprive him of his property, so that the court does not throw you out.” But he said to this one: “I have nothing that belongs to him.” And five or ten days later, the brother, who had taken the junk for himself, overcome by thoughts, left the hostel with great sorrow. The abbot urged him not to go out, but he insulted him and left. Then the caretaker of the house, with the permission of the abbot, opened his cell and divided the junk found there among the brethren. A few days later, that brother, having repented, returned to his place and found that his cell had been dissolved, and the junk was given to different brothers; He was very saddened and was not slow to reward what he had done to his brother (for he was slow to do it himself). One brother asked another brother, saying: “Abba ordered me to go to the bakery, bake bread for the brethren, and the workers there are worldly people, talking about things they shouldn’t, and it won’t do me any good to listen to it. Because what should I do? - The brother answered like this: “Have you ever seen children when they are learning to read and write in large numbers, and each of them is studying his own lesson, and not the lesson of another, knowing that they will tell their teacher their lesson, and not someone else’s? And if passions begin to overcome you, then listen to the one who says: “Everything that tempts, hold on to what is good” (1 Thess. 5:20).” He who talks a lot among the brethren multiplies quarrels and increases self-hatred. And whoever is careful with his words will be loved. The great light in the soul is the “fear of the Lord,” which drives out darkness from it and makes it pure. After prayer, brothers, let us begin to rejoice in the goodness of handicraft, because we will be rewarded if we do the work without deception. Whoever does not take care of business, out of cunning, or out of pride, or out of love of money, will be told what is written: “Give them your hand according to their work” (Ps. 27:4). And whoever works with a clear conscience, wanting to please God and not people, will be honored to hear this blessed voice: “Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful for a little, I will make you ruler over many: enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:21). Glory to him forever! Amen. If, having renounced the world, you leave your land and your kinship, and the Lord your God gives you rest, and you remain silent somewhere in the future, then have no desire to take your name with you to that place, even if you were a prince and a very great man in your land. But tell your thoughts, as the prophet said: “I am poor and wretched” (Ps. 39:18), so that God will help you and exalt you. Question: Why does a brother, sitting in his cell, fall into negligence? Answer: While the soul dreams of earthly things, various wishes of this world and vain pleasures that appear in the soul’s thoughts weaken its strength. Therefore, the brother, sitting in his cell, falls into negligence. If he hates this world and its charm, and with all his heart and with all his soul presents himself as a slave to the Lord, then negligence will not take power over him, and subsequently he will be free to do his work. True, (the enemy) will offer him abuse with thoughts of vanity; but even such a thought will be driven away from himself by the servant of the Lord, taking into consideration both his natural weakness and the one whose gift he has, in accordance with those who said: “Why did you accept it? Even if you accepted that you boasted, it was not accepted” (1 Cor. 4:7). He also wrestles with the weakness of the flesh; but the servant of the Lord will not come into fear and will not separate himself from the love of God, according to the words of the one who said: “Who will separate us from the love of God: be it tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or trouble, or sword: just as it is written: For for Your sake we are slain all the day long: we are counted as sheep of the slaughter. But in all these we overcome for our Beloved. For we have known that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor beginnings, nor powers below, nor the present, nor the future, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:35-39). After all passions follows the spirit of fornication. Avoid shameful words and you will avoid unclean thoughts. If our superiors order us to go along with our brethren to share, then we will readily hurry, without arguing with the lazy. But whoever is able and does not work with the brethren harms himself in many ways. Firstly, he deprives himself of a reward, and secondly, he gives rise to grumbling and gossip as having committed a matter of selfishness. A diligent person should not look at lazy brothers. During the harvest, no one will ever say: “Since my neighbor does not gather his own wheat, I will not gather for myself.” On the contrary, everyone, as soon as he has time, collects food for himself and his livestock, so that later he can live without need. And if such effort is about the carnal, how much more should we try about the spiritual! It is good for elders to excel others in honor, and it is good to show compassion to the weak. The wise elders are fatness (the best) for the brethren, anointing and strengthening the soul. The beginning of pride is not sharing the labors with the brethren to the best of your ability. When we get together to work, then we won’t say much, but we’ll apply all our care to what we came for. Fearlessness gives birth to pride, and pride is the mother of disobedience. Humility and meekness of those who possess them are nailed to the fear of God as a pillar established in the church of the Lord. It is harmful for a monk to share company with a woman. And do not approach a virgin at all, if you still have thoughts of the carnal in you. A monk who spends time drinking wine with women is no different from one who throws himself into the fire. Run from meeting them like a chamois runs from a snare. Be sober from your youth, brother, so as not to repent at your end. Let not your heart be jealous of sinful men, for it is written: “Do not be jealous of those who are evil; do not be jealous of those who commit iniquity. For the grass will soon dry up, and the herbs will soon disappear. Trust in the Lord and do good deeds” (Ps. 37:1-3). If your brother, beloved, behaves badly, admonish him, saying: “Stop it, brother. This behavior is not good for you.” Present to him as an example one of the fallen, not in the same way as if you were divulging about the fall of the fallen, but with the goal of benefiting the admonished brother, so that he, looking at the subsequent danger, avoids the fall. Bring to his memory those who have pleased the Lord, and explain what reward awaits both. And “if he listens to you, you have gained your brother” (Matthew 18:15). If he remains with the same way of thinking, and the one admonished by others does not obey, continuing to behave carelessly, then beware of him yourself, praying for him to the Lord, according to the words of him who said: “If anyone does not listen to our word, signify this message: and do not interfere with him, so that he will be put to shame: and do not have him as an enemy, but punish him as a brother” (2 Thess. 3:14-15). Who, having ever seen that another followed the path and fell on it (walking along) into death, would not run away from this path, so as not to suffer the same fall?! Do not be deceived, brother, by the satiety of your belly and do not get drunk with “wine, in which there is fornication” (Eph. 5:18). Nothing benefits you except one thing - to do the will of the Lord. Protect, brother, the integrity of your body. If you keep it in the love of Christ, then you will be able to comfortably succeed in every virtue. The Holy Spirit dwelling in you will rejoice over you, that you fill the church of God with the fragrance of innocence and right will, and will strengthen you for every good deed. And to excel in virtues and in divine innocence you have the following three aids: abstinence of the belly and tongue, and bridling the eye. If you preserve the first ones, but do not preserve your eyes from wandering, then you will not acquire lasting innocence. Just as a broken water pipe does not hold water, so a scattered eye will not hold a chaste mind. When a desire for food is born in you, say to the thought: “Reflect that if you had enjoyed this food yesterday, you would not have fasted now?” “And if it inspires you to ask about something useless, then tell the thought: “Think that you have already asked, and your neighbor answered you, and be silent.” If absent-mindedness inspires you, then say to the thought: “You are here for this purpose, so as not to observe “foreign kindness” (beauty) (Sir.9:8). Be more attentive to yourself and do not indulge in negligence, so that your mind is nailed to the fear of God, according to the words of Him who said: “Nail my flesh to Thy fear, for I am afraid of Thy judgments” (Ps. 119:120). I think that it is indecent for a monk, especially a young one, to leave his cell without an amice (one of the clothes of the Old Testament high priests looked like a shoulder veil - ed.) or another veil, because without this his appearance would be unseemly. It is disgraceful for a monk to walk around in one Leviton or camisole, for it is written: “Gird yourself, and step into your vestments... put on your robe, and follow me” (Acts 12:8). A monk should not wash his body or feet with special care. Just as sensualists seek pleasure for themselves in the grace of body and clothing, so the ascetic of piety, in the opposite of this, takes up arms against his opponents. We should not do anything for show to people, but we must act in everything from a pure heart, because God knows what is hidden and secret, and from Him alone we hope to receive reward. A monk should not make extraneous speeches, especially during the service of God, so as not to create an obstacle (temptation) for others. Our brothers work, but we spend our time in idleness. They, listening to the Divine Scriptures, revel in the rain like a thirsty earth, while we, even being inside the seclusion, wander outside with our thoughts. They are sober, but we are not happy; they are awake in prayer, but we have bound ourselves to sleep and laziness; they received the crown, but we remain in our weakness; They pleased the Lord, but we please the world. We also need to sober up in order to receive a reward. “Everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and it will be opened to him who interprets” (Luke 11:10), because “the Lord is good to everyone, and His tender mercies are upon all His works” (Ps. 144:9). Glory to him forever! Amen. Honor God, beloved, and keep His commandments, and soon, if not here, then there, behind you you will see those who humiliate you. Therefore, keep love as the apple of your eye; in it there is light and life. Keep her, she is a joy for all who are committed to her. She is Divine acquisition, she is Angelic dignity. Keep her. If you love her, “your youth will be renewed like an eagle” (Ps. 102:5). If you keep it, it will be your joy before God and before the Angels. If you love her, you will prosper in all your undertakings. If you love her, the grace of God will dwell in you, and this grace will be a source of healing for people, and its fragrance will rejoice your heart. She is the table of all virtues, there is no mortal sorrow in her, she teaches truth and courage, patience and peace, she is the house of God. Keep her. The Lord Himself will give us it and its fruits. Glory to him forever! Amen. Let us, beloved, love each other, and the enemy will be put to shame, for he never ceases to arouse in us jealousy and envy towards the servants of God. Those who follow the advice of the enemy, seeing one of their brethren serving the Lord from the heart, do not tolerate him, but plot with the intention of expelling him, fearing that, having succeeded in true reverence, he will become stronger than them. And this persecuted one goes his own way, being innocent of separation. They, having become the reason for this, will not be without guilt. So Joseph was sold as a slave to Egypt, but God, Whom he had in his soul, did not leave him despised (abandoned), but gave him grace and wisdom before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and made him the ruler of Egypt and the entire house of Pharaoh, and those who rejected Joseph came with gifts to worship him - not only as a brother, but as the king and lord of all the land of Egypt. For it is written: “The Lord destroys the counsels of tongues, and sweeps away the thoughts of men, and sweeps aside the counsels of princes. But the counsel of the Lord endures forever” (Ps. 33:10). And he also says: “The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man does to me” (Ps. 118:6). Therefore, beloved, let us be careful not to cause one to stumble from these little ones, for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said: “If anyone causes one to stumble from these little ones who believe in Me, let him not eat, so that a millstone of an ass may be crushed on his neck, and he will be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18:6. Luke 17:2). one of these little ones: I say to you, for their angels in heaven see the face of my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:10). Therefore, let us love one another, beloved, so that the Lord, seeing the faith and unanimity with which we abide in the fear of Him, will rejoice in us, according to what is written: "The Lord will rejoice in His deeds" (Ps. 103:31). eyelids! Be sober, beloved, and be attentive to yourself, because the enemy has many wiles. If the enemy sees that a brother is getting sober, or intends to get sober, then he incites another negligent brother against him, which is why they often lay hands on each other. Then, when they become friends, the malicious one increases their mutual friendship and freedom of treatment - not for the sake of virtue, but in order to disturb their thoughts and mix voluptuousness with them. And there is great evil, because after they fall under condemnation, the enemy often arouses in them such hatred that they abandon their recent useless friendship. And whoever fears God will never love without wisdom from above. For it is written: “And wisdom from above is first pure, and then peaceable” (James 3:17), and so on. If you live with the brethren, then learn not to give orders, but to be a better example for them in good deeds and to do with obedience what others tell you. And if the need arises and you have to say a word, then act as an adviser. If another brother makes an objection to what you said, then do not be embarrassed by the thought, but renounce your will for the sake of love and peace, for if you repel the anger of an annoying brother with meekness, he will not be able to stand against you. Therefore, to the one who objects to you, say this: “As an ignoramus, I said this, blessed one, because it seemed so to me; but forgive me that I said this out of ignorance; let it be as you say.” And the devil who causes confusion will be turned back without success and with shame. And perseverance and perseverance in one’s will excite confusion and indomitable irritability: “fury rests in the depths of the foolish” (Eccl. 7:10), “the desire of his wrath will fall to him” (Sir. 1:22). And the apostle commands, saying: “It is not fitting for the servant of the Lord to be boiled” (2 Tim. 2:24). The Apostle says: “Keep your holiness from fornication” (1 Thess. 4:4). But there is a lot of struggle between the sacred and the desecrated. Those who assist us in desecration (demons) instill this thought and say: “Look, no one sees you; Who are you afraid of? - And those who help us in the shrine object to them: “God sees, and His angels are with you, - how can you say: who sees me?” - The Tempter continues: “You don’t see anyone here yet.” But the collaborators of the shrine interrupt him: “You said well that you see no one, for it is written: “For their malice has blinded them, and they have not taken away the secrets of God” (Wis. 2:21-22). The Prophet cries out and says: “Understand the madness in people and you will never be wise. Empty your ears, won't you hear? Or He who created the eye, does not he watch” (Ps. 94:8-9)? And in another place he says: “Lord, you have tempted me, and you have known me. You have known my sitting and my rising. Thou hast understood my thoughts from afar: Thou hast explored my path and mine already, and Thou hast foreseen all my paths. For there is no flattery in my tongue: behold, O Lord, Thou hast known. All the latest and ancient. You created me, and you laid Your hand on me. If Your mind is amazed at Me, become established, I will not be able to reach it. Where shall I go from Your Spirit? And do I flee from Your face? If I go up to heaven”, - “There you are, if I go down to hell” - “there you are. And I will take up my wings early and dwell in the last seas” - “and there Your hand will guide me and Your right hand will hold me. And reh: the food of darkness will trample me, and the night of enlightenment in my sweetness? For the darkness shall not be darkened by You, and the night shall be brightened like the day; so shall its light be like its darkness” (Ps. 139:1-12). And in another place he says: “In Him we live and move and are” (Acts 17:28). How can you say that no one sees you? The Lord said: “I tell you, if these things remain silent, the stone will cry out” (Luke 19:40). Put this into your thoughts, and sin will no longer have dominion over you, and sinful sorrow will not overtake you, but joy and peace in the Holy Spirit will come to you. For what is sin? Dark and gloomy sadness meets (embraces) those who commit sin and, attacking them, accompanies them. And the shrine is accompanied by joy and peace. That is why, when someone sits in a silent cell, he rejoices in the Holy Spirit, like a baby at his mother’s nipples. Then the descending grace makes him cry and shed tears again because of the renewed remembrance of his former sins in him - and this is so that he does not stumble, having been carried high in the excess of joy. With tears the soul is enlightened by the gift of the Lord, as if reflecting the heavenly in itself in a mirror. Great is the gift - holiness in the love of God, as the Lord says: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). But may the Lord Himself, Who raises up the brokenhearted and saves the outcast, and renews members aged in sins through repentance, keep our body, soul, and spirit immaculate. Glory to him forever! Amen. If a monk remains silent in his cell, he will be freed from many worries. He who is infantile in mind, if he gets close to the crowd, will not receive any benefit; and whoever has perfect understanding benefits from it. But it is much better to remain silent. For example, a beloved brother goes to the city, he will meet a noisy crowd of people - some laugh, some cry, some utter terrible oaths, some slander; and the brother, seeing everything, if weak in thought, suddenly stops in thought on what the Pharisee said and says: “I give you praise, Lord, as I do not, like other men” (Luke 18:11); and often leaves this sight with passionate movements in the heart. Therefore, silence is most appropriate for the weak. And whoever has perfect reason, seeing what I have described, is amazed at the thought of God’s long-suffering and says to himself: “You see how long-suffering God is! When we blaspheme Him, He endures it patiently and is not angry; when we are neglected, it endures and does not remember evil; richly gives us everything that serves for pleasure, admonishing and merciful to us, and wanting to lead everyone to repentance due to his great goodness. What should I, a sinner, do? Being earth and ashes, I don’t want to endure insults, not even a single word from my brother. If they don’t honor me, I get angry; If they beg me, I exalt myself. Alas, alas for me, a sinner!” - And, thus lamenting, the brother goes away, glorifying God and saying: “Glory to Thee, God! And I repeat: Glory to You, God, one and loving of mankind!” If, when unclean thoughts disturb your mind, beloved, then do not despair, but spend God’s bounties as a memory. To whom a ship is entrusted, the owner of the ship will never reproach him like this: “Why did you let the waves hit my ship?” - But will he really say: “Why didn’t you take care of the ship and resist the waves?” Why didn’t you also resort to the harbor that was in your sight, that is, to the bounties of God? When the enemy stirs up in us an uprising of such unclean thoughts that even human hearing cannot tolerate, then, turning to us, he says the following: “You are lost, you have no hope of salvation,” and thereby wants to plunge us into despair. But do not rely on his words, so as not to amaze your souls with your despair. On the contrary, to the extent that enemies burden the soul with despair, to the extent that we will lighten it with the hope of the future, remembering the bounty of God, so that the opponents, having burdened the soul even more, do not drown it with thoughts. And therefore, to their words: “You are lost and can no longer be saved,” we ourselves will say to them: “Having a merciful and long-suffering God, we do not despair of our salvation. For He who commanded not only seven times, but seventy times seven, to forgive one’s neighbor’s sins (Matthew 18:22), much more will He forgive the sins of those who expect salvation from Him.” Repelled from this side, the enemies attack us from the other side, saying: “God is merciful, long-suffering and forgiving of sins. Why don’t you rather enjoy the pleasures of the world and then repent?” “But we will tell them: “What we have done cannot be undone. And now, as Scripture testifies, “the last hour is” (1 John 2:18). At what hour, or at what time will we trust, neglect our salvation and begin to do evil contrary to the Lord our God? Be like a man who sits under a tree, and when wild animals gather around him, they do him no harm. By tree mean the fear of God; and grace will assist you in everything wherever you go, and you will put your enemies under your feet. This is how the faithful should behave in real life. If joy happens to us: either because of success, or because of talents, we will assume that sadness is not far from us. And if sadness has come upon us, let us wait for joy to approach us. Let's take the example of those sailing on the sea. When the wind and a strong storm arise against them, they do not lose hope of their salvation, but resist the waves, waiting for calm weather; and when silence comes, they expect storms, and therefore are always vigilant so that the suddenly rising wind does not catch them unprepared and overturn them into the sea. So we must keep both of these in mind. If the expected comes, it will not be news to the one who meets, for he will not be unprepared. Therefore, when sorrow and hardship befall us, let us expect relief and help from God, so that during prolonged sorrow the thought that we no longer have any hope of salvation will cause us death. And in the same way, when we have joy, let us wait for sorrow, so that when there is an excess of joy we do not forget about tears. If out of compassion you go to ask for your brother, then, without yet meeting with the one you intend to ask, tell your thought: “If they do not listen to you, then do not be angry and do not be embarrassed,” so that your anxiety does not turn into harm and you do not blame your brother for this. If they listen to you, then thanks be to God. If the person asked is not convinced to act according to your words, then do not be angry. You will undoubtedly receive a reward for compassion and mercy from God, as you did it for the sake of His name. Did you desire the Kingdom of Heaven, beloved, and want to be worthy of the Lord? Listen to the One who says: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor: and have treasure in heaven: and come after Me” (Matthew 19:21). And again: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me... And he who does not accept his cross and comes after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37–38). So, it is impossible to follow the Lord except by bearing the cross, because having said first: “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and have treasure in heaven,” he then says: “and come after Me.” Therefore, show not just renunciation of the world, but also the experience of enduring such labors - then the feat and struggle with the enemy will be more clear. But then, if the enemy deviates your thoughts from the heavenly way of thinking, he will make the latter “worse than the first” and bring it to the point that he who generously squanders his property will fearlessly begin to collect the most insignificant things, and he who has renounced legal marriage will become a lover of fornication and lewdness. This is why great sobriety is needed until we “save our bodies” and leave our ascetic field. If you meet, beloved, a society of brethren ascetics and wish to live with them and serve the Lord, then be humble in everything, so that your excellent behavior can admonish those who come to this society from a disastrous world and arouse their souls to excel in virtues. Therefore, when the superiors order us to go to work with the brethren, we will go with all readiness. If you want to say: “My body cannot bear the labor of the villagers,” then it is known that not everyone can bear the same burden. However, everyone is given the opportunity to be obedient and accommodating. Show your true disposition, and everyone will relieve you of your burden, seeing the lack of your strength. But do not allow them to completely remove the burden from you; on the contrary, beg them, saying: “And I want to have a share with you,” and work with them to the best of your strength, given to you by the Lord. For the Knower of the Heart, who created us and gave us the breath of life, knows how much strength he has given to everyone. If, after moving away from the world, we do something contrary to the commandments of God, then our work becomes vain. So that the enemy does not come and sow in your mind a desire for something former, do not allow yourself to engage in such thoughts. For remembering the past gives rise to arrogance in people who foolishly dwell on it in thought. When there is no place for arrogance in real life, then the enemy betrays a person to the spirit of evil. But do you know what evil is? This is an evil passion that angers God and upsets people. Just as a sword cuts the veins of a horse and throws the rider to the ground, so the spirit of evil dislikes cuts off the spiritual strength and betrays sorrow; sadness upsets those plunged into it. And whoever, having decided to enter the city, to which thirty stages had crossed twenty-nine stages and did not reach one stage, left the house, but did not enter the city. Just as he who came at the eleventh hour received a full reward along with others who bore the burden of the day, so he who worked until the eleventh hour, if at the twelveth hour he begins to redo the work and pull out what was planted by him, will not receive a reward with them, as our Lord and Savior said: “But he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). And again: “no one lays his hand on his forehead, and in vain turns back, he is ruled in the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). Lotov's wife, looking back, became a pillar of salt. And the apostle, “forgetting what is behind, but reaching out to what is before,” said: And “the world passes away, and its lust: but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). We are wanderers and strangers in this life. But if in its continuation, while we have time, we do what is pleasing to the Lord, we will receive a reward. Therefore, beloved, acquire patience for yourself, for it is written: “In your patience you will gain your souls” (Luke 21:19). Enoch, after he gave birth to Methuselah, pleased God for two hundred years. Will we really give in to negligence in our short time? Resist harmful thoughts and say along with those who say: “I have been crucified with Christ: but I live, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal. 2:19-20). “What good does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul” (Matthew 16:26). “Turn away from Me, you wicked ones, and I will try the commandments of my God” (Ps. 119:115). Since Ecclesiastes “with such wealth and glory cries: vanity of vanities is all vanity” (Eccl. 1:2), then I will no longer offer my labors as a gift to vanity, so that after my departure others will receive an inheritance, and I will suffer punishment, but I dedicate my labors to the good and merciful God, who after death gives life, and has prepared for those who love him “whose eyes have not seen, and the ear did not hear, and the heart of man did not sigh” (1 Cor. 2:9). Hey, beloved, “take courage and let your heart be strong, and be patient with the Lord” (Ps. 26:14), and your journey will be in peace. There you will see the righteous rejoicing over their salvation; there you will dwell with Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham, because you chose poverty, endured sorrow, endured reproaches, and did not hate humiliation. Therefore, with joy they will accept you into eternal shelters, from where illness, sadness and sighing fled. There you will see life and true light, the hope of all creation - the Redeemer of our souls, our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of glory. And your heart will rejoice, “and no one will take your joy from you.” Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself will keep us all blameless. Glory to Him forever! Amen. You might be interested in: