Огласительное поучение девятое

[To those preparing in Jerusalem for enlightenment, spoken without preparation, in the words: Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. And also to the words of Job: Who is this who darkens Providence with words without meaning? and so on. (cf. Job 38:2).] 1. It is impossible to see God with bodily eyes, for the incorporeal cannot be the object of bodily vision, and this was testified by the Only Begotten Son of God Himself, Who says: No one has ever seen God (John 1:18), for even if someone, on the basis of what is written in Ezekiel, raised an objection to us, what does Scripture say? Ezekiel saw the likeness of the glory of the Lord, and not the Lord Himself; the likeness of glory, and not the glory itself, as it is in itself. And seeing only the likeness of glory, and not the glory itself, he fell to the ground out of fear. If the seen likeness of glory brought the prophets into fear and trembling, then, of course, the one who dared to see God Himself would have lost his life, as it is said: a person cannot see Me and live (Ex. 33:20). That is why God, in order not to destroy us, out of His inexpressible love for mankind, spread out the sky to cover His Divinity. These are not my words, but the prophet said: Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down! the mountains would melt at Your presence (Is.64:1). And why are you surprised that Ezekiel, seeing the likeness of glory, fell, when Daniel, seeing Gabriel, the servant of the Lord, suddenly became horrified and fell on his face, and until the Angel took upon himself the likeness of a man, the prophet did not dare to answer? So, if the appearance of Gabriel made the prophets tremble, wouldn’t they all perish if they saw God Himself in His being? 2. So, it is impossible to see the beings of God with bodily eyes, but it is possible to ascend from Divine deeds to the contemplation of Omnipotence, as Solomon says: for from the greatness of the beauty of creatures the Author of their existence is comparatively known (Wis. 13:5). He did not say that the Creator can be contemplated from creatures, but he added that it is comparative, for God appears to everyone the more the more a person engages in contemplating creatures; and the more he elevates his heart through contemplation, the more he contemplates God. 3. Do you want to know that it is impossible to comprehend the nature of God? The three youths who praised God in the fiery furnace will tell you about this: Blessed are You, who see the deep, who sits on the Cherubim (Dan. 3:54). Tell me what the nature of the Cherubim is, and then consider Him who sits on them. Although the prophet Ezekiel made a possible description of them, saying that each has four faces: human, lion, eagle and calf, and each has six wings, and they have eyes from everywhere, and under each there is a four-part wheel (see Eze. 1: 6, 10: 12; 1: 15, 17; Is. 6: 2), however, reading this description made by the prophet, we cannot comprehend it we can; If we cannot comprehend the throne, about which the prophet has already spoken, then can we comprehend the invisible and ineffable God who sits on it? It is impossible to explore the nature of God, but you can send praises to Him about His visible creations. 4. This is told to you because it follows the teaching of faith, as we say: We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible, so that we may keep in mind that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the same one who created heaven and earth; and to protect ourselves from the errors of godless heretics who dared to wickedly preach about the all-wise Artist of this whole world and who, although they see with their bodily eyes, are deprived of spiritual vision. 5. What can they discredit in this great work of God? Contemplating the expanse of the heavens, they should have been struck with wonder, they should have worshiped the One who set up the heavens like a tent (Is. 40:22), and from a liquid watery creature made the solid composition of the heavens; for God said: Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters (Gen. 1:6). One day God spoke, and the firmament became and is not destroyed; the sky is made of water, and the sun, moon and stars located in it are of a fiery nature; and how do these fiery substances flow in water? If anyone doubts this because of the opposite nature of fire and water, let him remember the fire that ignited during the hail under Moses in Egypt, and at the same time see God’s all-wise dispensation. For, since water was subsequently needed to cultivate the land, God created a watery sky on high for the purpose that if the earthly country needed water from rain, the sky would be ready for this. 6. Also, shouldn't we be surprised when we look at the arrangement of the sun? Being, apparently, such a small vessel, it contains great power, for, appearing in the east, it spreads its light to the west; Describing its morning ascent, the psalmist said: and it comes out like a bridegroom from his bridal chamber (Ps. 18:6). He described the pleasant and moderate light of its first appearance to man, for just as during its midday procession we often hide due to the heat, so, on the contrary, during its ascent it, like the groom appearing, brings pleasure to everyone; and look at the wise order of it, or, better, not of it, but of Him who, by His command, determined its course; how it, walking higher during the summer, makes the days longer and thus provides people with a convenient time to correct their affairs; and in winter it shortens the flow so that the time of cold will not last long, and meanwhile the nights, being longer, would give people time to rest, and would help the earth to grow its fruits. Look also at how well the days are in correct correspondence with each other; in summer they increase and in winter they decrease; during spring and autumn, an equal measure of continuation is observed; and the nights also have a similar course to them, as the psalmist says about them: Day imparts speech to day, and night reveals knowledge to night (Ps. 18:3). For they almost cry out to the heretics who have no ears, but actually preach with good order that there is no other God except the Creator, Who disposes of times and arranges everything. 7. Let no one agree with those who say that one is the creator of light, another of darkness, but let him remember the words of Isaiah: I form light and create darkness (Is. 45:7). Why, man, are you indignant at this, why are you spending the time given to you to rest with vexation? The slave would not have received rest from his masters if darkness had not necessarily brought with him for this appointed time. How often, having worked hard during the day, we renew our strength at night, and those who were exhausted from work yesterday, get up in the morning after a night's rest with strength. And for wisdom what time is more precious than the night? For in its continuation we mostly think about God; in continuation of it we engage in reading and reasoning of the Divine Scriptures. And when is our mind better tuned for psalmody and prayer? Isn't it at night? At what time do we most often bring our own sins to mind? Is it during the night? So, let us not accept the wicked teaching that there is another creator of darkness, for experience shows that it is also good and very useful. 8. They should have been amazed, looking not only at the structure of the sun and moon, but also at the correct arrangement of the stars, at their unhindered flow and at the opportune ascent of each of them; how some of them show summer, and others winter, and how others signify the time of sowing, while others signify the coming time of sailing, and a man, sitting on a ship and sailing on immeasurable waves, controls the ship by observing the stars. Scripture speaks well about these actions: and there will be lights in the firmament of the heaven to separate day from night, and for signs, and times, and days, and years (Gen. 1:14), and not for fortune telling by the stars and empty observations of those being born. Look how beneficial He is for us to show daylight in its gradual increase, for we see that the sun does not suddenly rise, but a small light precedes it, so that the pupil of the eye, having previously become accustomed to it, can bear large rays, and how it moderates the darkness of the night with moonlight. 9 . Does rain have a father? Or who gives birth to drops of dew? ( Job 38:28 ). Who condensed the air into clouds and commanded them to carry rainwater? Sometimes He brings golden clouds from the north, sometimes He turns them into the same color and again changes them into different, circular and other forms. Whose wisdom can number the clouds? As Job says about it: Do you understand the balance of the clouds? ( Job 37:16 ). Also: Who can sort the clouds with his wisdom and hold the vessels of heaven? ( Job 38:37 ); and one more thing: the cloud does not dissipate under them (Job.26:8). There is a great weight of water on the clouds, and they do not dissolve, but the waters fall to the earth in perfect order. Who brings out the wind from His storehouses? (Ps. 134:7). Who, as we said before, gives birth to drops of dew? From whose belly does ice come? ( Job 38:28–29 ). Its essence is water, and its properties are stone. And besides, water sometimes becomes snow, like a wave, sometimes it falls in the darkness, like ashes, sometimes it turns into a stone substance - because God arranges from it whatever He wants. Its nature is homogeneous and its action is diverse. The water in the vines becomes wine, gladdening the heart of a person; in the olive trees, oil, anointing the face of a person; it also turns into bread, strengthening the heart of a person, and into all kinds of fruits. 10. So what? Should the Creator be blasphemed for this, or should it be better to worship Him? And before this I have not yet spoken about the hidden works of His wisdom. Look at spring and at flowers of all kinds, which, despite their very similarities, are different; look how red the rose is and how white the lily is: they are from the same rain and from the same earth. Who diversified them? Who created them? Consider what kind of frugality is observed: one substance of the tree is partly turned into bark, and partly into various fruits, but there is only one Artist. In one grapevine, part goes into the branches, part into the shoots, part into the leaves, part into the cluster and part into the berries. Marvel at how often the Artist girded the reed with his knees. From the same land come reptiles, animals, cattle, trees, food, gold, silver, copper, iron, and stone. One nature is water, but from it fish and birds are born; and just as some swim in the waters, so others fly in the air. 11. This is a great and spacious sea: there are reptiles there, of which there is no number (Ps. 103:25). Who can tell the beauty of the fish swimming in it? Who can tell the size of whales and the property of amphibians, according to which they live both on solid land and in waters? Who can tell the depth and breadth of the sea or the excessive rush of the waves? But it stands within its boundaries, because God said: Hitherto you will come and not pass over, and here is the limit of your arrogant waves (Job.38:11). It shows the command that lies on it: when it rushes in waves to the shores, it leaves a clear line on them, as if showing the audience that it has not exceeded its limits. 12. Who can explore the nature of birds of the air? Some of them have a tongue capable of singing, others are speckled with various colors, others, having soared to a height, stand motionless in the air, for example, a hawk. For by Divine command the hawk flies and directs its wings to the midday (Job 39:26). What kind of person can see an eagle flying high? If you cannot see the most dumb bird flying high, then how do you want to comprehend the Creator of all things? 13. Which person knows the names of all the animals? Or who can examine the doctrine of the nature of each of them? If we don’t even know the names of the animals, then how can we comprehend their Creator? One day God spoke a command, that the earth should produce living souls according to their kind, cattle, creeping things, and wild beasts (cf. Gen. 1:24-25), and from one command, from one source, animals of different qualities arose: a meek sheep and a carnivorous lion; dumb with various motives that depict different dispositions of people, such as: a fox represents deceit in people, a snake represents those who emit poison on friends, a neighing horse represents lusty youths, a hardworking ant excites the lazy and careless. For whoever spends his youth in idleness is admonished by dumb animals, being rebuked by the words of Divine Scripture: Go to the ant, you sluggard, look at its action, and be wise (Proverbs 6:6). For, seeing how he gathers food for himself in advance, imitate him and gather for yourself the fruits of good deeds for the future life. Being rebuked by these words: [go to the bee and find out how hardworking she is] (Proverbs 6:8). How she, flying around all sorts of flowers, makes honey for your benefit, so that you, re-reading all the Divine Scriptures, achieve your salvation, and, being satisfied with it, say: How sweet are Your words to my throat! better than honey to my mouth (Ps. 119:103). 14. Isn't the Artist worthy of glorification? If you do not know the nature of all creatures, is that really why they are bad? And can you know the action of all plants? Or understand in full the benefit that comes from every animal? Even against poisonous snakes, protective measures have been given to people for healing. But you will tell me: the serpent is terrible - fear the Lord, and it will not be able to harm you. Scorpio is caustic - fear the Lord, and he will not hurt you. The lion is bloodthirsty - fear the Lord, and he will sit with you as with Daniel. Truly, one should be amazed at the actions of animals: how some of them have sharp stings, for example a scorpion, others have strength in their teeth, others use their claws in fight, and the basilisk has strength in its gaze. So, from the various creations, infer the power of the Creator. 15. But perhaps you don’t understand this: you have nothing in common with animals that are alien to you. Ascend into yourself and from your own nature know the Artist. Have you done anything in your body that is worthy of reproach? Rule yourself, there will not be a single unfit member out of everyone. At first, Adam was naked in paradise with Eve, but it was not for his limbs that he was expelled. For it is not the members that cause sin, but those who use the members for evil; Creator of the members of the wise. Who prepared extensive wombs for childbirth? Who animates the soulless fruit in them? Who binds us with sinews and bones, clothes us with skin and flesh, and, as soon as the baby is born, produces milk from the nipples? How does a baby grow into a child, then into a young man, then into a man, and finally into an old man? And yet no one notices this continuous change. How is food partly converted into blood, partly excreted, and partly returned to the body? Who constantly moves the heart? Who wisely protected the tenderness of eyes with leaders? The varied and amazing structure of the eyes is barely explained in the great books of doctors. Who transmits a single breath of breath to the whole body? Do you see, man, the Artist? Do you see the all-wise Creator? 16. So, this is what I proposed to you in my word, leaving a great many other things, especially related to the incorporeal and invisible world, both so that you would hate those who blaspheme the wise and good Creator, and so that from what has been said and read and from what you yourself can find or know, and also being captivated by the beauty of creatures and recognizing the Creator of beauty (see. Wisdom 13:3), with reverence you bowed your knees before the Author of all things, sensory and spiritual, visible and invisible, and so that with purity and a blasphemous tongue, unceasing lips and heart, you glorified God, saying: How many are Your works, Lord! You have done everything wisely (Ps. 103:24). For Yours is honor, glory and majesty, now and forever. Amen. You might be interested in: