Letter 172

to a craftsman, about true domination

You ask me, how can you make your son master? So that "he would not suffer as I have suffered all my life, and I have suffered and tormented much, but preserve faith and piety" – so you write.

Man of God, yes, you are the most true master, for in the Christian sense the true master is the one who has preserved the master's soul in all trials and sufferings; And in the worldly, pagan perception, the master is considered to be the one who every day exposes his soul to the danger of external domination – power, wealth and fame. The true dominion is in us, and not in us. Security in idleness is a guarantee of the death of the soul and the decay of the personality.

There were two ploughs in our house, one clean and shiny, and the other rusty and dull. My uncle used to call that clean and shiny plow "Mr. Plow." "Today Mr. Plough and I are going to plow," he said, "and leave that rust, let it rust." Through service, true domination, radiance of soul and beauty of character are achieved. I have come to be your servant, – said the Lord to the Apostles [275]. And he taught them to be servants on earth in order to preserve the master's soul and rule in heaven. And the apostles were pure and bright as plows; with their help, the Master of the universe cultivated the world and sowed the noble seed of heavenly dominion and the Heavenly Kingdom. A true master is one who has a master's soul and a master's character; who keeps in mind his lord's heavenly origin; who spend his short earthly life not in idleness, but in the glorification of God and the salvation of his soul and neighbors; who in wealth feels himself to be poor, and in poverty – rich in God; who accepts everything with gratitude, endures with hope, and who dies with faith; who, according to the words of the Apostle Paul, is pleased in weaknesses, in offenses, in needs, in persecutions, in oppression for Christ's sake (2 Corinthians 12:10).

All those who, having abandoned the illusory earthly dominion, followed Christ – the lords of God, the nobility of Christ, the aristocracy of heaven.

Peace be upon you and blessings from the Lord.

Letter 173

American K., about whom to believe

You describe how one of your fellow citizens, calling himself a scientist, collected money from everyone, including from you, to make wings for each person. People believed him and trustingly gave the money, until that "scientist" on some invisible "wings" disappeared from your city. "People today do not know whom and what to believe," you conclude your letter. And here some baptized people ask: what to believe in? This question will be easy to answer if we first determine who we trust.

We trust the one who manifests three qualities: truthfulness, knowledge, and love. And children believe their parents because they are confident in their truthfulness, knowledge and love. And we believe in Christ, the Son of God, because we are convinced that He is the Truth and that He loves us. Believe Me, – He says to His disciples [276]. And the disciples left everything and followed Him, because they believed.

And we believe hundreds of other strangers, although we have no evidence of their truthfulness, their knowledge, and even more so – love for us.