SEPTEMBER

One of the reasons why God allows evil spirits to rage in human bodies and subject man to disease

(The Miracle of St. Simeon about the Presbyter, Prologue Sept. 1)

It is known that evil spirits not only try to destroy people's souls, stirring, supporting, and multiplying errors, superstitions, and all kinds of impiety among them, but, as we see in the case of demon-possessed and other sufferers, they sometimes rage in human bodies and subject people to bodily illnesses. Why does the Lord allow this last thing to happen to evil spirits? And why are they given power not only over the spirit, but even over the flesh? Know, brethren, that in this latter case evil spirits are instruments of God's wrath, and God allows them to inflict illnesses on people for their sins, so that they, even though through sorrows and sufferings of the body, may come to their senses, repent of their sins and reform themselves.

One time a certain presbyter was sitting in the church narthex and reading the Holy Gospel. While reading, he suddenly felt as if some dark and gloomy cloud surrounded him, and at the same time, the light darkened in his eyes and his mind became darkened, and in all his limbs he felt a weakness, and became dumb.

And he remained in such a terrible illness for nine years and suffered so much that, lying on his bed, he could not turn from side to side without help. Meanwhile it finally happened that his relatives, hearing about the miracles that the Monk Simeon the Stylite had performed, took the presbyter and carried him to the monk. When they, having not reached the monastery in which Simeon lived, lay down to rest, at that time the latter, who was standing at prayer, was revealed from above about the presbyter's illness and about his approach. Then the monk summoned one of his disciples, gave him holy water and said: "Take this water and hasten quickly from the monastery. Near him you will see a sick presbyter carried on his bed, sprinkle him with holy water and say to him the following: The sinful Simeon says to you: "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, arise and leave your bed and come to Simeon yourself." The presbyter immediately became well, came to the saint and fell down at his feet. Simeon said to him: "Get up and do not be afraid." Even if the devil has inflicted sorrow on you at the age of nine years, God's love for mankind has not forgotten you and has not allowed you to perish to the end. Know that the devil is allowed to embitter you because you fearlessly and irreverently stood in the holy altar, listened to slanderers and slandered by them, did not find the truth, and deprived them of Holy Communion. In this way you saddened God and greatly pleased the devil, who fell under his dark power. "But now, seeing that the love of mankind and the mercies of God have abounded upon thee, loose those whom thou hast grieved by excommunication, and as the Lord hath wrought mercy unto thee, so do thou also unto them." – After these words the presbyter with great joy left the monk and fulfilled all that was commanded to him (Prologue of Sept. 1).

From this narration, it seems clear, brethren, that evil spirits are sometimes truly like executors of God's wrath, and that God allows them to inflict illnesses on people precisely for their sins, so that they may repent of their sins and correct themselves even through sorrows and bodily sufferings. The above-mentioned presbyter proves this truth in the best possible way. Why did he fall under the power of the devil, who struck him with illness? For sins. Why was this allowed? In order for the presbyter, as Simeon told him, to confess his sins and atone for them. - But this is not the only example. Thus we see that the Apostle Paul also commanded that the incest should be delivered over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved (1 Corinthians 5:5). Do you hear? He commanded that he should be delivered over to Satan, not for the destruction of man, but for his correction, that the spirit might be saved. Thus, we repeat, it is clear that the Lord allows evil spirits to inflict illnesses on people for their sins, so that they may come to their senses and repent at least through sorrows and sufferings. And from this what lesson can there be for us, brethren? So that we would remember that although the demons always seek to do us harm, they cannot do anything to us without God's permission, and that if we want to escape their dark power, we must avoid sins and live virtuously, remembering that evil spirits cannot harm holy people and those who revere God. If, finally, we know that the demons are constantly seeking to harm us, and that this is allowed to them for our sins, then in general we must be constantly attentive to ourselves, to our thoughts, intentions, and deeds, we must constantly be vigilant and put on all those weapons which are indicated to us in the word of God against the enemies of our salvation. Be sober and watchful, while your adversary the devil walketh about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Amen.

It must be remembered that the devil attacks with particular bitterness people who turn from sin to virtue

(Homily on the Young Man Who Uncovers the Dead and Repents, Prologue of Sept. 2).

Why, brethren, it usually happens that when we decide to sin, it is as if someone is pushing us to sin, and we rush to it with great haste; And when we decide to turn from sin to virtue, how difficult is it for us? Why has despondency, melancholy, and often some kind of discontent oppressed us lately? Know, brethren, that in the first case we rush to sin with great haste, because the devil pushes us to it; And in the latter it is difficult because, when we turn from sin to virtue, the devil declares a terrible battle against us, torments us invisibly and disturbs us, using all his strength to lead us away from the virtuous path again as quickly as possible and put us back on the path of perdition.

In a certain city there lived a certain young man who had done a great deal of evil, and his trade was that he robbed the dead. But then one day the grace of God touched his heart, he was horrified by his evil deeds, remembered God's judgment and decided to spend the next life in repentance and humility. For this reason, having come to the caves where lay the dead who had been robbed by him, he at first wept bitterly, not even daring to pronounce the name of God, and then completely secluded himself in one of the caves. But then began a terrible demonic battle for him. A week of his life in the tombs passed, and after that hordes of demons appeared and cried out: "Where is this filthy and unclean one, who, having had enough of sin, now wants to show himself chaste and pious? Do you really think you are still a Christian? And do you think that you will be pardoned, having done so many of our evils? Get out of here quickly, and go back to your former deeds. Harlots and buyers of stolen goods are already waiting for you. Why do you not go to satisfy your vile desires? Look, if you don't go, we'll take what is ours. And why are you starving yourself so much? And why, accursed one, do you think to avoid torment? Aren't you ours? And didn't he sell himself to us? And hast thou not done all our iniquities? And is it not for this reason that he is guilty of all of us? And will you dare to answer us anything to all this? "Thus cried the demons. But the young man, believing in God's boundless mercy to repentant sinners, was strengthened by God's help and power, and answered nothing to the demons. For a long time, for a long time, the demons continued to torment him with their cries, but seeing that they did not help to take the youth into their hands again, by God's permission, they began to inflict evil on his body as well. The demons beat him so hard many times that they left him barely alive. And there were times when the young man could not even touch his limb alone, he moaned and thought that his last hour was already coming. Meanwhile, his relatives sought him out and, finding him in the cave, asked: "Why have you come here?" Not knowing his intentions, they urged him in every possible way to return home, but the youth did not listen to them. The demons continued to torment him, and his relatives and packs came to him and again begged him to leave the cave. The youth said to them: "No, I would rather die in these tombs than return to the world to mortal sins." "And they were forced to return home alone. After their departure, the demons attacked the youth again, and with such fury that they almost killed him. But this was also their last attack. Seeing the youth unshaken in patience and courage like a rock, they finally withdrew from him, crying out: "Yes, by the grace of God and by his patience He has overcome us!"

It is the same with all of us, when we abandon evil deeds and take up good ones. At this time, we are bored and tormented by the fact that here the devil declares an irreconcilable battle against us.

Remembering this, let us, with all the strength of our souls, drive away from us the inner and pernicious serpent with patience and courage, and at the same time, without a doubt, with prayer and fasting; for these last two weapons in the struggle against the enemy of our salvation are shown to us by the Lord Himself. This kind, He says, does not proceed except by prayer and fasting (Matt. 17:21). Amen.