The Seal of Truth

Once in the house where He was invited, Christ saw how "those who were invited chose the first places." Noticing this mundane detail, the Lord, for Whom there was nothing secondary in the moral world, said the words that remained over the world: "When you are called by someone to the marriage, do not sit in the first place, lest it happen that one of those who were invited by him is more honorable than you, and he who called you and him, coming up, said to you: "Give him a place"; and then with shame you will have to take the last place. But when you are called, when you come, sit down in the last place, so that he who called you will come and say: "Friend! Sit higher"; then you will have honor before those who sit with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; but he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Lk. 14. 8-11). The manifestation of human self-love is most often made in everyday life, at a party, in the living room, in the dining room. As in ancient times, a modern guest also wants to sit in a more honorable seat. Such parochialism was strongly in vogue among the boyars of Muscovite Russia, who (in no way showing the Orthodox spirit in this!) strove to "sit out" each other at the tsar's table; but, of course, apart from the meals of the poorest people, there is a competition, albeit imperceptible, in ambition in all countries of the world. Modesty is a difficult form of kindness! A person who painfully thinks about how not to put himself lower than the other and how to put himself above the other, is incapable of creative work. Especially to the higher, spiritual. This may most of all apply to us, pastors. Vanity is a sign not only of moral, but also of mental stagnation.In wise and calm words, Christ revealed this truth to us, people. But before sharply rebuking mankind, He revealed His Divine mercy by healing the sick. This was in the house of "one of the rulers of the Pharisees" and happened on Saturday, a feast day, when all work was forbidden. As in our epoch, many did not understand even then what the spirit of the real religious holiday was, they did not understand that it does not consist in the dead letter of the external "fulfillment of the prescription", but the true religious holiday is a day of obedience to God in spirit and truth and the manifestation of mercy. Such is the blindness of people. But the Lord came for the salvation of the blind... On that day, when Christ was visiting the Pharisees, "there stood before Him a man suffering from watersickness... Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" They were silent. And having touched him, he healed him and let him go. And he said to them, "If any of you has an ass or an ox that falls into a well, will he not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?" And they could not answer Him to this" (Luke 14-26).The business of man is to do good and help people-brothers always, and especially on religious holidays. Every day is the day of God, and is the good of God, and was created for good. And the feast of faith is the mercy of God and man.And, teaching this truth, the Savior pointed out that the manifestation of mercy is most hindered by human self-love, and therefore, wishing healing to all people, He said: "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." But these laws exist and refute disbelief in the spiritual world. A pitiful, repulsive impression is made on everyone, even by non-religious people, a person who praises himself. And the more a person boasts of himself and exalts himself, the more he seems pitiful to those around him. This is the operation of the spiritual law. And the more modest a person is, the more pleasant he is for everyone. Everyone loves the humble; The vain repel everyone. We clearly see that there is an immutable law at work, even in unbelievers. Unbelievers are also subject to this law. And if they don't value modesty in themselves, they always value it in other people.We wouldn't be wrong to recognize modesty as one of the most comforting traits of the human personality. Modesty, of course, is equal to mercy, since by virtue of his modesty alone, a person is already merciful to other people - he does not bore them with his claims, does not torment them with his encroachment on some significance. Willingly or unwillingly, the humble always gives honor, first to God, and then to people, who all have their gifts from God. His talents and virtues are not degraded by his modesty, on the contrary, they grow even more. Nor does modesty mean weakness, as some think, fearing modesty; no, she, only she, is the strength and valor of the spirit. And in the life of societies and peoples, "pride comes before destruction." The level of culture is directly proportional to social and international modesty. And therefore the Word, Who created the worlds, took upon Himself the life of a humble Man and walked the suffering path of life, showing the spirit of modesty as a light leading to the infinite glory of the Heavenly Kingdom. The humility of Christ Jesus has become the seal of truth in man.

Praise of justice

We, humans, are very quick to notice any injustice in relation to ourselves. Some people are offended by everyone around them and even by the Lord God Himself, if something does not turn out as well in their lives as they would like. But the injustices that we ourselves human beings do in the world are less clear to us. We even find it difficult to recognize it at all.Justice is such a beautiful word. There is something divine in him, it inspires, reproaches and torments. It torments us sacredly when we fight for justice in relation to other people, and plunges us into anguish when we seek complete justice, and often in sheer trifles, in relation to ourselves on the part of others. And we feel peace and joy in our souls when we do justice, and especially when we become higher in our feelings than justice. To stand above justice means to enter the Kingdom of Christ's love.There are feelings in us, people, that can be called generous, rich, for example, love, generosity, unselfishness, selflessness. But there are also feelings in us that are more modest, but in everyday life, perhaps even more necessary for us - without which life in the world becomes completely impossible. Justice belongs to these modest and quiet feelings. It regulates the foundations of human life, both personal, public, social, and state. The concept of this justice should also include simple honesty, truthfulness, respect for another person, for his life, for his word, for his freedom. Freedom is the most important part of another person's life. Freedom must be protected by justice. Justice is formulated by the commandments given by God to mankind at Sinai. All of them speak of the just Law of God given to man. And the 10th, last commandment says that injustice to another person should not be allowed even in one's innermost desires. You can't wish for anything that can violate the life and rights of another.I called love a generous, "rich" feeling. Of course, this does not apply to all love, but only to self-sacrificing and just love. For example, if parents who have adopted a child treat the child worse than their own, they are doing injustice. In this way, justice controls even love.What does the Bible say about justice? The book of Job speaks of Job with praise: "This man was blameless, just." (Job 1:1). Psalm 118 says of God, "Righteous art Thou... and thy judgments are just." It follows from this that if we do not feel Divine justice in relation to ourselves, then our conscience is lagging behind the times and the Truth of God.Recently, a young man told me about a trouble that happened to him. In connection with the robbery of a gas station, he, who happened to be near this place, was detained. While the circumstances of the case were being investigated, he spent some time in detention. I was surprised and pleased by the reaction of this man to such an event, which was an injustice to him. He said that when I got into this story, I began to reflect on what had happened and came to the conclusion that there was a moral law in this incident, and I saw in it the highest justice. The fact is that I once committed an immoral act, and I got away with it. And I had to endure some kind of suffering now. This is fair... I was amazed at such a morally pure, religious penetration into the essence of this young man's life, "Such is the true faith in God," I thought. The conscience of children and young people is sometimes more sensitive than that of people who have lived and, as it were, breathed the injustice of this world. Following the path of moral compromises in his life, a person gradually empties his soul and ceases to feel when he is unjust to another person, acutely feeling, however, any injustice of others in relation to himself.Psalm 87 calls mercy to the poor not mercy, but justice; And this, of course, is fair. "Do justice to the poor," says the Bible. If you have two pieces of bread or two shirts, and the person next to you has no bread and not even one shirt, then this is not even love, not mercy, but just justice, if you give one piece and one shirt to someone in need. Speaking in his Epistle to the Ephesians about the respect of children for their parents, the Apostle Paul calls respect for parents not podvig or self-sacrifice, but only justice. The commandment given by God to man: "Honor thy father and thy mother, that it may be good for thee, and that thou shalt live long on earth" (the only commandment with a promise) points to the path of justice. Disrespect and inattention to those people who did such a great job for us, giving birth to us into the world, were chosen by God Himself to become our father and mother, disrespect for parents - this is a deep, glaring injustice. Not everyone feels it. But when they themselves experience the same injustice towards themselves, on the part of their children, they will better understand their sin.The prudent thief, hanging on Golgotha next to the Savior of the world, stopping another, also crucified, but embittered thief, expressed an idea that shows the clarity and honesty of his moral consciousness and his high justice. He said this to his comrade, who was also crucified and dying on the cross: "... we are justly condemned, because we have received what is worthy according to our deeds; but He (i.e. Christ) has done nothing evil." (Luke 23:41). A twofold phenomenon of justice is clearly seen here: it is a person's admission of guilt - the recognition of the innocence of another person. Here is an example of an honest, non-egocentric consciousness. It can also be revealed in a very sinful person. This is an illustration of what F.M. Dostoevsky said about man in general and about the Russian person in his book "Notes from the House of the Dead". Dostoevsky saw that at the bottom of the soul of even the most inveterate criminal there is a spark of that humanity in which the image of God is manifested in man. This is the source of all world justice. Light comes from God through a person who has wiped the mirror of his soul, removed the dust from his conscience and reflects God's Light. We experience great consolation in the world from the manifestation of all justice, regardless of whether it has or does not concern us personally. Justice is light in itself. And when we touch it, we experience a feeling of fullness of life and joy. God is with us then. The thief on the cross of Golgotha understood this. And that is why he entered Paradise with Christ.The greatest triumph of justice will take place at the last Judgment, when God will "wipe away every tear" from man's eyes. Everything will then be called by its true name, all false greatness will fall, and truth will take its place. This will be the apotheosis of universal justice and higher love.To see the justice of those around us, to experience our own justice in relation to people is a great happiness, since the highest justice is higher than justice, and its name is love.

The Problem of Personality

There is an expression: "to shout in a voice that is not your own". This cry is the fall of man into the pre-human impersonal element. Despite all the technological progress of our time (and, to some extent, thanks to it), not a few people nowadays shout "not in their own voice" - from fear, suffering, bewilderment, or indignation at the cruelty of others. But perhaps an even more characteristic feature of our time is that many people in the world do not speak in their own voices. The personality of a person is standardized, generalized, erased.It is amazing that each of the three billion people of the world has a single, unique and unforgettable voice. The immortal personality is imprinted in every person and is reflected in the unique features and expressions of his face, in his look, voice and even in the special lines of his skin on his fingers... We recognize birds by their common voices, and a person by their personal, unique, unforgettable voice, look and handwriting. Is this not a vivid testimony to the immortal human personality? Of course, when people spiritually distance themselves from their Creator (especially when they fight against Him), they also move away from themselves. And returning to God, believing in God, a person returns to himself, to his soul. This is what the Gospel parable tells us about the prodigal son, who left his father and then returned to him. Such is the law of the spirit: by forgetting God, a person forgets his own face, depersonalizes himself. Losing the truth, a person loses his life with it. And all the difficulties and all human failures (especially in marriage and family life) are connected with this. Chukovsky correctly wrote about the style that depersonalizes a person and called this style bureaucracy. "Chancellery" is not only the sphere of chancelleries, but also of public life. It is one of the manifestations of a voice that is not one's own in man.This is facilitated by technical civilization, if it is not defeated by the bright spirit of man, if it is not balanced by culture. Man proudly and vaingloriously conquers the earth and planets, but so rarely and so insufficiently he reigns over his soul, over his word, over the sincerity of his word and heart... That is why so many people in the world shout or speak "not in their own voice". Not only individuals, but entire groups speak in a standard way, cry out with a clichéd thought, for a penny of correct, for a ruble of false... He who has departed from God also leaves himself. Mental and volitional mimicry, verbal and emotional onomatopoeia develop in humanity. Personalities are called to be unique, to complement each other, to serve each other with their special gifts and talents. There are so many words in the world in which there is nothing, or almost nothing, except onomatopoeia. "Not their own", some other voices, people enter into an argument and even a dialogue with each other and dissolve each other in abstractions, covering each other with dead slogans, standard qualifications. Here is the main drama of humanity. Only the personal voice of man reflects the truth laid down in the very depths of creation, in the essence of man.In Marxism there is a popular idea that it is necessary not so much to think and philosophize about the world as to change the world. Two millennia before Marx, this idea was expressed in the Holy Scriptures, in a much deeper form: "Faith without works is dead," and man's faith is "justified by works." And long before these apostolic words, it was revealed to man that he was called by God to cultivate the earth with his creative labor and to change it, working on it "by the sweat of his brow." But if a person tries to "change the world", without realizing the basic meaning of the life of this world and his life, guided only by an abstract thought about some titanic change of the earth, then nothing will come of it, except suffering and chaos. By the 70s of the XX century, we are already well aware of this. That is why Marx's famous formula about the need not to philosophize about the world, but to "change the world" does not mean anything in itself. The goal, quality and means of such a "change" of the world must prove their grace. Folk wisdom settles superficial activists: "Measure twice, cut once." Only after looking at the saints should you "bang the bell". Even the most energetic "change" of something, without a bright mind and spirit, is meaningless and inhuman. And Isaac the Syrian said that even love, the highest good of the world, is imperfect without wisdom. And the idea of "changing the world" without a deep understanding of the world and man is a force that unleashes evil.Comprehending history, with its darkness and light, comprehending the immortal depth and high goal of human life, it is impossible not to come to the conclusion that man, first of all, must become a real man in order to begin to change the world for the better. And when morally blind people "change the world," they change it for the worse. They want to "change" the world, not knowing this world, not believing in the moral essence of either it or man. How to improve the world without improving the human heart? An ocean of blood has been shed and continues to be spilled for the sake of abstract projects of the future. For this reason, the Holy Scriptures, revealing the Face of God, call not merely to act for the sake of action or to change for the sake of change, but to hear the Truth and to obey it, in the power of the Spirit, and to do the will of Him Who created all things and gave way to all things. He gives man the ways of true change of the world, the ways of purification, forgiveness, elevation, sanctification and transformation of man. And only when we meet our Father, when we hear His voice, do we begin to understand ourselves and the world. And then we see what needs to be improved in ourselves and changed in the world.

Psychology of resentment

We all know what resentment is because we offended and were offended. Without realizing it, everyone who offends and everyone who is offended hurts himself, since he deprives himself of the sun of love. The offender hurts not only his soul, but also his body: evil emotions give rise to a painful tension of the body in a person, which affects his physical metabolism and disrupts life. The offender offends, first of all, himself. But even the offended person acts unwisely, injures himself. You need to cover yourself with a bright shield from offenses, not pay attention to them. And what is even higher is to oppose resentment - love, meekness, generosity. "Learn of me," said Christ the Saviour, "for I am meek and lowly in heart. And you will find rest for your souls" (Matt. XI, 29). This is the simple road to happiness, which a person often thinks about, not knowing the ways to it. Offense comes from pride, which wants to humiliate a person, from vindictiveness, malice. People also offend from greed, envy, vanity, egoism, and simply from spiritual insensitivity and moral inattention.An entrepreneur (individual or collective, like a state, a party) offends people most shamelessly, exploiting them not only economically, but also morally. Exploitation is a multifaceted form of injustice. The history of mankind is full of this sin, to our times. But now it is not the feudal barons and not only the money bags who exploit the poor, but these former poor peasants themselves, who have become administrators, party members, representatives of the proletariat, cruelly exploit the poor peasants (collective farm peasants, workers), covering, however, this exploitation with very flattering, but empty words. it can be moral insensitivity, a search for personal, party, and state gain. High motives are used to justify exploitation - material and spiritual - in our days. The goal of the revolution is for the good of all, great offenses to people are justified. Humane phrases are used by soulless planners who do not see a living person. The utilitarian materialistic approach to the immortal human soul is mortally offensive to man and humanity.But feelings of justice and compassion can also be born in a materialist, contrary to his materialistic theory. As a person, a materialist can be morally sensitive. And it happens that the heart of a believer in God (contrary to the spirit of this faith) is filled with greed and heartlessness. Just as a materialist can have "unbelief" only on the tip of his tongue, so "faith in God" is sometimes only on the tip of the tongue of a believer. (Faith in God is not a theoretical declaration).Nowadays people offend even faith in God (forcing them to write the great holy Name God with a small letter). But man "can 'offend' God even less than the constellation of Orion or Cygnus. Unbelievers offend only their own lives.A person is offended by a person with his evil (or not good enough) will. And all these innumerable "molecular" grievances in the world, all our personal and common evil, give rise to those black storm clouds of conflicts, wars and murder in the world, from which humanity shudders. And it can be exterminated.Earlier in history, in the name of faith in God, kings and leaders of nations offended unbelievers (or not as believers as they are). Now, in a number of countries, unbelievers offend believers.It is said to a man: "You know the commandments, you shall not commit adultery; thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness; do not offend (Mk. But if an offense has happened, it must be opposed not by touchiness. Overcoming evil also includes overcoming resentment. We people offend each other so easily, And even more easily we are offended. Even if no one offends us, we are offended even then. Sometimes we want to feel "offended" and this manifests bad human infantilism. A child sometimes wants to cry not because his mother has offended him, but because he suddenly wants to feel (and, most importantly, to show himself!) offended. This is the immaturity of the soul." The active egoist offends, the "passive" offends. The resentment of active egoists and the resentment of passive egoists greatly interfere with life. And there is only one way out of these states - to freedom of spirit - not to offend anyone and not to be offended by anyone.

Value and personality

There are values in relation to which it is difficult for a person to admit that he is poor. We, all people, are rich in air, there is a lot of it, and it belongs to everyone. But the patient, in the last stage of tuberculosis, is poor in the air. No one is poor for a glass of water, but a wanderer in a waterless desert will give all the treasures of the world for a glass of water. We see that, in relation to one, we are very poor in the world, and in relation to the other we are very rich.If not actually, then potentially, everyone is rich in sincerity and good feelings, but not everyone knows about this, and, moreover, not everyone uses such wealth, and that is why there are so many unhappy people in the world. It can be said that in relation to many things, we are all intelligent, sensitive, sighted, and in relation to others we are surprisingly blind, unreasonable and dependent on others. But in everything that we carry out, what we eat, and what we carry on and in ourselves, people of many generations participate. Rightly so, one sage bowed every evening to all four sides. Thanking God and people, he said that everything he has, he has from God and people.Yes, in some things we show knowledge, skill and reason, and in others we reveal our extreme foolishness... The Earth, on which we live and over which we fly a mile, is rushing through outer space, among its solar system. And this system is carried among other, more grandiose systems. And they, in turn, rush among even larger, already unimaginable quasars for us.Therefore, our miserable jumps to the moon, of course, cannot be a reason for any pride. These distances are literally mosquitoes. And the earth, which so patiently and meekly holds us to itself, is a fiery apple, on the thinnest skin of which we live so self-confidently and even boldly rant and boast of settling down without God, and so tastelessly boast of our "achievements." They do not always harm us, but only when the Master allows them to do so. There is a Master of life. Its greatness is revealed in nature and in the spirit, in the moral values instilled in us and inherent in us. Human life depends on the slightest and mysterious circumstances. Science, which reveals the secrets of the universe, shows us more and more how weak and fragile our flesh and earthly life are, and how little we know in essence. He speaks to us with His mysterious signs and knocks at our door: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock" (Rev. 3:20), and if anyone opens to Me (in the depths of his conscience heeds the call), I will come to him. The response of the Spirit of God to human prayer is swift. "I stand and knock," the first act of Grace in the soul. And "who will open" the heart is the condition for the next action of grace in man. The miraculous freedom of man is, first of all, the freedom of opportunity for our correct, moral attitude to everything that surrounds us and appears within us. We are not free to escape what is given to us independently of our will; But we are always free to transform every life event and word into light, to make it necessary for ourselves and others. This is the matter of our freedom. Through all events, all sorrows and joys, a person has both the power and happiness to go to God's truth, which has no end. We are surrounded by great Care... There is no "fate", there is no "blind fate". There is the Unsleeping Eye of God's love and our freedom to be in it.

A sign of love

One of the signs of love is "not to be irritated". Who can really imagine a mother being irritated with her infant? A mother is given a feeling of special love when her child is helpless. But how many mothers are there who, even later, when their children grow up, are also "not irritated" with them. In kindness, which covers human weakness, the image of God in man appears most of all. Of course, anger - against evil (and not man) - can be holy; But this is something quite different from the egoistic irritation of people against each other, which so burdens the life of both those with whom they are irritated and those who are irritated. The Holy Scriptures give advice: "When you are angry, do not sin." In other words: people, be angry only at evil, and not at a person who suffers from his evil. "Those who love God, hate evil"! (Psalm 96:IV) Anger at evil (especially at one's own evil!) can cure evil if this anger comes from love. But the trouble is that dark anger, irritability, hangs like a spider's web in the world over nations, families and hearts. And this human irritability, sometimes caused by a trifle, poisons life.One man rightly said: "Quarrelsomeness, eternal complaints about fate and acquaintances, this is, perhaps, even worse, since these shortcomings are long-lasting... It is better to be hot-tempered: you get angry, talk and then go away. But how difficult are touchy people; they are vindictive. A touchy person is annoyed by everything. Even if he gets what he wants, then (because deep down he is ashamed) he is looking for a new excuse - to lose his temper. The saddest thing is that especially those who love us most and do the most for us suffer from our irritability and irascibility. What unjust, evil remarks our closest people sometimes have to listen to from us! And we allow ourselves this, knowing that they will not be angry; but if they are angry, they will forgive us and will not break off relations with us, because they love us... "At the heart of irascibility and irritability are malice, hatred, pride, cruelty and injustice. A swamp easily turns into a raging ocean. A single match can burn down a city. From one, seemingly harmless passion, the soul lights up and burns in agony. What self-control people need, what sobriety and caution. Not a single vice, neither addiction to money, nor passion for pleasure; Even wine, the destroyer of many, does not destroy the good spirit of the family as much as an irritable and unrestrained person. It disrupts social work, poisons the lives of children and families. In society, we are still embarrassed by self-love, to show our spiritual baseness, We are looking for a good opinion of ourselves in society. But at home, with "our own", we unleash ourselves, give free rein to our inner evil... "An angry man starts a quarrel, but a hot-tempered man sins much," says Solomon in Proverbs (29:22). Man murmurs against the life given by Him... Haven't you ever complained about the weather, why isn't it the way you would like? Have you never complained about your position in life, about your circumstances? Have you never been burdened by the path along which the Hand of the Lord has providentially led you? This is a reverent faith in the nearness of God. "The Lord is near." Love is spread over man. Only you need to be able to see it with your inner eyes. This is faith. We do not always understand the healing paths of Love. But having believed in this love over himself and the world, a person sees life with spiritual eyes, in the light of its highest purpose. That which previously seemed incomprehensible appears to the bright faith of man as something necessary and important. Thus wisdom matures in the soul and eternity is revealed.Our freedom is not only the free expression of everything we think; And not just the ability to do what we want. Our deepest freedom is freedom from the evil with which we torment ourselves and others. It is to this state of freedom of the spirit in good that the path of faith leads us. Faith is entry into the highest reality.

Memory and oblivion

The imperfection of the human soul is manifested in the fact that it forgets the important and remembers the vain. Applying a well-known saying to this, one could ask every person: "Tell me what you forget and what you remember, and I will tell you who you are."