The parable of the prodigal son is told by Jesus Christ to his disciples. It is given in the fifteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke. The plot of the parable is used in many works of world art.
Below is a summary of the parable of the prodigal son. It is the most popular among Christians, regardless of their denomination, as it teaches forgiveness.
The Bible Parable of the Prodigal Son: A Summary
The father had two sons. One took his part of the property and squandered everything away from his family. When the need arose, he was starving and decided to return to his father to become his mercenary, as he felt guilty. But his father was happy that his son returned unharmed, and arranged a feast on this occasion. The older brother was unhappy that the father had received the dissolute younger brother so well. But the father said that he did not infringe on him in any way, because he was always there in contentment and owns everything together with his father; the younger son was as if dead, who knows where, and now we must rejoice at his return.
The plot of the parable, a detailed retelling
One man had two sons. The younger asked to give him the due inheritance, and the father yielded to his son, dividing the property between the brothers. After some time, the younger took his and went to a distant country, where he drank and debauched.
Having spent everything he had, he became poor. He was employed in the service, began to herd pigs. And he would be glad to eat at least what the pigs ate, but they did not give him. And then he remembered his father, what a rich estate he had and how many servants were not in need, and thought: why die of hunger, I will return to my father and ask him to accept me as a mercenary, because he is no longer worthy to be called his son.
And he went to his father. And the father saw him from afar and took pity on his son, ran to meet him, hugged and kissed him. The younger son said: "Father, I have sin against heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy to be your son." And the father ordered the slaves to bring him the best clothes, shoes and a ring on his hand and kill the well-fed calf to eat and celebrate. Because there was him younger son dead, but became alive, was missing, but was found. And everyone started having fun.
The eldest son, meanwhile, was in the field, when he returned, he heard songs and jubilant exclamations from the house. Calling a servant, he asked what had happened. They answered him that his brother and father had returned, out of joy that his son was unharmed, and had slaughtered a whole calf. The eldest son became angry and did not want to enter the celebrants, and the father went out to call him. But the eldest son said: “I have been with you for so many years, I work, I always obey you, but you didn’t even give me a goat to feast with friends; and this son, who squandered all your property with harlots, returned, and you immediately stabbed for him well-fed calf." The father answered this: "Son, you have always been there and all mine belongs to you, and you need to rejoice because your younger brother was dead and became alive, was missing and was found."
The Parable of the Prodigal Son: What's the point?
A person familiar with Christianity, who believes in God, who is the Father of all living things, can depart from the faith, tempted by earthly entertainment and fuss. Take your property and go to a distant country - move far from God, lose all connection with him. He will have some reserve of grace and spiritual strength, just as the prodigal (or erring) younger son had money at first. But over time, the forces will run out, the soul will become empty and sad. Hunger will come, as he came to the youngest son, only not physical, but spiritual. After all, people, according to Christian teaching, were created by God for communication and unity with Him and with each other.
And if a person then, in despair, remembers his Heavenly Father, he will want to return. But he will feel repentance and unworthiness to be the Son of God, just as the younger son in the parable felt that he was not worthy to be called a son. Then we return to God with repentance, begging him to help, console our devastated soul, fill it with the light of faith at least a little - no longer as children of God, but at least as his mercenaries (not in vain in Orthodox prayers says "servants of God").
But God is Love, as the Gospel of John says. And He, in His love, is not angry with us and does not remember our sins - after all, we remembered Him, desired His goodness, returned to Him. Therefore, He rejoices in our insight and return to the truth. We were dead in sin, but we are made alive. And the Lord gives a lot to repentant people who have returned to faith, often happily arranging fates, and always sending peace and grace to tormented souls. Just like the father in the parable gave his returning son all the best he had.
The image of the elder brother here is people who formally did not depart from the faith, did not commit serious sins, but forgot the main commandment - about love. The older brother, with resentment and jealousy, tells his father that he tried to do everything right, but the younger son did not. Why is he honored? This is also the case with believers who condemn "sinners" and may in church discuss other people's outfits that are inappropriate for the occasion, or incorrect behavior. And they forget at the same time that if a person came to church, turned to faith, one should rejoice for him, because all people are our brothers and sisters, also created by the Lord, who is infinitely glad for their return from darkness.
Another meaning of the parable
The parable of the prodigal son, the summary in particular, can be considered more straightforward. It applies not only to God's relationship to people, but also to those who love each other. We can say that this is a parable about love.
Any close person can leave us - a husband or wife, a child, a friend, even parents sometimes leave their children. But if our hearts are pure and there is love in our souls, then we will become like the father from the parable and will be able to forgive betrayal. And then, meeting a dissolute son who cheated on her husband, a father who disappeared, a friend who forgot about us, it would not even occur to him to blame them or listen to good people who do not understand Christian forgiveness - it will be enough for us that they are nearby, found, returned, alive.
biblical parable jesus pharisee
Place of passage 16:19-31 in the structure of the Gospel of Luke
The Gospel of Luke is generally divided into five parts: 1. Preface (1:1-4), 2. Appearance of the Savior to the world (1:5-4:13), 3. Teaching and deeds of Jesus Christ (4:14-19:27 ), 4. Preparation for suffering in Jerusalem (19:28-21:38), 5. Death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (22:1-24:53). Lectures by Valuysky A.P. on the subject Exegesis of the Gospels Judging by the content of the Gospel, Luke was an educated person: a historian and theologian. "It would be more correct to say that Luke shows the theological importance of history." Guthrie D. Introduction to the New Testament St. Petersburg: "The Bible for All", 1996. - p.73 This is evident from the style of writing his book, he subtly maintains the style of the Septuagint. New Study Geneva Bible Hanssler-Verlag 1998. - P.1348.
To determine the place of the parable in the structure of Enavgelius, it is necessary to determine the purpose of writing, which the author set for himself. What was Luke's goal in writing the gospel material? From the prologue it is clear that he wanted to instruct a certain Theophilus in the basics Christian faith. The basis of the Christian faith according to Luke is that Christ suffered, died and rose again for the sake of sinners, regardless of their nationality, regardless of their social position in society. This can be traced through the presentation of Luke's material: different sayings of Jesus, parables of Jesus, real stories described by Luke, etc.
Based on the definition of the author's goal, one can try to establish the place of the parable in the structure of the Gospel. “..by the form and content of a separate “small unity” one can judge its social function.” Lezov S.V. History and hermeneutics in the study of the New Testament M.: " Eastern literature", 1996. - P.105. In other words, the definition of "Sitz in Leben" (place in life) of the parable plays important role when interpreting it. It should be noted here that the Gospel of Luke is, in the author's opinion, the most widely representing the life of Jesus Christ. Luke has details from his material that other New Testament writers do not have. Usually the material used only by Luca is marked as a special "L" material. Fitzmyer J.A. The Gospel according to Luke I-IX, V-28 New York: "The Anchor Bible Doubleday", 1981. - C.84. Most of this material is found in the third part of the Gospel (4:14-19:27), where the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is located.
According to the author, in this passage, Luke clearly represents the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees. Christ very boldly reproves the Pharisees for their behavior either directly or indirectly. In some cases, He calls them hypocrites, in others, through parables, He reveals their true state before God. Thus, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is in the third part (in the middle of the Gospel), where the mission of the Savior is accomplished against the background of the confrontation between the Pharisees and the scribes.
About the parables of the Lord
Our Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly life often instructed the people with words and deeds that were filled with love and mercy; and out of His love for us, He Himself accepted suffering and death for us. He said that it is necessary to forgive insults, and Himself on the cross prayed for those. who crucified him. He explained the commandments of God to those who listened to Him, taught them to pray, promised eternal life to those who would believe in Him and follow Him. The people followed Jesus; there were men and women and children, people of all ages, all conditions, rich and poor, learned and unlearned.
Jesus Christ wanted everyone to understand His teaching, and for this he often expounded His teaching in parables, that is, in allegorical narratives and
similarities borrowed from ordinary life - from the most simple and well-known objects. You can easily understand this by reading a few parables.
Here is the first, told by the Evangelist Matthew.
PARABLE
about a house built on stone and a house built on sand
Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus Christ once said; “Not everyone who says to me: Lord! God! enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
Then He spoke the following parable:
"Whoever hears my words and does them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
“And the rain fell, and the rivers flooded, and the winds blew, and rushed against that house, and it did not fall, because it was founded on a stone.”
“And everyone who hears My words and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”
“And the rain fell, and the rivers flooded, and the winds blew, and they fell on that house, and it fell, and its fall was great.” Anyone who has seen how a house is built knows that the harder and deeper its foundation, the stronger it will be, the better it will stand against storms, winds and floods. The same happens with a person: in life he has to struggle with temptations, disasters and dangers; and only then will he stand against them, and he will establish his life on a firm and unshakable foundation. This foundation is faith in God and obedience to His commandments.
A true believer always keeps the commandments of the Lord in his memory, and this helps him to stand firmly on the path of truth; he acts in accordance with them in all his affairs and subdues his own will. If he is rich, then, loving his neighbor, as the Lord commanded, he uses his wealth for good and useful deeds, and does not live only to please himself; if he is poor, he tries to support himself and his family with honest labor and will rather suffer a lack than agree to act dishonestly, remembering that any dishonest deed, lie and deceit are contrary to God. He is not easily seduced by frivolous advice and a bad example, because he is accustomed to follow the commandments of the Lord. Whether misfortune or suffering befalls him, he does not fall into despondency and does not grumble, but with good spirits he tries to overcome disasters or endures them with patience, being sure that God Himself sends suffering and sorrows for the good of the soul. In a moment of danger, he does not give in to despair, knowing that the life and death of a person are in the hands of God. Finally, at the very hour of death, faith strengthens him, pointing him to the future life. He knows that God will not leave with His mercy those who on earth tried to do His will.
But such is not the person who does not live in accordance with the commandments of God, but is accustomed to follow his own will. He cannot resist temptation. A bad example and bad advice often lead him astray from a good path. If such a person is rich, he lives more for himself, spends time in idleness and vain pleasures, not thinking about his duties. If he fell into poverty, then, out of unaccustomed to work, he often decides to dishonest deeds to get money and, having got it, spend it on trifles and for your own pleasure instead of helping your family with it. In adversity he is discouraged and not far from despair. Such a man is pitiful; acquaintances and comrades despise him for his frivolity, because, as they say, he goes where the wind blows; his word cannot be trusted, his promise cannot be relied upon. He does not benefit his family; on the contrary, he sometimes becomes a burden to himself. He feels in his heart that he does not live as he should, but he does not have enough strength and good spirits to repent from the fullness of his heart and begin new life. Happy is he if a pious man meets him and encourages him. kind word and advice and assure him that the Lord helps every sincerely repentant sinner in his conversion to the path of virtue.
All of us, of course, would like to become honest, direct and firm believers. To do this, from an early age, one must acquire the habit of following the commandments of the Lord in everything, before each deed to ask oneself whether it is good and pleasing to God, and in general to act not as one wants, but as one should. We must try to have power over own will to manage her; if it controls a person, then sometimes it carries him where it should not.
Let us ask God for strength and strength, repeating the song that is sung in the church on the first week of Great Lent:
“On the immovable, Christ, the stone of Your commandments, establish my thoughts!”.
“Confirm, O Lord, my heart that has moved on the stone of Your commandments, for Thou alone is holy, Lord!”
PARABLE
about the sower
Matthew 13:8-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15
Jesus Christ was on the shore of the Lake of Gennesaret; a multitude of people surrounded Him. He entered the boat and from there began to speak the following parable.
“A sower went out to sow. And while he was sowing, another seed fell by the way, and birds came and ate him.” “Other fell on a rocky place, where there was little earth, and soon rose up, because it was not deep in the earth, but from the heat of the sun it burned and, having no root, dried up.”
“Other fell into thorns; and thorns grew up and choked the seed.”
“Another fell on good ground and brought forth fruit at thirty, at sixty, and at an hundred.”
When the apostles asked Jesus Christ about the meaning of this parable, He explained it to them in this way:
"The seed is the word of God."
"Those sown by the wayside are those in whom the word of God is sown, but to whom the devil immediately comes and snatches away the word sown in their hearts."
The Word of the Lord must bear fruit in our hearts, that is, arouse faith and zeal for the fulfillment of all Christian duties; but just as a seed that falls along the road does not grow, so a word taken without attention does not bring any benefit, it is immediately forgotten; Jesus Christ said that the devil takes him away, but the evil one has power only over those who themselves admit him to themselves with their sins, laziness and inattention to prayer and the word of the Lord. If we begin to fight against evil, attentively listen to the teaching of Christ and try to fulfill it, the good seed will take root in our hearts, and the devil will not be able to steal it away.
“Those sown on rocky ground,” Jesus continued, “means those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy, but the word of God does not take root in them; at times they believe, but in times of temptation they fall away.”
For the most part, we all listen with joy to the word of the Lord. But this is not enough: one must be ready to fulfill the law of God even in the case when for this one would have to undergo hardships, work and endure suffering.
In former times, when the Christian faith had not yet been established, Jews and pagans severely persecuted Christians. They were imprisoned in dungeons, separated from their families, tortured and killed. But even at the same time, they did not agree to renounce Christ, endured suffering with patience and went to death, rejoicing that they could thus prove their loyalty to God. We honor the memory of these sufferers and honor them as saints. Now there are no more obvious persecutions of Christians, but every day there are cases when we can prove whether we are faithful to God. We are faithful to Him if we prefer the fulfillment of His commandments to any benefit, to any pleasure. We are faithful to Him, if with patience, we endure disasters and sufferings, knowing that they are sent to us by His will. If, on the other hand, we act contrary to His commandments in order to gain some advantage or pleasure, or to avoid danger and labor, then we become one of those who believe at times, but fall away when tempted.
Not only adults, but every small child can prove whether he is faithful to God, because everyone has his own duties according to his strength. Of those children who study lazily, who do not follow the orders of their parents, or for fear of punishment, tell lies and hide their guilt, those children cannot be said to love God and are faithful to Him.
“And the seed that fell into thorns,” says Christ, “means those who hear the word, but then it is choked in them by cares, wealth and worldly pleasures and does not bear fruit.”
These are those for whom earthly worries, vain deeds and pleasures of life more important than words Christ. In church they listen to the word of the Lord, but then they indulge in a vain life and empty amusements, not trying to overcome their sinful inclinations. That is why everything evil takes root in their hearts and drowns out everything good, just as bad grass drowns out good. “And what is sown on good ground,” the Lord finally said, explaining the parable, “means those in whose heart the sown word is kept pure and bears abundant fruit.”
So it must be with the word of God sown in our hearts. If we try to drive away all evil thoughts from ourselves, if we diligently ask God to help our good intentions, then the word of God will bear rich fruit in us. The habit of kindness will take root and intensify. Every day we will more and more correct ourselves from our sins, become better, patiently endure the sufferings and hardships sent to us by the will of God, and actively and with love fulfill the commandments of the Lord.
PARABLE
about the seed and the tares
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
After the parable of the sower, Jesus Christ offered the people the parable of the seed and the tares. "The kingdom of heaven," He said, "is like a man who sows good seed in his field."
“In the night the enemy of this man came, sowed tares among the wheat, and left. When the grass sprang up and the fruit appeared, then the tares also appeared. Seeing this, the servants said to the master: “Sir, have you not sowed good seed in your field? Where did the tares come from?”
He answered them. "Enemy man did it." “Will you order,” the servants said, “we will go and pluck the tares?”
“But the owner objected: no, pulling out the tares, you can pull out the wheat. Let both grow until the harvest; but at harvest time I will say to the reapers, Gather first the tares and bind them and the sheaves to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Jesus Christ Himself explained this parable. He said that it would be so at the end of the age, when evil and good people (tares and wheat) would gather at the Last Judgment; the evil will be judged, and the good will be rewarded. The master did not allow his servants to pull out the tares. This indicates the long-suffering and mercy of the Lord, Who does not want to destroy the sinner, but gives him time for repentance and correction. Not always in this life is the sinner punished and the righteous rewarded; we often see that evil person his enterprises succeed, and what is good, on the contrary, suffers suffering and misfortune. But a believer will never be embarrassed by this, because faith helps to endure disasters with patience and with hope in the mercy of God, Who in future life He will render to each according to her deeds.
In this parable, the Lord again speaks of a sower who sowed seed in his field. A good seed has been sown in all of us; we are all Christians and the gospel has been preached to us. Why are we not all good, but sometimes evil, ungrateful, disobedient to the will of the Lord? Jesus Christ explained this by the fact that the devil sowed his seed of evil right there, where the seed of good was sown. But we should not forget that the devil has power only over those who willingly indulge in evil and do not try to fight against it.
Here we can again repeat the comparison used by the Lord. Look at the field belonging to a hard-working peasant who cultivates his land well. For him the seed sown sprouts well, while for a negligent and negligent owner the seed sprouts badly and the field is overgrown with grass. It happens with us too: if we try to become better, to eradicate bad habits in ourselves and accustom ourselves to everything good, then the word of God will take root in us and grow well; but if we lazily look after ourselves, then the devil will take advantage of our laziness and carelessness to sow his tares on us, and they will take root, drowning out the disposition to good. Let us try to fight against evil, against our own evil will, move away from bad examples and be more with good people who, doing good themselves, can also teach us good.
Let us also try not to set a bad example for another: this big sin. Our sinful deed, and sometimes even an idle word, can tempt our neighbor, and then we will be like the evil one who sows tares in the field. On the contrary, he who gives good advice and teaches good things helps Christ, who sows good seed.
PARABLE
about mustard seed
Matthew 13:31-32
Jesus Christ once compared the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed that a man sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but a large and tall plant comes out of it, so that the birds of the air fly and take refuge in its branches. With this parable, Jesus Christ pointed to the power of the gospel teaching. At first it was preached to a small number of people, but it soon spread throughout the earth and destroyed the false teachings that had existed until then. As a tree gives protection and shelter to the birds of the air, so the Christian faith gives strength and comfort to all who accept it.
What is done in all the earth is being done in our hearts. Establishing them too, the Christian teaching destroys by its power bad thoughts, evil and vices. Just as a small seed has the power to bring forth a tall and fruitful tree, so the word of the Lord, accepted with a pure heart, takes root in it and bears fruit, that is, the Christian virtues: faith, love for God and neighbor, patience and mercy. At first, good begins in us in a barely perceptible way; but if we constantly pray to God for help and, at the same time, carefully monitor ourselves so that we do not transgress the law of God in word or deed, then a good beginning will take root and grow in us.
PARABLE
about the treasure hidden in the field
Matthew 13:44
And Jesus Christ compared the kingdom of heaven with a treasure, O hidden in the field. The man, finding this treasure, gladly sold all his possessions and bought that field.
And for all of us there is a treasure that is more precious than all riches, all blessings and the world. We could not achieve it by any effort, if Jesus Christ Himself, in His love, would not help us. He delivers it to us dearly at the price of His sufferings. This treasure is eternal life. Jesus Christ Himself suffered and died to give eternal life to those who believe in Him.
That treasure is faith in God. Faith is more precious and more necessary than all possible earthly blessings; it is a joy and consolation in this life and a way to eternal life.
Life eternal! - this is what awaits us after our difficult and short earthly life! This is the reward prepared by the all-good Lord! How short is earthly life! And meanwhile, aren’t we all willingly working to arrange and decorate it? How many people in their youth work and work in order to bring themselves a calm and comfortable old age! But the earthly future is very unreliable; none of us knows if he will live to see tomorrow. The future beyond the grave, eternal is true; she is either eternal joy or eternal torment; let's take care of her. Let us try to live as the Lord commanded, and let us ceaselessly pray to God that He will arrange afterlife ours by His grace.
PARABLE
about the seine
Matthew 13:47-50
The kingdom of heaven is likewise, Jesus said, like a net thrown into the sea and capturing all kinds of fish. They dragged him ashore; good fish collected in vessels, and the small ones were thrown out. So it will be at the end of the age: angels will appear, separate the wicked from the righteous, and cast the wicked into the fiery furnace.”
PARABLE
about the merciless debtor
Matthew 18:21-35
The prayer “Our Father”, which each of us repeats daily in the morning and in the evening, was given to us, as we know, by Jesus Christ Himself. In it, among other things, we ask God to forgive us our sins. “And forgive us our debts (sins),” we say, and add: “As we forgive our debtors.” If we do not forgive those who have sinned against us, then we cannot expect the Lord to forgive us our sins. So, we should beware of anger, put up with our comrades, our own, if it happens to have a quarrel with them, forgive their insults and remember that God will not hear the prayers of someone who, coming to church, keeps anger or rancor against his neighbor. To explain this truth, Jesus once told the following parable: “A minister was brought to a king who owed him ten thousand talents (talent means an amount of more than one thousand two hundred silver rubles). Since the servant had nothing to pay the debt, the king ordered to sell him, and his wife, and children, and everything that he had, in payment of the debt. But that servant threw himself on his knees and said: “Sire! Be patient with me, I'll pay you everything." The emperor, having mercy, let him go and forgave him all the debt. After this, the servant met his companion, who owed him a hundred denarii, that is, much less than what he himself owed the king. He grabbed his comrade and began to beat him, demanding payment of the debt. The comrade fell at his feet and, begging, said: “Be patient with me, I will give you everything.” But he did not want to listen and put him in jail.
The king was told about this incident. Then the king, having called the attendant, says to him: “Evil slave! I forgave you the whole debt, because you begged me; Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your comrade, as I had mercy on you? And, angry, the sovereign ordered him to be tortured until he repaid his debt. So,” added Jesus, “and my heavenly Father will deal with you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart for his sins.”
Of course, the king acted justly when he punished the one who, having received mercy and forgiveness, did not pardon or forgive himself. Let us remember that no matter how our neighbor offends us, he is still not as sinful against us as we are all sinful against the Lord God. We are annoyed when someone offends us, and especially if a person to whom we have rendered a beneficence or service offends us. Let us remember how many innumerable blessings God has given us. He created for man the earth and all that is on it; He gave us life with all its blessings; no matter how sinful we are, but the Lord Jesus Christ, having loved us, came down to earth to teach us the will of the Lord, and, finally, accepted suffering and death in order to deliver us from eternal condemnation and grant eternal bliss to those who believe in Him. And, despite all these benefits, we constantly offend the Lord God with our sins.
Let us begin to pray to Him for our correction, and meanwhile let us forgive those who offended us, so that with greater hope we ask God for mercy. Jesus Christ said that we will be treated as we treat others. “Forgive your neighbor,” He said, “and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.
PARABLES
About the Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25-37
One day a lawyer approached Jesus Christ and said: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus asked him: “What is written in the law? What do you read in it? He answered: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself.” Jesus told him, “You answered correctly; do this, and you will have eternal life.” But the lawyer asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" To this, Jesus said: “A certain man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho and was caught by robbers, who took off his clothes, wounded him and went away, leaving him barely alive. By chance, a priest was walking along that road and, seeing him, passed by. Likewise, a Levite, passing through that place, approached, looked, and passed by. Finally, a Samaritan rode up to him and took pity on him. He dressed his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them, put him on his donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day, as he was leaving, he gave money to the innkeeper and said to him: “Take care of him, and if you spend anything more than this, I will give it to you when I return.” “Who,” Jesus asked, “of the three was the neighbor to the one who fell into the hands of robbers?” - "Of course, who helped him," answered the lawyer. Then Jesus said, "Go and do the same."
It should be noted that some Jews considered it an obligation to love only their friends and only to help them, and they hated their enemies, as we often do. But Jesus Christ gave us another law. He said: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who offend you, and as you want people to do to you, so do you to them.”
The Samaritans were at enmity with the Jews, but in spite of that, one Samaritan helped the unfortunate Jew. Let us learn from this parable that we must love all people, and let us ask God to help us preserve love even for those who themselves do not love us and are ready to harm us. Let us remember the commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If we have the opportunity to help someone, then there is nothing to ask whether he is our friend or foe, good or evil, compatriot or stranger. Whoever he is, he is our neighbor, our brother, and we should be happy to help him in any way we can: with money, if we have it, with good advice, labor or participation.
By giving help to our neighbor, we give to God Himself. Jesus Christ said, "Whatever you do to one of the least of my brethren, do it to me." By the words “My little brothers” He meant all the unfortunate ones who need help.
PARABLE
about the barren fig tree
Luke 13:6-9
In many parables, Jesus Christ spoke of the long-suffering and mercy of God, that the Heavenly Father does not desire the death of the sinner, but his correction, and is always ready to accept the penitent. “One man,” He said, “had a fig tree in the garden (a fig tree is the name of a fruit tree that we do not have and that grows in Palestine). He came to look for fruit on her and did not find it. Then he said to the gardener: “Behold, for the third year I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and I do not find it; cut it down: what does it take up space for? The gardener objected to him: “Lord, leave her for this year as well; I will dig it in and cover it with manure; and if it bears fruit, then it is good; if not, then let us cut it down.” A fig tree that does not bear fruit means people who live without faith in God, without love for Him and their neighbor, without repentance for their sins, in whose hearts, therefore, the word of the Lord does not bear fruit. But the Lord is patient and merciful. He is in no hurry to condemn the sinner, loving all people and desiring their correction. He gave them His word. He Himself suffered and died for them. He constantly offers them various means of correction, sends them advice and an example through good people, gives them the opportunity to learn goodness, calls them to Himself in various ways. He gives many blessings to others and waits if these graces will not arouse love and gratitude in them; He tries others with suffering, so that they turn to Him as their only comforter. But if all this does not produce an effect, and the sinner does not repent and does not correct himself, if he does not want to go to the call of the Savior, then, after his death, he will be brought to a strict judgment and will accept punishment for his evil deeds.
PARABLE
about the richer
Luke 12:16-21
Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior of the world, was born into poverty. He often said that one should not be attached to earthly wealth, but should take care of acquiring eternal wealth. After death, our wealth will not help us, but good deeds and good feelings will remain with us in eternal life. It often happens that a person, being attached with all his heart to his wealth, from this forgets God and His commandments and lives only to please himself; this is a great sin. Jesus Christ warned His disciples against this, saying: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal." “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be (Matthew 6:10-21). Once, as a warning, Jesus Christ offered this parable: “Some rich man had a good harvest in the field; and he reasoned with himself: I have nowhere to gather my fruits; I will tear down my barns and build more spacious ones, and I will gather there all my bread and all my goods, and I will say to my soul: “Soul! Much good lies with you for many years; rest, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him: “Crazy! On the same night death will come to you, and what will happen to your wealth then? So it is with those who lay up treasures for themselves, and not for God, grow rich. To grow rich in God means to grow rich in feelings and deeds pleasing to God. If the person described in the parable were rich in Christian virtues, then, having received a good income, he would not think only about himself, but would also remember his neighbors who are in need. Faith and love for God and neighbor, this is the wealth that would follow him even after his death and would help him “give a good answer at the terrible Judgment Seat of Christ”, which, as you know, we pray daily, and more than once, in churches.
PARABLE
about the marriage of the king's son
Matthew 22:1-14
at another time, wanting to denounce the obstinacy of the Jews, their neglect of the blessings of God and attachment to earthly goods, Jesus Christ spoke the following parable:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who instituted a feast on the occasion of the marriage of his son. He sent his servants to call the guests to the feast, but those invited did not want to come, Then the king sent other slaves to tell them that the feast was ready and that they should go. But they neglected the invitation and went one to the field, and another to their trade, others even, seizing the sent slaves, killed them. The king, having heard about this, became angry, sent an army, exterminated the murderers and burned their city.
“After that, the king said to his servants: the wedding feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy; so go to the crossroads and call everyone you find to the wedding feast.”
“The slaves went out onto the road and gathered everyone they met, both evil and good, and the feast was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at his guests, he saw one man who was not wearing wedding clothes, and he said to him; “My friend, how did you enter here not in wedding clothes?”. He was silent. Then the king ordered the servants, having tied his hands and feet, to drive him out, saying: "Many are called, but few are chosen."
The meaning of this parable is as follows. The king who made the feast is God the Father; the son of kings is the incarnate Son of God, whose bride is the Church. The wedding feast is the meal of the gospel doctrine and saving sacraments offered through Christ. The Jews were called to this feast through the prophets and apostles before all nations, but temporal blessings distracted them from accepting the law of Christ and from the promised blessedness; they even often cursed the messengers of God and killed them. Wherefore God sent a Roman army against them, which destroyed them; and their city Jerusalem, together with its temple, turned into a heap of ashes and stones. When the Jews did not want to take advantage of the mercies of the Lord and only a few of them believed in Christ, then the Lord commanded the apostles to go to all the countries of the world and preach the word of the Lord to all the Gentiles.
Through the Gospel, the Lord God calls us all to a feast, which is eternal life. He tells us: “Everything is ready, come!”. Indeed, everything is ready: Jesus Christ, through suffering and death, prepared for us eternal life. We go to her if we believe in God and keep the commandments of the Lord. And how many of us are like those people who, instead of going to the invitation of the king, go to the field, some to their trade; that is, they prefer worldly vain pursuits to following Jesus Christ.
It may seem that the king, having called the poor and the poor from the crossroads to his feast, unjustly requires them to be dressed in festive clothes. But for a better understanding of this parable, one must know that in the East, when the king called guests to his feast, he also attributed festive attire to them; those who did not agree to put on them offended the kind and hospitable host. This fact clarifies the meaning of the parable in relation to us. Where are we, the weak and the poor, on your own to find an opportunity to appear in a garment worthy of a heavenly meal? But the Lord, in His mercy, Himself has prepared and offers us the means. Jesus Christ himself teaches us how and by what to please the Father and the King of heaven: he dies to redeem us; ascends to heaven, where he prepares a place for us; promises to all who believe in Him to give them the Holy Spirit, which will help them to cast off the life of sin and put on the new man. Only by putting on the new man, created according to God, in righteousness and reverence of truth, having been reborn again, can we enter the kingdom of heaven. Let us run to the Lord with full faith that he will grant us the promised help; let us ask Him to strengthen in us faith, love, repentance for our sins, give us the strength to correct, so that we will not be expelled from the royal meal, but accepted as children of Christ.
In the first days of Holy Week, the Church reminds everyone of this parable in the following church song:
“I see your chamber, my Savior, adorned, and I don’t have clothes, let me enter into it, enlighten the garment of my soul, Light-giver, and save me.”
PARABLE
about evil vineyards
Matthew 21:33-44; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19
Somewhat similar in content and meaning to the previous parable is the parable of the evil vinedressers. Here it is: “One owner planted a vineyard, surrounded it with a fence, arranged a winepress in it, set up a tower, gave it to the vinedressers, and he himself went away. When the time for harvesting fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers to receive the fruits. The vinedressers, seizing his servants, nailed one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants to the former hospital, and the same was done to them. Finally, he sent his son to them, saying: "They will be ashamed of my son." But the vinedressers, when they saw their son, said to each other: “This is the heir; let us go and kill him and take possession of his inheritance.”
And they seized him and led him out of the vineyard and killed him.
So, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do with those tenants?”
Some of the listeners said:
“He will put these evildoers to an evil death, and will give the vineyard to other vinedressers, who will give him fruit in due time.”
And, confirming the truth of this answer, the Lord said. "Therefore, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will bear its fruit." This parable also indicates the care of the Lord for the people of the Jews; after all the favors that God showed him, of course, it was necessary to expect good fruits from him, but the Jews tortured and killed the prophets sent to them, and finally crucified Christ Himself, the Son of God.
However, the threats expressed in this parable can apply to all ungodly and careless Christians. Countless graces have been shown to all of us; we all have been entrusted with a vineyard from which the Lord expects fruit, for the teaching of the Lord has been revealed to us; we have been given the ability and strength to understand the will of the Lord and serve Him faithfully in the state in which the Lord was pleased to put us.
PARABLES
about slaves waiting for their master
Matthew 24:41-51; Mark 13:33-37
Jesus Christ often spoke to those who listened to Him about the need to live in such a way as to always be ready for death. We all know that death is inevitable, but none of us knows at what time it will be pleasing for our heavenly Father to call us to him. Let us try at all times to be ready to stand before Him in bright clothes, that is, with faith, love, with good and good thoughts. “Be like,” Jesus said, “servants waiting for their master to open doors for him. It will be good for those slaves if the master finds them not sleeping, no matter what hour of the night he returns.
“If the master of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would not sleep and would not let his house be broken into. Be ready, too, for you do not know at what hour the master of the house will come.
Jesus also said: “The master has appointed a ruler or steward over his servants, to rule over them and distribute food to them as he should. It is well if, upon his return, the lord finds a steward performing his duties; he will set him over all his possessions. But if the steward says in his heart: “My lord will not come soon,” he will beat the servants and maids, eat, drink and get drunk; and suddenly the master will come on a day when the steward does not expect him, he will severely punish the steward and subject him to the same fate with the villains.
The Lord commanded us all, as this steward, to fulfill our duties, which everyone has: the king and the subject, the master and the servant, the rich and the poor, the small and the big. So, one must work with all one's strength so as not to become like an evil steward. Let us hasten to correct ourselves from our sins, not saying like him: “My master will not come soon, I will have time yet.”
Each of us, of course, knows how harmful laziness and carelessness are, even in worldly affairs.
“Tomorrow I will reap my rye, tomorrow I will harvest hay,” says the lazy peasant. And tomorrow a storm or rain will interfere with him, and everything will perish with him, while everything has already been done and cleaned with his industrious neighbor. But much more harmful is spiritual laziness, because of which many put off the work of correction until an unfaithful tomorrow. “Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation,” says Scripture. Let us begin, without delay, from today, to correct ourselves from our sins and with all diligence we will do good. The more we delay, the more difficulties will arise. The habit of evil grows in the soul, like bad grass in a garden, and drowns out the good. While the grass is still small, it is easy to weed; but the further it is put off, the thicker it grows and, finally, drowns out all that has been sown.
On Holy Week The Church, calling us to spiritual exploits and to the meeting of the Lord, fills our ears with the following touching song:
“Behold the bridegroom is coming at midnight, and blessed is the servant, the vigilant will find him; unworthy of the packs, they will find him dejectedly. Watch out, my soul, do not be burdened with sleep, but you will not be given over to death, and shut up the kingdom outside, but rise, calling: holy, holy, holy, Thou art God, have mercy on us with the Theotokos.
PARABLE
about persistent prayer
Luke 18:1-8, 11:5-13
The Lord Jesus Christ often spoke to His disciples about prayer and taught them to pray. He spoke to them about the love of the Heavenly Father, about His goodness and mercy, and urged them to approach Him with full hope that He loves us as the father of His children, even at a time when He hesitates to fulfill our prayers. Let us not lose heart if sometimes the Lord God does not fulfill what we pray to Him for; we can be sure that this is done for our own benefit; we ourselves do not know what is good and useful for us, but the Lord knows this and how a loving father distributes His gifts, in accordance with our spiritual benefit. Therefore, let us pray without despondency and with full confidence in the goodness of God.
Wishing to convince His disciples not to weaken in prayer, the Lord told them the following parable: “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and was not ashamed of people. In the same city, there was a widow who asked the judge to protect her from harassment. But, finally, she bored him, and he said to himself: “Although I am not afraid of God and I am not ashamed of people, I will nevertheless fulfill her desire that she leave me alone.” “Will not God protect his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, although he is slow to defend them? the Lord added. “I tell you that he will give them protection soon. The Lord told another parable about that subject. “One day a man came to his friend at midnight and said to him, “Lend me three loaves of bread; A friend came to me, and I have nothing to treat him with.” “Don’t bother me,” he replied, “I have already locked the door and went to bed with the children; I can’t get up and give you.” But he kept begging him, and he finally got up and gave him what he wanted.”
“Ask,” added the Lord, “and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you, for everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it is opened. Which of you father, when his son asks him for bread, would give him a stone? Or when he asks for a fish, would you give him a snake? So if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”
With what joy should these words of the Lord fill us! The grace of the Holy Spirit is the highest and best gift we can receive, for it enlightens our souls and gives us strength for good. For this highest good we must pray without ceasing. In general, let us take care not so much about temporary blessings as about eternal ones, for we do not know what kind of temporary blessings are useful to us, and we will begin to pray to the Lord for the gift of the Holy Spirit, for the forgiveness of our sins, for a good answer at His terrible judgment. Let us pray for all our neighbors, relatives, friends and enemies, if we have them, for the suffering and unfortunate, and entrusting ourselves to the merciful Heavenly Father, let us add from the bottom of our hearts: “Thy will be done in everything, Lord!”. The will of the Lord, His love and mercy - this is the most reliable support for us both in this century and in the future.
PARABLE
about the publican and the Pharisee
Luke 18:9-14
Among those who listened to Jesus Christ were people who thought of themselves that they were righteous, exalted themselves and humiliated others. Jesus told them the following parable: “Two men came to the church to pray: one was a Pharisee and the other a publican. The Pharisee, standing up, prayed in himself like this: “God! I thank You that I am not like other people, robbers, offenders, lechers, or like this publican. I fast twice a week, I give a tenth of everything I receive to the church.” The publican, standing far away, did not even dare to raise his eyes to the sky; but, striking his chest, he said: “God, be merciful to me a sinner!”. “I tell you,” Jesus added, “that the publican went out of the church into his house, “justified more than she” (that is, the Pharisee). For everyone who exalts himself will humble himself, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Pride is contrary to God; there is no vice that is more harmful to us than pride. It prevents us from noticing our own weaknesses and shortcomings, and who does not have them? They are also at the best person and therefore all of us should repeat with contrite heart the words of the publican: “God, be merciful to me a sinner!”. The parable of the publican and the Pharisee is read in the church a few times before Great Lent to remind us of humility, without which there can be no repentance and correction. At the same time, the next church song or verse:
“Let us flee from the high voice of the Pharisees, and let us learn from the publican the high voice of the humble, crying out in repentance: “Save the world, cleanse Thy servants.”
The Pharisee was not only proud of his own virtues, but also despised his neighbor. And this is a very great sin and contrary to God. How can we despise a brother when the Lord Jesus Christ died for him? In addition, we all have many of our shortcomings, and we do not know if our brother does not atone for his shortcomings with virtues unknown to us? Let us be indulgent in our judgments about our neighbor, remembering our own sins and how much we ourselves need indulgence and mercy.
“Why are you looking at the needle in your brother’s eye,” Jesus once said, “but you don’t feel the beam in your own eye?” That is, that you condemn a small defect in your neighbor, while you do not notice your own great vice.
“Or,” Jesus continues, “how can you say to your brother; “Let me take the needle out of your eye, while you have a log in your eye?”
“First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see the needle taken out of your brother's eye” (Matthew 7:3-5).
PARABLES
about two sons
Matthew 21:28-32
Jesus Christ often denounced the Jewish teachers, who always spoke about the law and justice, but did not act according to their own words. About them He said, among other things, the following parable: “A certain man had two sons, and, going up to the first, he said: “Son! Go and work today in my vineyard.” He answered: “I don’t want to,” and then, having changed his mind, he went.
And, going up to another son, the father said the same. This one said in response: “I am going, father,” and did not go. Which of the two carried out the will of the father? The listeners said: "First".
Indeed, the first one, who at first did not want to fulfill the order of his father, then, having repented, did it; and the second only said that he would do it, but did not. His piety was only in words and not in heart; it was hypocrisy and a lie contrary to God. Such were precisely the leaders of the Jews; who in words cared about faith and piety, but in reality they were proud, envious and cruel people; they hated the Lord and put him to death on the cross. A disobedient son who refused to fulfill the will of his father means those who for a long time did not fulfill the law of God, but then, having come to their senses, sincerely repented and became obedient and faithful servants of the Lord God.
PRICHTA
about ten virgins
Matthew 25:1-13
The parable of the ten virgins was told with the aim of teaching listeners unceasing spiritual vigilance and readiness to meet the Lord when He comes to judge the living and the dead.
I must tell you that among the Jews, weddings were almost always celebrated in the evening; the bride and groom were seen off by the maidens, holding lighted lamps in their hands. Here is what the Lord said:
“The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom. Of these, five were wise and five were foolish. The foolish, taking their lamps, took no oil with them. The wise, along with their lamps, took oil in their vessels. And as the bridegroom slowed down, everyone dozed off and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a cry: "Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet Him." The virgins woke up and began to adjust their lamps. Wise virgins had them burning brightly, because they had oil in them; but among the foolish they were extinguished. And they said to the wise virgins: “Give us your oil, because our lamps are going out. But they answered: “In order not to have a shortage then both for us and for you, it’s better to go buy yourself oils.” They went to buy, and in the meantime the groom came; the wise virgins went in with him to the wedding feast, and the doors were shut. After a while, those virgins also came, began to knock and say: “Lord! God! Open to us,” but the bridegroom answered, “Truly, I tell you, I don’t know you.” The Savior ended this story with the following words: “Watch therefore, for you do not know the day or the hour when the Son of man will come.”
What do these words mean? They point to the hour of our death, when we will have to give the Lord an account of our whole life. We do not know when the Lord will call us, and we must expect death, as the wise virgins were waiting for the bridegroom, with lamps lit, that is, with hearts filled with love for God and warm faith. If we are distracted and lazy, if we do not think about God and do good, then the Lord will not accept us into the kingdom of heaven and will also say to us: “Get out of here. I don't know you."
On Holy Week, on Maundy Tuesday, a song is sung in the church, the content of which is borrowed from this parable. Here it is: “Brothers, let us love the bridegroom; let us adorn our candles; in virtues shining and faith right, but like the wise virgins of the Lord, we are ready to enter marriages with him: the Bridegroom, like God, gives an incorruptible crown to everyone.
Let us pray more often for this crown of incorruption, which the good and the faithful will receive in the kingdom of heaven.
PARABLE
about talents
Matthew 25:14-30
The Son of Man, said the Lord, will act at the Last Judgment like one master who, going to a far country, entrusted his property to his servants. To one servant he gave five talents, to another servant he gave two talents, and to a third one he gave. This master was wise and distributed his money to the slaves according to their abilities. During his absence, the former worked, worked, traded with the money given to him, and thus acquired five more talents; he who received two talents did likewise, and worked out the other two; but the one who received the one talent went and buried it in the ground. Finally, the master returned and demanded from the slaves his account of the money that he had left them.
The first one who received five talents brought another five talents and said: “Sir! You gave me five talents; here are the other five I bought on them.
The master said to him: “Well done, good and faithful servant! In little things you have been faithful; I will set you over many things; enter into the joy of your master.”
In the same way, he who received two talents brought the other two acquired by his labor, and heard the same praise from the master.
The one who had received the one talent also approached and said, “Sir! I knew that you were a cruel man, you reap where you did not sow, and gather where you did not scatter, and, being afraid, went and hid your talent in the ground; here's yours." “Cunning slave and lazy! the lord told him. “If you were afraid of me, then why didn’t you trade, work, and bring me another talent?” Then I would have received my good with a profit. Then he turned to the other slaves and said: “Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten of them; and throw this evil slave where there is eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth, for the one who has will always be given even more, and what he has will be taken from the one who does not have.
In this parable, Jesus Christ compares Himself to a master. Who are the slaves? This is all of us. The money that the master distributed to his servants is all the qualities and abilities that the Lord gives us: mind, memory, strength of soul and body, health, wealth. We must use all this for good deeds to fulfill the will of God. We should not bury our talent in the ground, that is, we should not destroy our abilities and strengths in laziness and sinful pleasures. And how many people do this? How many children who have all the means to study, but are lazy and inattentive, who could be pious and kind, but behave badly! How many adults who could please God by helping their families, and who ruin their mind, health, and time in their sins! How many rich people who use their wealth for evil! How terrible to think of the punishment that awaits lazy and unfaithful slaves! But until the hour of our death has come, each of us can improve. Let us firmly resolve to begin a virtuous life, let us ask God to help us lay a good beginning, and let us excite our hearts with the words of a church song. “Hearing the condemnation of the one who hid the talent, O soul, do not hide the word of God, proclaim His wonders, but multiplying the talent, enter into the joy of Your Lord.”
PARABLE
about the employee
Luke 17:7-10
Once the Lord said to His disciples: “If any of you has a worker cultivating his field or shepherding his flocks, will he say to him upon his return from the field: “Go quickly, sit down at the table?”. On the contrary, will he not say to him: “Bring me supper and serve me while I eat and drink, and then eat and drink myself?” Will he thank his servant for having carried out the order? Don't think. So you too, when you have fulfilled everything commanded to you, say: “We are slaves, worthless, because we did only what we had to do.”
But can the best of us say that he has done his due? Let us remember with what laziness, with what negligence we perform even our lightest daily duties. And in relation to the Lord, can we even think that we have done everything that was due? After all, everything we have belongs to Him. Our heart, our thoughts, our strength, our abilities, our time, everything belongs to Him. These are all means given to us to glorify His name and do His will. Is this how we use what is entrusted to us? What about the blessings of the Lord? Can we count and measure them? He created us, gave us all the blessings, loved us, sinful and unworthy. The only begotten Son of God died on the cross to save us. Can we ever think of deserving such favors? Of course not. But we must thank God every hour and try with our deeds, with our whole life, to prove our gratitude, fulfilling everything commanded to us with love and zeal.
PARABLE
about the lost sheep and the lost drachma
Luke 15:3-10
Jesus Christ in many parables spoke of God's love for us, He said that the Heavenly Father desires correction for every sinner and provides means for that. The same subject is the content of the parable of the lost sheep. Here are the words of the Savior:
“Which of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, will not leave ninety-nine in the wilderness and go looking for the missing one until he finds it? And when he finds it, he will bring it home with joy and say to friends and neighbors: “Rejoice with me: I have found my lost sheep.”
“So there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous who have no need of repentance.”
A lost sheep is a sinner who has departed from God; but just as a shepherd goes looking for a lost sheep, so the Lord God wants to bring the sinner back to himself with the word of the Gospel, with the promise of mercy and forgiveness. And if the sinner finally turns away from sin and, with warm prayer and repentance, resorts again to God, firmly deciding to correct himself, then the Lord God Himself rejoices about this and all the holy angels rejoice.
So, you should never lose heart and doubt the mercy of the Lord. The Church also offers us its help and its prayers so that we can improve. When we fast and repent of all our sins in order to receive forgiveness, then we must take a firm intention to correct ourselves and start a new one, better life. And the Lord God will gladly accept our repentance and help us in the fulfillment of good intentions.
For the same purpose - to depict love and mercy for the repentant sinner - Jesus Christ spoke the following parable:
“What woman, having ten drachmas (a small coin), if she loses one drachma, does not light candles, does not sweep the room and does not search carefully until she finds it?
And when he finds it, he will call his friends and neighbors and say: “Rejoice with me: I found a lost drachma.”
Thus, I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God even over one sinner who repents.”
PARABLE
about the good shepherd and the hired hand
John 10:1-16
In the parable of the good shepherd, the Lord again portrays His love for people. “I am the good shepherd,” He said. — The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep; but the hireling, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs, and the wolf plunders them. And the mercenary flees because he is a mercenary and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine, and mine know me. As the Father knows Me, so I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. I also have other sheep that are not of this fold; but even those I must bring, and my voice will be heard, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
In this parable, Jesus Christ called Himself a shepherd, and compared all people to sheep. He loved all people so much that he accepted death to save them and to give them eternal life. By the same parable, He teaches us that we must obey the saving teaching of Christ and must listen to those pastors and teachers who are chosen by the Church in this dignity, and, on the contrary, must avoid such teachers who teach contrary to the true God-appointed pastors of the Church.
“Truly, truly, I say to you,” says the Lord, “I am the door to the sheep; whoever enters by me will be saved, and will go in and out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.”
By this, Jesus showed that only through faith in Him can a person enter the kingdom of heaven, that there is only one true faith - this is the Christian faith, and that there is only one way to salvation - faith and love for God.
There are still peoples in distant countries who do not know the Christian faith; but godly people make journeys there to preach the gospel to them and enlighten them. The Church prays that all will join the one incorruptible Church; and we firmly hope that the time will come when all will hear the holy truth and there will be, according to the Lord, “one flock and one Shepherd.”
PARABLE
about the rich man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31
The rich must remember that wealth is given to them in order to make good use of it, to help the poor and do good. And if the rich forget this, live only to please themselves, from them, if not in this life, then in the future, a strict account will be required. To explain this, the Savior told the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
“Some man was rich. He dressed in expensive clothes and feasted luxuriously every day.
There also howled a beggar named Lazarus, who, sick and wounded, lay at the rich man's gate and desired to feed on the crumbs falling from the rich man's table; and the dogs licked his wounds.
The beggar died, and the angels carried his soul to the bosom of Abraham, that is, to heaven. The rich man also died, they buried him. In hell, being in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his bosom, and crying out, he said: “Father Abraham! Have mercy on me, send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented by fire. But Abraham answered: “Child, remember that you prospered in your life, and Lazarus was in poverty; now he is comforted here, and you suffer. And besides, between us and you a great chasm has been established, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can they pass from there to us.
Then the rich man said: “So I ask you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers: let him warn them so that they also do not come to this place of torment.”
Abraham told him “They have Moses and the prophets; let them listen." But he objected: "No, Father Abraham, but if anyone from the dead comes to them, they will repent." Then Abraham said, “If Moses and the prophets are not heard; then at least one of the dead has risen, they will not believe.
We have more than Moses and the prophets, we have the word of Jesus Christ Himself, Who told us that in the future life everyone will be rewarded according to his deeds, that there will be severely punished from those who did not use the means given to them properly, and those who with faith and patience they endured all sorts of hardships and sufferings, did not grumble, did not envy, and lived honestly. The rich man referred to in the parable is not condemned because he was rich, but because, having all the means to do good and help his neighbor, he did not do this, but lived only for himself.
PARABLE
about the prodigal son
Luke 15:11-32
You remember what Jesus said about the joy that comes in heaven when a sinner is corrected. He explained the same truth in the following parable, showing the love and mercy of our Heavenly Father:
“A certain man had two sons; the youngest of them said to his father: “Father! Give me the next part of the estate.” And the father divided the estate among his sons. Soon the youngest son, having collected everything, went to a distant country and there squandered his estate, living dissolutely.
When he had lived all, there came a great famine in that country, and he began to be in need. He joined one of the inhabitants of that country, and he sent him into the field to feed swine. And he was glad when he could eat pigs' food, but no one gave him. When he came to his senses, he said: “How many hirelings from my father are content with bread in abundance, and I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father and say to him:
"Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son, accept me as one of your hired hands.”
He got up and went to his father. And when he was still far away, his father saw him and took pity on him, ran and, throwing himself on his neck, began to kiss him. The son said to him: “Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” And the father said to his servants; “Bring the best clothes and dress him, put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. And bring a fattened calf and kill it; let us eat and be merry, for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” And they started having fun.
The eldest son was in the field; returning home, he heard singing and jubilation. Calling one of the servants, he asked what it meant. He answered him: "Your brother came, and the father slaughtered the fatted calf, because he received him healthy." The eldest son was angry and did not want to enter. Then his father went out and called him. But he said to his father: “I have served you for so many years and always carried out your orders, but you never gave me even a goat to have fun with my friends. And when that son of yours came, who squandered his estate and lived dissolutely, you slaughtered a fattened calf for him.” The father said to him: “My son! You are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. And you should have rejoiced and rejoiced that your brother was dead and is alive again, was lost and was found.”
How kind is this father, who gladly received his penitent son and went to meet him himself! This Father is God Himself, Who gladly receives the penitent sinner. It seems that the greatest sinner, after reading this parable, should take heart and go back to such a kind and soft-hearted Father.
But how many are there who, having received property from God: strength, abilities, health, wealth, intelligence, instead of using all this well, squander their property in a distant country, that is, move away from God and forget about Him and about His commandments, living in sin, laziness and carelessness. But if, in the midst of this miserable and empty life, repentance awakens in them and sincere desire to return to the Father, believe me, He Himself will help them in turning to the path of virtue, He Himself, as it were, will come out to meet them, strengthening their good intentions in their hearts. He will receive them not only with mercy, but also with joy and love, as the father of his children.
The Church reminds us of this parable in order to encourage us with the mercy of the Lord and turn us to repentance. In the week called the week of the prodigal son, before Shrove Tuesday, the following song or stichera is read and sometimes sung: “Good Father, I have departed from You; do not leave me and do not show me indecent for your kingdom; The evil enemy has laid bare me and taken my wealth; I have squandered Your gifts fornication. But I turn to You and cry: create me as one of Your hired servants, You, for my sake, Your most pure hands stretched out on the cross to snatch me from a fierce beast, clothe me in the first clothes, as if the only one is many-merciful.
PARABLE
about a king going to war
Luke 14:31-33
Jesus once said to His disciples: “What king, going to war against another king, does not sit down and consult first whether he is strong with ten thousand to resist the one who comes against him with twenty thousand?
Otherwise, when he is still far away, he will send to ask for peace.
By this parable, Jesus wanted to say that the one who wants to follow Him, that is, to become a real Christian, must gather all his strength, understand all the difficulties, so as not to weaken on the way and not return, frightened of difficulties: he must turn to God for help for he faces struggle, hardship and labor. He will have to fight against various temptations, against laziness, often against his own will, which is sometimes dangerous to follow. He must be ready to give up every pleasure and every advantage, the achievement of which is associated with a violation of the law of Christ, often undergo suffering and labor in order to remain faithful to God. Therefore, he needs to arm himself with strength, patience and a strong will; but all this will not be enough if he does not first ask for the help of the Lord. And God will hear his sincere prayer and help his weakness. Christ supported Peter in the midst of the stormy sea; He will support those who trust in Him and sincerely desire to serve Him. In the midst of danger, He will support the Christian with faith and hope; in the midst of suffering and calamity, He will give him peace of mind, and in return for earthly blessings, He will give him eternal heavenly blessings.
How insignificant all the deprivations, labors and sufferings will seem to us if we are worthy to be from those whom the Lord calls His Father blessed and accepts into the kingdom of heaven.
One of the two sons asked his father to give him half of the property. The father complied with the request, dividing between his sons what he had.
A few days passed and he, taking with him everything he received, went to distant countries. He lived, did not grieve and squandered his inheritance.
After he ran out of money, and the country was starved. He needed to find food and shelter. Got a job, the youngest son, to take care of the pigs and graze them. He was so needy that he was happy with the stew of these domestic animals, but he was not allowed to take this food.
Thinking about what was happening, he realized that his father's slaves eat better. I will go and beg forgiveness from my father, and hire myself as a worker for him. And so he did.
Even at a far distance, his father saw him, took pity on him and forgave him. Embraced his prodigal son, kissed him.
- Father! My sin is great and I am not worthy to be your son! - he said - Get me a job with your servants!
The father ordered that his son be dressed in the best clothes and shoes, Bring a fat calf and we will rejoice, because my son has risen from the dead. And the fun began. The older brother worked all day in the field, approaching the house, he asked the servants: “Why is everyone walking? And he did not like that his father so accepted his younger brother. He stood and did not want to cross the threshold of his father's house.
I have been working for you for so many years and have never disobeyed you, and you have not even given a kid to go out with your friends.
But, the father came out and called the eldest son.
Son! You live inseparably with me and all mine is yours, but you have to be glad that younger brother lost and found. Died and risen!
The parable teaches: Leading a sinful way of life, a person destroys the soul and all the gifts (abilities, health, life) released by our Father. The Lord - our Father rejoices with the Angels at the repentance of sinners, passing humbly and with hope.
A picture or drawing of The Parable of the Prodigal Son
Other retellings for the reader's diary
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- Summary Zabolotsky Good boots
Zabolotsky's work Good Boots is written in verse. main idea is that the shoemaker made very good shoes. And in the village lived Carlos, who walked barefoot all the time
- Summary Sukhovo-Kobylin Case
About 6 years have passed since the failed marriage of Krechinsky. From that moment the landowner Muromsky with his sister and daughter Lidochka moved to the village. Recently, the family moved to St. Petersburg
- Summary of Camus the Outsider
In this story, Camus makes the main character a man who feels alienated from everyone. Meursault is practically devoid of feelings. He does not spare either those around him or himself ... He is not interested in either a career or a family. But that's why he has no meaning in life.
- Summary of Ionesco Bald Singer
The play takes place in an English family. The Smiths have dinner, after which Mrs. Smith discusses the dinner she ate and dreams of culinary delights in the future.
The meaning of the parable of the Sower is explained in sufficient detail by the Lord Himself. One can also add to the gospel explanation that the Sower is the Lord Himself, the seed is the word of God, the field is all mankind, the whole world, receiving into its depths the miraculous seed of the gospel word. Like a seed, the gospel word carries within itself the beginning of life, true, spiritual life, for what is true life? This samethere is eternal life- the Lord answers in Hishigh priestly prayer,- let them know youthe only true God, and sent by TheeJesus Christ(John XVII, 3). The gospel word gives this knowledge of the true God, and therefore it is a wondrous seed of salvation and life. Thrown into the human heart, under favorable conditions, it grows and bears fruit - good deeds and a holy life. Like a seed, it eternally bears within itself this living force.
At present, as nineteen centuries ago, it excites and touches, rejoices and consoles, judges and humbles, touching the innermost strings of the human heart.
are dying philosophical systems, political theories are forgotten, the flowers of poetry fade, but the word of God is living and active and sharper than anythingth double-edged sword: it penetrates to the stripsoul and spirit, joints and brains, and judgesthoughts and intentions of the heart(Heb. IV, 12). It contains the ever-living truth.
But, always possessing this hidden living force in the same degree, the word of God does not always yield the same harvest. It depends on the soil into which it falls, and here the parable acquires for us a particularly burning, living, personal interest, for this soil is our heart. We all, listeners and readers of the word of God, receive our share of holy seeds; we all probably would like to have fertile soil in our hearts, bringing a hundred times the harvest, and the question why this does not happen and why the seedlings are so withered, miserable and mixed with weeds - this question, of course, is for us far from indifferent.
Let us think more carefully about the parable in order to discover in its wondrous images and symbols the laws of spiritual agronomy that are important for us, to which the Lord Jesus Christ points.
In order to successfully cultivate a field and apply rational methods of cultivation to it, it is necessary first of all to study the soil and know its composition. Sandy soil requires one fertilizer, loam - another, black soil - another; and the methods of processing themselves on different soils are not the same. The same is true in the spiritual life. In order to understand the reasons why the word of God is fruitless for man, and at the same time to find right ways cultivation and upbringing of the soul, which could increase the harvest of the holy seed, strengthen the influence and effect of the gospel word on a person - for this we need to study the soil of our heart and find out what exactly in this heart prevents the successful growth of the seed. Accordingly, we can take certain measures.
Speaking about the fate of the seed, the Lord in His parable depicts four types of conditions in which it falls during sowing and which affect its growth in different ways. These are four different types of the human psyche, four types of the disposition of the soul.
When the sower sowed something else happened(seed) fell on the road, and birds flew in and bitingwhether that(Article 4).
This is the first type. The heart is like a road, and the seed, falling on it, does not even penetrate into the soil, but remains on the surface and becomes an easy prey for birds.
What are these people?
Firstly, this includes rough natures, a purely animal warehouse. This is the most evil type among people, and, unfortunately, they are especially numerous at the present time. They live a purely uterine life: eat well, drink sweetly, sleep a lot, dress well - they know nothing better than this. A trough, feed and swill - this exhausts all their content. Their worldview is exclusively materialistic. Questions of the spirit do not exist for them. To the ideals of truth, goodness and beauty, to everything that humanity worshiped as the greatest shrine, that attracted and captivated heroes, ascetics and the best figures of history, to which they gave their strength and their lives without cherishing - to all this people like the road treated with cynical mockery and outright contempt. “Benefit” is the word that defines their activities. For them, God is the womb, and the gospel, the word of God, meets in them a blank wall of dull indifference. It bounces off them like peas off a wall, not even breaking through the outer crust of egoism and not penetrating inside, into the heart. If sometimes it remains on the surface of memory, then only until the moment when the first impulse of debauchery, voluptuousness or covetousness swoops in like a bird and swallows everything without a trace, and a rough heart remains as before hard and impenetrable.
Secondly, very frivolous people, living only on superficial impressions, belong to the same category. The essence of their psyche is an idle curiosity that is easily aroused, but does not at all strive to connect the impressions received with deep foundations. mental life. Such curiosity does not bring any benefit: it is aimless and pointless. Impressions are judged here solely by their effect on the nerves. Everything that tickles the nerves equally attracts people of this type. Therefore, it is completely indifferent for them: to listen to a good preacher or a fashionable tenor, to watch a religious procession or an English boxing, to be present at a solemn, inspiring worship service, or to roll with laughter, watching a funny water fork. They consider the whole world as if it was created solely for their entertainment, and they approach every phenomenon of life with the same yardstick. If they listen to an inspired preacher talking about the truth of the gospel, about the radiant world of purity and holiness, about the Great Loving God, they will say only one thing in praise: “Oh, he speaks well, beautifully!” or: “He has a well-developed, elegant speech!” This is the most humiliating praise for a preacher, reducing him to the role of a schoolboy demonstrating his literary and declamatory talents before the examiners. Let sobs and genuine tears of suffering love be heard in the sermon, the groan of a tortured heart, bitterness and indignation at the sight of the trampled truth, they will not find other words for evaluation, except for the vulgar phrase: “Oh, he has a dramatic talent!” As if before them is a stage performer who performs solely to entertain them and tickle their frayed nerves.
These are people of a petty soul, and life for them is not a serious task, full of deep meaning but just a farce. People of this sort listen to the word of the gospel as if it does not belong to them: they do not perceive it.
The third kind of people of this sort are scattered natures, with scattered thoughts. There is nothing basic, permanent in them that would serve as the center of their life. These are people, as they are called, without a core, that is, they do not have a predominant inclination or attachment to any one business or occupation that determines the direction of their life. How do these people live? You won't say it right away: everything here is so fluid, so changeable, so impermanent. Today one, tomorrow another, the day after tomorrow the third. One thought replaces another, as in a kaleidoscope, without any order and system. One passion is crowded out by another, plan follows plan, with everything like on a carriage road, where carriages are rolling, passers-by are walking, replacing one another, stray cattle are trampling. They start everything, try everything, and finish nothing. They have no purpose in life. These are the slaves of a momentary whim, a cane swayed by the wind. Their hobbies are fragile, unreliable, fleeting. With the ease of a moth, they flutter from object to object. Every novelty attracts and captures them, but only for a short time. “Whatever the last book says, it will fall on the heart from above.” To teach them anything serious, to preach the word of God is almost useless. This means writing on water, sowing along the road: passers-by will trample, birds will peck, that is, the world with its eternal change of novelties, the devil with his temptations and temptations. Since impressions and thoughts are constantly changing here, not one of them penetrates deep into the heart, and the heart itself, little by little, loses its responsiveness, the ability to take them at least a little seriously, becomes dry, indifferent, hard, like a road trampled down by the feet of passers-by and rolled by the wheels of innumerable carriages.
These are the three categories of people belonging to the type of carriageway. They all have in common that the seed of the word of God does not penetrate their soul at all, does not excite them, does not please, does not excite, but remains on the surface, that is, only in memory, in the head consciousness, and, without bearing any fruit. , soon dies.
A little better are the following two types of soil, indicated by the Lord Jesus Christ in His parable.
Other seed fell on a rocky place, wherethere was not much earth, and soon it sprang up "becausethe ground was shallow; when the sun came upwithered and, as it had no root, withered(vv. 5-6).
Explaining these words, the Lord adds: pose yannoe on a rocky place means those whory, when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy, but they have no root in themselves andstanding; later, when the tribulation comes ordenial for a word, they are immediately tempted(vv.16-17).
A type that is widespread and quite familiar to us. In these people there is an undoubted desire and love for good, and the word of God finds a lively and quick response in them, but it does not seize them so strongly that for the sake of its realization in life they find in themselves enough strength and determination to work on themselves, fight obstacles and defeat hostile currents. Hearing the gospel sermon about truth, love, selflessness, they light up immediately, like a Swedish match, but go out just as soon. These flashes of fleeting passions can be very strong, like flashes of magnesium, and at this moment these people are even capable of a feat, but a moment passes - and everything is over, and, as after magnesium, only smoke and soot remain - annoyance at their cowardice and flabbiness or, on the contrary, regret about your hobby. These people are not capable of severe, persistent, long-term work, and the law of entry into the Kingdom of God, given by the Lord, is an insurmountable obstacle for them: From the days of JohnBaptist until now the kingdom of heaven by the power ofrushes, and those who use force delight him(Mt. XI, 12).
Only small grass can grow on stony soil, so these people, under normal conditions of a calm life, are capable of only very small things that do not require effort. They cannot be denied sensitivity: you will sometimes see them praying in church with tears of compunction in their eyes, they are inspired by good singing, touched by sayings and exclamations of Divine service, full of sublime meaning; with feeling they repeat together with others: “Let us love one another…”, “Let us embrace each other, brethren!” But when the moment comes when it is necessary to move from good words to deeds, you will immediately see that tearful tenderness and religious enthusiasm did not soften their cold soul, that it was only a phosphoric brilliance that did not give warmth, simple sentimentality or false sensitivity, not a real feeling. They sometimes like to read the lives of the saints, just as children love to read scary tales and touching stories but here, too, things go no further than sighs and verbal raptures. They are not averse to dreaming about this ascetic life and presenting themselves as ascetics and martyrs for the truth, but the efforts of will that are required for this frighten them. They have nothing against virtue, morality, asceticism, they even would like to get into the Kingdom of Heaven, but on the condition that this does not require any deprivation from them and that it can be done with complete comfort and with all conveniences. They want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven in a first-class carriage.
What prevents these people from giving themselves undividedly to Christ and bearing full fruit? A rocky layer that lies under an outer layer of good soil and does not allow the roots of the plant to penetrate deeper.
Selfishness is such a rocky layer in the human soul. Usually it is only slightly covered from above with a thin coating of sensitivity and good impulses. But when it is necessary to deepen and implement these good impulses in life, that is, to do a good deed, which, in fact, is the fruit of a good impulse, selfishness and self-pity born of it invariably rise up against this. Let's say you are asked to help. You are ready to do this and donate something to the needy, but now you hear the voice of selfishness: “And what will I be left with? I myself need money: I have so little!” Your good impulse runs into the cold stony wall of selfishness and fades like an unopened bud.
Selfishness is not reconciled with deprivations, even imaginary ones.
This is also the case in the spiritual, ideological struggle. People often wear Christian beliefs like decent suit giving them an air of decency and gentlemanship, as long as it does not constrain or obligate them to anything. But when one has to pay for these convictions with suffering and deprivation, immediately self-pity whispers insidiously: “Is it worth suffering like this? Is the fee too expensive? After all, you can do without convictions!”
The result is betrayal and apostasy.
The last type of people, in whose soul the word of God remains fruitless, is characterized by the Lord in the following words:
Another fell into thorns, and the thorns grew, and choked the seed, and it did not bear fruit.
That which is sown among thorns signifies those who hear the word, but in whom are the cares of this world, deceitwealth and other wishes, entering them,stifle the word, and it happens without fruit(vv. 7, 18-19).
These are people who want to work for God and mammon at the same time. Desiring to live according to the laws of God, at the same time they do not want to renounce worldly fuss and usually end up with this whirlpool of worldly cares, passions, passions absorbing them without a trace, ousting everything bright, ideological, sublime from their souls. If a person does not struggle with earthly addictions in the name of the gospel truth, he will inevitably become their captive, and hearing the word of God alone will not save him. Attempts to establish a balance in life between a tribute to God and a tribute to mammon and this world have never succeeded, because the soul is a simple being and cannot double. No one can serve two masters- says the Lord: - for either one will not be see and love the other; or he will be zealous for one, and neglect the other(Matthew VI, 24).
These people are also unfit for the Kingdom of God. So much of the seed of the word of God is lost to no avail!
Of the four categories, only one bears fruit: the other seed fell on good ground and gavefruit that sprang up and grew and brought forth anotherthirty, another sixty, and another hundred.
And what is sown on the good ground means thosewho hear the word and receive and bear fruit, one at thirty, another at sixty, another a hundredfold(vv. 8, 20).
These are whole natures, in whom the word does not diverge from the deed, and who, listening to and perceiving the word of God, try to fulfill it and live according to its instructions. But even among these people, whose sympathetic and sincere heart represents good ground, obedience to the gospel word is not equally complete and perfect for everyone, for one brings thirty, another sixty, another one hundred. This means that one is able to fulfill a third of what the highest ideal of Christian perfection requires of him, the other is almost two-thirds, and only a few succeed in fulfilling everything completely and perfectly. These are the chosen natures. These are the ones the Lord says: I have found a man after my own heart... who will fulfill all my desires(Acts XIII, 22).
There are few such people. But how brightly they shine against the dim background of the warm-cold attitude towards the Gospel of the majority of contemporaries, sluggish, flabby, weak in goodness, and how the word of God uplifted and enlightened their souls, to which they selflessly surrendered and which they fulfilled to the end!
Here Reverend Anthony Great. Two gospel sayings made a decisive change in his soul and directed him on the path that led to the highest degrees of holiness. Once, shortly after the death of his parents, while still a young man of 18-20 years old, he heard the words of the Lord in the church: if you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor...and follow me. He took these words for advice addressed directly to him, and carried it out literally, distributing the property to the poor. Another time, having heard the words of the Savior: don't careabout tomorrow he felt in them an imperious call, to which he unquestioningly obeyed: he left the house and went into the desert, so that, freed from all worries, in the exploits of the ascetic life he would surrender to the One Whose will became for him the highest law. The Word bore a hundredfold fruit in him.
Here is the venerable martyr Eudokia, originally a great sinner, cleansed and transfigured by the word of God, like that burning coal that the six-winged Seraphim took with tongs from the altar of the Lord to touch the lips of the prophet (Ex. VI, 6-7).
In the world her name was Mary. She was wonderfully beautiful, and that was her misfortune. Success, flattery, universal worship turned her head. Maria led a vain, frivolous secular life, elegant and brilliant on the outside, but empty and vulgar in content. Feasts, entertainment of all kinds filled all her time, not allowing her to come to her senses, to come to her senses. But under the surface socialite there was a kind heart and a sympathetic soul. This saved her.
One day, near the hotel where Mary was feasting, surrounded by a crowd of admirers, two elder monks stopped in indecision. It was clear that they had come from afar. Their feet and clothes were covered with dust, their beaten, tattered shoes spoke of long road. They were tired and wanted to rest in an inn, but the sound of music and cheerful company frightened them. Finally they decided to enter. They were placed next to the banquet hall in a room separated only by a thin partition.
The noisy orgy continued. Shameless speeches were heard. The intoxicated Maria danced a seductive, voluptuous dance.
Someone remembered the elders.
Let's see what they do? That's it, they must be praying!
Leave them alone,” Maria said with a smile.
But already several dissolute revelers were crowding around the partition, listening to what was going on behind it.
Shh... Tigle! Something to read! Let's listen!
The noise is silent. In the ensuing silence, the voice of an old man reading was heard, slightly muffled by the wall.
He read:
And behold, the woman of that city, who wasthe sinner, having learned that he was reclining in the house of the farisowing, she brought an alabaster vessel with the world and,standing behind him at his feet and weeping, she began to pourhis feet with tears and wipe his head with hairhers, and kissed His feet, and smeared with myrrh(Luke VII, 37-38).
Here is a place for such readings! exclaimed one of the young revelers. - Hey, you there!
Leave! cried Maria. Her face became more and more serious as the wonderful gospel story about the forgiven sinner unfolded. She didn't understand what was happening to her.
Therefore I say to you: sins are forgivenher many because she loved a lot(Luke VII, 47).
Well, you won't care about that! - the youngest of the guests whispered to Mary.
A loud scream was his answer. Everyone started. Maria stood all trembling. A deathly pallor covered her face. Dark eyes burned with flames.
Get away from me everything! Leave me!..
These marvelous words about forgiveness, about salvation, about the mercy of God burned in her heart. So the dry earth greedily swallows the moisture of the spring rain.
The embarrassed guests dispersed. Maria rushed behind the partition to the astonished elders. The momentary astonishment of the latter was replaced by indignation.
Get away from us! one of them said sternly. -
Or do you have no shame?
Fathers, do not reject me! I am a sinner
but the Lord did not reject the harlot!
She pressed her lips to the dusty feet of the elders: the sinner Mary became Saint Evdoka to her. The Word of God brought forth a hundredfold fruit.
What lessons can we draw from all this? If we really want the gospel seed to bear abundant fruit in us and intend to seriously work on this, then we must study the soil of our hearts and find out what exactly hinders the growth of the word of God. Think about what type you are. Does your heart represent a passing road or stony ground, or do the seeds of the word of God perish in it, choked by the thorns of worldly turmoil?
It must be borne in mind that these types in pure form are rarely seen. Usually in human heart there is a bit of everything, and the type can be determined only by the predominance of one or another trait.
Having determined the characteristics of the soil, you can specify and apply special tricks processing according to each type of soil. Of course, it must be kept in mind at all times that planting andhe who waters is nothing, but God who brings forth everything(1 Cor. III, 7), Who alone by His power can make the most barren soil fruitful, and, conversely, turn a fertile field into a wilderness, and that our prayers and petitions for the success of the work should be directed to Him first of all . But with this hope in God as the main condition for success, we are still not freed from the obligation to work under ourselves, for who knows how to do good anddoesn't, that's a sin(James IV, 17).
So what can we do?
There is almost no need to talk about the first variety of the first type, because the psyche of people of this type does not even contain the desire to become morally better and purer. Only some kind of catastrophe sent by the beneficent providence of God can lead them out of their stupid animal complacency. One can only pray for them, but it is useless to advise them of anything, since under normal conditions they will not want to fulfill any advice. The other two varieties, as we have seen, are turned into a roadway by a mass of various motley impressions, which, rushing through the consciousness, like an endless string of carriages and passers-by, tamp the soil, that is, make the soul hard, callous and imperceptible to the word of God. . It is clear that our first concern here is to set up barriers so that no one travels or walks along the road. talking plain language, it means to delay or completely stop that stream of incoherent perceptions of everyday life, which is annoyingly crowded in the brain, cluttering it with all sorts of rubbish.
Think, really, how much rubbish every day passes through the head of the average so-called cultured person! One morning paper is worth something! There is also a false editorial covering the events in the way that the editorial board needs; here is a feuilleton full of obscene scoffing; here is the chronicle, which transmits all the market news; there are announcements about a missing pug and about a doctor who radically cures sexual impotence. After reading all this "useful" information, you feel the need for at least two hours of walking in the fresh air to ventilate. Further, you come to the office and immediately find out a number of other news: whose wife has run away, which of the colleagues has stolen, who has received a promotion and an award, etc. When you return home, your wife already has a friend, a patented gossip who throws out you have a whole box of the freshest, freshly baked news. In the evening you go to the theatre, and again a new string of incidents, speeches, monologues, various faces, spectators, actors, acquaintances and strangers, old and young, well-dressed and badly dressed, all this agitated, noisy, eternally changeable a crowd that fills the places of spectacles. Add to this the final chord of a restaurant dinner with impressions of electric light, discharged women, a cheap orchestra, etc. - and you will understand that after living a month in this boiling cauldron of external variety, fleeting effects and internal emptiness, one can even become hardened. , and go crazy. There can be no talk of success and influence on the soul of the word of God in such a situation. But put up your slingshots, give up this noise and fuss, limit this influx of impressions by all means in your power, live a more solitary life, be sure to provide yourself with hours of profound thoughtfulness and silence - and you will see that the depths of your heart will constantly change and become deeper. perceive the sprouts of God's word.
For people of the second category, the stone layer of selfishness serves as an obstacle to the growth of the gospel seed. This is where efforts should be directed. This layer must be cracked and removed. This is how a field is cultivated in Finland. In order to prepare the soil for sowing, it is first necessary to remove the mass of huge boulders and stone fragments that clutter up the field. These stones are either blown up or uprooted from the ground, bringing long thick logs under them. And you need to see this work! Bringing a log under a huge stone, a whole family of peasants - owners or tenants of the field - sits on its free end and begins to swing. They sway persistently, methodically, sway in the morning and in the evening, sway for a day, another ... And at the end, a massive boulder begins to tremble slightly and quietly twist out of the ground. This is hard, boring work, but there is no other way out: the field must be cleared. Hard work lies ahead with pride. There is no way to tear it out and remove it right away, but you can break it off in pieces. You shouldn't just feel sorry for yourself.
Suppose you are asked to provide a service. You do not want to, because this is associated with the loss of time and other inconveniences for you. Your selfishness protests and grumbles. Do not listen to this voice, overcome yourself and, having defeated your unwillingness and self-pity this time, you have already broken off a piece of selfishness. Continue this work persistently, stubbornly, unceasingly, as Finnish peasants work, and little by little your self-love will soften, weaken and disappear, giving way to better feelings of self-sacrifice and concern for others. Then the roots of the word of God will penetrate deeper into the heart and will not perish from the first adversity.
Finally, people of the third category, whose thorns stifle the seedlings of the gospel sowing, must remember that it is impossible to serve Mammon and God at the same time, that one must choose one thing, and once service to God is chosen, then the thorns and weeds of vain desires and worldly passions must be carefully weeded out, otherwise they will grow and choke the word of God. It is useful to remember that the sooner this work is done, the better. While the thorns are only in the bud, they are easy to weed out.
As long as sinful desires exist only in thoughts and have not yet turned into deeds, it is easier to overcome them. But they take root when put into action, and then the fight against them becomes more difficult.
When the soil has been prepared in this way to some extent, then the cultivation of the soul itself, which contributes to the successful growth of the word of God, is carried out according to the old ascetic rule: plow with the plow of repentance, fertilize with prayer, irrigate with tears of contrition, and constantly weed out the bad grass of passions.
