July 29 – week 9 after Pentecost, memory of the Holy fathers of the six Ecumenical Councils. “Pravmir” publishes an excerpt from the book of the Archpriest Alexander Abramov “whosoever will may come. Conversations on Sundays and feast the gospel reading,” published in the publishing house “Nike”.
- Many glorious miracles and walking on water (Matthew 14-15)
- Hand over the abyss
- The example of the Apostle Peter to fall, stand up and boldly follow Christ (+Video)
- Ahead of not only sin, but Christ
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd. And he sent away the multitudes, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening he was there alone. But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. In the fourth watch of the night went unto them Jesus, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. Peter said unto Him, o Lord! if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. He said, come. And out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but seeing the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, Lord! save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said to him: you of little faith! why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Those in the boat worshiped Him saying, truly You are the Son of God. And, having arrived in the land Genisaretsky.
MF. 14: 22-34
Today the Church offers the gospel reading of St. Matthew about the walking on water.
Seeing Christ walking on the water as on dry land, Peter wished the same talents and promptly received them, but were afraid and began to sink. Christ has to get him out. Church Slavonic text uses the verb “to take”, “poyat”[1], is very active. Simply put — Christ by the hair and pulled Peter’s. And when all of them — and the Savior, and Peter and the other disciples were in the boat, the storm stopped.
For us today it is very notable is the passage of text preceding the Peter walking up with this first, very successful, and then infamous — by the water. When the disciples saw Christ going from the shore to the ship, they were frightened: not the Ghost of Lee. And this is not “Ghost Li” defines the attitude of modern Christians to the Savior in everyday life.
We deliberately switch off the strongest signal and configured to hissing and bearing all sorts of nonsense wave. We set your radio to catch the minimum number of transmissions. We install it in a shielded room, where waves do not reach, in the basement. And wonder — for some reasons, we have not established communication with God? So that there is communication! Direct words of Christ we do not hear. Or we can do it much less than we claim we wish.
Now is the time to engage in Christ? No, now is not the time. Now another program is running. The program “career”, “money”, “friends”, “home care”. And as always until then, unless something happens. Unfortunately, bad. That’s when we switched sweetly I must go to pray, it is necessary to put a candle. But in this Milesti we do not overcome instrumental, ancient relationship to God: now I will do something, but You alone, o Lord, be gracious. And we’d find a million quotes in support of himself that the Lord and the intention of kiss[2], and tears part kind of sees[3].
It’s true: intention and kisses, and tears part of some sees. But what of tears? Tears of camomiletea? The tears of admiration of their own spirituality? Tears incredible respect for your own talents?
Christ to Peter in today’s gospel episode, chastises. Pedagogy of the Savior, we completely unclear. Might and praise, to say: “well Done, you made the first step it always the hardest”. And He said, “of little Faith, why did you doubt?”
Because we cannot focus on my — really challenging — the first step. It is necessary to go further and not stop with a raised leg, as if posing for the camera.
And here is a test of your Christian feelings: you don’t know what’s waiting for you on the way; don’t know what stepping your leg. Maybe there is solid ground, and can — failure or water like the Apostle Peter. The point is that you don’t have to know. The Lord of the stones, as Scripture tells us, Abraham is able to rise children[4]. And folk wisdom adds to this: “if I Knew where we fall, b podstelil straw”.
We always try intelligent techniques and their experiences (and he still finite) to predict the development of events, including in the area of spiritual life. And it’s not working. We project your experience, your knowledge of the wrong man for the circumstances of his life. About as the devil does. Because he, too, projects its — much more than we have, — knowledge about human to human relationships.
But he not knows that he knows Christ, that man is able to change. A miracle is not an accident, and not even rare. These flashes and flashes like the Northern lights, poured into our lives. It is necessary only slightly to be able to focus. We must not be afraid to tread. And if you fall, it will not be like the fall, which Christ the devil tried to seduce, and what the Saviour said to him: thou shalt Not tempt the Lord thy God[5].
So, our step Christian step in life should be determined and should not be a step stupid. But the folly here is to use our daily, very limited, experience.
We should not rush into the well — this does not call the Christ. We do not have to save humanity on this — ironically the Christ. We should not make a feat for feat. But when we put foot for walking on the water, we need to try not to freak out.
Our water — not the sea of Galilee. She’s in the middle of the city, in the depths, sometimes very dangerous, our relationship with other people. And there we face many dangers. The bite of a person is known to be one of the most poisonous. And if not physically, then morally considerable number of people bite. But real-time protection, blocks that we constantly put against people would be quite justified if we had no Savior. If we knew that we were alone if I thought that we are thrown. And we are not abandoned.
The Psalmist says: Ashche Bo and go amidst a canopy smertnye, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy Mace, the mn utasist (PS. 22: 4). It is very quiet, peaceful conviction, they’ll never leave Christ everywhere and always, as long as you remain It.
[1] And straightway Jesus stretching forth his hand, Yat it and the verb to it: the faith, was almost pannels thou? (Matt. 14: 31; p.-seq.).
[2] “Lupacescu Bo Son Lord, accept the last, thou, also the first: uspokaivaet in edinadeseta hour prishedshego, as made from the first hour; and the last has mercy, and the first pleases, and that meter gives, and this destouet, and things accept, and the intention of kissing; and act read and offer praises”(catechetical Word of the Holy Easter in those saints the father of our SVT. John Chrysostom).
[3] “is Not hidden to You, my God, my Creator, my Redeemer, below a drop of tear, drops below part a” (the Service for Holy Communion, prayer 6, the PDP. Simeon The New Theologian).
[4] God is able of these stones to rise children to Abraham (Matt. 3: 9).
[5] Then the devil taketh Him up into the Holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto Him, if Thou be the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written: give His Angels charge over Thee, and on hands will bear You up, lest any time you dash your foot against a stone Thy. Jesus said to him: it is written: you shall not tempt the Lord thy God (Matt. 4: 5-7).