Lk., 85 credits, XVII, 12-19. Healing ten lepers

And when He entered a certain village, ten men of lepers met Him, who stopped at a distance and said with a loud voice: Jesus the Master! have mercy on us. Seeing them, He said to them: Go, show yourselves to the priests. And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, seeing that he was healed, returned, glorifying God with a loud voice, and fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him; and that was a Samaritan. Then Jesus said, Were not ten cleansed? where is nine? how did they not return to give glory to God, except for this foreigner? And he said to him: get up, go; your faith has saved you.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

How much joy and how much living gratitude was around Christ! When we read the Gospel, on every page, in every line we see how God's caress, God's love, God's mercy are poured out onto our sinful, cold, tortured world; how God, by Christ, seeks out all those whose souls have become heavy, their souls darkened from sin, those who can no longer bear the burdens of their lives - due to illness or for another reason.

As soon as Christ enters people's lives, this life begins to sparkle with new hope, faith not only in God, but in oneself, in man, in life. And how we distort the gospel sermon and the gospel word when we turn our life into a constant search for the most dark, sinful, unworthy of us, people, or God, under the pretext that by doing this we are trying to become worthy of our Mentor and Savior ...

Joy was the seal of the evangelical Christian community, joy and gratitude, exultation that God So loved the world, that he not only created this world, but sent his only begotten Son into this world - don't judge and save the world! We are saved, the world is saved by the love of God.

And we must make this salvation our own property through gratitude, which would be expressed not only in a word, not only in a living feeling of compunction, not only in tears of joy, but in such a life that could - so to speak - console the Father about that He gave His Son to death for us, to rejoice the Savior that He did not live in vain, did not teach in vain, did not suffer in vain, and did not die in vain: that His love was shed in our lives, and that it is our hope, and our joy, and our exultation, and our confidence in salvation...

Brian Kershisnik - Healing ten lepers

Therefore, as we now approach the feast of the Incarnation, let us learn this joy; look at our life in a new way; Let us remember how much the Lord poured into this our life of mercy, affection, love, how much joy He gave us: bodily, spiritual; how many friends we have, let's remember those who love us, the parents who keep us, even if they left this world. How much earthly things have been given to us, and how heavenly flows into our lives and makes earth already the beginning of heaven, makes time already the beginning of eternity, makes our present life the beginning of eternal life...

Let us learn this joy, because in a very short time we will be standing in front of the manger in which the Lord lies; We'll see, What such is God's love - fragile, defenseless, vulnerable, giving itself without boundaries, without resistance - if only we would accept it and a new life, a new joy would begin for us ...

Let us think about the love of God and that no power can overcome it. It was not in vain that the Apostle Paul said that nothing can tear us out of the hand of God, wrest us out of Divine love. Let us learn to rejoice, and from the depths of this joy to build a life that would be sheer gratitude, if necessary, a cross, but jubilant joy. Amen.

Orthodox faith lamps,
pillars of monasticism unshakable,
lands of Russian consolation,
Venerable Elders of Optinstia,
having acquired the love of Christ and the soul
who thought their own for their children...

• If you ever do some kind of pardon to anyone, you will be pardoned for that.

• The Pharisee prayed and fasted more than ours, but without humility all his work was nothing, and therefore be jealous of the most publican humility, which is usually born from obedience, and dominates you.
• Moreover, it was noted by the holy fathers that when a person prepares for the communion of the Holy Mysteries or expects to meet some kind of holiday, then the devil tries with all his might to annoy the person and thereby confuse his soul, so that that day would be spent not in joy in the Lord, but in demonic sorrow. . The reasons for his attack on us are different, but the most important is the condemnation of our neighbors, which sin, and besides fornication and other temptations, defiles not just the body, but our very soul.
• Peace of mind is acquired from the perfect devotion of oneself to the will of God, without which it would be nothing to be with us, even to be. And if your husband was really not good, then ask yourself in conscience before God: “Am I, a sinner, worthy of a good and kind husband?” And your conscience will certainly say that you are not worthy of absolutely good things, and then in humility of heart, with obedience to the will of God, you will love him from the bottom of your heart and find much good that you have not seen before.

• One passion reproaches another: where self-love, there love of money yields, and vice versa happens. And we know that all vices sometimes leave a person, and one stays with him - pride, which is pleased to replace the others.
• But do not dare to blame the one who offends us, even if it seems to be an incorrect insult, but consider him an instrument of God's Providence, sent to us to show our dispensation.
• And no one can either offend or annoy us, unless the Lord allows it to be for our benefit, or for punishment, or for testing and correction.

• If you appease your own heart to the one who is angry with you, then the Lord will proclaim to his heart to be reconciled to you.
• Every deed must begin with an invocation of the name of God for help.

• If you want to have love, then do the deeds of love, even if at first without love.
• We must live on the earth as the wheel turns: only with one point touches the earth, and with the rest it constantly strives upwards; and how we lie down on the ground - and we can’t get up.
• Living the simplest is the best. Don't break your head. Pray to God. The Lord will arrange everything, just live easier. Don't torture yourself thinking about how and what to do. Let it be - as it happens: this is to live easier.
• The requested cross is difficult to bear, but it is better to surrender to the will of God in simplicity.
• Whoever has a bad heart should not despair, because with God's help a person can correct his heart. You just need to carefully monitor yourself and not miss the opportunity to be useful to your neighbor, often open up to the elder and do all possible alms. This, of course, cannot be done suddenly, but the Lord is longsuffering. He only ends the life of a person when he sees him ready for the transition to eternity, or when he sees no hope for his correction.
• Before the judgment of God, it is not the characters that matter, but the direction of the will. Know that characters matter only in the judgment of man, and therefore they are either boasted or condemned; but at the judgment of God, characters, as natural properties, are neither approved nor condemned. The Lord looks at a good intention and compulsion to do good, and appreciates the resistance to passions, even if a person is sometimes overcome by weakness due to something. And again, negligence judges about this One, who knows the secret heart and conscience of a person, and his natural strength for good, and the circumstances surrounding him.

• If you see the error of your neighbor, which you would like to correct, if it violates your peace of mind and irritates you, then you also sin and, therefore, you will not correct the error with error - it is corrected with meekness.
• And it is useful for us when we are pushed. That tree, which the wind shakes more, strengthens its roots more, and which is in silence, it immediately falls down.
• As circumstances have arranged, this is how we should live, because the circumstances surrounding us are arranged not just by chance, as many modern-day wise men think, but everything is done with us by the Providence of God, constantly caring for our spiritual salvation.
• We ourselves increase our sorrows when we begin to grumble.
• Have what you need and need, but don’t collect too much, and if you don’t have it and you grieve, then what’s the point? Better stick to the middle.
• Contradiction is the strongest thing in a person. At will, a person sometimes does something difficult, but if you tell him something easy to do, he will immediately get upset. And you have to listen.
• Just as one should not seek honor, so one should not refuse it by those living in society for the benefit of others. The honor given is also from God.
• To each, that act of a neighbor seems great, which convicts him of something.

• Let us humble ourselves, and the Lord will cover us, and we will be holy. In the meantime, we don’t humble ourselves and propitiate God - even if we break our foreheads on the floor with bows, passions will not diminish.
• Endure everything - you yourself will be peaceful, and you will bring peace to others! And if you start to reckon, you will lose the world, and with it, salvation.
• I'm telling you a secret, I'm telling you the best way to find humility. This is what it is: to endure any pain that pierces a proud heart.
• Without winter there would be no spring, without spring there would be no summer. So it is in the spiritual life: a little consolation, and then a little sorrow - and so little by little the path of salvation is formed.
• We will accept everything from the hand of God. Consolation - thank you. And will not console - thank you.
• Learn to be meek and silent, and you will be loved by all. And open feelings are the same as open gates: both a dog and a cat run there... and they shit.
• We are obliged to love everyone, but to be loved, we do not dare to demand.

• A sure sign of the mortification of the soul is the avoidance of church services. A person who grows cold towards God, first of all, begins to avoid going to church, at first he tries to come to the service later, and then completely stops attending the temple of God.
• The Lord puts each soul in such a position, surrounds it with such an environment that is most conducive to its success.
• Our whole life is a great mystery of God. All the circumstances of life, no matter how insignificant they may seem, are of great importance. The meaning of this life we ​​will fully understand in the next century. How cautiously one should treat it, and we turn over our lives like a book, sheet by sheet, not realizing what is written there. There is no accident in life, everything is created by the will of the Creator.
• It must be remembered that the Lord loves everyone and takes care of everyone, but if, even humanly speaking, it is dangerous to give a beggar a million, so as not to destroy him, and 100 rubles can easily put him on his feet, then all the more the Omniscient Lord knows better who what for good.
• The hardest part is prayer. Every virtue from passing turns into a habit, and in prayer, compulsion is needed until death itself. Our old man opposes it, and the enemy rises especially against the one who prays.
• I have to hear complaints that we are now going through difficult times, that now complete freedom has been given to all heretical and godless teachings, that the Church is being attacked by enemies from all sides and it becomes terrible for her that these muddy waves of unbelief and heresies will overcome her. I always answer: “Don't worry! Don't be afraid for the Church! She will not perish: the gates of hell will not overcome her until the Last Judgment. Do not be afraid for her, but you must be afraid for yourself, and it is true that our time is very difficult. From what? Yes, because now it is especially easy to fall away from Christ, and then - death.

• They say the temple is boring. Boring because they do not understand the service! Services need to learn! Boring because they don't care about him. Here he seems not his own, but a stranger. At least they brought flowers or greenery for decoration, they would take part in the chores of decorating the temple - it would not be boring.
• Live simply, according to your conscience, always remember what the Lord sees, and pay no attention to the rest!

• The main thing is to beware of judging loved ones. As soon as condemnation comes to mind, immediately turn with attention: “Lord, grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother.”
• You cannot demand from a fly that it does the work of a bee - each person must be given according to his measure. It can't be the same for everyone.

• There has never been, is not and never will be a carefree place on earth. A carefree place can only be in the heart when the Lord is in it.
• Human truth should not be pursued. Seek only the truth of God.
• Always remember the law of spiritual life: if you are embarrassed by some shortcoming of another person and condemn him, later on you will suffer the same fate, and you will suffer from the same shortcoming.
• Every deed, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you, do it carefully, as before the face of God. Remember that the Lord sees everything.

Our venerable fathers, Optina elders, pray to God for us!

“How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside themselves - in foreign countries and travels, in wealth and fame, in great possessions and pleasures, in pleasures and in empty things that end in bitterness! Building a tower of happiness outside our heart is like building a house in a place that is subject to constant earthquakes. Happiness is within ourselves, and blessed is he who understands this... Happiness is a pure heart, because such a heart becomes the throne of God. Thus says the Lord to those who have a pure heart: "I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (2 Corinthians 6:16). What else might they be missing? Nothing, really nothing! Because they have in their hearts the greatest good - God Himself!

1. “The one who walks ... in the way of Christ always rejoices and rejoices in the Holy Spirit, waiting for the blessed hope of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”
2. “Why is there more joy in heaven for sinners who repent than for the righteous who have not sinned? Because joy usually comes after sorrow. So, inasmuch as sorrow is a joy to those who have sinned, let there be joy (to them) when they repent.

Venerable Ephraim the Syrian

1. “... Only those who place their joy in the Lord know how great this joy is, and how much it surpasses all comparison.”
2. “If you desire joy, seek no money, no bodily health, no glory, no power, no joy, no luxurious meals, no silk clothes, fields of little value, no brilliant houses, and nothing else of the kind, but strive for wisdom in God and hold on to virtue; then nothing of the present, of the expected, will be able to grieve you.
3. “Joy ... spiritual and rational produces something other than the consciousness of good deeds - therefore, whoever has a good conscience and such deeds can constantly celebrate.”
4. “... Spiritual joy honestly and decently brings the soul into union with God, fills with sweetness also those who are such a person in relationships.”
5. "... Strong joy is often accompanied by the same consequences as excessive sorrow ...".
6. “... Joy in God is long and firm, reliable and constant, undisturbed by any unexpected circumstances, but it rises even more from the very obstacles.”
7. “The righteous become blessed because of their joy. They do not enjoy any worldly blessings, but only God ... ".
8. “Cheerfulness and joy are the multiplication of sorrow. Beware of thinking joy, which is the cause of tears. Those who, in the midst of such tears, are seized with joy, will never have the health of the soul.
9. “Just as God is infinite, so the joy that comes from God is infinite; it is always flowing, always blooming and never failing; the wicked are deprived of such joy.”

Saint John Chrysostom

Farewell - who has received forgiveness; have mercy - pardoned, acquire philanthropy by philanthropy, while there is time for this (14, 147).

Did you get hit on the cheek? Why do you allow your other cheek to remain unacquired? If the first suffered this involuntarily, it is not a great merit, and if you wish, it remains for you to do something more, namely: voluntarily turn the other cheek in order to become worthy of a reward. Have you been stripped of your chiton? Give me other clothes, if you have them; let them remove even the third one: you will not be left without an acquisition if you leave this matter to God. Are we being slandered? Let's bless the wicked. Are we spat? Let us hasten to win honor from God. Are we driven? But no one will separate us from God; He is our only, inalienable treasure. Is someone cursing you? Pray for the cursed. Threaten to hurt you? And you threaten that you will endure. Is he executing threats? And your duty is to do good. In this way you will gain two important benefits: you yourself will be a perfect guardian of the law, and even your meekness will turn those who insult you to meekness, and from an enemy he will become a disciple. Saint Gregory the Theologian (15, 165).

If you, a man, do not forgive anyone who has sinned against you, then do not trouble yourself with fasting and prayer... God will not accept you. Rev. Ephraim the Syrian (28, 111).

Whoever, for the sake of God, to preserve the world, endures the cruel words of a rude and unreasonable person, he will be called the son of the world and can acquire peace in soul, body and spirit. (34, 83).

When you remember the insults and persecuting you, do not complain about them, but rather pray to God for them, as for the originators of the greatest blessings for you. Rev. Abba Isaiah (34, 184).

How can you ask God to be merciful to you when you yourself are not merciful to those who offended you? (35, 139).

The more someone has sinned against us, the more we should hasten to reconciliation, because it becomes the reason for the forgiveness of a greater number of sins to us. (36, 233).

The Lord wants us to be meek towards the guilty, unforgiving towards those who sin against us, by their forgiveness we gain forgiveness for ourselves and prepare for ourselves a measure of philanthropy (37, 33)

Being guilty before the Lord of countless sins, we, however, according to His inexpressible love for mankind, receive forgiveness from Him. If we ourselves are cruel and inhuman to our neighbors and brothers, who have the same nature as us, and do not forgive their sins against us ... then we will incur the wrath of the Lord, and for that in which we have already received forgiveness, we will again have to pay the agony (38, 281).

If we do not forgive our neighbors, then we will not cause them any harm, but we will prepare unbearable Gehenna for ourselves. (38, 282).

Let us not think that, by forgiving our neighbor, we show him a good deed or great mercy; no, we ourselves receive a blessing, we derive great benefit for ourselves (38, 282).

If we neglect this commandment (about forgiveness), then what condemnation will we undergo, acting contrary to our words, daring to pronounce the words of the prayer: “and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”, pronouncing them recklessly and frivolously, accumulating for ourselves more and more (fire) of Gehenna, and inciting the wrath of the Lord against you? (38, 283).

If necessary, we will both apologize and ask for forgiveness from the warring parties, we will not refuse this, even if we ourselves were offended. In this way we will prepare for ourselves a great reward and a firm hope. (38, 870).

Nothing makes us more like God than forgiving evil people who offend us. (41, 227).

God only requires from us condescension towards our neighbors, in order to Himself have an opportunity to forgive us great sins. (41, 167).

Nothing restrains those who offend so much as the meek patience of those who are offended. It not only keeps them from further impulses, but also makes them repent of the former ones ... (41, 205).

You forgive others because you yourself need forgiveness... (41, 225).

If (the offender) did something insulting and hostile, then let us leave it and erase it from memory so that there are no traces left. If at all there was nothing good for us from him, then the greater the reward for us, the more praise, if we forgive (42, 261).

It happens that the maddened beat us, but we are not only not angry with them, but we pity them. Do the same - have pity on the offender: after all, he is possessed by a fierce beast - rage, a violent demon - anger (42, 864).

It is not enough not to take revenge (this was in the Old Testament) - let us do everything for those who offended us, as for sincere friends, as for ourselves. We are imitators of Him who, after the crucifixion, used all measures for the (salvation) of those who were crucified. (43, 94).

Whoever forgave sins benefited both his soul and the soul of the one who received forgiveness, because ... he made meek not only himself, but also him. By persecuting those who have offended us, we do not hurt their souls as much as by forgiving them, for by this we bring them into confusion and shame. (43, 139).

Has anyone insulted you? Be silent, bless if you can; thus you proclaim the word of God, teach meekness, inspire humility (43, 285).

A person who has forgiven his neighbor cannot but receive perfect forgiveness (from God), because God is incomparably more philanthropic than us... (43, 325).

In imitation of God, let us also do good to our enemies; we will not reject those who hate us (45, 61).

Love for enemies is love for God, who gave commandments and laws, is imitation of Him. Know that when you do good deeds to your enemies, you do good not to them, but to yourself; you do not love them, but obey God. (45, 64).

When a person who has been offended prays for the offender, he receives great boldness (45, 105).

Why did you become a child of God? Because you are forgiven. On the same basis on which you have been awarded such a great honor, you yourself forgive your neighbor (45, 143).

Whoever blesses his enemy blesses himself, and whoever curses him curses himself. Who prays for the enemy prays for himself (45, 664).

Has anyone insulted you? Pray to God that He has mercy on him soon: he is your brother, your member. But, you say, he offends me too much. The more you will be rewarded for it. Therefore, it is especially necessary to leave anger on the offender, because the devil wounded him. Do not reproach him yet, and do not cast down yourself with him. Indeed, as long as you stand, you can save him too; but if you bring yourself down through reciprocal insult, then who will lift you up after that? Is it the injured one? But he will not be able to do this. Or you who fell with him? But how can you, unable to help yourself, reach out to another? That one was wounded by the devil; If we treat each other in this way, then soon we will all be healthy, but if we begin to arm ourselves against each other, then the devil is not needed for our death. (46, 624).

When someone offends you, think of the torment he is experiencing, and not only will you not have anger against him, but you will shed tears. Saint John Chrysostom (46, 624).

Whoever wants to win a brilliant victory must not only courageously endure insults and insults, but even give in to the offender more than he wants to take, and with an excess of his own generosity extend beyond his evil desire. And if this seems strange to you, then we will make a decision from Heaven, and there we will read this law. The Savior did not say: “who will strike you on your right cheek”, endure it courageously and calm down, but commanded: “turn to him the other” () with a readiness to accept the blow. Here is a glorious victory! The first is wise and the second is supernatural and heavenly (50, 285).

The King of all that is worldly and earthly came down from Heaven and brought us a sign of heavenly life, which he offered us as opposed to the Olympic wrestling. For there he who strikes and overcomes is crowned, but here he who receives them and endures them. There he who repays a blow with a blow triumphs, but here he who turns the other cheek is praised in an angelic spectacle, because victory is not in vengeance, but in wisdom. (51, 175).

Although the one who is obliged to ask you for forgiveness does not ask him, and does not worry about why you could consider it excusable for yourself not to forgive him for the offenses committed against you, nevertheless, in spite of that, forgive him, if possible, calling him to yourself, and if this is impossible, in yourself, without showing by your actions that you want to take revenge. Rev. Isidore Pelusiot (52, 156).

We must forgive those who offended us, knowing that the reward for forgiveness of offenses exceeds the reward for any other virtue. And if we cannot do this because of our sinfulness, then during vigil and in suffering we must pray to God that He would have mercy on us and give us all strength. At the same time, at any time, in any place and in any business, we must have one intention, so that in case of various insults from people, we should rejoice, and not grieve; to rejoice not simply and not without reasoning, but because we have a chance to forgive someone who has sinned against us and receive (thus) the forgiveness of our own sins. For in this lies true knowledge of God, which is more immeasurable than any knowledge, and with the help of which we can implore God and be heard. This is the fruitfulness of faith, this proves our faith in Christ, so we can take up our cross and follow Christ. This is the foundation of the first and great commandments, for by means of this we can love God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves. To do this, we must fast, stay vigilant and depress our body so that our heart and inner disposition open up, take it into ourselves and no longer spit it out. Then, because we forgive our neighbor's sins, the grace that was secretly given to us at Holy Baptism will begin to act in us already clearly, tangibly for our consciousness and feelings. Saint Mark the Ascetic (66, 521).

“If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him "(). The holy Gospel we have heard teaches us the forgiveness of sins. The words "seven times a day" () are said instead of "no matter how much", and not so that if your brother sins eight times, you refuse him forgiveness. So, what does "seven times a day" mean? Always, no matter how many times he sins and repents. What is said in one psalm: “I glorify You seven times a day” (), in another psalm it is expressed by the words: “Praise be to Him unceasingly in my mouth” (). And the reason why the number "seven" is put instead of "always" is obvious, for the whole reversal of time consists of the continuation and return of seven days. God Jesus Christ Himself, about whom the apostle Peter said: “Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow in His footsteps. He did not commit any sin, and there was no flattery in His mouth ”(), so He Himself had no sin, and died for our sins, and shed His Blood for the remission of sins. Took for us what he didn't owe, to get us out of debt. He should not have died, just as we should not have lived; Why? because they were sinners. As for Him death, so for us life was not a debt; but what He did not owe, He accepted, and in what He did not owe us, He granted. And so that you do not think that for the sake of the remission of sins it is a lot for you to imitate Christ, heed the words of the apostle: “forgive one another, as God in Christ forgave you ... imitate God” (). These are the words of the apostle, not mine: "imitate God." Isn't it too arrogant to imitate God? Listen to the apostle: "imitate God, as beloved children" (). You are called a child; how do you want an inheritance if you refuse to imitate? I would say this even if you had no sins at all, the forgiveness of which you would need. Now, whoever you are, you are a man: if you are righteous, you are a man; whether a layman - you are a man; whether a monk - you are a man; whether a cleric - you are a man; whether a bishop - you are a man; Are you an apostle? Heed the words of the apostle: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves." Here he himself, John, the evangelist, whom the Lord Jesus Christ loved more than all those who reclined on His chest, says: "If we say ...". Do not “say, he said that you have no sin,” but: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, then He, being faithful and just, will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness ”().

So I demand that you forgive, because I find you in need of forgiveness. They ask you - goodbye; you are asked - and you will ask that you be forgiven. Here comes the time of prayer, and I catch you in the words that you say. You will say: "Our Father, Who art in Heaven." You will not be among the sons unless you say, "Our Father." So you will say: "Our Father, who art in Heaven." Continue: "Hallowed be thy name." Say further: "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth." Then look what you add: "Give us our daily bread today." Where is your wealth? Here you are asking like a beggar. But tell me after that and from what it comes. Say the following: "Forgive us our debts." You have reached my words: “leave, you say, our debts to us.” By what right? with what condition? by what law? with what assurance? “as we also leave our debtor.” Not only do you not let go, you also lie to God. The condition is set; the law is decreed: leave as I leave. So He doesn't leave unless you leave. Leave as I leave. If you want something left for you, the one who asks, leave it to the one who asks. This forgiveness was promised to you by the Heavenly Lawyer Himself; He doesn't deceive you. Ask, following His heavenly voice; say: "leave it to us ... as we leave it," and do as you say. Whoever lies in prayers loses his work and is punished. If someone deceives the king, is convicted of deceit when he comes, and when you lie in prayer, then in prayer itself you are convicted.

It is impossible to pass this verse if we do not fulfill what we say. Can this verse be blotted out of our prayer? Do you really want to say: “forgive us our debts,” and to blot out the following words: “as we forgive our debtors”? You will not blot out lest you be blotted out. So, you say in prayer: “give”, you say: “leave”, in order to receive what you do not have, and may you be forgiven. Blessed Augustine (116, 241-242).

“If you forgive people their sins, then your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive people their sins, then your Father will not forgive you your sins” (). What a simple and handy way of salvation! Your sins are forgiven on the condition that your neighbor's sins against you are forgiven. By yourself, you are in your own hands. Break yourself and move from non-peaceful feelings for your brother to sincerely peaceful ones - and that's it. Forgiveness day, what a great heavenly day of God! If we all used it properly, then the present day would turn Christian societies into heavenly societies, and the earth would merge with Heaven... (107, 52)

“If you do not forgive people their sins (against you), then your Father will not forgive you your sins,” said the Lord (). Who does not forgive others? The righteous or one who recognizes himself as righteous. There is nothing left for such a person but to judge and pronounce only sentences and demand the execution of the guilty. Whoever feels sinful, is it up to others? He will not turn his tongue to condemn another and demand satisfaction from him, when his own conscience incessantly convicts him and incessantly threatens with the righteous judgment of God. So, isn't it better to sin than to be righteous? No, be zealous in every possible way for righteousness. But, with all your righteousness, realize that you are an indispensable slave. And be aware with an undivided thought, that is, not in such a way that the thought of your unintegrability stands in front, and the feeling of righteousness hides behind, but with full consciousness and feeling, consider yourself unintegrated. When you reach this point (and you must reach this point, because it is not suddenly acquired), then, no matter how your brother sins against you, you will not begin to exact, because your conscience will repeat: “And you are not worth it yet, this is not enough for you.” , - and forgive; and if you forgive, you yourself will be forgiven. So all my life: forgiveness for forgiveness, and at the Judgment you will be forgiven for this (107, 301–302).

Wanting to know how many times one should forgive a brother, Saint Peter asked, prejudging the answer: “up to seven times?” And having said this, he thought that he had appointed the greatest measure. How short is human patience! The Lord, applying His longsuffering to our infirmities, determined: “I do not say to you: up to seven, but? up to seventy times seven” (). This is the same as saying: always forgive, and do not think not to forgive. All-forgiveness will be the hallmark of the Christian spirit, for all-forgiveness is the source and constant support of life in us in the Lord, from the presence of God. The everlasting forgiveness of everything to everyone is the outward garment of Christian love, which, according to the apostle, “is long-suffering, merciful ... does not get irritated ... covers everything (). It is also the most faithful guarantee for forgiveness at the Last Judgment, for if we let go, our Heavenly Father will also let us (). Thus, if you want to go to heaven, forgive everyone, sincerely, from the bottom of your heart, so that there is no shadow of hostility left. (107, 225–226).

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (). O divine, o amiable, o sweet voice of Thy! Let us all follow the Lord who calls us! But first we must feel that it is difficult and difficult for us, that is, to feel that we have many sins, and these sins are grave. From this feeling will be born the need to seek relief. Then faith will show us the only refuge - in the Lord the Savior, and our steps will automatically lead to Him. A soul that wants to get rid of sins knows what to say to the Lord: take my heavy, sinful burden, and I will take your good yoke (). And it happens like this: the Lord forgives sins, and the soul begins to walk in His commandments. And commandments are a yoke, and sins are a burden. But, comparing both, the soul finds that the yoke of commandments is light as a feather, and the burden of sins is heavy as a mountain. Let us not be afraid to willingly accept the Lord's good yoke and His light burden! Only in this way, and not otherwise, can we find peace for our souls. Saint Theophan the Recluse (107, 184-185).

In a war where people fight with people, the side that persecutes the enemy wins, but not so in Christian warfare, which happens against the devil. Here the devil wins the man who yields to people who offend him, forgives, does not repay evil for evil. An even greater ulcer to the enemy happens when a person not only does not repay evil for evil, but also loves his enemies. (104, 1549–1550).

There is nothing safer than to forgive, and there is nothing more dangerous than not to forgive and take revenge on your neighbor for sins. “Judgment without mercy to the one who did not show mercy” (). God, in His Grace, shows mercy to all of us, we feel it not only every day, but every hour. But when a person, having received the mercy of God, does not want to show mercy to a person like himself, then God takes His mercy from him, as an ungrateful and crafty slave. Then a person, instead of mercy, is subject to the righteous judgment of God, and for all his sins, whatever he did in life, he will be judged. You see, Christian, how terrible and dangerous it is not to forgive and take revenge on your neighbor. (104, 1550).

Christian love requires not to take revenge on our brother, who was defeated by natural weakness, encouraged by the devil's action and sinned against us, but, having mercy, to forgive him so that he does not suffer from revenge and we would not later regret that we caused trouble to the brother. For it often happens that both the one who offended and the one who avenged regret what happened, but what was done can no longer be returned. Therefore, all this must be foreseen in advance and not allow anger to develop into hatred and malice, but immediately extinguish the evil that begins to smoke with the spirit of meekness and philanthropy. (104, 1550).

If everyone took revenge on each other, society could not survive, everyone would exterminate each other in mutual enmity. “But if you bite and eat one another, take heed that you are not consumed by one another,” says the apostle () (104, 1551).

If someone offends you, do not hold anger on him, but forgive him immediately and pray to God for him, so that God will forgive him. And although your heart does not want this, you bow down and convince it and pray to the Lord that He will help you to overcome yourself, and to kill carnal wisdom. This is difficult, but it is required of a Christian, and even more so of a monk. You must forgive your neighbor if you yourself want to receive forgiveness from God. Forgive - and you will be forgiven, if you do not forgive, then you will not be forgiven. This is terrible, but true, for the holy Gospel teaches so (104, 1551–1552).

The parable means nothing else than the fact that God will not only not leave sins to the one who is angry with his neighbor and does not leave his sins, but also his former sins, already forgiven, will return and remember. For the merciful king forgave the debtor, but for his mercilessness to his brother again demanded a debt from him and handed him over to the tormentors for torture. Therefore, the Lord ends the parable like this: “So My Heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart for his sins” (). Therefore, when we receive forgiveness of our great debts from God, then for the sake of this mercy of God to us, we ourselves must forgive small debts to our neighbors, so that the same thing does not happen to us as with this crafty gospel servant. (104, 1554).

If an earthly king commanded you not only to forgive your neighbor's offenses, but also to serve him - or die, what would you choose? to die - or to forgive and serve your neighbor? I hope that you would rather want to forgive and serve your neighbor than to die. The Heavenly King commands not only to forgive those who offend, but also to love enemies and do good to those who hate. Otherwise, eternal death will follow those who do not listen to the commands of the Heavenly King: “Not everyone who says to Me: “Lord! Lord! ”, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven ”() (104, 1554–1555).

Know for sure that if you repel offense with offense and slander with slander, that is, repay evil for evil, then you will give way to the devil, for he wants us to repay evil for evil. And then God will not stand up for us, for God says: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay” (), since then we ourselves do what befits God alone. And when we yield to people who have offended us, forgive, keep silent, and even pray for them and repay them with good for evil, then there will be no place for the devil. Then we will not yield to him, but we will stand against him and resist him, for the devil does not want us to do good to people. This is the Christian victory, which conquers not the flesh and blood of people like themselves, but the spirit of malice. Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk (104, 1555-1556).

Abba Vitaly asked Abba Pimen: “If someone has enmity towards me and I ask him for forgiveness, but he does not forgive me, then what should I do?” “Take two brothers with you,” answered the elder, “and ask him for forgiveness. If you don't forgive again, take the other five; but if he does not forgive even in their presence, take a priest. And if he doesn’t forgive even then, pray calmly to God, let Him bring him to reason, and don’t worry about it. ” Memorable tales (79, 220).

There were two brothers in spirit - the deacon Evagrius and the priest Titus. And they had great and unfeigned love for each other, so that everyone marveled at their unanimity and immeasurable love. The devil who hates good, who always walks, “like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (), aroused enmity between them. And he put such hatred into them that they shied away from each other, did not want to see each other. Many times the brethren begged them to be reconciled among themselves, but they did not want to hear. When Titus walked with the censer, Evagrius ran away from the incense; when Evagrius did not run, Titus passed him without shaking. And so they stayed for a long time in the darkness of sin; they approached the holy mysteries: Titus - without asking for forgiveness, and Evagrius - angry, the enemy embittered them to such an extent. One day, Titus fell very ill and, already at death, began to grieve about his sin and sent to the deacon with a plea: "Forgive me, for God's sake, my brother, that I was angry with you in vain." Evagrius answered with cruel words and curses. The elders, seeing that Titus was dying, forcibly took Evagrius to reconcile him with his brother. Seeing him, the patient raised himself a little, fell on his face at his feet and said: “Forgive me and bless me, my father!” He, unmerciful and fierce, refused before all of them, saying: "I will never be reconciled to him - neither in this age, nor in the future." Evagrius escaped from the hands of the elders, but suddenly fell. We wanted to pick him up, but we saw that he was already dead. And it was impossible to straighten his arms or close his mouth, as in the case of a long-dead man. The patient immediately got up, as if he had never been ill. We were horrified at the sudden death of one and the speedy healing of the other. With much weeping we buried Evagrius. His mouth and eyes were still open, and his arms were outstretched. Then we asked Titus: "What does all this mean?" And he began to say: “I saw angels departing from me and weeping for my soul, and demons rejoicing at my anger. And then I began to pray to my brother to forgive me. When you brought him to me, I saw an unmerciful Angel holding a fiery spear, and when Evagrius did not forgive me, he struck him, and he fell dead. But the Angel gave me his hand and lifted me up. Hearing this, we were afraid of God, who said: Forgive, and you will be forgiven (). Kiev-Pechersk Patericon (86, 55–56).

I remember when I was 6 years old, - recalled Archimandrite Kronid, - I lived in the house of my father-psalmist. One day our horse entered a strip of oats that belonged to a neighbor, Father John Desnitsky. Father John was the rector of the village church, in which his father served as a psalmist, and, despite all his spiritual kindness, he was not averse to irascibility. Seeing our horse in his estate, he caught it and, as if in the form of a pledge, led it to his yard through the gate of his gate. A large sharp nail protruded from the top of the gate. With this nail, the horse cut its back from mane to tail. Seeing such a misfortune, the priest immediately released our horse, which returned home covered in blood. The mother and older children, indignantly, advised the father to immediately complain to the Reverend Father, who lived in our own village not far from our house. But the father wept over the loss of the horse, prayed, but complained about Fr. John didn't want to.

Three days have passed. Apparently oh. John expected a complaint from my father, but, not waiting for it, he called him to him, kneeling before him, and said: “Forgive me. For the Lord's sake, I am guilty before you. Accidentally killed your horse. I beg and beg you: take these 50 rubles and buy yourself a horse for your working time. For a long time, the father did not agree to take money from the father, but the father begged him to take at least 25 rubles. On them, my father soon bought himself a horse and worked on it all summer. And our horse has also recovered by this time. Priest Fr. After this incident, John was very kind and attentive to my father, until his death he continued to treat him with special love. Trinity flowers (91, 53–54).

RESPONSIBILITIES

“Vengeance is mine, I will repay” (Rom. 12:19)

Has your neighbor offended you and grieved you and done you much evil? In this case, you yourself do not take revenge on him, so as not to offend your Lord; leave everything to God, and He will arrange things much better than you want. He commanded you only to pray for the offender, and what to do with him, he commanded to leave it to Him. You yourself will never avenge yourself in the way that He is ready to avenge you, if you only leave it to Him, if you do not pray for the punishment of the one who offended, but turn the judgment over to His will. In fact, even if we forgive those who offended, even if we reconcile with them, even if we pray for them, but if they themselves do not change and do not become better, God will not forgive them, will not forgive, however, for their own benefit. He will praise you and approve of you for your wisdom, and (the offender) will punish him so that he does not become worse from your wisdom. (36, 229).

Let us never bear grudges and harbor enmity towards those who have caused us trouble or some other kind of offense. But let us imagine what kindness and boldness before the Lord they bring us, and most of all, that reconciliation with those who offended us erases our sins, and let us hasten, do not slow down, and, reflecting on the benefits resulting from this, let us show such disposition towards enemies, as if they were our true benefactors (38, 282).

The grievances that we unjustly endure from anyone, God imputes to us either in the remission of sins, or in the retribution of rewards. (41, 91).

How can you, you say, not be indignant? Has anyone offended you? Protect your chest with the sign of the Cross, remember everything that happened on the Cross, and everything will go out. Do not think of only insults, but remember together the good that you ever received from the one who offended ... Especially and first of all, bring to mind the fear of God - and soon you will become moderate and calm. (41, 864).

Consider how much you are guilty, and not only do not refuse forgiveness to those who offended you, but hasten to them yourself, so that you also have a reason to receive forgiveness. Saint John Chrysostom (41, 798).

A bee, when it stings someone, dies itself. A Christian also suffers the same thing when he somehow offends and embitters his neighbor. He cannot offend his neighbor without the greater and gravest offense of his own. And the more he offends his neighbor, the more he offends himself; and the more he hurts another, the more he hurts himself... Why? because it offends another on the body, but offends itself in the soul; another has a body, but in his own soul he stings and embitters. How much better and more worthy the soul is than the body, so much more is the resentment, wound and embitterment of it than the bodily. For with every sin that a person commits, his soul is wounded and embittered. He sins before his neighbor, but he also inflicts a wound on his soul. With his sin, like a sting, he hurts himself (104, 1253).

As a good deed shown to a neighbor, Christ God imputes to Himself: “since you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me” (), so the offense caused to a neighbor concerns Christ Himself: “Saul, Saul! why are you persecuting me?" - says Christ (), for the offense concerns the father himself when the son is offended, and the master blames himself for the offense when his slave is embittered. God is the Father and Lord of all, therefore, the offense inflicted on people, as His servants, concerns Him Himself as the Lord and Father. How terrible it is, everyone can see (104, 1256–1257).

Children, when someone dishonors or offends them in the presence of their father, do not themselves take revenge on the offender, but look at their father and entrust their offense to him. This is how Christians should: when someone offends them, do not avenge themselves, but look to the Heavenly Father and entrust vengeance to Him, as one who judges righteously, for He says: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay” (). Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk (113, 1253).

The Lord concluded the parable of the two debtors with the following words: “So My Heavenly Father will do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart for his sins” (). It seems that such a small thing is required: forgive - and you will be forgiven; and when forgiven, then it is accepted into mercy; and when he was accepted into mercy, he became a sharer in all the treasures of mercy. So, here is salvation, and paradise, and eternal bliss. And such a great purchase for such a small amount! ... Yes, a little, but for our pride there is nothing harder than to forgive. Some unintentional trouble, secretly caused to us, so that no one sees, we still, perhaps, will forgive, but a little more sensitively, but in front of people, at least don’t ask - there is no forgiveness. There are circumstances that you want - you don’t want, but you can’t express displeasure - and you are silent; but the tongue is silent, but the heart speaks and makes evil plans. Trouble will rise one more line - and I will not hold back: neither shame, nor fear, nor loss - nothing will hold. Boiled egoism makes a person seem crazy, and whoever succumbs to it begins to talk nonsense. It is not just some people who are most subject to such misfortune, but the more civilized someone is, the more sensitive to insults, the less he forgives. On the outside, relationships are sometimes still smooth, but on the inside, there is a decided discord. Meanwhile, the Lord demands that we forgive with all our hearts. Saint Theophan the Recluse (107, 249-251).

The brother came to the elder and said, "Father, I am grieving." The elder asks: "Why?" “A certain brother offended me, and a demon torments me until I repay him.” The elder says: “Listen to me, and God will deliver you from this passion. To reconcile with your brother, go to your cell, be silent, praying earnestly to God for the brother who has offended you.” The brother did as the elder told him. And after seven days, God took away his anger for the sake of the compulsion that he made to himself out of obedience to the elder. Ancient Pateric (72, 310-311).

INSULT

The highest pleasure is to be hated and exiled for the sake of Christ, to endure every insult and disgrace for faith in God. Saint Macarius the Great (33, 342).

Has anyone insulted you? Do not insult him mutually, otherwise you will insult yourself. Has anyone made you sad? Do not grieve him for your part, because there is no profit from this, meanwhile you will become like him. (42, 338).

The soul does not easily endure insults, but if we think that by forgiving an insult we do good not so much to the offender as to ourselves, then we will easily vomit the poison of anger from ourselves. (42, 261).

Do not get carried away in the first minute, offended, and you will immediately correct everything; do not succumb to the movement and extinguish everything. Great Comfort to Endure Anything for Christ (43, 285).

Just as enemies who have besieged a city and besiege it from the outside, when they stir up civil strife in it, then they gain victory, so the offending one, if he does not arouse passions in us, will not be able to overcome us. (43, 434).

Grief comes not so much from the nature of insults, but from ourselves. (43, 433).

Has anyone offended you, offended you, ridiculed you? Remember that you yourself do much of the same in relation to others, even in relation to the Lord Himself; forgive and forgive (offender) (45, 891).

Whoever does not receive honor in this life, but suffers contempt, does not enjoy any respect, but is subjected to insults and humiliation, if he does not gain anything else, then at least he will be freed from the responsibility for receiving honor from slaves like himself. By the way, he also receives another benefit: he becomes meek and humble, and if he is more attentive to himself, he will never become arrogant, even if he wants to. (45, 851).

When someone offends you, look not at the offender, but at the demon moving him, and pour out all your anger on this latter, but on the one who is excited by him, have pity (46, 624).

If the offended becomes irritated, then by this he proves that he is aware of what is being said about him. If he endures calmly, then he is freed in the eyes of those present from any suspicion. Even if he wants to take revenge, then this will be achieved with complete success, since God will punish the offender for his words, and even before this punishment, your wisdom will be like a mortal blow for him. Saint John Chrysostom (46, 626).

The Lord, being God, became a man for us, endured spitting, spitting and the Cross, and through such sufferings as He endured, dispassionate in Divinity, teaches us and says to each of us: “If you want, man, to gain Eternal Life and be together with Me, humble yourself for me, as I humbled myself for you, and, putting aside your proud and devilish wisdom, accept blows to the face, spitting and beatings, and do not be ashamed to endure all this to death. But if you are ashamed to suffer for the sake of Me and My commandments, as I suffered for you, then I will also consider it a shame to be with you at My Second Coming, when I come with many glory and say to My Angels: This one was ashamed of My humility and did not want to leave the glory of man, to become like me. But now that he has destroyed the perishable glory, and I have been glorified by the measureless glory of my Father, I am ashamed even to look at him; cast him out. Let the wicked take it, and let it not see the glory of the Lord.”... This is what those who apparently fulfill the commandments of Christ will hear, but for the sake of shame before people they do not endure reproach, dishonor, bruising and wounds, when they should have endured them for the commandments of the Lord. Be horrified and tremble, people, hearing this, and endure with joy the sufferings that Christ endured for our salvation. God is stifled by some slave in order to give you an example of victory, and you do not want to accept stubbornness from a person like you? Are you ashamed, man, to imitate God? How can you reign and be glorified together with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven, if you do not tolerate the same? If the Lord wanted to follow your rule and was ashamed to become a man for your sake, then it is not known what would happen to the human race. Saint Simeon the New Theologian (60, 457).

And he who lives virtuous must certainly endure insults from the vicious. For the envy that attacks them often brings them to ridicule. Therefore, if it is absolutely necessary to endure slander, then it is better to endure unjustly with wisdom; but the wicked must rightly endure. Rev. Isidore Pelusiot (52, 296).

Extremely beware of offending any person by word or deed, for this is a grave sin. When a person is offended, then God is offended. who loves a person. An insult to a person cannot be an insult to God. Whoever sins against man will also sin against God. It is hard, as you yourself see, therefore, as soon as you offend your neighbor, immediately humble yourself before him, and with humility ask forgiveness from him, so as not to fall into the righteous judgment of God. Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk (104, 1271).

In one of the Egyptian hostels there was a Greek youth who could not extinguish the flame of carnal lust by any abstinence, by any intensified ascetic labors. When the father of the monastery was told about this temptation, he used the following method to save the young man. The elder ordered one of the brothers, an important and stern husband, to start a quarrel with the young man, showered him with curses, and after insulting him, came to complain about him. This was done: witnesses were called, who testified in favor of the husband. The young man, seeing that he was slandered, began to cry. Shed tears every day; being very distressed, he remained alone; Deprived of all help, lay at the feet of Jesus. In this position, he spent a whole year. After a year, the elder asked the young man about the thoughts that had troubled him before, if they still bothered him? The young man replied: “Father! I have no life. Do I have lustful thoughts?" Thus, by the art of the spiritual father, the young man overcame his passions and was saved. Paternik (82, 475-476).

The brethren praised one monk, Abba Anthony. When this monk arrived, Antony wanted to test whether he could bear the insult. And seeing that he could not stand it, he said: “You look like a village, which is beautiful in front, and plundered by robbers in the back.” Memorable legends (79, 6).

Question #673

About Spiritual Joy

Ludmila , Kyiv, Ukraine
24/06/2003

Father,
how to correctly understand such a mood of the soul, which, probably, should be constantly present - joy in the Lord. After all, this does not mean constantly rejoice and smile. This is some other kind of joy. And how can it be combined with a feeling of some kind of inner tightness, a feeling of complete loneliness, oppression and anxiety, which are not rare?
God bless you for the answers.
Ludmila

Father Oleg Molenko's answer:

You rightly pointed out that spiritual joy is quite different from carnal joy. Carnal joy is incompatible with any pain, sorrow, or unpleasant experience. Such mournful experiences change the joyful state of a person to a sad one. Spiritual joy is joy in the Lord! This is the joy of the Holy Spirit! About getting Him! And how much a person sees or feels the Lord, so much he rejoices, and no one can take away this joy! Such joy is compatible with all sorrows and sorrows. Here is an example from the book

Acts 5:
40 They obeyed him; and calling the apostles, they struck them, and forbidding them to speak of the name of Jesus, let them go.
41 And they left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that for the name of the Lord Jesus they were worthy to receive dishonor.

You see how the holy apostles combine joy with beatings, persecution and dishonor!

The holy Forerunner John rejoiced with the same spiritual joy when he met the Lord Jesus Christ:

In.3:
29 He who has a bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom who stands and listens to him rejoices with joy when he hears the voice of the bridegroom. This joy was fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

St. John combined this joy with a humble awareness of the incomparable superiority of the Lamb of God over him and the need to diminish.

Spiritual joy is directly related to spiritual love. It is the response of the soul to this love and the reaction to the experience of this love. This love, however, unites each faithful with God, and in God with each other. Therefore, joy is experienced both from a meeting with God, and from a meeting or fellowship with a man of God (that is, a man who is united by love with God and bears the Holy Spirit in himself). Here is how the Lord Himself testifies of this:

John 15:
9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will continue in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and continue in his love.
11 I have said this to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

The Lord invites each of His followers to abide in His love. This stay is carried out on our part by the fulfillment of His commandments (beginning with the commandment of repentance) and gracious obedience to His holy will. The true fulfillment of the commandments and the will of God leads a person to purification from passions, pacification, sanctification, reconciliation and union with God through the infusion of the Holy Spirit into him ("... come and dwell in us ..." - from a prayer to the Holy Spirit). From this indwelling—which is also called the attainment of the Kingdom of God within oneself, spiritual resurrection, resurrection for God, rebirth—is poured into the heart of man the love of God, which graciously spreads to all brothers in Christ, and in another manifestation to all people. This state and feeling of new life (which is only life, for you impute the former carnal life to death) and the love of God gives the soul an experience of rapturous contentment, called joy. Since it comes by the merits of Christ, it is called the joy of Christ. And since it comes through the Holy Spirit, it is called joy in the Holy Spirit. This joy, together with the life-giving Holy Spirit, constantly abides in a person, regardless of current temporary sorrows and bitterness, and reaches perfection. This state can be called spiritual happiness.

Here is another testimony from the Lord:

John 16:
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
21 When a woman is giving birth, she is in pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to a baby, she no longer remembers sorrow for joy, because a man was born into the world.
22 So now you also have sorrow; But I will see you again, And your heart will rejoice, And no one can take your joy from you;
23 and on that day you will not ask me anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name; ask and you will receive, to your joy was perfect.

From these words of the Lord, we see that there is only one sadness for those who know God - when they temporarily part or lose God. This happens by the will of God and therefore such sadness turns into inherent joy. Because God leaves us on one level (carnal), and returns to us when we are already on another level (repentant or spiritual). Joy in us reaches perfection when we learn to ask God (to communicate with Him) in the name of Jesus Christ, i.e. practice praying in His name (Jesus Prayer). Therefore, success in the Jesus Prayer is success in love and joy.

The great apostle Paul teaches the same:

2 Corinthians 13:
11 However, brethren, rejoice, be perfected, be comforted, be of one mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

– Rejoice means to be in love with God through the fulfillment of His commandments, which all boil down to praying in the sweetest name of Jesus Christ. This consoles you in the inevitable sorrows and battles from the enemy and this world. By this, come to unanimity and keep peace - and the God of love and peace will not leave you, but will always be with you.

Phil.2:
17 But even if I become a sacrifice for the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and rejoice over you all.
18 In this very thing you also rejoice and rejoice at me.

– Joy about the benefits and fruit of service, which lead to perfect and constant joy, should always prevail in a Christian over sadness over a short separation (by going away to God) from dear and beloved people, such as, for example, the Apostle Paul was for their spiritual children.

Phil.4:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say: rejoice.
5 Let your meekness be known to all men. The Lord is near.
6 Do not worry about anything, but always in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your desires known to God,
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The apostle here says "rejoice in the Lord", and not "in the Lord", i.e. must abide in the Lord and rejoice in it. But such blissful joy is not enough. That is why he adds: "And again I say, rejoice." This is not a repetition of the first joy, but a suggestion of another joy. So he said, "I say it again." What kind of joy is meant here? Joy from the presence of God in us, for we must be in God, and God in us! This joy is delivered by being in prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.

We should not be embarrassed by the words of the holy Apostle James from his Catholic Epistle:

James 4:
9 Lament, weep, and wail; May your laughter turn into weeping, and your joy into sorrow.

With these words, the holy apostle calls us to repentance and weeping for our sins, which leads to true joy. And the command to turn joy into sadness refers to carnal joy, which should be turned into sadness according to God, i.e. into repentance. For before reconciliation with God through repentance, what and how can a person sentenced to death and eternal torment rejoice? But the same apostle, in the same epistle, welcomes spiritual or true joy:

James 1:
1 James, the servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are scattered, rejoice.
2 Receive with great joy my brethren, when you fall into various temptations,

The holy apostles and the first Christians often greeted each other with the words: "Rejoice!" or "rejoice!". We see the same in the prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos: "Virgin Mother of God, rejoice ..." and in the akathists of the holy saints of God, for example: "Rejoice to Nicholas, great miracle worker!" From unfalse revelations about the heavenly life of souls who have departed there, it is known that in the Kingdom of Heaven they also greet each other with the words "Rejoice!". Therefore, true joy has an eternal meaning and is opposed to eternal torment.

It would be most appropriate to finish this word about joy with the words of the Apostle Jude, the brother of the Lord:

Jude 1:
24 But He is able to keep you from your fall, and to set you up without blemish before His glory in joy,
25 To the only wise God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, glory and majesty, power and dominion before all ages, now and forever. Amen.