June: Day 16: Saint Tychon the Wonderworker, Bishop of Amathus

June: Day 16:
Saint Tychon the Wonderworker, Bishop of Amathus
 
(Lessons From His Life: 
a. How Should Children Be Raised? 
b. One Should Possess a Childlike Simplicity of Faith)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Tychon of Amathus, whose memory we celebrate today, was a miracle worker even in his childhood. His father sold grain, and the holy youth helped his father in the trade, but instead of selling it for money, he gave the grain away to the poor for free. When his father learned of this, he was very sad, because the grain trade was the only means of subsistence for his family, and he became angry with his son. But the holy youth, who knew the Holy Scriptures well, said to his father: "Calm down, father, I have not squandered your property, but lent it to God, and I have a true receipt in His Holy Scriptures, which says: he who has mercy on the poor lends to God." The youth, in the simplicity of his soul, believed the words of the Holy Scriptures so much that he invited his father to see if the wheat in his granary was exhausted, and what happened? That part of the granary which had been empty before was now full of the best wheat.

II. One can envy the parents who had such a child, not with malicious envy, but with a good desire to have what they had.

a) How did they raise such a child? The story of the Saint's life, however brief, explains to us sufficiently what kind of upbringing this wonderworking youth was the fruit of.

First, he was the son of pious parents. An example of piety in the family circle, like any other example, both good and bad, from an early age, has an irresistible effect on a child. One can be sure that piety, instilled from childhood by frequent suggestions and the constant example of pious parents, will form a solid foundation for life, and will not lose its strength even when the young man accidentally falls under some bad influences.

Secondly, in the upbringing of the holy youth, in addition to the example of piety of the parents themselves, the reading of the Divine Scriptures exerted great power: from childhood he was accustomed to read divine books and from childhood he loved this reading. From there he learned to help the poor, from there he learned to believe without the slightest doubt, and faith made him a miracle worker. Teach your children to read the Holy Scriptures, starting with the Gospel, which in Russian translation is completely understandable even to small children, and your children will also love this reading and, perhaps, will surprise you with the childlike simplicity of their faith, just as Saint Tychon surprised his parents.

b) Listening to the miracle of Saint Tychon, you, dear listeners, have surely noticed the admirable childlike simplicity with which he believed the words of Sacred Scripture, and the childlike courage with which he expected everything from God. Take note that all holy men, especially miracle workers, are always like this; they are all indeed like children. Children, without any doubt, believe everything that older people tell them; and saints, without the slightest hesitation, believe everything that the word of God says. Children boldly expect everything from their parents; and saints boldly expect everything from God.

Do not think, however, that this simplicity of faith does not see far. No, it sees far: it looks at everything simply, thus it sees things as they are; it is for this reason that it does not exert itself to know nor does it contemplate, for it sees everything at first glance. Reasoning is only necessary for a weaker mind; it is a ladder without which one could not reach the truth; and it is said that even great minds think simply; for them, truth is always presented directly, they do not seek it, but see it at first sight.

Likewise, the childlike courage of the saints is not some kind of self-confidence, there is not a shadow of hope in oneself in it; it is entirely, so to speak, thrown into God, like a child into the arms of its mother. This childlike courage was present in all the miracles that the saints performed; it is entirely submissive to God, and for that, everything is submissive to it. Perhaps that is why there are so few miracles today, because today's Christians have too cautious a hope in God.

III. Imitate, then, you listeners, the childlike simplicity and childlike boldness of the saints; strive to believe simply and to hope boldly. "Lord!" cries David, "my heart is not lifted up, neither is mine eyes exalted; I enter not into great things, nor into things above me. I am humble and meek in my soul, as a child by his mother: my soul is like a child within me" (Psalm 130:1).

You, listeners, try to form such a soul in yourselves. Amen. 

 

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.