June: Day 29: Teaching 1:
Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul
(How Should We Endure the Troubles, Misfortunes and Sorrows That Befall Us?)
By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko
Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul
(How Should We Endure the Troubles, Misfortunes and Sorrows That Befall Us?)
By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko
I. Today is a feast in honor of the Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul.
The Apostle Peter (Cephas, Simon) was a fisherman from Bethsaida, brother of the Apostle Andrew, called to the apostleship by Jesus Christ Himself. After the ascension of the Lord, he was the first of the apostles to begin preaching the risen Lord in Jerusalem, suffered much for this from the Jews and even suffered imprisonment, from where he was miraculously saved by an angel. Then he preached the gospel in Samaria, Syria, Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Asia and Egypt. He was an apostle primarily to the Jews. He completed his evangelistic feat in Rome, where during Nero's persecution, around the year 67, he was crucified on a cross, upside down, since he did not want to resemble his Divine Teacher in the manner of his suffering.
The Apostle Paul, formerly called Saul, was born in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia, brought up in Jerusalem under the guidance of the famous teacher Gamaliel, and was a zealot of the forefathers traditions according to the teaching of the Pharisees. Miraculously converted by Jesus Christ Himself, on the road to Damascus, he received holy baptism in Damascus and from a persecutor of the faith of Christ became its most zealous preacher. He worked more than all the apostles in the organization of the Church of Christ and the planting of the faith among the pagans, and endured numerous sufferings and persecutions from both Jews and pagans. He founded Churches in Asia Minor, Greece and Rome. He died in Rome, being beheaded with a sword, in the same year as the Apostle Peter. The most important events in the life and work of the Foremost Apostles are described in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles.
The Holy Apostles Peter and Paul endured countless labors, hardships, troubles and misfortunes in their earthly lives. Thus, the Holy Apostle Peter was imprisoned three times (Acts 4:3; 5:18; 12:4), was subjected to mockery and beatings (Acts 5:18 and 35) and finally, as we have seen, died a martyr's death during the reign of Nero: he was crucified on a cross with his head down. And the Holy Apostle Paul was endlessly wounded, in prisons and many times at death's door. Five times the Jews gave him forty lashes minus one. Three times they beat him with rods, and once they stoned him, three times he suffered shipwreck, and spent a night and a day in the depths of the sea. Many times he was on journeys, in dangers on rivers, from robbers, from his own countrymen, from pagans, in dangers in the city, in the desert, at sea and among false brethren (2 Cor. 11:23-27). The words of Jesus Christ: "In the world you will have tribulations" (John 16:33), came true for him with all accuracy. But in the midst of all the troubles, misfortunes and sorrows, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul were comforted and rejoiced.
II. And we, Christian brethren, how do we bear the sorrows and misfortunes that befall us? If some sorrow, or misfortune, or calamity befalls us, how sad, contrite, and despondent we are then! How much murmuring against God then bursts from our lips, how much vexation and envy of people then arises in our hearts? No, this is not how we should bear the misfortunes, tribulations, and sorrows that befall us.
a) The Holy Fathers of the Church teach us a different way of enduring sorrows.
Saint Ephraim the Syrian says: "If those who wish to acquire earthly wealth endure every danger and misfortune, how much more should we, who wish to acquire heavenly wealth and enjoy eternally abiding pleasures, be obliged to regard every difficult task and every danger as nothing and to dare temptation. For if we do not willingly, with a heartfelt desire, endure every labor, if we do not sow tears with tenderness and a contrite heart, then how, without crying here, will we reap there, that is, in the next world? If it were possible to receive the kingdom without sorrows, without temptations, without patient struggle in other virtues, then why did God allow the saints to endure so many dangers, temptations and hardships, and did not allow everyone to live in self-will and luxury? Therefore, let us not become despondent when sorrows and grief befall us, but on the contrary, let us rejoice more that we are following the path of the saints.”
And Saint John Chrysostom teaches: "The soul is purified when it suffers sorrows for God's sake. Sorrow uproots arrogance, cuts off all negligence, prepares for patience, reveals the insignificance of human deeds and introduces much wisdom into life. All passions yield to it: envy, jealousy, lust, passion for wealth, carnal love, pride, arrogance, anger and the whole swarm of spiritual ailments. What fire is for gold, so is sorrow for the soul; it erases filth from it, makes it pure, bright and clear. Sorrow leads into the kingdom, and a carefree life into Gehenna. So, if you are a disciple of Christ, go the narrow and sorrowful way: do not complain and do not lose heart” (Commentary on 2nd Corinthians).
b) Knowing the beneficial and redemptive significance of misfortunes and tribulations in the work of our salvation, the God-fearing people would even feel anxious, troubled, and distressed when they were not visited by any hardships or sufferings for a long time.
Here is one example of many. One of the Fathers told another that, when he was in Alexandria, he once came to church to pray and saw a God-fearing woman there. He narrated: "She was dressed in black and, praying before the icon of the Savior, she was crying and repeating with tears: 'You have forsaken me, O Lord, have mercy on me, O Merciful One.' Why is she crying like that? I thought. Apparently, she is a widow and is suffering an insult from someone. I will talk to her and calm her down. I said to her: 'It is obvious that someone is offending you, that you are crying like that?' 'Oh, no,' she answered and began to cry again, 'no, Father, you do not know my grief. I live among people and do not suffer any insult from anyone. And this is what I cry about, that since I forget about God, God has forgotten to visit me; for three years now I have not known any sorrow. And neither I myself was sick, nor my son, and nothing from my house was missing. I think, therefore, that God has abandoned me for my sins, does not send me any sorrows, and so I cry before Him, that He may have mercy on me according to His mercy'" (John Moschos, "Leimonarion"). This is how God-fearing people reason when they have not had sorrows for a long time: they then think that God has forgotten them; they consider sorrows to be special attention from God, His special mercy to them.
III. Therefore, Christian, let us say in the words of Saint John Chrysostom, "Do not grieve amidst sorrows, considering to whom you are being united through them and how temptations purify you and how much benefit they bring you” (Commentary on the 2nd Corinthians). Amen.
The Apostle Peter (Cephas, Simon) was a fisherman from Bethsaida, brother of the Apostle Andrew, called to the apostleship by Jesus Christ Himself. After the ascension of the Lord, he was the first of the apostles to begin preaching the risen Lord in Jerusalem, suffered much for this from the Jews and even suffered imprisonment, from where he was miraculously saved by an angel. Then he preached the gospel in Samaria, Syria, Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Asia and Egypt. He was an apostle primarily to the Jews. He completed his evangelistic feat in Rome, where during Nero's persecution, around the year 67, he was crucified on a cross, upside down, since he did not want to resemble his Divine Teacher in the manner of his suffering.
The Apostle Paul, formerly called Saul, was born in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia, brought up in Jerusalem under the guidance of the famous teacher Gamaliel, and was a zealot of the forefathers traditions according to the teaching of the Pharisees. Miraculously converted by Jesus Christ Himself, on the road to Damascus, he received holy baptism in Damascus and from a persecutor of the faith of Christ became its most zealous preacher. He worked more than all the apostles in the organization of the Church of Christ and the planting of the faith among the pagans, and endured numerous sufferings and persecutions from both Jews and pagans. He founded Churches in Asia Minor, Greece and Rome. He died in Rome, being beheaded with a sword, in the same year as the Apostle Peter. The most important events in the life and work of the Foremost Apostles are described in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles.
The Holy Apostles Peter and Paul endured countless labors, hardships, troubles and misfortunes in their earthly lives. Thus, the Holy Apostle Peter was imprisoned three times (Acts 4:3; 5:18; 12:4), was subjected to mockery and beatings (Acts 5:18 and 35) and finally, as we have seen, died a martyr's death during the reign of Nero: he was crucified on a cross with his head down. And the Holy Apostle Paul was endlessly wounded, in prisons and many times at death's door. Five times the Jews gave him forty lashes minus one. Three times they beat him with rods, and once they stoned him, three times he suffered shipwreck, and spent a night and a day in the depths of the sea. Many times he was on journeys, in dangers on rivers, from robbers, from his own countrymen, from pagans, in dangers in the city, in the desert, at sea and among false brethren (2 Cor. 11:23-27). The words of Jesus Christ: "In the world you will have tribulations" (John 16:33), came true for him with all accuracy. But in the midst of all the troubles, misfortunes and sorrows, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul were comforted and rejoiced.
II. And we, Christian brethren, how do we bear the sorrows and misfortunes that befall us? If some sorrow, or misfortune, or calamity befalls us, how sad, contrite, and despondent we are then! How much murmuring against God then bursts from our lips, how much vexation and envy of people then arises in our hearts? No, this is not how we should bear the misfortunes, tribulations, and sorrows that befall us.
a) The Holy Fathers of the Church teach us a different way of enduring sorrows.
Saint Ephraim the Syrian says: "If those who wish to acquire earthly wealth endure every danger and misfortune, how much more should we, who wish to acquire heavenly wealth and enjoy eternally abiding pleasures, be obliged to regard every difficult task and every danger as nothing and to dare temptation. For if we do not willingly, with a heartfelt desire, endure every labor, if we do not sow tears with tenderness and a contrite heart, then how, without crying here, will we reap there, that is, in the next world? If it were possible to receive the kingdom without sorrows, without temptations, without patient struggle in other virtues, then why did God allow the saints to endure so many dangers, temptations and hardships, and did not allow everyone to live in self-will and luxury? Therefore, let us not become despondent when sorrows and grief befall us, but on the contrary, let us rejoice more that we are following the path of the saints.”
And Saint John Chrysostom teaches: "The soul is purified when it suffers sorrows for God's sake. Sorrow uproots arrogance, cuts off all negligence, prepares for patience, reveals the insignificance of human deeds and introduces much wisdom into life. All passions yield to it: envy, jealousy, lust, passion for wealth, carnal love, pride, arrogance, anger and the whole swarm of spiritual ailments. What fire is for gold, so is sorrow for the soul; it erases filth from it, makes it pure, bright and clear. Sorrow leads into the kingdom, and a carefree life into Gehenna. So, if you are a disciple of Christ, go the narrow and sorrowful way: do not complain and do not lose heart” (Commentary on 2nd Corinthians).
b) Knowing the beneficial and redemptive significance of misfortunes and tribulations in the work of our salvation, the God-fearing people would even feel anxious, troubled, and distressed when they were not visited by any hardships or sufferings for a long time.
Here is one example of many. One of the Fathers told another that, when he was in Alexandria, he once came to church to pray and saw a God-fearing woman there. He narrated: "She was dressed in black and, praying before the icon of the Savior, she was crying and repeating with tears: 'You have forsaken me, O Lord, have mercy on me, O Merciful One.' Why is she crying like that? I thought. Apparently, she is a widow and is suffering an insult from someone. I will talk to her and calm her down. I said to her: 'It is obvious that someone is offending you, that you are crying like that?' 'Oh, no,' she answered and began to cry again, 'no, Father, you do not know my grief. I live among people and do not suffer any insult from anyone. And this is what I cry about, that since I forget about God, God has forgotten to visit me; for three years now I have not known any sorrow. And neither I myself was sick, nor my son, and nothing from my house was missing. I think, therefore, that God has abandoned me for my sins, does not send me any sorrows, and so I cry before Him, that He may have mercy on me according to His mercy'" (John Moschos, "Leimonarion"). This is how God-fearing people reason when they have not had sorrows for a long time: they then think that God has forgotten them; they consider sorrows to be special attention from God, His special mercy to them.
III. Therefore, Christian, let us say in the words of Saint John Chrysostom, "Do not grieve amidst sorrows, considering to whom you are being united through them and how temptations purify you and how much benefit they bring you” (Commentary on the 2nd Corinthians). Amen.
Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
