September: Day 25: Teaching 2: Saint Sergius, Wonderworker of Radonezh

 

September: Day 25: Teaching 2:
Saint Sergius, Wonderworker of Radonezh
 
(Against Irascibility)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. We would not err, brethren, if we say that the esteemed Venerable Sergius is the teacher of many Christian virtues.

This time, we will point out his extraordinary control over all the impulses of his heart, thanks to which he suppressed all manifestations of irascibility. Once severely insulted by his elder brother, Stephen, he immediately left his monastery, where his brother wanted to be the leader, and showed no sign of irascibility or irritation. Yet we often indulge in irascibility.

There is a state in a person's moral life in which a soul, seemingly kind and subordinate to Christian law, gives in to outbursts of emotion completely contrary to the spirit of Christianity. There is a kind of spiritual inflammation — there are moments when, at times, a dark feeling of insult, indignation, and revenge breaks free from the control of rational management and manifests itself in words or actions offensive to the law of the Gospel. This state is well expressed in the Russian language, called "irascibility." I don't know whether this popular expression means that at such times a person is like a vessel filled with the most pungent and finest dust: approach it with the lightest breath, and it will bury, blind, and suffocate you with dust. Or that at such times a person is like brushwood, ignited by the slightest spark and producing the most unpleasant consequences? The first quality is sufficiently explained by the properties of the Russian language; the latter is indicated in the Proverbs of Solomon 26:21: "As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife." Just as coals are kindled by a spark, and wood by a fire, so hot-tempered people give rise to riots and strife! Similarly, in the Book of Sirach: "Swift zeal kindles a fire, and brazen strife sheds blood. If you blow on a spark, it will ignite" (Sirach 28:13, 14).

II. Many people suffer from sudden irritability; often, "talents" shrivel up like a blooming flower, because the judge, either out of a surge of indignation or from envious suspicion, becomes inflamed with anger at every expression of it; many "orphans" shed tears because the benefactor, in a fit of anger, torments them with a contemptuous glance, a proud and reproachful word, and a wild gesture.

Friendship suffers much, and finally, even the sweetest family life loses its sweetness if one of its main links lacks a sense of indignation. "It is better to dwell in a desolate land," says the wise man, "than to live with a contentious and angry wife" (Proverbs 20:19).

Don't say: this is temporary and unimportant! It seems unimportant to you, but the Lord counts the orphan's tears, which she shed because of your obstinacy; He collects the sighs of your household, which often arise from your hot temper; He hears the secret complaints of your subordinates, who do not know how to please you, who are always worried, always afraid, always burdened by their participation. On the other hand, consider how far a person inflamed by anger carries: "Swift zeal," says the wise man, "kindles a fire, but brazen strife sheds blood" (Sir. 25:3:13). But how does this come about?

Why do the kindest, most charitable people sometimes give in to this ardor? They are commonly said to have been driven to the brink of impatience by repeated mistakes, empty requests, and pestering; to have been exhausted, weakened by previous labors and activities; to have been upset by some unpleasant impression, predisposed by an unfavorable rumor about them, or to have been preoccupied with another, more pressing matter. These are the common excuses with which people try to justify their reckless outbursts of anger and indignation! We will not explain to what extent they are permissible in the Christian world; we will simply say that they do not explain the main reasons for these disorderly actions.

III. The wise of this world know how to control their feelings and conceal them, because either propriety or their selfish pursuits demand it. Heavenly wisdom also gives its worshipers the strength to restrain movements of the limbs that are contrary to Christ. It has its own fetters and bonds, which it secretly places on the shoulders and humbles the proud gait. The book of the wise Sirach speaks of these fetters: "Bring your feet into her fetters (that is, wisdom). Put your shoulder under her, and bear her, and do not disdain her bonds" (Sirach 6:25). You have already accomplished much if you have entangled yourself in these bonds of wisdom and do not allow your hands, gaze, or tongue to move at the inner impulse of anger, displeasure, or any other passion. Try also to ensure that your heart does not lose spiritual peace, does not become agitated by anger or grief, and you will achieve this if you constantly have the Lord Jesus before your eyes, meek and humble in heart. Amen.  

 

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