Prologue in Sermons: November 15

 

Even Sorrows Are Beneficial

November 15

(A Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

In one of the Church teachings, the Prologue (August 7) says, among other things: “Let us not be indignant, but rejoice in sorrows; for they are medicines useful for our wounds, and although on the one hand they are bitter, on the other they are sweet... Let us be grateful to God for sorrows; for He does not send them without reason, but rather He does through them what is useful to our souls.” Is this true, brethren, what is said in the Prologue about sorrows? Is it true that they are medicines useful for our wounds? Is it true that they are, on the one hand, bitter, and on the other sweet? Is it true, finally, that God does not send them without reason, but rather He does through them what is useful to our souls? Yes, all this is absolutely true, brethren, as we will now prove to you from the words of the ecumenical teacher Saint John Chrysostom.

“Whoever in this life,” he teaches, “does not want to endure sorrows and troubles and all kinds of misfortunes, is small before God; but whoever, living in faith and virtue, endures sufferings and troubles and accepts all misfortunes with joy, is great before God and is respected by men, and is glorified by the Angels. Those who sin here, but do not accept any troubles, they will receive greater torments. But those who endure and praise God for their troubles, they will receive an equal lot with the saints. You do not believe this? In order to be convinced, think about the troubles of Job, the sufferings of the Apostles, and especially about the sorrows of Paul. When Job gave alms and lived pleasing to God, then he was small before God; but when he accepted troubles, then he became great before God and glorious among the saints. Likewise, the Apostles, when they only worked miracles and lived virtuously, were not glorious; but when they endured many troubles and sufferings, they were greatly glorified. And Paul, because he bore more afflictions than anyone else, received the crown that is greatest of all. He is God's chosen one, and through him all the elect will attain salvation, and some already have. Remember, then, that just as gold is made lustrous by fire, so the saints are glorified through suffering. Let us endure afflictions, so that for them God may abundantly bestow upon us heavenly blessings."

Thus, it is rightly said in the Prologue that sorrows are a form of healing, beneficial for our wounds, that they are bitter on one hand, but sweet on the other, and that we should be grateful to God even for them, for He sends them with wisdom. Yes, as we have just heard from Saint John Chrysostom, sorrows weave crowns for us and lead us to eternal glory. Therefore, let us be cheerful even in sorrows, let us not be overwhelmed by them, let us abandon faint-heartedness and despondency, and always remember the truth that the harder the battle, the more glorious the victory, and the more arduous the deed, the more brilliant the crown that follows it. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.