The Lord is Especially Merciful to Merciful People
January 11
(From the Life of Venerable Theodosios)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
January 11
(From the Life of Venerable Theodosios)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
Both the word of God and the Holy Fathers teach us to remember that God is especially merciful to merciful people. "He who gives to the poor," says Solomon, "will not lack" (Proverbs 28:27). "He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully," teaches the Holy Apostle Paul (2 Cor. 9:6). "What you have given to the hungry, you will receive back in abundance," adds Saint Basil the Great ("On the Rich"). All this, brethren, is completely true; for the truth of what both the word of God and the Holy Fathers say regarding God's special mercies to the merciful can be demonstrated by deeds themselves. And today, for your edification, we will demonstrate it by deeds.
Venerable Theodosios, abbot of the Monastery of the Theotokos near Jerusalem, was, as the author of his life tells us, an eye for the blind, a guide for the lame, a shelter for the defenseless, and clothing for the naked. He visited the sick, providing clothing for some who came to him, feeding others, and addressing the needs of still others. It should be noted that he established the custom of feeding a hundred people daily at the monastery.
One day, the monastery ran low on provisions, and a large crowd had gathered for alms. Seeing the beggars, the monks, disheartened, reported to Venerable Theodosios that there was no bread. Upon hearing this, the Saint looked at them angrily and, reproaching them for their lack of faith, ordered the monastery gates to be opened immediately and the newcomers admitted. When all the poor had sat down at the table as usual, he ordered his disciples to feed them. Knowing the granary was empty, the monks approached it with bowed heads. But imagine their surprise when, upon entering, they found it full of bread! Everyone glorified God and praised the faith of His servant.
Another time, on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, many beggars also gathered, but again there was nothing to feed them. Finding himself in difficult circumstances, the Saint, just as on the first occasion, did not lose faith. Looking up to heaven, he blessed the remaining meager amount of bread and then commanded that it be distributed among the people. And everyone ate and was satisfied, filling many baskets with the remainder and, drying it in the sun, subsisting on it for quite some time.
There was another miraculous incident in the life of the Saint. Once, on the eve of Easter, due to the abundant distribution of alms for the feast, the monks themselves were left without bread, without butter, without anything. They came to the Venerable One in sorrow and began to complain that they had nothing to offer for the feast. The Venerable One consoled them, saying, "Children, God, who performed miracles with our fathers and fed the Israelites in the desert, will also show mercy to us. Just be patient and believe that God will not abandon you." The Venerable One's faith was not in vain. On the evening of Holy Saturday, a man arrived at the monastery on two mules, bringing an abundance of provisions. And again, all the monks glorified God.
Thus, brethren, we have proven to you the truth that God Himself is especially merciful to the merciful. And so it must necessarily be. For He Himself, being all Love, loves in us our love for Him, which is expressed in love for our neighbors, and He Himself, so to speak, becomes the guarantor that what is ours — that is, what we give to our neighbors out of mercy — will not be lost, but will be returned a hundredfold.
“I,” says the blessed Augustine, “have received on behalf of God; I too will repay. I have received earth; I will repay heaven. I have received what is temporal; I will repay what is eternal. I received bread; bread I will also give, but heavenly and eternal. I received lodging; I will give a house. Being sick, I was visited; I will repay with salvation. Being in prison and visited, I will repay with freedom” ("On Avarice and Luxury").
To this nothing needs to be added; for you yourselves must now have clearly been convinced that the Lord is good — especially good — to the merciful. "Therefore be merciful, even as your Father in heaven is merciful" (Luke 6:36).
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
