Prologue in Sermons: March 4

Even the Beasts Obey the Righteous

March 4

(Commemoration of our Venerable Father Gerasimos of the Jordan)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

You know, brethren, that the Lord gave us authority to have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the beasts, and over the birds of heaven, and over the cattle, and over all the earth (Gen. 1:26). And that through sin we lost this authority. But do you know that if through a holy life we restore within ourselves the image and likeness of God, then this authority will return to us again? If you do not know, then we shall now tell you about this.

Concerning the Venerable Gerasimos of the Jordan, it is said in his Life that, having preserved within himself the image and likeness of God, he came to have mastery even over beasts. Thus, once, a huge lion came to him and began to tend the monastery’s donkey, which brought water to the monastery. The lion shepherded it and led it to and from the monastery.

Once, when, wearied by the heat, the lion fell asleep, Saracen merchants passing by at that time drove the donkey away and disappeared. Upon awakening, the lion, roaring in grief, began to search for the donkey, but of course without success. The servant of the Venerable one, seeing the lion returning alone, told the Venerable one that the lion had torn the donkey to pieces. The elder, as punishment, ordered the animal to bring water for the entire brotherhood, and the lion humbly obeyed.

Once, when he, laden with water, was returning to the monastery, he saw the Saracen merchants returning and with them the stolen donkey tied to the camels. The Saracens, seeing the lion, fled in terror, and the lion with the donkey unharmed returned to the monastery. The Venerable one, seeing the strange sight, quietly smiled and said to one of his disciples: “Why did we punish the lion in vain? Let him go; let him go wherever he wishes.” The lion went off into the wilderness familiar to him, but once a week he would certainly come to the elder to be caressed by him.

But as everything in the world has an end, so the end came also for the Venerable one, and he died. When at that time the lion ran to the monastery, he began to look for his benefactor and, not finding him, loudly began to roar. To console him, the brethren led him to the grave of the Venerable one, and there, uttering a mournful roar, he ended his life. Thus, concludes the account, God glorifies those who glorify Him and who live according to His image and likeness.

And we ourselves shall say: thus a pure-hearted man, having restored within himself the image and likeness of God, truly shall tread upon the asp and the basilisk, and shall trample the lion and the serpent (Ps. 90:13), because he is always with God, and God with him; and not only shall he trample the lion and the serpent, but he will not fear even greater evil. “Though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me,” says David. Let us strive, brethren, through a holy life to acquire a pure heart and thereby restore within ourselves the image of God that we have lost. Then, certainly, among other things, we shall also regain the dominion we have lost over the fish of the sea, and over the beasts, and over the birds of heaven, and over every cattle, and over all the earth (Gen. 1:28). Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.