Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: September 21

 

The Month of September

Day 21

22. The More the Lord Rewards a Person for His Labor, the More That Person Should Labor

(From the Life of Saint Dimitri of Rostov)

When, brethren, we find ourselves in a lowly condition and suffer want, then, in most cases, we labor diligently and strive with all our strength to rise above our circumstances or escape from poverty. But when this happens, or when the Lord simply blesses us with good fortune, then laziness also appears in us, and we are no longer the diligent workers that we were when we were in a lowly condition and suffering want. Should it be this way? No. If the Lord has blessed you with good fortune, then all the more should you show your gratitude to Him through greater labor. Show that you value His great mercies, and then, surely, the Lord will bless you even more and reward you with even greater mercies, and will grant you even greater happiness. The Saints deeply reflected upon this truth and always acted according to it. For our instruction, let us learn from one of them.

Saint Dimitri, Metropolitan of Rostov, made it a rule of his life to act in such a way that whenever the Lord raised him to a higher position, he would labor all the more. And just as he resolved to act, so he actually acted. When he was made an archimandrite, it is written in his Life that he “increased his labor in proportion to his rank, knowing what is written: ‘To whom much has been given, from him much will be required’” (Luke 12:48). Dimitri also edited the Lives of the Saints, concerned himself with the good order of the monastery, and with the salvation of the brethren entrusted to his care. “No less,” it is further written, “did he assist in other spiritual matters that were greatly beneficial to the Holy Church, by word, counsel, discernment, and deed.”

When Saint Dimitri was made a Metropolitan, then, it is said, he “undertook even greater labors.” What were these labors? The newly appointed Metropolitan devoted himself to spreading the teaching of the gospel, setting before everyone examples conducive to salvation, and teaching all, both clergy and laity, so that each might walk worthily of his calling. He endeavored to uproot evil customs, impurity, envy, injustice, and every deed that was not pleasing to God; he planted everywhere purity, love, righteousness, mercy, and every virtue; and above all, he took special care to eradicate coarseness and ignorance, especially among the clergy.

What happened next? Again, it was this: the longer the Saint lived, the more he regarded it as a most urgent duty before the Lord to labor more and more. He began to compile a book called the Chronicle, and gathered materials for it from Greek, Slavic, Roman, Polish, Jewish, and other historians. He went daily to the church of God for prayer; on Sundays and feast days, except when illness prevented him, he served continually; he held processions with the Cross, preached sermons, and often traveled to various cities and villages of the diocese so that there, too, he might sow the seeds of the word of God. “And he was,” it is said, “a good shepherd, preserving Christ’s flock from the enemies who war against it and from the deceitful wolves who come in sheep’s clothing.”

So, do you see how we ought to act when the Lord blesses us with good fortune for our labors and raises us to a higher position? We must not fall into laziness or give ourselves over to idleness, but add labor to labor, so that in this way we may both show our gratitude before God and receive an even greater blessing from Him. Yes, we ought to act this way also so that we may not become accountable before God. Do you hear how Saint Dimitri reasoned? He constantly brought to mind the words of the Savior: “To whom much has been given, from him much will be required.” Clearly, then, if the Lord raises us up, He does so in order to urge us to greater labors; and if we do not devote ourselves to them, we will also be held accountable before God for this. Therefore, to avoid such accountability, let the happiness granted to us by God be accompanied on our part by gratitude, and let our gratitude be expressed in greater labors for the glory of God, for the benefit of our neighbors, and for the salvation of our own souls. Amen.

Questions for Discussion 22

1. What did Saint Dimitri of Rostov edit, and what did he concern himself with, when he was made an archimandrite?

2. What did Dimitri plant everywhere when he was made a metropolitan?

3. For what purpose does the Lord raise us up?

4. In what should our gratitude to God for happiness be expressed?

5. What does “greater” (вящий) mean?

 

Source: The Cheti-Minei: Homilies for Every Day of the Year (Book 1: September, October, November) by Archpriest Viktor Guryev. Publication of the Russian Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos, 1896. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.