Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: October 4

The Month of October

Day 4

35. What Is the Main Cause of Our Troubles, and By What Means Can We Most Likely Be Rid of Them?

(From the Life of Venerable Ammoun)

When Adam and Eve lived in Paradise before their fall, they knew no illnesses, experienced no troubles or afflictions, and were happy. But as soon as they sinned, illnesses, troubles, and afflictions came upon them. From this, it seems, we ought to become convinced of the truth that the main cause of our misfortunes lies in our sinfulness and that, therefore, when afflicted by calamity, we ought first of all to think about our sins and about correcting our lives. But unfortunately, in practice, the opposite happens with us. When trouble befalls us, we do not even think about our sins; instead, we rush about in every direction, despair, or finally seek help from people. And because of this, our affliction does not leave us, our grief grows greater, and we are tormented more and more. If only we would come to our senses during our misfortunes, attribute them first of all to our sinfulness, regard them as punishment for our sins, and concern ourselves with correcting our lives, then things would be different. Then we would also be reconciled with God, and our misfortunes would leave us.

Once, the parents of a boy who had been bitten by a rabid dog brought him to Venerable Ammoun. The boy had already begun to show signs of rabies, and he was biting himself and enduring terrible suffering. The father and mother fell at the feet of the Saint and asked him to heal their son. Ammoun said: “Why do you trouble me needlessly by asking me to do what is beyond my power? The sickness and healing of your son are in your hands. Why did you steal an ox from a poor widow, secretly slaughter it, and eat it? Now return another live ox to her, and your son will recover.” Hearing this, the parents of the suffering boy were terrified, confessed their evil deed before the Saint, and solemnly promised to compensate the widow for what they had stolen from her. Then the Saint prayed, healed the boy, and dismissed them in peace. After this, they returned home joyfully and at once gave the widow their own live ox in place of the one they had stolen.

Thus, from this account it becomes clear that misfortunes mainly befall us as punishment for our sins, and then another truth is revealed as well: in order to be delivered from misfortunes, we must first of all think about our sins and about correcting our lives. What did Ammoun say to the parents of the unfortunate boy? “The sickness and healing of your son are in your hands. Make amends through good for the evil deed you have committed, and your son will be healed.” And how did it end? As soon as the parents sincerely acknowledged their sin, their son immediately recovered. Therefore, just as they acted, so let us act in times of misfortune. Let us first attribute the grief that has befallen us to punishment for our sins, repent of them, ask God to forgive us for them, and, as far as possible, make amends for them through good works. Then, without a doubt, the Lord will also show us His mercy and either completely deliver us from the evils that have come upon us, or at least give us the strength and fortitude to endure them calmly and patiently, which will likewise be a great mercy from Him. Amen.

Questions for Discussion 35:

1. What did the parents of the son who had been bitten by a rabid dog do before asking Venerable Ammoun to heal the boy?

2. What, besides the sickness, did Ammoun say was in the hands of the parents?

3. Under what condition, according to Ammoun, would the son of the parents who came to him recover?

4. What did the parents of the suffering boy do when they were terrified by the condition for their son’s healing?

5. With what did the parents return to their home after the Saint’s prayer and before they gave their live ox to the widow? 

 

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.