Prologue in Sermons: October 4

Where to Find Patience in Sorrows

October 4

(From the Discourse on Andrew, in which Christ spoke to him in a vision, concerning foolishness for Christ’s sake and eternal life.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

In order that we may more often remember that our homeland is in Heaven and become less attached to earthly things, that we may become accustomed to humility, and that we may prepare ourselves worthily for the Kingdom of Heaven, we have been appointed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven by a sorrowful path. “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33), Jesus Christ teaches us. “And all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12), says the Apostle Paul.

But in order for this sorrowful path to have value in the eyes of God, it is necessary that we walk it with patience. And where shall we find it? First, from the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was born in a poor cave and was laid not in a cradle, but in a manger. Immediately after His Birth, they sought to kill Him, and He had to flee to a foreign and distant land. Throughout His life, He had nowhere to lay His head. For countless acts of kindness, He was repaid with evil alone. They mocked Him, reviled Him, spoke evil against Him, beat Him, spat in His face, and finally crucified Him between criminals. Let us more often picture Him who for our sake became poor, took the form of a servant, was weighed down by slanders, was filled to the depths of His soul with sorrow for our sins, was covered with wounds, crushed by insults, crucified, abandoned by all, and all this because of our sins—and then, seeing how insignificant our sorrows are compared with the Sorrows of the Savior, we will become less despondent and less weakened by them, and the struggle that lies before us will seem light to us.

We can take a second lesson in patience from the holy servants of God. “Others,” says the Apostle Paul, “were beaten, not accepting deliverance... Others received trials through mockings and scourging, and even through bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were cut in pieces, they were tempted, they died by the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, and mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in caves and in the holes of the earth” (Hebrews 11:35–38). And they endured all this with joy! “I rejoice in my sufferings,” the same Apostle wrote (Colossians 1:24). After the Apostles had been beaten in the Sanhedrin, it is said of them that they “departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus” (Acts 5:41). Again, comparing our sorrows with the sorrows of the Saints, we will see that our thorns are roses and that our sufferings in no way can be compared with theirs. Through this, our faintheartedness will disappear, our complaining will fall silent, and a spirit of courage and patience will be born within us.

Finally, we can find a third encouragement to patience in the thought that all the sorrows of this age are temporary, that they will be replaced by joys without end, and that the time will come when the Lord will forever wipe away every tear from our eyes (Revelation 7:17). Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ’s sake, saw himself in royal chambers before a king. The king first gave him something very bitter to taste and said: “Such is the sorrowful path of those who serve Me in the present life!” Then he offered him another food, sweeter than manna, saying: “Such is the food of My servants who have endured everything to the end.” Let us therefore remember that if we patiently endure everything here for the sake of God, then, “having been chastened for a little while, we shall be greatly blessed,” and that if we suffer with Christ in the present life, then we shall also be glorified with Him in the life to come. “Amen, amen, I say to you,” He says, “that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will become joy” (John 16:20). “I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22). Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.