登陆注册
5215100000129

第129章

Don't be anxious, they will understand everything, the orthodox heart will understand all! Let him read them about Abraham and Sarah, about Isaac and Rebecca, of how Jacob went to Laban and wrestled with the Lord in his dream and said, "This place is holy"-and he will impress the devout mind of the peasant.Let him read, especially to the children, how the brothers sold Joseph, the tender boy, the dreamer and prophet, into bondage, and told their father that a wild beast had devoured him, and showed him his blood-stained clothes.Let him read them how the brothers afterwards journeyed into Egypt for corn, and Joseph, already a great ruler, unrecognised by them, tormented them, accused them, kept his brother Benjamin, and all through love: "I love you, and loving you I torment you."For he remembered all his life how they had sold him to the merchants in the burning desert by the well, and how, wringing his hands, he had wept and besought his brothers not to sell him as a slave in a strange land.And how, seeing them again after many years, he loved them beyond measure, but he harassed and tormented them in love.He left them at last not able to bear the suffering of his heart, flung himself on his bed and wept.Then, wiping his tears away, he went out to them joyful and told them, "Brothers, I am your brother Joseph" Let him read them further how happy old Jacob was on learning that his darling boy was still alive, and how he went to Egypt leaving his own country, and died in a foreign land, bequeathing his great prophecy that had lain mysteriously hidden in his meek and timid heart all his life, that from his offspring, from Judah, will come the great hope of the world, the Messiah and Saviour.

Fathers and teachers, forgive me and don't be angry, that like a little child I've been babbling of what you know long ago, and can teach me a hundred times more skilfully.I only speak from rapture, and forgive my tears, for I love the Bible.Let him too weep, the priest of God, and be sure that the hearts of his listeners will throb in response.Only a little tiny seed is needed- drop it into the heart of the peasant and it won't die, it will live in his soul all his life, it will be hidden in the midst of his darkness and sin, like a bright spot, like a great reminder.And there's no need of much teaching or explanation, he will understand it all simply.Do you suppose that the peasants don't understand? Try reading them the touching story of the fair Esther and the haughty Vashti; or the miraculous story of Jonah in the whale.Don't forget either the parables of Our Lord, choose especially from the Gospel of St.Luke (that is what I did), and then from the Acts of the Apostles the conversion of St.Paul (that you mustn't leave out on any account), and from the Lives of the Saints, for instance, the life of Alexey, the man of God and, greatest of all, the happy martyr and the seer of God, Mary of Egypt- and you will penetrate their hearts with these simple tales.Give one hour a week to it in spite of your poverty, only one little hour.And you will see for yourselves that our people is gracious and grateful, and will repay you a hundred foId.Mindful of the kindness of their priest and the moving words they have heard from him, they will of their own accord help him in his fields and in his house and will treat him with more respect than before- so that it will even increase his worldly well-being too.

The thing is so simple that sometimes one is even afraid to put it into words, for fear of being laughed at, and yet how true it is!

One who does not believe in God will not believe in God's people.He who believes in God's people will see His Holiness too, even though he had not believed in it till then.Only the people and their future spiritual power will convert our atheists, who have torn themselves away from their native soil.

And what is the use of Christ's words, unless we set an example?

The people is lost without the Word of God, for its soul is athirst for the Word and for all that is good.

In my youth, long ago, nearly forty years ago, I travelled all over Russia with Father Anfim, collecting funds for our monastery, and we stayed one night on the bank of a great navigable river with some fishermen.A good looking peasant lad, about eighteen, joined us; he had to hurry back next morning to pull a merchant's barge along the bank.I noticed him looking straight before him with clear and tender eyes.It was a bright, warm, still, July night, a cool mist rose from the broad river, we could hear the plash of a fish, the birds were still, all was hushed and beautiful, everything praying to God.Only we two were not sleeping, the lad and I, and we talked of the beauty of this world of God's and of the great mystery of it.

同类推荐
  • 幼科种痘心法要旨

    幼科种痘心法要旨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 台湾私法商事编

    台湾私法商事编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 梵网经述记

    梵网经述记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玄中记

    玄中记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 怀华阳润卿博士三首

    怀华阳润卿博士三首

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 极望之城

    极望之城

    神族少女路简(陵水路氏长老之女)自幼便拥有强大的神力,小小年纪便已登入四级(共七级)灵观,且收服了流光森林中的一品灵兽流光兽。本有能力突破五级极视,却因贪玩,将众神合力封印的饕餮从天宫地牢中放了出来,酿成大祸,遭到众神降罪。最后在其父亲的恳求下,贬去神籍,坠入人间,投胎成一个襁褓婴儿,最后被人族岚帕奇将军所救,成为其养女。在人间体味七情六欲,生老病死的她最终会在人间掀出怎么的风浪呢......
  • 江湖振马刀

    江湖振马刀

    那一身青衣,一把刀。一个成天在江湖可以混日子的人,不想却得罪了整个江湖。离开朋友,孤身一人,游荡江湖,和整个江湖为敌。既然江湖不容我,那我就颠覆这可笑的江湖。
  • 先生,我们不熟

    先生,我们不熟

    栗小沫情场失意,职场得意,每天不是在相亲,就是在相亲的路上。第一次见面,她误会他喜好男人。第二次见面,她将水杯扔在了他身上。第三次,栗小沫问他:陆卓尔我上辈子欠你的么?其实,这就是一个腹黑深情男千方百计将媳妇儿拐进家门的故事!
  • 世界最具领导性的政坛伟人(2)

    世界最具领导性的政坛伟人(2)

    我的课外第一本书——震撼心灵阅读之旅经典文库,《阅读文库》编委会编。通过各种形式的故事和语言,讲述我们在成长中需要的知识。
  • 末世之异能武神

    末世之异能武神

    大灾难后,人类和异兽崛起,异兽中的兽神和人类中的武神大战,最终双双陨落,人类与异兽形成了对峙,但异兽对于人类的地盘依旧是虎视眈眈,看屌丝主角如何逆袭,成为异能中的王者!
  • 宝贝女王乖一点

    宝贝女王乖一点

    (甜文微虐)【走着走着,就散了,回忆都淡了,看着看着就累了,星光,也暗了。爱着爱着,就不爱了,因为你不在了,我凌乱了。】约定勾着她的魂,引着她的心。当小白兔一个不小心掉进大灰狼的圈套要挣扎的时候,才发现已经彻底沦陷了,出不来了。他是最霸道的恋人,当她终于把压在心底的秘密要说出来的时候,他却一次又一次的伤害她……“你放手!”她看着面前把自己抓住的他,努力挣扎想要逃离却被抓的更紧。他绝美的笑容,让人看得窒息……【亲们,点收藏~点推荐~谢谢合作~】
  • 三国机密(马天宇、韩东君主演)

    三国机密(马天宇、韩东君主演)

    马天宇、韩东君、万茜、董洁等人主演古装权谋谍战大剧《三国机密之潜龙在渊》3月27日开播。龙难日:东汉末年,灵帝宠妃王美人诞下双生子,因遭何皇后迫害,对外称只生一子刘协,另一儿子刘平则被人偷偷带出。十八年后,一批效忠汉室的志士谨遵献帝临终前嘱托,从温县司马防家秘密迎立献帝的同胞弟弟刘平入宫,命运的齿轮开始运转。潜龙在渊:建安五年,官渡之战拉开序幕。献帝深入官渡战地,曹丕鼎力相随,多次绝处逢生。曹袁两军战况胶着不断,却不知背后操纵者竟是沉迷酒色的郭嘉和隐居东山的蜚先生,只因多年前一场爱恨情仇让二人结下积怨。究竟谁才是终结这场战争的真正王者?
  • 私营企业决胜市场要懂的200条锦囊妙计

    私营企业决胜市场要懂的200条锦囊妙计

    中国的私营公司不是不能做大做强,而是中国的私营公司只要做大做强,成本就很可能失控,而造成企业后续经营困境。中国的私营公司如要做大做强,在过程中就必须“控制成本、精益求精”。经济学家郎咸平如是说。凡禹编著的《私营企业决胜市场要懂的200条锦囊妙计(成功金版)》基于大量私营公司成长和发展成功的经典案例,全景式地论述私营公司做大做强的黄金法则——从私营公司的创立到发展、从市场到营销、从人才到管理、从危机处理到经营方略……《私营企业决胜市场要懂的200条锦囊妙计(成功金版)》深入浅出地分析了私营公司决胜未来,创造长续发展可能的各个层面,解决了私营公司的领导者在经营公司的过程中可能遇到的诸多问题。
  • 有一种做人智慧叫低调

    有一种做人智慧叫低调

    “低调”并非我们人生永恒不变的旋律。低调是厚积,高调是勃发。处处谦虚、谨慎,努力夹起尾巴做人,有时也会给自己贴上“庸人”的标签,让你失去很多获得更高成就的机会。该出手时就出手,风风火火闯九州!现代社会是一个快节奏、多能人的社会,机会转瞬即逝,你要适时亮相、“高调”地展示自己的能力,才能将自己推销出去。
  • Cowley's Essays

    Cowley's Essays

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。