(Some thoughts for reflection – see Part II)**
(This section fully belongs organically to the second part, but I was compelled to squeeze some of it into this part because it is unknown when the second part will come into being. I met a man who offered to accompany me to the hospital to visit the sick, claiming he had the gift of discerning the causes of illnesses and praying for people. I am a very sinful, money-loving, glory-seeking creature, and I am not inclined to share either money or fame with anyone. This sin is inherent in the sons of the first Adam and is most manifest in the church (where there is more holiness, there the sin is more conspicuous). The same reaction occurred in the Russian Orthodox Church after the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (which had a status of broad autonomy) proposed to be autocephalous local churches with the ROC. When the UOC requested autocephaly from its “daughter” ROC, no one from the ROC side initially thought about the spiritual, about God, or about other salvific purposes (whether it leads to growth in God, such an idea, proposal) – they immediately saw the financial aspect and the glory, the secular pride of the “Third Rome” (not to mention the politics and service to imperial whims), which is unthinkable without Ukraine! And then, realizing their mistake, they began, furiously, to look for theological, canonical arguments – but there were none! So they started inventing, adjusting canons to fit their lies, breaking dogmas (e.g., re-performing baptisms over those fools who, frightened by the ROC’s hissing about the “gracelessness” of the UOC KP, ran for “grace” to the ROC – accepting “baptism” and other”sacraments” again… – a feast for the devil, “Easter” joy, seeing his children obedient! – a sad spectacle… Satan will rejoice until the ROC begins to repent), to justify their evil and schismatic actions. Finally, they coined the term “graceful,” and, being themselves in darkness, plunged their unfortunate parishioners into darkness, frightening them with “gracelessness,” and like rabid dogs, sicced them on those for whom Christ died! And what happened to me is a projection of this schism, perpetrated by the schismatics of the UOC MP (agents of the ROC) in the UOC, – it’s the same sin, just in a very local dimension: two “pious” men…}. Imagine that after visiting us both, the patient was healed – then try to prove that it was through your holiness and by your prayers and feats that the patient became healthy. I can give away money, but the glory [not necessarily overt – within myself] of a saint, a devout man – never. Seeing that they were encroaching on what’s mine – I began to defend us both from evil with Orthodox theology, the Truth. For two hours we talked – and, fortunately, the “miracle-worker” doubted [my goal was to help the person doubt their righteousness – and let them seek on their own, while I assist as much as I can], questioning the usefulness of his “good deeds of love.” We will say something from this conversation now, but first let’s hear from the father. More about the spiritual life and what prayer is, its essence, we will say in Part II. – V.A.
Be merciful, as your Father in heaven is merciful! This is a commandment, not a suggestion! What mercy did the Father show us? Do not forget that mercy is a synonym for love in the language of the Bible (undeserved love: God saved us when we were still sinners, opponents, enemies to God!) One mercy of the Father – to send the Son into the world, so that the world might have life abundantly through Him and by Him! God’s gift, the Gift of the Father (which is given after the fall, as mercy),
Almsgiving given by the Father to the world – Jesus Christ, the Son of God. God’s commandment in an existential understanding (the Gospel does not speak about ethics in the understanding of this world) tells each of us the following: become the father of the Son of God (“that person is my mother, brother, friend… who follows God’s Commandments”) and distribute Him to everyone (Yours from Yours, we offer unto You for all and for everything)! Sounds insane, blasphemous (as sacrilege – V.A.), tempting (for the Hellenes (philosophers of this age) – foolishness, and for the Jews (religious people of the legalistic mindset) – a temptation). Indeed, it is. Because we, Christians, often, thinking in a pagan way and applying methods of salvation that exist in natural (produced by the human mind, not by revelation from God – V.A.) pagan religions, want to fulfill the commandments and thereby be saved. In the “foolish” religion – Christianity – everything is the opposite! If you have fulfilled all the commandments, or at least one, it means that you have become lost (until you repent!) for salvation (e.g., Pharisees). Once you do good (“for from one and the same source cannot both fresh and bitter water flow; figs are not gathered from thorns…”) – you are good in yourself, without God, that means God is not necessary for you.