An angel-messenger will be sent to you (the catechumen) (see Lk. 1:26-27, Acts 10:3, etc.) only when you are ready (for Marriage, for receiving the seed into a humble and contrite heart) to consciously say with all your being to Jesus Christ: “What do you command me to do, Lord? – I am Your servant forever!” And before your Annunciation – patiently endure in prayers and alms with joyful thanksgiving! Until a person is ready, the Lord humbly waits, lovingly caring for each person, leading them to the knowledge of the Truth, to Bliss, Happiness, that is, to Himself! Orthodox catechumens do not calculate the day and hour of their Annunciation (the Kingdom of God comes not with observation, but suddenly) – knowing that this (well, when already?! how much longer to wait?!) is not a sign of humility, trust, and love for the Lord Jesus Christ! The catechumen humbly with all their might (faithfulness in small things, which they are capable of) labors – fulfills all the commandments of God, and leaves everything else (the time of baptism by the Holy Spirit) to the will of God, whom they serve-labor for with all (lovingly-gracefully-joyfully) their might!
Considering that the end times (in all respects) are outside the window and many antichrists, false apostles, false teachers have entered the world, we consider it our duty to frequently call for vigilance, caution, and discernment: do not believe every spirit but test the spirits, prophecies, sermons, theology – and hold fast to what is good! Therefore, trust precedes obedience. And responsible trust presupposes the presence of love and truth in the one I trust (see Part II). The criterion of trust is love and truth! Trust without love or truth is reckless, dangerous! Before entrusting oneself to slavery-obedience, one must test that church, that mentor, friend-adviser (to whom I want to entrust myself for the sake of Jesus Christ) for Love and Truth! I entrust myself to slavery-obedience not thoughtlessly, recklessly, but with discernment and advice (and the entire period of catechism (until baptism by the Holy Spirit, when the anointing of the Holy Spirit teaches the Christian, the Christian already knows the will of God in the Holy Spirit) must be conducted with constant discernment and the advice of the one you trust-obey, and by comparing all “orders” with the instruction to the medicines of thoughts-commandments (with the Scripture of the Church: the Bible and the words of the Holy Fathers)). The catechism-teaching of people in the name of Jesus Christ must be accepted with discernment and advice, but when you are confident in the truthfulness of the word-command of the friend-adviser, that is, that this is a good deed you are told to do – immediately, as a servant-obedient to Christ-the Truth, you must act, do according to the word of Truth. The emphasis is on obedience to Jesus Christ, the Truth, and as soon as you understand that this is the Truth (in the name of Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father!) – act, fulfill!