THREE GOSPEL COMMANDMENTS WHICH ARE NECESSARY FOR SALVATION OF REVEREND AMBROSE OF OPTINA

Metropolitan Anthony (Packanich) tells about the wise instructions of the holy elder Ambrose of Optina.

It is fascinating to read letters and diaries of famous people, left by them and saved for posterity. They give you the opportunity to get in touch with the inner world of another person, to penetrate into his thoughts, to immerse yourself in thought, to doubt and reflect together with him, becoming in some ways a participant in distant events.

I have read enough letters and diaries of writers, theologians, righteous men and saints, but no letters have made such an impression on me as the letters of Saint Ambrose of Optina. From the pages of the letters the image of an amazing man opens, who is humble and merciful, racing to rescuefor all who need his word.

The living word of the holy ascetic, instructions and fatherly advice are placed in numerous letters to the laity and monastics.

The number of responses and their range is amazing – from causal and small ones to highly spiritual. The saint could humbly descend to the level of the questioner, helping to solve uncomplicated, vain tasks, and he meekly rose in his judgments (if necessary) to incomprehensible heights ofhuman understanding.A simplicity was combined in him with a deep knowledge of the dogmas of the Church, patristic works. He gave everyone what they needed: simple truths to ordinary people, high-minded conversations with those who wanted them.

One of his letters to the laity just contains both simplicity and the highest depth. The letter is called "How to model yourself onGod."

The saint quotes at the beginning of the letter the words of the apostle Paul: " Follow Gods example, therefore, as dearly loved children" (Ephesians 5:1), then – the three Gospel commandments, fulfilling which a christian learns to model himself onGod, and by doing this he will besaved.

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."; "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Luke 6:36; Matthew 5:45)

This commandment, according to St. Ambrose, says that a person has to be compassionate and merciful with everyone, without dividing people into deplorable and admirable. He should also let down gently to the shortcomings and sins of others, forgive, not hold grudges, no matter what happens.

The strict demand ina christian should be primarily from himself.

The reverend calls the words of the Apostle Peter as the second saving commandment: "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy.”" (1 Peter 1:14-16).

Here the saint highlights that a person needs to keep chastity and purity not only in relation to the prodigal passion, but also in relation to other passions, "because envy, hate, and unforgivingness also compose the impurity of the soul."

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."(Matthew 5:48)

In the third commandment, Elder Ambrose put the key to salvation. The commandment of humility. The salvation is unreal without humility. Perfection is the crown of humility.

Christian perfection, according to the word of Saint Isaac the Syrian, lays in the depth of humility.

The Pharisee was rejected by God for cutting himself above the rest, although he was not subject to vice, as he testified himself.

Therefore, we should remember the words of the Lord: "So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”" (Luke 17:10).

At the end of the letter, the Reverend Ambrose says that the commandments of God have no bottom.They are deep and completely incomprehensible: "No matter how any of the christians were firm and precise in the performance of their christian duties, this his fulfillment and spiritual work, according to the word of the holy fathers, can become like only to a small font, or the smallest lake; the commandments of God are like a great sea, as the holy prophet David says: "Your commandment is exceedingly broad" (Ps. 118:96). In front of this latitude, the great saints involuntarily humbled, calling themselves as earth and ashes, and considering themselves worse than any creature. Or, as the wisest of the apostles, SaintPaulsaid: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things." (Phil. 3:13-15)."

Anyone will find answers to his questions in the saint's letters. And those who seek to model theirselves on God should listen to the wise advice of Saint Ambrose of Optina, which are set up in the humble writings of the elder with the world of suffering and God-seeking hearts..

Recorded by Natalia Goroshkova

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