St. Dimitry of Rostov
Be
zealous, o man, and always be a blaze in soul; flee despondency and
coldness so that you will not hear: Because “you were neither
cold nor hot … I will vomit you out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:15,
16). Strive to be watchful and do not waste the time of your life in
vanity, for it has been given to you for the correction of soul and
the acquiring of eternal good. Look to it that not one day would pass
in vainity – for if you lose the day (to vanity) then you will
never have it again. If a day has passed, it has passed; it is not
within your power to return it. Therefore, do not waste your day on
emptiness, instead use the given flow of time to perfect yourself.
True life was not given to you in vain, but for this: that you would
use each day for profit and be accomplishing the struggle (podvig)
for virtues; never be idle.
True
life (spiritual life) is not relaxation, but battle and war, a time for trading, a
school, a navigation across the sea. There can be no tranquility
during war, or rest in school or in trading, or ease when sailing
upon the sea. Who is on the sea without fear and sobriety? Who is in
the midst of war without dread? Who goes to market or school for
rest? No one. Be not slothful in the things of God, nor despondent,
but resolutely ready yourself and labor. For you the harvest is now;
now is the time for trading;1
now is the time for buying – reap and buy now so that you will not
be found with empty hands, a stranger to God's grace, and turned over
to sever judgment. The Lord rebuked the lazy servant, not for
receiving and preserving the talent, but for failing to multiply it,
“You wicked and lazy servant … you ought to have deposited my
money with the bankers, and at My coming I would have received back
my own with interest” (Mat. 25:26-7).
Do
not bury the talent given to you in the earth through sloth and
carelessness, instead strive, be vigilant, ceaselessly adding warmth
to warmth and fire to fire, so that you multiply the good given to
you and may daringly say to the Lord on that Day, “Here, Lord, I
have gained five talents,” and you will hear the Lord's sweet
voice, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful
over few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Mat. 25: 20-21).
Translated from Russian by Fr. Zechariah Lynch
1 cf.
The parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price,
Matthew 25: 13:44-46.
