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St Silouan: Concerning Obedience
RARE ARE THEY WHO KNOW THE MYSTERY OF OBEDIENCE. The obedient person is great in the Sight of God. He follows in the Footsteps of Christ, Who in Himself gave us the pattern of obedience.
THE LORD LOVES OBEDIENT SOULS AND AFFORDS THEM HIS PEACE, and then all is well and the souls feel love towards all mankind.
Obedient people have put their whole TRUST IN GOD, and their souls DWELL CONTINUALLY IN GOD. THE LORD GIVES THEM HIS GRACE; and this GRACE INSTRUCTS them in every good thing, and GIVES THEM THE STRENGTH to abide in goodness.
They see evil but evil does not approach their souls, for the Grace of the Holy Spirit is with them, Who PRESERVES THEM FROM ALL SIN, AND THEY ARE AT PEACE, AND PRAY TO GOD UNBURDENED.
Obedient souls are BELOVED OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, and soon KNOW THE LORD AND RECEIVE THE GIFT OF PRAYER OF THE HEART. Obedient people have SURRENDERED THEMSELVES TO GOD’S WILL, wherefore they are given THE GIFTS OF FREEDOM AND REST IN GOD, and they pray with minds untrammeled.
But THE PROUD AND DISOBEDIENT CANNOT PRAY WITH A SINGLE MIND, HOWEVER AUSTERELY THEY MAY LIVE. They know neither the manner of the working of Grace nor whether the Lord has forgiven them their sins. The obedient ones are conscious without a shadow of doubt that their SINS ARE FORGIVEN them, because they feel the Presence of the Holy Spirit in their souls. The spirit of obedience is necessary not only in Monks but in everyone else, too. Even our Lord Jesus Christ was obedient!
THE PROUD AND THOSE WHO ARE A LAW UNTO THEMSELVES PREVENT THE INDWELLING OF GRACE AND THEREFORE NEVER KNOW PEACE OF SOUL; WHEREAS THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ENTERS WITH EASE INTO THE SOUL OF THE OBEDIENT, BRINGING JOY AND QUIET.
The truly obedient DETEST THEIR OWN WILLS AND LOVE THER SPIRITUAL FATHERS, and for this they RECEIVE FREEDOM TO PRAY to God with undistracted minds. Their souls are free without hindrance TO CONTEMPLATE GOD, AND REST IN HIM. On account of their humility and the Prayers of their Spiritual Fathers, they soon ARRIVE AT THE LOVE OF GOD.
Our manner of living is simple but requires Wisdom. The Ever Blessed Theotokos said to St Seraphim, “Lay upon them [the nuns] obedience, and THOSE WHO ARE OBEDIENT, WISE AND CIRCUMSPECT WILL BE WITH YOU AND CLOSE TO ME.” Salvation is a simple matter! “THE LORD LOVETH THE OBEDIENT SOUL, AND WHERE THE LORD LOVETH HE GIVETH WHATSOEVER THE SOUL MAY ASK OF GOD.” As of old, so now, too, does the Lord listen to our Prayers and grant our Supplications.
OBEDIENCE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FASTING AND PRAYER because feats of spiritual endeavour without obedience foster vainglory, [arrogance] whereas the obedient novice is simply doing as he is told and has no occasion to pride himself on what he does. Moreover, the obedient have excised [removed, abandoned] their self-will completely, and only heed [pay attention to] their Spiritual Father. Consequently they are free from every care, and can pray with undistracted minds.
WHEN WE LIVE IN OBEDIENCE, OUR MINDS ARE ENTIRELY TAKEN UP BY GOD AND THE PRECEPTS OF OUR ELDERS [Staretz or Spiritual Father], whereas THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW OBEDIENCE ARE CONCERNED WITH ALL SORTS OF THINGS AND ARE CRITICAL OF THEIR SPIRITUAL FATHERS, AND SO CANNOT CONTEMPLATE ALMIGHTY GOD.
I know a certain Monk on whom obedience had laid a heavy burden. He had the Gift of the Prayer of the Heart, and the Lord gave him tears to weep for the whole world. The Abbot told him, “This is given to you because of your obedience.” OBEDIENCE PRESERVES US FROM PRIDE. For obedience WE RECEIVE THE GIFT OF PRAYER AND THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. This is why obedience ranks above Fasting and Praying.
Had the [fallen] angels observed obedience, they would have continued in Heaven, ever singing and praising the wonderful Glory of God Almighty. And had Adam not disobeyed, both he and his seed with him would have remained in Paradise. BUT EVEN NOW IT IS POSSIBLE TO REGAIN PARADISE THROUGH REPENTANCE. THE LORD LOVES US DEARLY, DESPITE OUR SINS, IF ONLY WE WILL HUMBLE OURSELVES AND LOVE OUR ENEMIES.
But he who loves not his enemies, will never find Peace, even though he were to be set down in Paradise! Adapted by gmp from “St Silouan the Athonite” by Archimandrite Sophrony
The Monastery of St John the Baptist Essex, United Kingdom
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