The concept of widowhood in the church
The early Church shows its vitality in the knowledge of its pastors of the truth of their mission, which is centered on presenting the divine potential to humanity, and revealing the power of this potential that can work in every member.
فبولس الرسول تتركز رسائله في الكشف عن إمكانية عمل المسيح الساكن فينا. بل ويصلي إلى الله لأجل رعيته بهذا الهدف ” مستنيرة عيون أذهانكم لتعلموا ما هي عظمة قدرته الفائقة نحونا نحن المؤمنين حسب عمل شدة قوته ” أف 18:1، 19.
Pastors who focus on merely comforting the afflicted, comforting the grieving, or satisfying the needs of individuals, condemn their children to inactivity, atrophy, and then death, because they have not revealed to them the power that dwells within them that is able to work within them so that they may be satisfied and overflow to others.
هؤلاء الرعاة لم يفهموا أن الكنيسة عاملة، وعريسها عامل، لذلك أولاد يسوع يلزم أن يكونوا عاملين وإلا صاروا كالعبد الذي أخذ وزنته من سيده ولم يبددها لكنه خبأها ولم يتاجر فيها … أنهم أعضاء خاملة وحمل ثقيل على أنفسهم وعلى الكنيسة كلها. فالعضو الذي بلا عمل يموت ويفسد هو ويفسد الأعضاء التي حوله.
الكنيسة رسالتها توجيه كل عضو من أعضائها، من أطفال وشيوخ، شبان وشبات، رجال ونساء، مرضى ومقعدين، أرامل ومتزوجين، فقراء وأغنياء، رؤساء ومرؤوسين، كهنة وعلمانيين… توجيهه إلى رسالته ومساعته في إدراك إمكانية عمل الله فيهم حتى يعملوا بنعمة الله لأجل بنيان أنفسهم وبنيان الآخرين.
فالشباب الساقط تحت ثقل الشهوة العنيفة… هذا لا تزدري به الكنيسة، ولاتستخف به. بل ولا تقنع بعودته إلى حياة الطهارة، إنما عليها أن تكشف تلك الحقيقة أنه بمقدار بشاعة سقوطه يكون قيامه أعظم. وبمقدار تحطيمه لنفسه، يكون بنيانه لنفسه وللآخرين الساقطين مثله. لأنه كلما إزدادت الشهوة في عنفها فهذا إعلان عن إمكانية نشاط وحب تكمن فيه، ولكنها خاطئة التوجيه. مثل هذا الإنسان يحطمه الراعي الذي يطلب منه مجرد الأمتناع عن الشر، لأن الكنيسة لا تقبل كبت أولادها ولا تقف عند السلبية، إنما تؤمن بالتسامي والتوجيه. فمثل هذا تعلن له أولاً أن يحب الله فتتبدد الشهوة، أو بمعنى أصح تذوب الشهوة في الحب.
This is what John Chrysostom did in his guidance to the fallen monk Tadros. (1) When he clearly declared to him that as much as he fell, there would be a greater resurrection, and God would raise up many through him.
أما بالنسبة للأرامل- اللواتي هن موضوع حديثنا – قد نظن أن رسالة الكنيسة نحوهن تتركز في مواساتهن على نكبتهن مع مراعاة أحوالهن والأهتمام بأحتياجاتهن النفسية والمادية.
I say with shame that this is the view of many fathers whom we consider loving workers, but in reality it is a rigid view that pushes the category of widows towards death. Because widowhood is not a calamity that pastors work to comfort those who have befallen them, but rather it is a blessing, strength and a new possibility, through which widows have been freed from the slavery of husbands [Father Tadros means here that widows have been lifted from the responsibility of marriage, as the man also falls under the slavery of marriage like the wife, meaning that he also cares for what is his wife. Every husband must care for his partner in life], so that their souls may set free with greater freedom in worshipping and serving the Lord.
رسالة الرعاة نحوهن أن يكشفن بصائرهن عن العريس الحقيقي يسوع، فيعشقن إياه أكثر… ويندفعن في حب عميق نحو التعبد والشهادة له.
Widows should not see themselves as a distressed group seeking everyone’s sympathy and kindness, and thus live with broken hearts. Rather, they are a group that occupies the third rank after the clergy and the celibate, and they have their own great work and mission in the Church. In this way, their morale is raised, and the Church benefits from them and their service.
حقًا إن سر ضعفنا اليوم يكمن في نظرتنا الضيقة إلى فئة الخدام – رجال الكهنوت وخدام التربية الكنسية – أنها الفئة الوحيدة العاملة في الكنيسة. هذا المفهوم كفيل بأن يقضي علينا بالجمود. فالكنيسة في حيويتها لا تعرف الجمود “من لا يجمع معي فهو يفرق”. فالأطفال في المدارس من يقدر أن يجذبهم إلى يسوع غير إخوتهم الأطفال المؤمنين إيمانًا عمليًا، والشباب من يقدر أن يكسبهم ليسوع إلا الشباب الذي له صورة يسوع الحقيقية، والنسوة في زيارتهن لبعضهن البعض قادرات أن يعملن على نمو بعضهن البعض روحيًا، بل حتى المريض يقدر أن يربح نفوس زائريه… بل العجائز لهم عملهم في الكنيسة.
This is what was revealed in this letter of John Chrysostom to a young widow who had recently married, whose husband was about to be appointed governor of a province.
First and foremost, it reveals the wisdom and knowledge of the early church pastors. John Chrysostom begins the epistle with a broken heart, sharing her pain and sorrow, acknowledging the harshness of the experience. But he moves her from feelings of pain to the concept of true widowhood, as if to say to her: Blessed are you because your fellowship with Jesus is now becoming more profound, and blessed are you because He cares for you as one of His special ones, even as His bride. Blessed are you because you have become more honorable by being a widow working in the church. As for glory, the Lord has taken your high-ranking husband, so that Jesus may become your bridegroom, and in eternal life you will meet your husband in a deep and eternal spiritual union.
As for your soul being troubled and fearing for your possessions, seek to transfer them to heaven, where you will find them in heaven with your husband. The Lord is able to govern the shepherds for the edification of the souls of all.
Father Tadros Yacoub
هذا الكتاب من ترجمة الكنيسة القبطية: وهذا يعني أن ليس كل ما جاء في تعليقات المترجم أو المعد نتفق معه وأحياناً نختلف معه. فالرجاء تنبيهنا في حال وجود شيء من هذا القبيل أو غير مفهوم… ولقراءة النص باللغة الإنجليزية، الرجاء اضغط here
A great disaster..!!
We all agree that you are suffering a terrible calamity, and that the sword has been drawn from above over a vital part (your husband)... something that no one can deny, even if he is a man of harsh words and a hard heart.
And since those who are struck with grief should not spend their whole lives in weeping and lamenting, but should treat their wounds lest by their neglect their tears increase their wounds and the fires of their grief be inflamed, it is right that we listen to words of consolation, holding back the fountain of our tears for a time, and turning aside those who seek our consolation.
Therefore, I refrained from disturbing you when your grief was at its most intense, when the thunderbolt struck you, waiting a while to allow you to be filled with grief. But now that you can look through the light mist, and open your ears to those who seek to comfort you, I want to support your maids' words to you with a little participation on my part.
For when the tempest is violent, and the winds of sorrow are strong, he who advises another to desist from sorrow, will rather excite him to greater sorrow, and cause him to hate (his advisor), and the words of the advisor will be to him like fuel to kindle the fires of sorrow, besides looking upon the advisor as a cruel and foolish man. But when the troubled waters begin to calm down, and God has calmed the waves, then we may spread the forts of new ships without fear. For in a moderate storm experience can be of use; but when the onslaught of the winds is violent, experience is of no avail.
لهذا السبب، فإنني قبلئذ احتفظت صامتًا، أما الآن فقد تجاسرت لأكسر سكوتي، لأنني قد سمعت من خالك أنه يمكن للإنسان أن يبدأ في الحديث معك مستعيدًا شجاعته إذ أن بعض وصيفاتك الموقرات تجاسرن وفتحن الحديث معك في هذا الأمر، وأيضًا النسوة قريباتك القاطنات خارجًا عن مسكنك كما لو أنهن قد تهيأن للقيام بهذا العمل.
Now that you have allowed them to speak to you, I have great hope and certainty that you will not despise my words but will listen to me carefully.
Jesus is your bridegroom !!
In any circumstance a woman is more sensitive to pain, especially if she is young, widowed prematurely, inexperienced in many works, and has many responsibilities, especially if her early life was full of luxury and joy and wealth, then the evil is doubled. If such a woman does not receive help from above, any passing thought can destroy her.
والآن فإنني أقدم هذه (الرسالة) لتكون الشهادة الأولى والعظمى عن عناية الله بك،ِ حتى لا يبتلعك الحزن، ولا تهدمك أفكارك الطبيعية، عندما تعمل هذه المضايقات فجأة على غمك. فإنك لست محتاجة إلى يدٍ بشريةٍ، بل يد القدير التي لا حد لفهمها. وإلى الحكمة التي اكتشفت “أبو الرأفة وإله كل تعزية” (2 كو 3:1)، فقد قيل: “هو افترس فيشفينا” (هو 2:6)، ” سيضربنا ويعصب جراحاتنا ويشفينا”.
You were honored to have your blessed husband with you, and you were the object of his care and jealousy. You were truly what you expected from a husband.
أما الآن وقد أخذ الله زوجك لنفسه، فإنه يحتل مكانه بالنسبة لك. هذا لا أقوله من عندي، بل يقول النبي الطوباوي “يعضد اليتيم والأرملة” (مز 9:146). وفي موضع آخر يقول: “أبو اليتامى وقاضي الأرامل” (مز 5:68). وهكذا نجد الله يهتم بهذه الفئة من البشرية بغيرة كما عبر عن ذلك بعبارات كثيرة.
هل تخجلين من دعوتك ” أرملة ” ؟
ربما كثرة ترديد اسم ” أرملة ” يضعف روحك ويبلبل فكرك، إذ صرت منكوبة وأنت في زهرة عمرك.
أريد أولاً وقبل كل شيء أن أناقش هذا وأبرهن لك أن لقب ” أرملة” ليس عنوان لمصيبة بل لقب للكرامة. نعم أنه لقب لكرامة عظيمة. فلا تأخذي مفاهيم العالم الخاطئة كشهادة تتمسكين بها، بل تمسكي بنصائح الطوباوي بولس، بل بنصائح المسيح، لأن الرسول إنما يتكلم بواسطة المسيح، إذ يقول ” المسيح المتكلم فيّ ” 2كو3:13.
قال الرسول ” لتكتتب أرملة إن لم يكن عمرها أقل من ستين سنة ” وأيضًا « وأما الأرامل الحدثات فأرفضهن ” 1تي 9:5،11. قاصدًا بكلا العبارتين أن يشير إلينا بخطورة الأمر.
When he organized the subject of bishops, he did not specify an age for them, but here he specified an age. Why? Not because widowhood is greater than priesthood, but because widows have serious work. They are surrounded by various jobs, both public and private.As a city that is not fortified is a prey to those who would rob it, so the young widow has many people around her, not only those who would rob her of her money, but also those who would corrupt her chastity. Besides, she is subject to other circumstances similar to her downfall, the carelessness and negligence of her servants in work, her loss of the dignity she once had, her expectation that her peers are still in comfort, and her longing for luxury; all this tempts her to a second marriage.
Some of them do not want to be bound to a man in the law of marriage, and they do this so that they can enjoy the dignity of widowhood.
Widowhood is not shameful, but rather a matter of admiration and honor among men, not only among believers but also among unbelievers.
When I was young I knew that the philosopher (sophist) (2) الذي كان يعلمني، هذا الذي كان يوقر الآلهة أكثر من كل الرجال. هذا قد أظهر اعجابًا بأمي قبل أن تتكون رابطة قوية. إذ في استفساره عني كما كانت عادته أن يستفسر عن كل منهم حوله، قيل له أني ابن أرملة. فسأل عن عمر أمي وفترة ترملها. وإذ عرف أن عمرها أربعين عامًا، حيث قضيت عشرين عامًا منذ فقدت أبي، تعجب قائلا .. ” يا الله !! أي نسوة هؤلاء اللواتي بين المسيحيين !! “.
Thus great and honorable is the life of widowhood, not only in our eyes but also in the eyes of those outside the Church.
… يقول الرسول بولس ” لتكتتب أرملة إن لم يكن عمرها أقل من
ستين عامًا ” 1تي9:5. ولا يكتفي بهذا التهيأ العظيم من جهة العمر حتى تحسب المرأة ضمن هذه الجماعة المقدسة (الأرامل ) بل يتطلب صفات أخرى إضافية ” مشهودًا لها في أعمال صالحة أن تكن ربت الأولاد، أضافت الغرباء، غسلت أرجل القدسين، ساعدت المتضايقين أتبعت كل عمل صالح ” 1تي10:5.
Oh God! What a test! What a search! How many great virtues does he require in a widow! Describing her with such precision! Which he would not have done had he not been inclined to entrust them with a great work and an honorable position.
أنه يقول ” أما الأرامل الحدثات فأرفضهن “، والسبب في هذا “لأنهن متى بطرن على المسيح يردن أن يتزوجن ” 1تي 11:5. بقوله هذا جعلنا نفهم أن اللواتي فقدن رجالهن هن عروسات للمسيح بدلاً من رجالهن. أنظري كيف يؤكد هذا عن طريق توضيح طبيعة هذا الاتحاد بهدوء وبساطة. أقصد بذلك قوله ” متى بطرن على المسيح يردن أن يتزوجن “، كما لو أن المسيح زوجًا نبيلاً لا يريد أن يسيطر عليهن ( جبرَا ), بل يريد لهن أن يعشن بحرية.
والرسول في مناقشته لهذا الموضوع لم يقف عند هذه العبارات، إذ أوضح في موضع آخر… ” وأما الممتنعة فقد ماتت وهي حية “،” ولكن التي هي أرملة ووحيدة فقد ألقت رجاءها على الله وهي تواظب على الطلبات والصلوات ليلاً ونهارًا “1تي 5:5، 6.
ويكتب إلى أهل كورونثوس قائلاً ” ولكن أكثر غبطة إن ليثت هكذا” 1كو 40:7.
You see what great dignity is given to widows, and this is in the New Testament when the light of virginity also shone clearly. Despite the great splendor of this category (the virgins), it does not overshadow the glories of widowhood, as it shines for all, preserving its value.
When you talk about widowhood from time to time, do not be upset or ashamed of it as something shameful. Because if widowhood were shameful, then virginity would most likely be shameful, but that is not the truth. God forbid!!
Since we all admire women who live chastely while their men are alive, and respect them, do we not admire those who retain the same feelings for their men even after their death, and praise them for this?!
كما كنت أقول، أنه بقدر ما تمتعتي بكرامة أثناء وجودك مع الطوباويTherasius ومكانة كأمر طبيعي تناله زوجة من زوجها، فأنه الآن لك الله، رب الكل، الذي هو من قبل حاميك ولازال يحميك، لكن بأكثر غيرة من قبل.
As I have said before, I say again that God plays no small part in caring for you, keeping you safe, not harming you in the midst of such a furnace of anxiety and sorrow, and not burdening you with anything useless.
والآن، إن كان اللهلا يسمح بأي تدمير للسفينة في وسط ماء هادئ، فكم بالأكثر يحمي روحك في جو هادئ ويخفف حمل ترملك ونتائجه التي تبدو لك أنها مرعبة ! !
You will meet Him glorified !!
إن كان ليس اسم ” أرملة ” هو الذي يضايقك، إنما فقدانك لمثل هذا الزوج. فإنني أوافقك أن قليلين هم أمثال ذلك الرجل في عالم الرجال، في حبه ونبله وإتضاعه وإخلاصه وحكمته وورعه.
Indeed, if he had perished completely or been completely finished, that would have been a great disaster and a sad thing to say. But if he had only sailed to a quiet harbor and made a journey to God who is truly his King, then we should not be sad but rejoice.
For this death is not death, but a kind of migration and transition from bad to better, from earth to heaven, from among men to angels and archangels, and even with God who is the Lord of angels and archangels. For here on earth, when he served the emperor, he was surrounded by the dangers and plots of the wicked. As his fame increased, the plans of enemies (envious people) were woven around him, and now he has passed to the other world, where we can expect nothing of this.
As much as you grieve that God has taken away a man who was so good and honorable, you should be glad that he has departed to a safer and more honorable place, freed from the dangerous annoyances of this present life, for he is now in great security and tranquility.
If we do not need to know that heaven is much better than earth, then how can we mourn those who have departed from this world to the next world?!
If your husband had been like those who live a shameful life that is not pleasing to God, you should have mourned and wept, not only when he passed away, but even while he was alive here, but as much as he is a friend of God, we ought to rejoice in him, not while he is alive here, but also when he lies at rest.
وإذ يلزمنا أن نفعل هذا، إستمعي ما يقوله الرسول الطوباوي ” لي إشتهاء أن أنطلق وأكون مع المسيح ذاك أفضل جدًا ” في 23:1.
But perhaps you long to hear your husband’s voice, enjoy his love that surrounded him, and be with him. You desire the glory that you attain by being with him, the greatness, dignity, security, and other things that, if you are deprived of them, your life becomes dark and miserable.
حسناً !! إن الحب الذي كان يمن به عليك يمكنك أن تحتفظي به معك كما كان سابقًا لأن هذا هو قوة الحب أنه يحتضن ويوحد ويربط لا الحاضرين معًا (جسديًا) فقط والقريبين مكانًا والمرئيين، بل والذين هم بعيدين عن بعضهما البعض مسافة طويلة فلا يمكن لا لطول الزمن ولا للبعد المكاني أو شئ من هذا القبيل أن يكسر محبة الروح أو يبددها.
But if you desire to see him face to face, which I know is the object of your longing, keep your bedside in dignity, without any other man touching you, and do your best to imitate him, and then you will surely go some day to meet him there, not to live with him for five years as here, nor twenty years, nor a hundred, but a thousand times over, nay, endless generations, for you are not yet bound by a physical relation, but by a relation in some way that suits your preparation for the inheritance of the place of rest.
فإنه إن كان … قد جلب لعازر الغريب ليكون مع إبراهيم في السماء عينها في حضنه، ويتهيأ كثيرون من المشارق والمغارب للجلوس معه، فكم بالأكثر تنالين أنت مكان راحة ثراسيوس Therasius الصالح، إن سلكتي مثله ؟! وعندئذ تتقبلينه مرة أخرى لا في جمال زائل كان فيه عند الرحيل، بل في مجد من نوع آخر، في بهاء أكثر من أشعة الشمس. لأن هذا رغم ما فيه من قسط وافر من الجمال، لكنه زائل. أما أجساد أولئك الذين يسرون الله، فسيكونون ممجدين حتى أن عيوننا هذه لا تقدر على معاينة مجدهم.
The Lord has encouraged us with specific examples and obscure references in both the New and Old Testaments. In the Old Testament, the face of Moses shone with such glory that the Israelites could not look at him, but in the New Testament, the face of Jesus shone much more brightly than the face of Moses.
Tell me. If someone promised you that he would make your husband king over the whole world, on condition that you would leave him for twenty years for his benefit, until he brought him back to you with the crown and purple, and you would be in his rank, would you not have borne separation from him with meekness and self-control? Would you not have rejoiced well at this gift and considered it something worthy of pleading to obtain it?
حسناً إذن أن تذعني لهذا، لا لأجل ملكوت أرضي بل سماوي، لا لتتقبلينه مكتسيًا حلة ذهبية بل ثوبًا أبديًا ومجيد يتناسب مع الساكنين في السماء…
You mourn the glory of the world ?!
Perhaps your grief is also for the loss of the peace and security you had in your husband's presence, and perhaps for the longing for the fulfilment of the great hopes of elevation you were waiting for. For I had heard that your husband was soon to be given the office of governor of a province, and this, I think, troubles and annoys you.
I beg you to consider the lives of those who were in higher positions than your husband, and see how their lives came to a pitiful end.
Let me remind you of these. You may know Theodore Siculus. (3) For his fame, as he was one of the great and prominent, he was superior to all in stature, prestige, and the emperor's confidence in him. He had more power in the royal palace than all, but he could not bear this luxury with meekness, but he plotted against the emperor, who imprisoned him and made him miserable. As for his wife, who was not less than her noble husband in education, birth, and all other matters, all her money was confiscated in a moment, and he even lost his freedom.
إذ صارت جارية، وألتزمت أن تكون في حياة يُرثى لها أكثر من كل العبيد…
It is also said of Artemisia, who was the wife of a man of great fame, who also wanted to usurp the throne, and his wife fell like the former wife and even became blind because of the intensity of her despair and the abundance of her tears. And now she seeks someone to take her hand and lead her so that she may knock at the doors of others seeking the necessary sustenance.
وإنني إذ أذكر لك كثير من العائلات الأخرى التي انحدرت في الطريق، لست أعرف عنك أنك غير تقية أو حكيمة حتى تطلبين تعزيتك في نكبتك بتطلعك إلى مصائب الآخرين. إنما السبب الوحيد الذي لأجله أشرت لك بهذه الأمثلة… إنما لكي تتعلمي أن الأمور البشرية لا شيء، إذ بالحق كما يقول النبي ” كل جماله (مجد الإنسان) كزهر الحقل ” أش6:40. إذ رفعة البشر وعلوهم سيتحطم.
Do you seek wealth? ?
(Chrysostom realized that one of the most important factors that saddened this widow was that she expected that her husband would soon attain the position of head of a province or city. prefect وقد وضعت أمامها أماني عظيمة من جهة شهرتها وعظمتها وغناها، بكونها زوجة له… وهنا رسالة ذهبي الفم أن يكشف لها ما قاله ماراسحق السرياني أن من يطلب الكرامة هربت منه أما من لم يجري ورائها تجري هي وراءه وتمسك به، فيذكر لها أن أمور العالم تهرب عمن يتمسك بها ويبحث عنها بقلق وإضطراب. أما من يعمل ويجاهد ولا يهتم بكرامة الناس ومديحهم، فهذا تلتصق به الكرامة أكثر. كما يكشف لها أيضًا عن مفهوم المجد الحقيقي والغنى الحقيقي الذي ينتظرنا في الحياة الأخرى … فيقول : )
Riches seem to most people to be a good thing, but when the desire for vain glory is gone, riches are no longer a beloved thing.
However, those who allowed themselves to gain popular glory in the midst of their poverty did not prefer riches, but despised gold when it was offered to them. I think you do not need to learn from me about those men whom you know better than I do, such as Epaminondas. Elapsed Socrates, Aristotle, Demohin, and Crates Krats The first ones (other than Crates) were so poor that they could not attain wealth, but they attained glory in the midst of their poverty. But this man krats He left what he owned. And so they became passionate about chasing that cruel beast (the lust for wealth and money).
So let us not weep. For God has delivered us from this burdensome slavery which is the subject of mockery and severe rebuke, for there is no exaltation in wealth except in the name it bears. And it places its possessor in a position that contradicts his name (rich). And there is no one who does not laugh and mock at him who places his affairs for the mere lust of glory (false).
Only he who does not desire vain glory (i.e. the praise of people) can attain glory and honor. But he who places all his attention on attaining vain glory from the world, and endures much to attain it, does not attain honor; he attains what is the opposite of glory: he becomes the object of ridicule, accusations, contempt, enmity, and hatred.
This is what usually happens not only among men, but even more so among you women.
The woman who lets herself be herself, without affectation in her appearance, walk, or dress, and does not seek dignity from anyone, this woman will be admired by all women, who admire her, praise her, call her holy, and see all goodness in her.
As for the woman who is arrogant with vain glory, women look at her with disgust and aversion and avoid her like a predatory animal, and they heap endless insults and slander on her.
وبرفضنا للمجد البشري، لا نتخلص فقط من الشرور، بل وننال منافع غير التي ذكرت، وهي التدرب التدريجي على حل ارتباطنا بالأرض والتوجه نحو السماء محتقرين الأمور الزمنية. لأن من لا يشعر بحاجته إلى الكرامة البشرية سيتمم كل ما يرغب في صنعه من صلاح بطمأنينة. فلا المضايقات والتنعمات تقدر أن تؤثر عليه. فالمضايقات لا تقدر أن تجعله يائسًا فلا تحطمه، والتنعمات لا تعزيه أو تزهو به، فهو يبقي ثابتًا بلا تغيير من أي جانب حتى في الظروف المزعزعة والمضطربة.
This is what I expect of you, that you will quickly and once strip yourself of the world's gain, and set before us an example of heavenly conduct in life. And in a little while you will laugh mockingly at the glory you now mourn, despising its deceit and false glitter.
why are you afraid ?
لكنك إن كنت تتوقين إلى الطمأنينة التي كنت تتمتعين بها قبلاً بوجودك مع زوجك، وحماية ممتلكاتك وحفظك من مكائد أولئك الذين يرغبون في مصائب الآخرين؛ “ألقِ على الرب همك فهو يعولك” (مز 22:55). لقد قيل: “انظروا إلى الأجيال القديمة وتأملوا. هل توكل أحد على الرب فخزي. أو ثبت على من فته فخذل. أو دعاه فأهمل” (حكمة يشوع 11:2، 12).
For God, who has calmed this unbearable calamity, giving you now peace, is also the one who will protect you from the evils that beset you. So do not let yourself fall under a blow more severe than the one you are in (by not relying on Him).
By enduring the current hardships with courage, even though you have no experience, it gives you the ability to endure things that happen contrary to your will. God does not allow it!
So ask for heaven and what concerns the afterlife, for nothing can harm you... even the rulers of the world of darkness (demons) themselves cannot harm us unless we harm ourselves. Because even if our body is taken away or torn to pieces, this does not concern us as long as our soul is intact.
Move your belongings ! !
Now, if you want to keep your property safe, and even increase it, I will devise a plan for you and show you the place where no evildoer can enter.
What is this place? Heaven. Send your possessions to your good husband, and no thief, schemer, or other destroyer will be able to break into them. For what we sow in heaven bears a great harvest and abundant produce. This is natural and to be expected of things whose roots are planted in heaven.
If you do this, look what you enjoy?!
أولاً ستتمتعين بالحياة الأبدية، والأشياء الموعود بها للذين يحبهم الله ” ما لم تره عين، ومام تسمع به أذن، وما لم يخطر على قلب بشر”.
Secondly, to be in constant contact with your righteous husband, while relieving yourself of the cares, fears, dangers, arrangements, enmity and hatred, which may beset you here. As long as you are surrounded by these possessions, there is a possibility of those who will attack you, but if you deposit them in heaven, you will have a life of tranquility and peace, filled with the most tranquility and enjoyment of the freedom associated with righteousness.
volatile life ! !
Since your soul is very troubled and distressed, because of your expectation that your husband was about to be governor of a province and that he was taken prematurely, consider first this fact. That though this hope of yours is very soundly founded, it is a human hope. Which often falls to the ground. We see in this life those who have not thought of a thing, and it happens to them. . .
لذلك وإن كانت الفرصة لنواله هذه الوظيفة كانت قريبة جدًا، لكنه كما يقول المثل ” كثيرًا ما يسقط الكوب من فم شاربه (4) “، ويقول الكتاب المقدس ” بين الغداء إلى العشى يتغير الزمان ” حكمة يشوع 26:18.
وهكذا من هو ملك اليوم قد يموت غدًا. وأيضًا يعلن الحكيم نفسه قائلاً ” كثيرون من المتسلطين جلسوا على التراب والخامل الذكر لبس التاج ” حكمة يشوع 5:11.
There was no absolute certainty that if he had lived he would have obtained this position, because what
The future is not certain, but it leaves us with many doubts.
Because on what basis can you be certain that he will obtain this position, since events may occur other than what was expected, and there is even a possibility that he would have lost the position he held due to illness or a plot against him by those who envy him for his wealth, or due to some other serious disaster.
But let us concede with you - if you like - that certainly if he were alive he would have reached a high position anyway. But as the position increases in importance, its dangers and troubles also increase, and what was not expected is slipped into it. (5).
Let's leave all this aside, assuming that he will pass through the sea of difficulties in complete peace and quiet. But tell me, what is the end of this?!
Isn't his end the same as the end he has reached now? Perhaps he has reached a painful and hateful end.
On the one hand, perhaps his new position (the lure of position) distracts him from his view of heaven and the heavenly things. This is not a trivial matter in the eyes of those who have placed their hope in the afterlife.
On the other hand, although his life would remain pure as it was, the length of time with the necessities of the high position might prevent him from remaining in his pious life as he is now (the fault was not in the position itself, but perhaps he feared those around him who were hypocrites or deceivers, or he feared that he would fall into pride and arrogance which would cause him to lose the purity of his heart, or due to other circumstances specific to the Roman state at that time).
In fact, it is not certain, if he did not suffer many changes, surrendering to laziness (in worship) before he breathed his last.
Now we are confident that by the grace of God he has ascended to the place of rest, because he did not commit anything that would disqualify him from entering the kingdom of heaven. But if he had remained, he might have fallen into many sins, because it is rare for a person to commit such great evils. (6) أن يسلك في طريق مستقيم، بل يضل، بإرادته أو بغير إرادته كأمر طبيعي…
And since this is the case, we are freed from this expectation of evil, fully convinced that he will appear on the great day in greater splendor, shining beside God (the King), coming with the angels before Christ, and clothed with the garment of his glory.
Unspoken, sitting beside the king as one who rules, acting as one of his great servants.
Therefore, if you cease to weep and lament, and cling to the life he lived, yes, to be exactly like him, so that you may quickly attain to his level of virtue, then you will dwell with him in the same place and be united with him again for all eternity, not in a conjugal union, but in a far higher one. For in the former there is a union of a physical kind, in the latter there is a union of soul to soul more perfect, more joyful, and of a nobler kind.
(1) راجع كتيب “رسالة من ذهبي الفم إلى ساقط بائس” [تجده على الشبكة here]
(2) libanius
(3) This Theodore, according to Ammianus Marcellinus 33, was a citizen of Galilee. Chrysostom probably called him Sicilian because he tried to make himself the tyrant of Sicily. He plotted the treason in 371 AD.
(4) المثل يصعب ترجمته حرفياً وهو : “Between the cup and the lip is many a slip”
(5) We must take into account the circumstances of the Roman state at that time, the frequency of unrest, and the danger of the main centers at that time.
(6) This phrase reveals that the governors at that time were surrounded by a group of evildoers.