Μνήσθητι ἡμῶν, Κύριε (Ματθ. 14, 22-34) Anthony Metropolitan of Souroz

«Μνήσθητι ἡμῶν, Κύριε, ὅταν ἔλθῃς ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου» Εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος. Ὅσο πιὸ βαθιὰ βιώνουμε τὴν πνευματικὴ ζωὴ στὴν Θ.Λειτουργία ἢ βάσει τῶν καταστάσεων ποὺ μᾶς κάνουν ν’ ἀντιλαμβανόμαστε σαφέστερα τὰ κείμενα, τόσο πιὸ πλατιὰ ξεδιπλώνεται μπρός μας, ἀποκαλύπτοντας τὸ μεγαλύτερο βάθος ποὺ ἀποκτοῦν πράγματα ἀνθρώπινα καὶ θεϊκά. Πόσο συχνὰ ἔχουμε ἀκούσει στὴν ἀρχὴ τῶν Μακαρισμῶν τὶς λέξεις: «Μνήσθητί μου Κύριε, ὅταν ἔλθῃς ἐν τῇ Βασιλείᾳ Σου..»- στὴν δόξα τῆς Βασιλείας Σου… Κι αὐτὲς οἱ λέξεις ἀκούγονται τόσο φυσικὲς κι ἁπλές. Κι ἀκόμα, ἂν φαντασθοῦμε γιὰ ἕνα λεπτό, ὅτι, ὅταν ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἔλθει ἐν δόξῃ, ἔχοντας νικήσει ἐν ὀνόματι ἡμῶν καὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὑπερισχύοντας τοῦ κακοῦ, καὶ ἔχοντας κάνει αὐτὸν τὸν κόσμο σὲ Βασιλεία τῆς ἀγάπης, τῆς ἁγιότητας, τῆς ἀπόλυτης ὀμορφιᾶς, ἄς φαντασθοῦμε ὅτι κάποιος ἀπὸ μᾶς θὰ μποροῦσε νὰ λησμονηθεῖ: τί θὰ συνέβαινε σέ μᾶς; Λησμονημένοι ἀπ’ τὸν Θεό……Κι αὐτὸ συμβαίνει γιατὶ ἀναθυμόμαστε ὅτι ὑπάρχουμε, ὅτι ζοῦμε.! Συμβαίνει μόνο γιατί μᾶς θυμᾶται Ἐκεῖνος ἀκόμα κι ἂν ἐμεῖς λησμονοῦμε τοὺς ἑαυτούς μας καὶ ὁ ἕνας τὸν ἄλλο, συνεχίζουμε νὰ ὑπάρχουμε χάρη στὴν δύναμη τῆς ζωῆς ποὺ εἶναι δική Του, χάρη στὴν εὐλογία Του, χάρη στὴν ὅλο θυσία Ἀγάπη Του. Πόσο ὄμορφο εἶναι νὰ σκεφτόμαστε ὅτι εἴμαστε ἀσφαλισμένοι στὴν μνήμη Θεοῦ ποὺ περικλείει ὅλους, ἀκόμα κι ἂν οἱ ἄνθρωποι μᾶς ξεχνοῦν! Καὶ αὐτὸ συνέβη, συνέβη: Θυμᾶμαι μιὰ σκοτεινὴ μέρα ποὺ ἤμουν μὲ μία οἰκογένεια, κι ἄνοιξε ἡ πόρτα, κι ἕνας ἄνδρας ποὺ ἦταν 5 χρόνια στὸν πόλεμο καὶ θεωρεῖτο νεκρὸς, μπῆκε· ἡ γυναίκα του τὸν κοίταξε καὶ τοῦ εἶπε: «Ζεῖς; Σὲ εἴχαμε γιὰ νεκρό…!». Κι αὐτὲς οἱ λέξεις σήμαιναν «ὑπολογίζαμε στὸν θάνατό σου, γιατί ἂν ἤσουν νεκρὸς ἡ ζωὴ θὰ ξαναρχίσει, μ’ ἕνα νέο τρόπο· θὰ συναντοῦσα νέα ἄτομα, θὰ παντρευόμουν ἕναν ἄλλο ἄνδρα· ἦλθες -θὰ μποροῦσες νὰ μὴν ἔρθεις, θὰ μποροῦσες νὰ ’χες παραμείνει νεκρός…» Πῶς φαντάζεσθε ὅτι θὰ ἔνιωσε αὐτὸς ὁ ἄνδρας; Καὶ μπορεῖτε νὰ φανταστεῖτε τί θὰ συμβεῖ στὸν καθένα μας, ὅσο ἁμαρτωλοὶ κι ἂν εἴμαστε, ἂν καθὼς στεκόμαστε μπροστά Του δοῦμε ὅτι δὲν θυμᾶται οὔτε τὸ ὄνομα, οὔτε τὴν ὄψη, οὔτε τὴν ὕπαρξή μας… Καὶ πόσο ὄμορφο ἀντίθετα εἶναι νὰ συλλογιζόμαστε ὅτι ἀκόμα κι ἂν ὅλος ὁ κόσμος μᾶς ξεχάσει - ὑπάρχει Ἕνας ποὺ ποτὲ – ποτὲ δὲν θὰ μᾶς ξεχάσει: εἶναι ὁ Κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, ὁ Ἕνας τῆς Τριάδος, ὁ Θεὸς ποὺ μᾶς ἀγαπᾶ…. Τὸ γεγονὸς ποὺ συνέβη στὴν σημερινὴ εὐαγγελικὴ περικοπὴ (Ματθ. 14, 22-34): ὁ Πέτρος, μαζὶ μὲ τοὺς ἄλλους μαθητές, εἶδαν τὸν Κύριο σὰν φάντασμα, σὰν ὀπτασία νὰ περπατᾶ στὰ νερά, καὶ γέμισαν μὲ φόβο: ἕνα φάντασμα! Κι ὅλοι φώναξαν μὲ φόβο. Κι ὁ Κύριος: «Μὴ φοβεῖσθε, Ἐγὼ εἰμί…». Τοὺς χτυποῦσαν τὰ κύματα, ὅπως μᾶς χτυποῦν οἱ περιστάσεις τῆς ζωῆς, ἀπὸ τὶς καταιγίδες ποὺ ξεσηκώνονται μέσα μας. Ἀλλὰ ὅταν ἄκουσαν τὴν φωνὴ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ Πέτρος εἶπε: «Κύριε ἄφησέ με νὰ ’ρθω πρὸς τὰ σένα, περπατώντας στὰ νερά…» Ἤξερε ὅτι ἦταν ἀνθρωπίνως ἀδύνατο, ἀλλὰ ἦταν δυνατὸν γιατί ὅλα εἶναι δυνατὰ στὸν Θεό, καὶ μὲ τὸν Θεό…. Κι ὁ Χριστὸς εἶπε: «ἔλα…» Κι ὁ Πέτρος ἄφησε τὴν ἐλάχιστη ἀσφάλεια τοῦ σκάφους πάνω στὸ ὁποῖο βρισκόταν μὲ τοὺς ἄλλους μαθητές, κι ἄρχισε νὰ βαδίζει· καὶ ξαφνικὰ κοίταξε στὰ κύματα ἀντὶ νὰ κοιτάξει πρὸς τὸν Χριστό, κοίταξε τὴν καταιγίδα ἀντὶ νὰ κοιτάξει Ἐκεῖνον ποὺ εἶναι ὁ Κύριος τῆς καταιγίδας, ὅπως εἶναι ὁ Κύριος τῆς Εἰρήνης. Κι ἐπειδὴ θυμήθηκε τὸν ἑαυτό του καὶ τὴν καταιγίδα, ἄρχισε νὰ βυθίζεται· κι ὅταν ἀκριβῶς εἶχε χάσει ἀπ’ τὰ μάτια του τὸν Κύριο, φώναξε: «βοήθει μοι..», κι ὁ Χριστὸς τὸν ἐπίασε ἀπ’ τὸ χέρι καὶ τὸν ἔφερε στὴν ἀκτή.. Ἐδῶ βλέπουμε πάλι ὅτι ὅταν παρασυρόμαστε ἀπὸ τοὺς φόβους μας, τὶς ἀμφιβολίες μας, παρασυρόμαστε ἀπὸ τὴν καταιγίδα ποὺ μαίνεται μέσα ἢ γύρω μας, εἶναι ὁ Ἕνας ποὺ μᾶς θυμᾶται μὲ ἀγάπη, μὲ συμπόνια, μὲ μιὰ κατανόηση ποὺ φτάνει πέρα ἀπ’ τὴν δική μας κατανόηση. Γιατί Αὐτὸς βυθίστηκε στὰ κατάβαθα τῆς ἀνθρώπινης ἀδυναμίας κι ἔφερε ὅλο τὸ βάρος τῆς ἀνθρώπινης ἁμαρτίας, αὐτὸς μπορεῖ νὰ πεῖ: «μὴ φοβεῖσθε! ..» - καὶ νὰ μᾶς πάρει ἀπ’ τὸ χέρι καὶ νὰ μᾶς σώσει. Ἂς σκεφτοῦμε γιὰ μιὰ στιγμὴ τί σημαίνει αὐτό: νὰ θυμόμαστε τί σημαίνει αὐτὸ γιὰ ὅλους μας, τὸν καθένα μας ὅτι ὑπάρχουν ἄνθρωποι ποὺ μᾶς θυμοῦνται, γιὰ τοὺς ὁποίους ὑπάρχουμε, γιὰ τοὺς ὁποίους ἔχουμε σημασία. Ἕνας Γάλλος συγγραφέας ἔλεγε: Τὸ νὰ πεῖς σ’ ἕναν ἄνθρωπο «Σ’ ἀγαπῶ..» ἰσοδυναμεῖ μὲ τὸ νὰ πεῖς «δὲν θὰ πεθάνεις ποτέ…». Ἐπειδὴ πρόκειται γιὰ μιὰ ἔξοχη δήλωση πρὸς ἕνα πρόσωπο, τὸ πρόσωπο ποὺ μὲ τὸν τρόπο αὐτὸ προσφωνήθηκε, δὲν μπορεῖ νὰ ἐκπέσει ἀπ’ τὴν αἰωνιότητα, τὴν αἰωνιότητα τοῦ Θεοῦ, γιατί ὅλη ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνήκει στὸν Θεό. Πόσο ὑπέροχο εἶναι αὐτὴ ἡ σωτηρία νὰ προσφέρεται καὶ νὰ δίνεται, πόσο ὄμορφο νὰ εἴμαστε μέτοχοι αὐτῆς τῆς δωρεᾶς, χαρίζοντάς την στοὺς ἄλλους μὲ τὴν ἀγάπη μας καὶ μιὰν αἰώνια ἀνάμνηση. Ἀμήν. Ἀπόδοση Κειμένου: www.agiazoni.gr Πρωτότυπο Κείμενο "Remember us, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom" 9th August, 1987 In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. The more deeply we live in the Holy Liturgy or according to circumstances that make us more perceptive of its words, the more widely it unfolds before us, acquiring a greater depth revealing to us things both human and divine. How often have we heard at the beginning of the Beatitudes the words "Remember us, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom!" — in the glory of Thy Kingship ... And these words sound so natural and simple. And yet, if we imagine for one moment that when the Lord Jesus Christ comes in glory, having conquered for us and for God, overcome all evil, and made this world into His Kingdom of love, of holiness, of perfect beauty — that one of us could be forgotten: what would happen to us? Forgotten of God ... It is only because we are remembered that we exist, that we live! It is only because He remembers us even when w e forget ourselves and one another that we continue to be sustained by the power of life which is His, by His blessing, by His sacrificial love ... How wonderful it is to think that we are secure in God's all-remembrance, even when people forget us! And it happens, it happens: I remember a dark day when I was with a family, and the door opened, and a man who had been five years in the war and was thought to be dead, walked in; his wife looked at him and said "You are alive? We thought you were dead!" ... And these words meant, "we counted on your death, because once you were dead, life had begun anew, in a new manner; I had met other people, I had married another man; you have come — and you should not have come, you should have remained dead" ... Can you imagine what this man felt? And can you imagine what would happen to anyone of us, however sinful, if, standing before God we saw that He did not remember our name, our face, our existence ... And how wonderfully inspiring it is to think that even if the whole world should forget us — there is One Who will never, never forget: it is the Lord Jesus Christ, it is God One in the Trinity, God Who is Love ... Think of what happened in today's Gospel (Matthew 14:22-34): Peter, together with the other disciples, saw Christ as a phantom, as a ghost walking on the waters, he was filled with terror: a ghost! And they all cried out in fear. And Christ said "Fear not! It is I!" ... They were tossed by the sea, as we are tossed by the circumstances of our life, by the storms that arise within us. But when they heard the voice of Christ, Peter said, "Let me come unto Thee, walking on the waters." He knew it was impossible, humanly speaking, but it was possible because all things are possible to God and in God ... And Christ said "Come!" ... And Peter left the frail security of the skiff in which he was with the other disciples, and began to walk; and suddenly he looked at the sea instead of looking at Christ, he looked at the storm instead of looking at Him Who is the Lord of the storm, as He is the Prince of Peace. And because he remembered himself and the storm, he began to drown; and that very moment when he had lost sight of God, he cried "Help!", and Christ took him by the hand and brought him to shore. Here again we see that even at moments when we are carried away by our fears, by our doubts, carried away by the storm that rages within or around us, there is One Who remembers in love, in compassion, in an understanding that goes beyond our own understanding. Because He has plumbed all the depths of human frailty and has carried all the weight of human sin, He can say "Fear not!" — and take us by the hand and save us. Let us think for a moment of what that means: to be remembered, and what it means to all of us, each of us that there should be people who remember us, for whom we exist, for whom we matter. A French writer has said: To say to a person "I love you" is tantamount to saying "you shall never die". Because it is a supreme affirmation of this person, a person who is thus affirmed, cannot fall out of eternity, of God's eternity, because all love is of God. How wonderful that salvation is offered and given, how wonderful that we may be partakers of this gift, granting it to others by our love and by our eternal remembrance. Amen.