Legalization of Sins – Fr. Pimen Vlad

The immense problems of humanity arise not so much from the fact that people sin – although people sin more than ever before – but from the fact that today sin passes as virtue.

What can we do when sin is legalized?

Enjoy!

Well, my dear ones, here we are again. I’ve brought you back to the land of flowers, I’ve got you used to flowers because there is so much beauty to behold here. Around here we see: the hanging geraniums, this one that smells like honey, the hydrangea—a true beauty, just a bit further are the gladioluses, not all are visible, but I have some in shades from deep burgundy to black, white, pink, yellow, all the colors you can imagine, and right in front of us is the red queen of the night and all the others, dahlias. They’re so beautiful they deserve to be shown, even if the sun beats down a bit, I wanted to wait for the sun to pass, but after that people start coming, and now is the moment, just before Vespers when it’s quiet and I can express myself in peace.

What should I tell you? I know I’ve shown you these flowers in other videos. Some may say, “What does father care? He sits among flowers, living an easy life. What does he know of work, family, hardships?” I would say: those who have flowers understand – they are beautiful, but how do they come to be beautiful? Do they grow on their own, without you having to do anything to them? You plant them, you care for them, you water them daily. Just think that here in summer, it may not rain for three months and temperatures can soar to 50°C, so they need water. Flowers require attention, they are beautiful, but you need to offer love and sacrifice your time.

We have our services at church, then our chores around the house, just like in a family. During that time, when I could go for a walk, I instead go out and tend to the flowers. Those with families understand it well, they work hard, come home, and in their free time, instead of tending to a flower, they park themselves in front of the television for an hour, two, or three. I prefer to spend that time wisely, to rejoice. No matter how many worries you have or how many kids you raise, you can always find a moment to enjoy nature. I know families, like my youngest sister who has ten children, yet she always smiles. When I asked her “How are you, Elena?” she replied, “Glory to God!”, she never complained. Even if she was sick, she would always rejoice. Whenever I was sending her pictures of flowers, she responded, “I have my flowers too, I have ten children!” So it doesn’t mean we can’t find joy.

Yes, let’s move on, I didn’t say this to scold anyone, but we must balance all this work that is just to have something to eat or a car, or I don’t know what other things, let’s take a little time, do not think that we will earn more if we don’t take the time to rejoice a little, to calm down a bit, to praise God, to thank Him. Don’t think that you will live better and have more. Never! Another thing that I wanted to say because I’ve encountered situations, I’ve gone to certain churches and the priest was eager to give me vestments. And I said, “Father, I’m not a priest; I’m just a monk. He said, “Okay, but you are an abbot, how are you just a monk?” Here on the Holy Mountain there are different rules, you can be an abbot as a simple monk without being ordained a priest.” I’m talking in general about cells in sketes. At the great monasteries this rule also existed before, one could’ve been an abbot without being a priest. Recently, a new rule requires that abbots be priests at the larger monasteries, but this wasn’t the case before. And indeed, it’s still possible at the cells, to be a simple monk.

I mention this because many would come and say: “Father, I’ve come to confess,” and I had to explain that I’m just a simple monk: “Didn’t you see on all my books or in interviews — Monk Pimen Vlad?” If I were a priest, it should’ve been written Hieromonk Pimen Vlad. I made these clarifications to avoid this confusion. Some thought I used “monk” out of humility, but I’m not that humble. I like yes to be yes and what is no, no. That’s what I am, a simple man, a monk, that’s all. Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s move on.

What else can I tell you? Specific things. Let’s lighten the mood a bit. I was passing by and there was a father here, he was bottling some wine. We have a small vineyard, not much, and he made some wine, he knows his craft well. Last year, when he made wine he put it in small barrels, and now he was bottling it. I suggested, “Let’s put some labels on the bottles!” He replied, “If we were selling it, maybe, but this is just for us—to enjoy a glass at the table.” Now, to give the wine good publicity, I don’t believe I’ve tasted wine as good as the one he made here, natural. It’s not much, just enough for us to savor a little once a week.

I remembered a joke, in fact, a true story: about ten years ago, I was in Romania, where a local family had a kind of kiosk where they sold various things. They were also selling homemade spirit or wine by the glass, people would come in and buy a drink, not the bottle. At one point, a man walks up and I hear him asking: “Pour me a glass, of the last journey.” Surprised, I asked what they sold there. “Well,” he said, “I have this spirit brought from the Republic of Moldova. I have two types.” And what are they called? “Well, people call them “The Last Journey” and “Goodbye, Mother”. Do you see the names? People would come in asking for a glass of “Goodbye, Mother” because if they continued drinking like that, it was clear where they’d end up. It stayed with me as a joke, but it’s actually real.

What else can I tell you? I’m often thinking, I watch what’s happening in this world we all belong to. How did we reach a point where all that is bad is legalized? Now, white is officially declared black. Everything has turned upside down. But know one thing: sin remains sin! All the world’s governments and empires can legalize it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not sin. It is still sin and we still have to answer for it before God. That they’re trying to cover up the sin, that’s something else. Sin remains sin! Abortion remains abortion, child murder, even if it is called termination of pregnancy, even if it has been legalized. Before God, we are accountable for our actions, know that! It’s not an easy thing, to put it that way.

After that, I wanted to say one more thing: there’s a great struggle happening, in many countries, the abnormal has been legalized; in others, it has not. The legalization of the abnormal, for which, at one time, in Sodom and Gomorrah, God descended fire from heaven! I was looking at other people: when the people who are demanding this are doing their parades, many people there, perhaps half of them, are those who don’t have anything to do with that, and they say, “Let’s support them; let’s show sympathy!” We do not hate the sinner, we hate the sin, and they preach the sin and want to elevate it to a place of honor, to make it legal. We cannot agree to that, because if we agree, we’ll share the same punishment as those who commit the sin, let this sink in! I’ve seen many say, “Let’s support them; they are unfairly treated!” That’s not true, they often have more rights than others. You should know that God can again bring fire from heaven at one of these parades, God forbid you are there and it burns you too, as well as going in eternal fire! Think twice!

I don’t have anything against these people, it’s their business, their path, which they have chosen. However, I cannot agree with parading sin in public, demanding its legalization, asking for rights and so on. Doing so would mean supporting sin which separates us from God and goes against Him. I cannot agree with something like that, and I urge you to avoid these things. When you hear that they will hold these parades or marches, all of you go pray, go to monasteries, or if you stay home, pray so that God won’t be angered and send down fire from heaven or a flood or something worse. Be careful and think deeply, for times are tough.

A war may be allowed and chaos could reign, because even God has a limit. He is love, but when He sees us rising against Him with all this wickedness, He may say, “Enough!” and allow our beautiful country to fall into chaos. Think this over and stay close to God, to the Mother of God, through confession, Communion, attending church as often as possible. Do good, as much as you can, for it is written, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Let’s have pity on those around us and help as much as we can. There are families with many children, let us help them too, as we can. A lot of people say, “But what, are they mine?” No, perhaps God has given you a bit more so you can save yourself by helping others. You may not perform great ascesis, long prayers, perhaps you don’t go to church that often, but for the mercy you have and share with those around you, God can grant you salvation. Reflect on this seriously!

I will conclude by sharing a miracle of the Mother of God, it’s from years past, so that you may see her kindness. There was a Jewish merchant who spent his life at sea and on land, transporting goods to earn a living. Robbers watched him, realized he was a merchant, captured him and locked him away. They took everything he had and threatened to kill him if he didn’t surrender his remaining possessions. Their plan was to torment him until they took everything, then kill him. Bound and helpless, the merchant thought about how he could escape alive, and eventually saw there was no way to escape. All possible paths were closed, it was night, and in the morning they had decided, “We’ll torture him good, cut off one finger at a time until we get everything out of him, and finally we’ll finish him off.”

As he pondered his fate, he recalled the many Christians he had encountered during his travels, whom he had seen praying to the Mother of God for help and healing. He had seen certain things with his own eyes, even if he hadn’t paid attention to them before, now he realized that the Mother of God really works miracles and she helps Christians. Then he pondered and he began to pray: “Mother of God, Mother of Christians, I know that my ancestors killed your Son, crucified Him, I know that we are guilty of all these, but please, look at me, a scoundrel, a sinner who has done only evil, I have cheated, I have lived in sins. Have mercy on me also, deliver me out of the hands of those here, for then I too will serve you. Help me, do not leave me!” and he began to cry.

After many tears and prayers, he saw the place brighten as a radiant, beautiful empress, surrounded by numerous servants, entered and she instructed them, “Release him.” Astonished, he asked who she was and why she was helping him. The Empress replied, “I am Mary, Mother of Christians, Mother of Jesus Christ, and my Son, seeing your repentance, tears, humility, your sorrow for all things, He has decided to set you free so that you can live your life properly.” And at that moment, the Mother of God and all her retinue disappeared from sight, and he suddenly awoke, as if from a dream, next to his house. He had been taken from the confines of his prison and he found himself at home. When he witnessed the miracle – and not only, as he had seen the Mother of God in her glory – he went, got baptized, gave alms of all he had, and, as he wasn’t married, he entered a monastery and became a monk, living his life in repentance. Do you see how the Mother of God assists all who reach out to her with faith, who recognize her as the Mother of God, who repent, and strive to amend their lives?! Do you see how much kindness the Mother of God has?

That is why, in any trouble, in any situation, in any hardship, in any challenge we may encounter in this life, let us cry out to the Mother of God. Know that she never leaves us, she is full of kindness. She is a Mother, and she has suffered in turn, she is one of us, she knows what pain, suffering, persecution mean. She has endured it all, and that’s why she never leaves us. Let’s cry out to the Mother of God, let’s ask for her help and we’ll truly witness miracles!

Alright, my dear ones? May Mother of God help us and always protect us! Lord, help us!

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