THEOSISTichon of Zadonsk
The transgression against the marginalized is a grave sin that cries out for justice from on high, as clearly illustrated in Sacred Scripture and supported by reason. "You shall do no wrong to a widow or to an orphan; but if you do them wrong, and they cry out to Me when they rise up, I will hear their voice, and I will be angry with fury, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children orphans" (Ex. 22:22-24). Similarly, such individuals are struck with a curse: "Cursed is he who judges the stranger, the orphan, and the widow wrongly; and all men shall say, 'Let it be'..." This Unmerciful Judge will attend to their suffering (see Psalm 34:23). He, as the Merciful and Compassionate Father, will advocate for them.
Read more (436 words)
He hears the sighs of the afflicted and wipes away their painful tears. He will bring justice to the impoverished and retribution upon the wretched. Therefore, heed these words, you who benefit from the tears of the afflicted, who harm widows and orphans, who incorrectly judge the stranger and the vulnerable, who build and extend your abodes on the backs of the less fortunate. Be assured their tears do not fall in vain; like the blood of Abel, they cry out from the earth to heaven, and their pleas reach the ears of the Lord of hosts. Recognize that God’s grace is bestowed upon all, just as a benevolent Father. By divine decree, creation serves everyone without bias: the wealthy and the needy, the powerful and the weak, the noble and the homeless, the aristocrat and the commoner. The sun, moon, and stars offer light to all; the clouds bring rain equally; the air sustains everyone; the earth yields fruit for all; water quenches the thirst of all; and fire provides warmth to all. Cattle, oxen, sheep, and horses serve impartially. For God has designed it so that all of humanity, receiving nourishment from creation, may partake of God’s goodness and give thanks to Him, the Benefactor. Yet you, by neglecting the poor, strip them of that divine grace; what God intends for all, you strive to hoard for yourselves. God, rich in goodness, blesses, while you exploit. God brings life, but you bring death. Therefore, comprehend these truths! Should you fail to understand now, there will come a time when you will begrudgingly surrender your gold, silver, estates, villages, vineyards, horses, carriages, lavish meals, fine wines, servants, luxurious garments, and all the glory and majesty amassed at the expense of the downtrodden. Suddenly, you will encounter the tears shed before the Last and Righteous Judge, and upon witnessing them, you will be filled with alarm and dread. In that moment, you will come to acknowledge the existence of God, His Providence, and His judgment, that "the God of vengeance is the Lord" (Psalm 93:1). When He reveals to you the tears of the needy that you have caused, demanding an account for every single drop, you will realize that those you now mistreat, those you reduce to a status lower than that of dogs for your amusement, will emerge as the children of God. From those whom you deemed unworthy even of the scraps from your table, you will ultimately yearn for just a drop of water to soothe your tongue, aflame with the fires of Gehenna, but it will not be granted to you.