17. To Those Who Hold Authority

Some people are entrusted with power over others. Is this an honor or a labor? Not an honor, brothers, but a labor—and a very difficult labor. It is hard enough, as you know, to exercise authority even over oneself alone; it is difficult to govern only one’s own mind, heart, habits, will, desires, and feelings; how many times more difficult must it be, beyond governing oneself, to guide others as well—and sometimes a very great many! Here, in the Apostle’s words, the one in authority must become all things to all people (1 Cor. 9:22); here are needed patience, the gentleness of a dove, the wisdom of a serpent, prudence, and experience. But how is all of this to be attained? Where is one to find it all? Yes, the service of authority is heavy, and the staffs entrusted to those in authority are all too heavy. But what is to be done? Once a staff is placed in one’s hand, one must walk with it; once power is given, one must not flee from it, but regard it as God’s work, for it is written: there is no authority except from God.

And then what? Then, of course, one must strive to lighten the yoke of authority for oneself, and at the same time to make it truly beneficial for others. How to lighten it? How to make it more beneficial? In our view, the best way is to take lessons from men who are wise, experienced, and holy. Having been tested themselves, they are better able than others to help you as well, you who hold authority and are tested. And to prove that they truly can help, we present right now, as an example, a lesson from one of them. Hear what the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov says to you: “A tender mother does not live for her own pleasure but for the pleasure of her children. She bears the infirmities of her weak children with love; those who have fallen into uncleanness she cleanses and washes quietly and peacefully, clothes them in white and new garments, puts shoes on them, warms them, feeds them, provides for them, comforts them, and strives on every side to keep their spirit at rest, so that she may never hear even the slightest cry from them—and such children are well disposed toward their mother. In the same way, every person in authority must live not for his own pleasure but for the pleasure of those under him: he must be patient with their weaknesses, bear the infirmities of the weak with love, heal the sicknesses of sin with the plaster of mercy, raise up with gentleness those who have fallen through transgressions, quietly cleanse those who have defiled themselves with the filth of some vice… clothe them through his own teaching and exemplary life in the garments of virtue; keep ceaseless watch over them, comfort them by every means, and on every side safeguard their peace and tranquility so that never may there be heard even the slightest cry from them, nor murmuring—and then they will eagerly strive to give peace and rest to their superior” (Life of the Elder Seraphim, p. 138).

Thus, truly, experienced, wise, and holy men, having been tested themselves, can help you as well, you who hold authority and are tested. We have just given you one lesson from one of them—and even this single lesson, if you receive it, can greatly lighten both the yoke of your authority and the difficulty of your service in general. What, for example, can be better than the mercy he teaches? For mercy, as the Venerable One has just told us, leads those under authority to strive eagerly to give peace and rest to their superior. And for the latter, this, of course, must be the most precious, pleasant, and consoling thing of all. Therefore, learn from the saints how to relate to those under you and how to exercise your authority, and it will go well with you. Amen.