The Gospel in Tolstoy Spiritual Reflections from Tolstoy

Spiritual Reflections from Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy continues to be regarded as one of the greatest writers of all time. The Russian writer and novelist had a lifelong fascination with the life and teachings of Jesus, so much so that his writings, stories and essays reflected it. His faith and essays on Christianity, nonviolent resistance and justice had a profound impact on figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. Pretty fascinating, right? Here are five spiritual reflections from Tolstoy, inspired by The Gospel in Tolstoy: Selections from His Short Stories, Spiritual Writings and Novels. Through Tolstoy, the gospel themes of betrayal and forgiveness, sacrifice and redemption, death and resurrection come to life.

Where Love Is God Is

Leo Tolstoy’s short story, Where Love Is, God Is deals with the concept of spiritual growth, particularly of the central character Martin who begins in the story with tremendous grief and a lack of purpose after the death of his only son. But by the end of the story, he learns an important lesson related to God and what it means to follow Him. Martin is transformed through His reading of the Gospels. After hearing a voice who he believes to be Jesus’ sharing with him that he should expect a knock at His door, He awaits Jesus’ coming. During his time of waiting, he witnesses various people's sufferings and assists them in their areas of need. At the end of the story, he discovers that in God’s eyes, helping others is just as significant as helping Jesus himself. This is a powerful lesson for us all. Where love is, God is also and we can experience our own spiritual transformation when we reflect the love of Christ with others.

What Men Live By

Another short story by Tolstoy, What Men Live By deals with a poor shoemaker who is forced to visit some of his customers in hopes of receiving payment that he is owed. Unfortunately, the customers don’t pay up. He gets hooked by a particular customer who appears to live better than his family does but still refuses to pay him back his wages. Along the way, he encounters a pale, naked man who is clearly in need. He puts his coat on him and takes him home. The whole journey home, he’s nervous about his wife’s reaction given he hasn’t gotten the money and is bringing another mouth home to feed. While his wife is initially angry, she is reminded by her husband that it’s a sin to be so angry and asks her if there is any God in her? Her attitude shifts. When she gives the man food and clothes, he smiles for the first time. We later learn the stranger is the angel, Michael. Through Michael's experiences with the family, he learns through his time on earth that “all men live, not by reason of any care they have for themselves, but by the love they have for other people.” The themes of compassion and loving others is important in the eyes of God. When we reflect this love with others it can transform not only the people we’re helping, but also ourselves.

God Sees The Truth But Waits

In Tolstoy’s God Sees The Truth, But Waits a man is wrongly accused of murder and because of this, is separated from his family for 26 years. During this period of separation, he meets his real murderer in Siberia. At this time, he has developed a significant role in the Siberian community and is trusted by those around him, including the warden and prisoners. When he sees the murderer attempting to escape and confronts him, he chooses not to tell the warden. The murderer is moved by this and seeks his forgiveness. He lets the murderer know “only God can give forgiveness.” These words have such a profound impact on the murderer, he confesses. Tolstoy displays through this story the power of forgiveness and trusting God's timing in all circumstances.

Resisting Evil

This spiritual reflection is taken from Tolstoy’s non-fiction book The Kingdom of God is within You. The title is taken from Luke 17:21 “nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in your midst." In it, Tolstoy discusses the principle of nonviolent resistance and practicing it when confronted by violence, just as Jesus taught us. We are to resist evil. When Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek, Tolstoy translates this to mean Jesus wants us to let go of violence, even in the form of defense and to also give up revenge. Tolstoy brings to the forefront, whether we want to acknowledge it or not, the power to resist evil is in our hands.