XXXIII. Всегда к исходу или к смерти быть готовым

“Be prepared, for at an hour you do not think the Son of Man will come” (Matthew 24:44). For this purpose, God made the day of our death unknown to us, so that, for the sake of the unknown end of our life, we would always maintain ourselves in virtue (Conversation 4 on the Epistle to the Hebrews). That is why we are afraid of death, because we live in negligence and do not have a clear conscience (Conversation 5 to the people of Antioch). For this reason, God gave us a difficult and difficult life, so that we would be prompted by present sorrow to desire future blessings (Conversation 6 to the people of Antioch). After death we can no longer deserve anything. Now is the time of repentance, and the future is judgment; now is the time of achievement, and the future is honors; now is the time of labor, and the future is of rest; now is a time of suffering, and the future is a time of retribution (Conversation 9 on repentance). Death is not evil, but bad death is evil (Conversation 35 on the Evangelist Matthew). He will find his soul who, in spiritual war, where there is hope of resurrection, lays it down and thus, after death, leads it to a much better life (Conversation 55 on the Evangelist Matthew). Since our dwelling is in heaven, we must always prepare ourselves for our departure from here and send all our blessings there so as not to lose them (Conversation 12 on the Evangelist Matthew). We will not receive any forgiveness after death if, before death, we do not fulfill what we promised to God (Commentary on Psalm 142). Discourse on Preparation for Death Preparation for death is nothing other than true repentance (about which see in its place). Many people, especially in this century, postpone repentance until illness, old age, or death. This procrastination is a grave sin and a devilish delight. It is a grave sin, for it is a sign of extreme negligence about salvation and a sinful sleep. The devil's charm, because in this way he darkens our spiritual eyes, so that we do not see the subsequent spiritual destruction from this. And how disastrous it is to put off repentance, the following reasons show. First. Death is known to us and unknown: known because we will certainly die; unknown because we don’t know when we will die. Second. Death snatches away the sick and the healthy, walking and sitting, sleeping and waking. Third. Death abducts all ranks of people, passing by no one, king and prince, rich and poor, glorious and dishonorable. Fourth. Death snatches away the righteous and the sinner, the repentant and the unrepentant, the ready and the unready. Fifth. Death often abducts immediately after a sin, and whatever sin it finds, it sends you to the next world. Sixth. After death there are two roads: one leads to the eternal bliss of the righteous; the other leads hardened and unrepentant sinners into eternal trouble. Eternity has only one beginning, but does not know the end; will always begin, but will never stop. One hundred thousand years and centuries are like one minute, or better said, like nothing in comparison with eternity. It’s terrible to think about eternity, and it’s impossible to remember it without sighing. It is a hundred times better to suffer in fire throughout the entire century than to lose a blissful eternity and end up in a dysfunctional one. Remember, remember more often, sinner, about eternity, while you still have time, and it is in your power to avoid the unfortunate, and to be a participant in the blessed eternity. A guide to preparing for death First. Remember that you must die, but when is unknown, as stated above. Second. It brings to mind the convicts condemned to death, who are waiting from hour to hour for the time at which they will be led to death, for we are all sentenced to death by the judgment of God. “You are earth and you come to earth,” says God to our forefather Adam and to all of us (Gen. 3:19). And every day we must expect the fulfillment of this decree of God, for we do not know at what hour our Lord will come to us, in the morning, or at noon, or in the evening, at night or during the day; and everyday occurrence shows us the same. Third. To remember those who are dying and drowning at sea, who are in such fear, confusion and cramped conditions that only those who have been in such cases know about it. Fourth. Know firmly that the same thing can happen to you, what happens to others. Many people have accidentally drowned in water, and the same can happen to you; The earth has swallowed many alive, and the same can happen to you; many have been struck by thunder and lightning, and the same may happen to you. Many, having fallen asleep, did not rise from sleep, and you can expect the same. Many, walking, sitting, dining, ended their lives, and you are subject to the same case. Others, celebrating, dancing, jumping, fell lifeless and will not rise until the uprising of the general, and the same can befall you. Others, weighed down with wine and sleep, have not awakened and will sleep until the trumpet of the Archangel, and you expect that. Some are caught up in the arms of harlots; others in theft, theft, robbery, murder are struck by God's judgment, and you should be afraid of the same. And the fact that nothing like this has happened to you until now is due to “the goodness of God, which leads you to repentance” (Rom. 2:4), and for this you always thank God very much, until the end of your life, that He, in His mercy, did not allow you to fall into such cases, but from now on, be afraid and act carefully. Others who suffered the above-mentioned cases did not expect them, but something happened to them that they did not expect: and you, although you hope to avoid such cases, however, they can happen to you. So, looking at the misfortunes of others, learn to act more carefully and pay attention to yourself. There are almost as many deaths as there are people: we are all born in one way, but we die in different ways. The very coming of death will not be so terrible for you if you expect it every day and hour, just as the enemy is not afraid, whose attack we always expect. Remember that you are subject to countless deaths, but when you die is unknown - God’s judgment has hidden this. You might be interested in: