67. И мы туда пойдем

It happens that when people go to some place, city, or to do some business, others say to their family or neighbors: “Your people went there or to such and such business.” And they answer them like this: “we’ll go there too.” Christians! And these words for us: “and we will go there” are fitting, if we remember our exodus from the world. Our brothers and ancestors departed from this world and went to that age - and we will go there. They left the world - so will we. They left their pleasures - so will we. They left their relatives and friends - so will we. They left their houses and all their expensive clothing - so will we. They left their estates and villages - we will leave them too. They left gold, silver and all their wealth - so will we. They left their ranks, titles, names and all their glory - so will we. They left all their luxury - so will we. In a word, they left everything - and we will leave everything. They didn’t take anything with them; we won’t take anything either. Naked they departed from this world; naked we too will depart, and we will depart soon. Why do we work and collect so much? They went to the Righteous Judge to decide on their deeds - we will go too. Oh! Let us go to the Judge of all, to God, who looks not at faces, but at conscience and deeds, with whom kings and their subjects, masters and their slaves, glorious and low, rich and wretched, princes and farmers, are all equal. Our ancestors and brothers, Christians, went to such a Judge for this age - let us go there too. Honorable Kings! Your ancestors and brothers went there to accept their lot; you will also go there, and stand before the Judge with your subjects, and give an answer to Him, how His people entrusted to you governed. Nobles, princes and gentlemen! Your brothers and ancestors went there to receive their reward - you will also go there, and stand next to your servants and peasants before the Judge, and give an answer as to how you treated them. Judges! Your ancestors and brothers went there, to the Righteous Judge, to give an answer - you too will go and be tortured by Him, just as you judged His people. Shepherds (bishops and priests)! Your brothers and ancestors went into that age to accept according to their deeds and labors - you too will go, beloved, and Christ, the Chief Shepherd, will ask you about the Christian souls whom He acquired with His Blood. Rich! Your brothers went in that age to give an answer about how and for what they spent the wealth given to them; you too will go and give an answer about all your property. Christians! Everyone goes there, and no one returns from there - we too will go and will not return. Those who have gone there are all in their places and awaiting the general resurrection and the final judgment - we too will go, and everyone will be in their place. Let us repent, beloved, and correct ourselves, and prepare ourselves in advance for the hour of death. Let us depart from here with good hope, and receive mercy from Christ the Lord, and so we will be in the place of rest, where His righteous and saints rest. “Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have trusted in You” 13 (Ps. 32:22). Translation by P. Yungerov – Editorial “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: