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(Heb. 5, 11–6, 8; Luke 21, 5–7, 10–11, 20–24) The disciples pointed out to the Lord the beauty of the building and utensils of the church, and He said: “The days will come in which from what you see here, not one stone will be left on another; everything will be destroyed” (Luke 21:6). This is a signature to everything red in this world. In appearance it seems durable and eternal: but a day or two, you look as if nothing had happened: and beauty fades, and strength is exhausted, and glory fades, and minds become obsolete, and clothes wear out. Everything in itself carries a destructive force, which does not lie like an undeveloped seed, but consists of constant action, and everything flows towards its end. “The image of this world is passing away” (1 Cor. 7:31). “For man walks in the same manner;... he treasures treasures, and he knows not to whom I will gather” *34 (Ps. 39:7). And we are all fussing, we are all busy, and there is no end to our troubles. We encounter constant lessons all around us, but everything is our own, as if we are blind and see nothing. And it’s true to say that we are blind or blinded: there is no end to ourselves, and nothing that surrounds us, and that we own. And what else? Having, as it seems to us, a good situation, we are sure that we are standing firmly, as if on a cliff; whereas our position is more like if we were standing in a quagmire: we are about to fail. But we don’t feel this and indulge in careless pleasure in the current, as if it is always going to remain. Let us pray that the Lord will open our intelligent eyes, and let us see everything, not as it seems, but as it is. “a man walks like a ghost; .. collects and does not know who will get it.” . You might be interested in: