A Word on the Vanity of the World and the Resurrection of the Dead

This life, beloved, is given to us so that we may prepare ourselves for eternal life, for unchangeable glory. Real life ends in death, and worldly glory is impermanent and transitory. For many of the mighty of the earth were unexpectedly brought down to hell, many of the judges of the earth were handed over to the judgment of those whom they themselves had previously judged; the rich became poor, those who were considered wise were recognized as fools, the strong became weak, the healthy fell into illness, those who had power lost it. There is nothing solid and permanent in the world, because there is nothing good. Children despise and insult their parents; parents are afraid of their children. Wives leave their husbands, husbands do not remain faithful to their wives. Young men and old men are losing their minds; old men and young men indulge in vicious pastimes. There is no loyalty between friends and between brothers there is no love. People show love for each other in conversations, but in their hearts they harbor hatred for each other. Cunning and malice are visible everywhere, deception reigns everywhere. No one thinks about God, no one imagines that after death he must give an account of his life to God. From forgetting God, evil increases among us. God gave us reason so that, having learned His will, we would do good, but we know His will and do evil. God commanded us to be virtuous, so that we would do what is righteous and pleasing to Him; but we love wickedness. He gave us wealth so that we could help the poor, but we, having wealth, oppress the poor. He gave us power and strength so that we would defend those who were persecuted innocently, but we do not defend, but rather persecute them ourselves. No one walks in the way of God's commandments. Love has dried up - and hatred has multiplied its fruit. Sincerity is considered nothing, and pretense is visible everywhere. Humility has become shameful, pride has become respectable. Truth has been banished and lies reign on earth. Oh, the depth of the wealth, goodness and long-suffering of God! God tolerates our iniquities for a long time and does not take revenge on us. He moderates His anger not because He cannot immediately punish us, but because, as a Merciful Father, He awaits our repentance and turning to His mercy. For God does not want death, but repentance of the sinner. And is our strength great that we resist the power of God? The wind blew on us and we withered; a storm arose and scattered us like small twigs. What can earth and ashes be proud of? It is written: I saw the wicked exalted and towering like the cedars of Lebanon: and I passed by, and behold, I was not, and I sought him, and his place was not found (Ps 36:35-36). Let us not think that after death we will turn into nothing and that after earthly life there will be no judgment. No, after death there will be a resurrection of the dead and we will be judged by God, who rewards everyone according to his deeds. So, let's not deceive ourselves, let's not live like dumb animals. If there is no resurrection, there is no death. If there is a resurrection, there will also be a judgment. For He who determined death for man also promised to bring judgment. If God is fair in the first case, then he cannot deceive in the last. What is more convenient for a person to do? Should we destroy the old house and use its substance to build the same house again, or prepare a new substance and build a new house? So, if God created out of nothing the earth from which man was created, then is it not with greater convenience that he can recreate in the first image the same man who died and turned into earth? God does not feel any difficulty in His affairs. His work is His word; His word is His thought. Speech, and there was - says Scripture about God (Ps. 32:9). He calls things that are not as though they are (Rom. 4:17). Just as the power and might of God are incomprehensible, so are His works. And just as His Wisdom is immeasurable, so His ways are unsearchable (Rom. 11:33). So, let's suspend disbelief. Let us be careful not to be condemned more for unbelief than for bad deeds. Bad deeds sometimes stem from our weakness; on the contrary, the source of unbelief is always recklessness and insolence. But the reckless and daring are hardly capable of any good deed. So, while we have time, let us take care of ourselves and try to appease God about our sins, so that He does not command us to bind our hands and feet and cast us into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12). What does crying mean if not the cruelty of terrible torment? What else does the gnashing of teeth show, if not later repentance for the sins committed? For only then will we begin to be indignant at ourselves and reproach ourselves with gnashing of teeth, when there is no longer time for repentance and hope for liberation. So, if in a short time of this life we ​​can serve God and protect ourselves from Gehenna and eternal torment, then why are we negligent and despise the commandments of God, why do we follow our evil lusts and become worthy of eternal punishment? Our Great God, Lover of mankind, rich in mercy (Eph. 2:4) and strong in His works, will Himself strengthen our weakness, Himself will crush Satan under our feet quickly (Rom. 16:20) and give us strength and spiritual intelligence, so that in the time remaining for us we serve Him truly and faithfully and find His mercy on the terrible day of His judgment. Translated from Latin by A.S. Krasnoselsky from the “Library of the Ancient Fathers”, published by Galland in Venice in 1788. The word was found in an ancient Latin manuscript by Aldus Minucius and was first printed by Gerard Vossius in Mainz in 1604 in the collected works of various holy fathers, published in one book with the writings of St. Gregory the Wonderworker. Published by: Christian Reading. 1825. Part 20. pp. 180–185. You might be interested in: