Слово о Суде и Воскресении

Come, all brethren, and listen to me, the least Ephraim. Let us make our own thoughts the judge, so that we can examine our own hearts, whether we are walking exactly as the God-inspired Scriptures say. Let us not despise the Holy Spirit, by whom we were marked (Eph.4:30). And if anyone recognizes good deeds in himself, then let him strive to increase the grace that in humility he received from the Lover of Mankind. And if it is known that we are in sins, then why do we not rejoice, Christ-loving brethren? Behold, the day will befall us, brothers, on which the light of the sun will be darkened, and the stars will fall, on which the sky will curl up like a scroll, a great trumpet will sound and with a terrible sound will awaken everyone from the age of the dead; that day on which, according to the voice of the Judge, the secret places of hell will be emptied, on which Christ will appear on the clouds with the holy Angels to judge the living and the dead and reward each according to his deeds. Indeed, Christ’s coming in glory is terrifying! It is a wonderful thing, lovers of Christ, to see that the sky is suddenly torn apart, the earth changes its appearance, the dead rise. The earth will present all human bodies as it received them, even if they were torn to pieces by animals, devoured by birds, crushed by fish; not even a hair of man will be found wanting before the Judge, because God will transform everyone into incorruption. Everyone will take on a body consistent with their own deeds. The body of the righteous will shine seven times more (seven times more) than the light of the sun, and the bodies of sinners will be dark and full of stench; Everyone’s body will show his deeds, because each of us carries his deeds in his own body. And then a grave test of our deeds will take place. Whether any of us has sinned in word or thought, all this will then become around him; whether you have done something good or something bad, everyone will see it clearly. Wherever (a person) directs his gaze, everywhere he will see his deeds. So, beloved brothers, let us make an effort to avoid the reproach and terrible shame that will then greet all sinners. Let us strive to be partakers of the blessings that God has prepared for all the righteous: “Whose eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man” (1 Cor. 2:9), “Angels desire to dwell in him” (1 Pet. 1:12). When Christ comes from heaven, immediately unquenchable fire will flow everywhere before the face of Christ and cover everything. For the flood that happened under Noah served as an image of that unquenchable fire. Just as the flood covered all the tops of the mountains, so the fire will then cover everything. Then Angels will flow everywhere, and all the saints and faithful will be caught up in glory on the clouds at the meeting of Christ. So, let us try, friends, to prove worthy of this admiration, to appear blameless and unreproachable (unreproachable) to the terrible and trembling judgment seat. Blessed is he who meets the King of glory on the clouds. On the contrary, he who is deprived of this admiration will be unfortunate, for those who are not admired on the glorified clouds will thereby show that they are ungodly sinners. So, let us not be careless, Christ-loving brethren, for that worthy field is open to everyone. While we have time, let us try to repent; let us overcome destructive bodily passions and spiritual voluptuousness, like the chaste Joseph - not only with the body, but also with the mind. A perfect husband (precisely) hastens to chastise himself to such an extent: he who looks “at a wife, even to lust after her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Often bodily actions are interrupted (not performed) for many reasons, and human fear often prevents them; the actions of the mind are carried out fearlessly and come to fruition without difficulty. So, for example, often one of you, friends, turned an intemperate gaze and was carried away by his thoughts, but then immediately passed by. Such a one was likened to a shot chamois, which, although it escapes the hands of its hunters, escapes, carrying with it the embedded arrow. For whoever among you is overcome by thoughts is no longer chaste before God. If it were not for human fear and shame, a person, along with his soul, would often corrupt his body. Therefore, he will no longer be crowned as chaste, but, if he does not repent, he will incessantly bear punishment as a people-pleaser. If he has ever been seduced and defeated by his own thoughts, he will heal his ulcer only by repentance. So, brothers, let us avoid evil wishes. It also deprived Eve of glory, for she wanted to taste the same food (with God). It brought a flood to the world; for “you saw the sons of God, the daughters of men” (Gen. 6:2) and shamefully defiled yourself with them. It caused the Egyptian woman to go berserk against the chaste Joseph, but the young man, fearing God, defeated the asp imprisoned in her. It made the valiant and invincible Nazirite Samson its captive. Previously, he tore to pieces a bloodthirsty lion and overthrew thousands with the jaws of a donkey, but when he wished to live with the viper, the hair immediately fell from the Nazarite, he was mercilessly deprived of the sight of his eyes, and soon became a laughing stock for everyone. David also killed Uriah. Naboth also died for the sake of someone else's lust. It drove the pitiful Judas to the point that he betrayed Christ, his Master. Therefore, blessed is he who has become the conqueror of all lust by hearing and sight, touch and smell, and, adorned with the crown of chastity, will bring it before the terrible and trembling judgment seat. Come, let us worship Christ together, crying with one accord: Hallelujah! Come, let us all glorify Him! Amen. You might be interested in: