Homily 28 #

On Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent: A Teaching of St. Ephrem on Judgment and Repentance

Come, all of you, brothers, both small and great, and listen to my humble teaching, for I speak to you for your benefit. Beloved ones, the great and dreadful day is drawing near, yet we remain careless, unwilling to strive now, while we still have time, to turn to God. Behold, our days, our years, and our months pass like a dream, like a shadow at evening. But the coming of Christ will be sudden, and His judgment will be fearful and great.

Truly, that day will be terrifying—especially for sinners, for those who have refused to do the will of God and be saved. Therefore, I implore you, my beloved brothers, let us cast aside the cares of earthly things, for all these will pass away, and everything will vanish. Nothing will help us in that fearful hour except the good deeds we have done in this life. For the works and words of every person will be revealed before the judgment seat of that dreadful Judge. The heart will tremble, and the limbs will grow weak when all deeds, words, and thoughts are made manifest. The fear will be great, brothers, the trembling will be immense.

O friends, who will not be shaken, who will not weep and lament when the secret and hidden sins of each are brought to light? Understand, beloved, what I tell you—I reveal this to you out of love. Fruit-bearing trees bring forth their fruit at the appointed time, according to their nature, not from their outer branches, but from within. Their beauty lies in their outward adornment, but their fruit comes forth from within, as ordained by God.

So too, on that fearful day, all human bodies will reveal the works they have done—whether good or evil—and each will bring before the dread judgment seat of the Judge their deeds as fruit, and their words as leaves. The righteous will offer good and beautiful fruit. The saints will bring forth pure and flourishing fruit. The martyrs will present their sufferings, their wounds, their steadfastness, and their patience as their offering. The monks will bear humility, obedience, self-restraint, vigilance, and prayers.

But the wicked sinners and blasphemers will bring forth a fruit that is shameful and rotten, full of corruption—lamentation, wailing, and the worm that dieth not, in the fire that is not quenched.

It is a fearful thing, brothers, to stand before that judgment seat, for all will be revealed without the need for witnesses—our deeds, words, thoughts, and desires—when countless multitudes of angels and archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim, the assembly of the holy prophets and apostles, and the ranks of the righteous stand before the Judge.

Why then, brothers, do we neglect our own salvation? The time is near, and the day approaches when the terrible Judge will lay bare all our hidden deeds. If we truly understood what awaits us for our negligence, we would weep day and night, praying to God to deliver us from that shame and from the eternal darkness. For the mouths of sinners will be shut before the judgment seat of the righteous Judge, and all creation, even the ranks of the holy angels, will tremble at the glory of His coming.

What then shall we say to Him, brothers, on the day of judgment? How shall we answer if we have wasted this time in laziness? Even now, He patiently waits for us, calling us all to His Kingdom, yet He will demand an account from each of us for how we have used this brief time. He Himself will say to us: “For your sake, I took on flesh; for your sake, I appeared on earth; for your sake, I endured wounds; for your sake, I suffered blows; for your sake, I was spit upon; for your sake, I was crucified on the tree; for your sake, I drank vinegar and gall, that I might make you children of the heavenly Kingdom. I have given you My Kingdom, I have bestowed My Paradise upon you, I have called you My brethren, I have offered Myself as a sacrifice to the Father for you, and I have sent the Holy Spirit upon you. What more could I have done for your salvation that I did not do? But I will not compel your will, for salvation must not be forced upon you.”

Answer now, O sinners, you who were dead by nature—what have you suffered for Me, the Master, who suffered for you? Behold, the Kingdom and eternal life, rest and joy, have been prepared; and likewise, everlasting torment, outer darkness, and the lake of fire, where the worm dieth not. Each of you may enter according to your own will—whether into the Kingdom or into torment.

Come, therefore, my brothers, let us fall down before Him together, confessing our sins and saying to Him: “O Master! You have endured all these things for us, as God, yet we sinners have continually turned away from Your grace.”

While there is still time, beloved, let us strive with love and tears to repent of our sins, for repentance is cleansing from sin and the enlightenment of the soul. And know this, brothers: there is no use in seeking repentance on that dreadful day. Blessed is the person who always repents, according to the word of God.

Repentance, brothers, always intercedes for the forgiveness of sins. Repentance, brothers, draws down the Holy Spirit. Repentance, brothers, makes Christ, the Only-Begotten, dwell within us when we desire it. No impure thoughts can come near a soul that truly repents.

Repentance is an unfailing treasure and an indescribable joy. A soul that possesses repentance rejoices. But I do not speak of repentance as a one-time act for a single day, but as something that should be constant—at night, during the day, and at every hour within the soul.

Repentance, brothers, is prayer, fasting, almsgiving, a life without anger or evil thoughts. It is like a pure fountain that waters the garden of the soul, making it bear fruit. And a fruitful garden is the cultivation of good works.

To our God be glory, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.