Homily 29 #
On Thursday of the Third Week of Lent: A Teaching of St. John Chrysostom on the Contrition of the Soul
Beloved, having turned away from the vain and perishable works of this life, be watchful that your hearts do not return again to those same evils. For wealth and glory perish, beauty fades, and all things change, passing away like a shadow, vanishing like smoke, and ceasing like an echo. Therefore, Solomon said: “Vanity of vanities” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). And David also said: “Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain” (Psalm 39:6).
We shall take nothing with us from this life, but leaving behind all possessions, naked as we were born, we shall go to stand before that dreadful Judge—miserable, feeble, sorrowful, broken, humbled, trembling, fearful, and grief-stricken, with our eyes cast down to the earth. In this state, we shall appear at that great and impartial judgment, where even the angels tremble, where the dreadful thrones will be set, where the books of our deeds will be opened, where the river of unquenchable fire will flow, where the worm dieth not, where the cold is unbearable, where sighs never cease, where tears never dry, where lamentation is without comfort, where there is no laughter but only weeping, where there is no speech but trembling, where there is no joy but only groaning, where there is no food but only judgment.
Truly, it is terrifying to hear of these things, but even more fearful will it be to see them—to see all creation suddenly arise and stand before the Judge, each giving account of his deeds, thoughts, and secret sins, both those of the night and of the day.
O wretched ones, my brothers! How have we sinned? Indeed, the fear on that day will be great. The path leading to that judgment is filled with terror. The anguish and storm of that hour will be unceasing, the distress overwhelming. Let us listen to the words of the prophet Daniel, who says: “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:9-10).
And my spirit was filled with dread. I, Daniel, saw the vision of the coming judgment, and the sight shook my head with terror.
O wonder beyond comprehension! The prophet, having only seen the vision of the coming judgment, was stricken with fear. How then shall we endure that dreadful judgment when we ourselves must stand before it? How shall we bear it when, from the rising of the sun to its setting, we shall be gathered, naked, bearing upon our necks the burdens of our sins, which will be made manifest before all?
Then those who have blasphemed against the divine Scriptures will be consumed by unquenchable fire, and there will be none to deliver them. Then the tongues of slanderers, who spoke falsely, will be torn out by the angels. Then the hands of thieves will be bound, and they will tremble and despair. Then the eyes of the lustful will be plucked out.
Where then will father and mother be? Where will brothers, friends, and neighbors be? Where will the rulers and their power be? Where will be the oppression and the injustices of those who judged unfairly and divided unrighteously? Where will be the servants and the maidservants? Where will be the adornment of garments and the ornaments of gold and silver? Where will be the royal purple of weddings? Where will be the golden necklaces and the silver jingling ornaments? Where will be the feasts and the abundance of wine? Where will be the horses? Where will be the vineyards? Where will be the palaces adorned with whitewash and decoration? Where will be the vast treasures?
Where will be those who despised the poor and walked as if they were immortal? Where will be those who mocked the destitute? Where will be those who considered themselves wise? Where will be those who feasted with timbrels and music, who ate and drank without restraint? Where will be those who always laughed? Where will be those who oppressed their servants with much cruelty, having no fear of the Lord? Where will be those who blasphemed the holy and undefiled faith of Christ? Where will be the unbelievers who said: “Give me today, and take away tomorrow?” Where will be those who said: “God is merciful; He does not punish sinners?”
How greatly will such people desire to repent on that day! How bitterly will they lament, yet there will be no one to show them mercy! How many sighs will they utter! But there will be no one to deliver them. How they will torment themselves, saying:
“O wretched ones, we have deceived ourselves, we have destroyed ourselves! They always warned us, yet we did not listen or pay attention. They spoke to us, yet we did not believe. Though we heard the Scriptures, we deceived ourselves. The judgment of God is just, and we are rightly and deservedly tormented! For the sake of a fleeting and perishable life, we have been drowned in eternal fire. For the sake of vain and meaningless glory, we have fallen away from the true glory. And for the sake of a little wealth, we have lost the Kingdom of God.
And now we see that those who did not indulge in pleasures, who did not become drunk, who did not defile themselves, now rejoice in the heavenly wedding feast. And those who wept in this life now rejoice forever. Those who sowed in tears shall reap in joy. Those who renounced earthly things have received the heavenly inheritance. But we, wretched ones, have been counted worthy only of torment because of the multitude of our sins. And now we cry out, yet there is no one to have mercy on us!”
O Christ, glory be to Thee for all things! For Thine is the Kingdom, the glory, the power, and the salvation of all who come unto Thee. To Thee we send up glory, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.