Everyone Must Prepare for Death: Both Young and Old
March 22
(A Homily of Saint Chrysostom on the Judgment)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
March 22
(A Homily of Saint Chrysostom on the Judgment)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
We, brethren, somehow think little about death, and only a few of us prepare for it. “We have now grown old, and we no longer have the strength to pray,” say the elderly. And the young say that they will still have time to repent; their time has not yet passed them by. Thus speak both the old and the young. But do they speak the truth?
Saint Chrysostom addresses both and says the following to them:
“Fathers and brethren, mothers and sisters! Do not say: ‘We have lived our life, and we no longer have the strength to make prostrations!’ O elderly people! You already know that soon the Lord will call you to His Judgment; therefore do not be slothful in preparing to give an answer. O young brothers and sisters, do not deceive yourselves with the words: ‘We are young, and therefore it is permitted for us now to drink, to eat, and to make merry. The time will come, and we too shall repent.’ O brethren, do not forget that just as dew dries up under the sun, so also your youth will soon fade and weaken if you give yourselves over to evil deeds. O man, when you sleep, do you hear that a thief has entered your house? So also you do not know when the Angel will come and take your soul, unpurified by repentance. Then you will begin to repent, but it will already be too late. Therefore, while we have time, brethren, let us adorn ourselves with virtues and fulfill the commandments of God, that we may become heirs of the Kingdom of God.”
Thus, brethren, both the old and the young speak falsely. The old — when they say they cannot make prostrations; the young — when they say they will still have time to repent. The old say they cannot make prostrations — but is there not for them mental, spiritual prayer? For prayer does not consist in prostrations, but in the lifting up of the mind and heart to God. And the young also lie when they say they will have time to repent. Who told them that they will have time? Does not death constantly strike down before their very eyes both young and old, rich and poor? Do they not see every day dozens of coffins being carried to the cemetery? Do they not hear daily: “Such a one has died here, and another there”? And what — were they created differently from those who have died? Will not death do to them the same as it has done to those others? Yes, it is a pitiable delusion to speak in such a way.
Therefore, we must not speak as those old and young people do, of whom we have just spoken, but we must remember the words of the Lord: “Watch therefore, for you do not know at what hour your Lord will come. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt. 24:44). And remembering these words, we must all — both young and old — strive to live a virtuous and pious life, so as always to be ready to appear at the Judgment of the Lord. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
