Read after the Liturgy's Gospel

On Thursday, the Seventh Week of the Great Lent

Includes a description of how dreadful the rebels’ reward is, and how wonderfully the pure and obedient children of God are cared for.

Inspired by the Bible’s chapter on the heretics who deny the fact that there is a resurrection. (Mark 12:18-27)

If the dead people shall resurrect one day, and the nations will be held accountable, and the Judge will hold the trial – the pure ones shall enjoy bliss and the evil ones shall be punished, then why do we remain lazy, negligent and unaware when it comes to the reasons for our salvation?

Those who perform virtuous acts are the ones who have many things to keep them busy, yet they freed their time for worship. So why do those who are too lazy to perform any good deeds say: “How can we do anything while we are so busy with earthly matters. Where can we find the time to educate ourselves and perform all actions that we are supposed to? To them I say listen to what was mentioned in the Divine books about Abraham, Isaac, James and the likes - who had belongings and things to occupy them. Read about how obedient they were, and how they worshiped God with honesty while they were amongst evil nations. They did not watch these actions and avoided dealing with those who committed them. They even reprimanded them, gave them advise and kept preaching to them and trying to guide them in the right path.

As for those who lived during the times of Noah the righteous, they did not repent for their evil doings. They ridiculed him while watching him gather the wood, bring carpenters and prepare for the ark’s equipment. He however kept warning them against their total perishing and the disaster they were going to encounter. They in turn brushed his words aside and each man went his way, doing as he wishes – until eventually they all sank in the overflowing waters and perished.

The same thing happened to those who lived during the times of Lot, the righteous man. He was being righteous among them and they did not repent despite the fact that he reprimanded them for their evil deeds. They neglected his advice and the heavens rained fire and brimstone, which was accompanied by thunder, lightning and huge thunderbolts.

How very evil sin is! How it closes the doors of mercy, blocks the flow of forgiveness, causes strong retaliation and results in enormous disasters. How annoying disobedience is! How it alters the nature of creatures and changes the limits of habits until heavens rain burning fires, clouds send destructive thunders, and the earth bursts with overflowing waters. All animals, insects, creatures walking on earth and birds in heaven, all perish.

Similar to these facts is what the prophet says: “So will I choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them;
because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before my eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight.” (Isaiah 66:4).

You have seen how badly the disobedient ones were punished, so look at how the obedient ones were rewarded and meditate in how great was God’s care for Noah was. How he covered him with mercy and showered him with kindness. He cared for him until he was saved and ordered him to build the ark, thus saving him from amidst destruction. He filled the lands with his descent and kept his memory alive in all generations while bestowing great attributes upon him.

Take a look also to how Lot the righteous was cared for as God sent angels to him and alerted him about the destruction of the city. He guided him to the road of salvation and saved him from the punishment of the evil ones. He ordered the skies not to rain its fires or give fright with its thunders until Lot exits the city, along with his wife and his family. He guided him to the site he was permitted to go to. Learn from the qualities of the father of all fathers Abraham and how by his deeds and complete obedience he earned the right to host God Almighty and speak to Him with utmost mercy and ultimate ease. He deserved that his descent be as many as the stars in the skies and the sand of the sea. He became the father of the prophets, apostles and righteous ones and earned his place in the Kingdom of Heavens.

Since we learned now the reward of the righteous ones and the horrible destiny of the evil ones, we should then reform our actions and keep our minds alert in order to reach the arms of our righteous fathers the saints: Abraham, Isaac and James in the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, may He be glorified forever. Amen.