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On the remembrance of death (St Philaret of New York)

 


“Man thinks much, dreams much, and strives much,” he said in one of his sermons, “and almost always achieves nothing in his life. But no one will escape the Terrible Judgment of Christ. Not in vain did the Wise Man once say: "Remember your last days and you will not sin forever!" If we remember how our earthly life will end and what will be asked of us afterward, we will always live as a Christian should. A student facing a difficult and critical exam will not forget it but will constantly remember it and try to prepare for it. But this exam will be terrible because it will be a test of our entire life, both internal and external. Moreover, after this exam there will be no re-examination. This is the terrible answer by which man's fate will be determined for immeasurable eternity... Although the Lord Jesus Christ is very merciful, He is also just. Of course, the Spirit of Christ, who descended to earth and gave Himself totally for our salvation, is full of love. salvation of man. But it will be terrible in the Terrible Judgment for those who see that they have not made use of the Great Sacrifice of Incarnate Love, but have rejected it. Remember your end, man, and you will not sin forever and ever."