This sorrow, the sorrow that we too often deviate from the path of God, the sorrow that the whole world is following a path far from Christ, "unrepentant repentance worketh unto salvation." It gives rise to constant, unchanging repentance, gives rise to a sense of guilt before God, our own guilt and the guilt of those unfortunate impious people who surround us. This sorrow, this sorrow, these tears for ourselves, for our loved ones, lead us to repentance.

And we live in this holy and salvific feeling of repentance, we live in the midst of prayer for ourselves, for our own unworthiness, for our neighbors and for those far away, for all the unfortunate who do not know Christ. "Repentance without repentance worketh unto salvation." Our spirit is built up by the power of prayer of repentance, prayer of tears, prayer for all.

"And death maketh sorrow in the world." What is worldly sorrow? This is the sorrow of those who set as the goal of life only the pleasures of this world, only their own well-being in this earthly life, who do not want to know about the path of salvation, who know nothing about the spiritual life, who do not pray, do not believe in anything, but believe only in the golden calf, in wealth, which gives them bliss and well-being in this life.

And such people are often, often overtaken by sorrow. Their assumptions aimed at ensuring their earthly well-being collapse like houses of cards. It can be worse; It also happens that in search of well-being, these unfortunates embark on the path of crime and a complete catastrophe befalls them. Their untruth and crime are revealed, it is revealed that for their own womb they have trampled on the welfare of their neighbors, trampled on the interests of the state, and a terrible punishment befalls them: they end up in prison, in exile, in exile.

But this is only half the trouble. It is not yet scary to go to prison, to exile. It is terrible that eternal death, eternal perdition, awaits them. No, that is why it is said that worldly sorrow, sorrow for the good things of the world, makes death. Be afraid of this word, be afraid to follow this path of worldly sorrow, which death does. Live in the midst of sorrow for God, among holy tears for your own unworthiness, and for the lost unfortunate people among whom you live, and you will receive eternal salvation. Amen.

"The Kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21)

February 26, 1946

And when he was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them: "The Kingdom of God will not come in a visible way, and they will not say, 'Behold, it is here,' or, 'Behold, there.' For behold, the Kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20-21). This is what is important for you to remember: that the Kingdom of God is within you.

People who are poorly enlightened, even from among the Orthodox, do not imagine the Kingdom of God in the way they should. Their idea is closer to the crude idea of Muslims. Muslims imagine the eternal life of the faithful as a joyful life in a beautiful garden, where they will be surrounded by beautiful young women, where they will enjoy wonderful food. This idea is crudely materialistic.

Christ said that the Kingdom of God is within us. It will not come in a conspicuous way, but will quietly and imperceptibly come into the hearts of men, and it is already in the hearts of the righteous, in the hearts of the saints of God. The Kingdom of God will begin for them while they are still alive. To live in the Kingdom of God means to live where God reigns.

Our deepest, most intimate spiritual life flows in the depths of our hearts, and the Kingdom of God will begin for us when the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts. Then, according to the word of Christ, He Himself will come with the Father to those who have kept His commandments, and they will make their abode with Him. If the righteous are vouchsafed that the Holy Spirit will reign in his heart, it means that he is already in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is in his heart — the Holy Spirit dwells and reigns there.

Such a Kingdom of God does not come suddenly, does not come noticeably through the loud proclamation of the trumpet. The Kingdom of God is the quiet, peaceful, imperceptible entry of the Holy Spirit into human hearts.

Such saints as Seraphim of Sarov, Sergius of Radonezh, Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves were already in the Kingdom of God during their lifetime, the Holy Spirit dwelt in their hearts, and for them the radiant Kingdom of God began here on earth.