Earthly kings sought the affirmation of their power in Rome, and the Gospel says that Jesus Christ ascended in human nature to the Throne of God and the Father, to reign forever, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth (Phil. 2:10).

But, in addition, there is an indication here of our earthly life. The time that is given to us for good deeds is fleeting. It is like a huge river that flows silently day and night. Its waves are the minutes and hours of our life. They leave and pour into the ocean of Eternity.

They say that you can return everything, but not yesterday. An ancient philosopher said that time is a stream that cannot be stepped into twice in the same place. Thus, we must remember about time and death, about the fact that our earthly life is like a thin thread stretched over the abyss of Eternity. Sooner or later, this thread will be broken. Our body will go to the earth, and our soul will go to the judgment of the Lord, Who created it.

In one parable it is said that a certain man had three friends: he loved two, and he could hardly endure the third, harboring constant hostility towards him in his heart. This man was exiled to a distant country. Two of his friends rejected him: the first immediately refused to follow him, the second accompanied him only to the gates of the city, and the third, his unloved friend, said: "Where you go, there I will go with you and share with you your misfortunes!" The first is worldly honor, fame and wealth. When a person dies, they immediately leave him with their last breath. The second friend - relatives and friends who accompany a person to the grave, will disperse, and everyone continues their life. And the third – an unloved friend – these are good deeds that a person often forced himself to do, sometimes in the depths of his heart regretting the alms given, the beneficence rendered. And this unloved friend will follow him into eternity.

The parable we have heard today teaches us that we must hurry to do good. When you get up in the morning, think about what kind of good deed you can do that day. Check the day you have spent: what you should have done and what you did, what you should have done and did not do.

Brothers and sisters! In the morning, remember that for many people in the world, this will be the last day and they will no longer see the sunshine. When you go to bed in the evening, imagine your bed as a deathbed and think that this night may be your last, and from the darkness of the night you will pass into the darkness of the grave.

Some say: "We do not have the opportunity to do good deeds!" but St. John Chrysostom seems to object to this: "If you do not have gold, then give me a copper coin. Remember that the widow's mite turned out to be greater than the treasures of the rich. If you do not have even a small coin, give a thirsty person a glass of water, and for this glass you will receive the Heavenly Kingdom. And if you can't do that, then pray for the people." The commandment of mercy is broad. It is available to everyone.

Remember, brothers and sisters: today belongs to us, and what will happen tomorrow is a mystery that no one knows!

They say there are three mysteries: when we die, why we die, and where we will be after death. And who knows, perhaps the angel of death has already been sent to some of those present here...

Amen.

The Parable of the Sower

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!

Brothers and sisters! Today you have heard the parable of the sower: "The sower went out to sow," says the Lord, "and while he was sowing some things fell by the wayside, and the birds flew in and pecked at them; some fell on stony places, where there was little earth, and soon sprang up, because the earth was shallow. But when the sun rose, it withered, and as it had no root, it withered; some fell into thorns, and thorns grew, and choked him; some fell on good ground and bore fruit: one a hundredfold, and another sixty, and some thirty. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matt. 13:3-9). In Palestine, it was a familiar picture for listeners: in the spring, a farmer went out into a plowed field with a bag on a leather belt thrown over his shoulder and filled with seeds. With both hands, he threw handfuls of seeds in different directions, trying to make sure that the seeds did not lie close and the shoots did not interfere with each other later.