No toil, suffering or temptation, my blessed son, can compare with that happy life. Thousands of lives if we had had and if we had sacrificed all of them, we would not have done anything worthy in comparison with the future glory, which our Lord, Jesus Christ, by His venerable and life giving blood, wants to share with us. That is why apostle Paul says: Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.[1]
Think also about this: the man fades like the flower and passes like the dream. And again at the sound of the trumpet the earth will shake and all the dead shall rise to meet Christ. When the gate of the future time shall open and this world will perish, then our nature will be reestablished in its initial state. The Lord will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.[2] Because our nature sighs and together suffers eagerly waiting the glorious apparition of the sons of God. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. [3]
Incomparable is the greatness of man whom God raises up at such a height and glory!
And we, the sinful and the lustful ones, remain indifferent towards this great richness and have such mundane thoughts. This body which is dust and stink to be considered worthy to become like the glory of God, to become angelic! The men are material in comparison with the angels who are spiritual beings. But angels in comparison with God have a certain corporality. They are not completely immaterial, like God who is pure immaterial Light. Then men will become angelic and it will be realized the unification of the Church’s fullness, namely of the believers with Christ. With how much fatherly love our Lord says: Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am,and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.[4]
Does the worldly wealth resemble these words of God? May we be there where our Lord is! Where the angels tremble and do not dare to draw near! Oh endless wisdom and richness of God!
Excerpt from Fatherly advice of Elder Ephrem Philoteos.
[1] Romans 8,18.
[2] Philippians 3,21.
[3] Romans 8, 19.
[4] John 17,24.
