In a monastery located at the foot of a high mountain, covered by forests lived an old monk who was very famous for his wisdom. One morning a young man came to him and asked him:
`Your holiness, I heard that for saving our soul we must repent, we must feel sorry for all the sins we committed during our life. But father how long do we have to repent?`
`My son it is enough to repent a single moment before your death.`
`So little, father?`
`Yes, my son.`
`But how do I know when that time comes?`
`Death can come anytime, so you wait for it prepared in any moment to be found by it in humbleness and with repentance in your soul.`
`God is kind and merciful. Who regrets from his heart his mistakes and seeks not to sin anymore will have a beautiful life and peace of soul. But more than anything, only that one can have hopes for salvation and eternal life.`
`Not knowing the place and time when death waits for us, we shall wait for it anywhere and anytime.` (Blessed Augustin)
Excerpt from The most beautiful Christian Orthodox parables and stories -Leon Magdan, Aramis Publishing – Romanian Patriarchy, 1998.
