SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

deed, and He warns us when we anger Him. And we do not do likewise. As is the saying put forth, "We begin with Him with the shameful deed (and) He begins with us with the good deed." How come is this stiffness, and we do not fear from (the) performer of good things for us, and we do not fear Him. We do not have a deed that pleases Him, rather we hate one another (13r) and be spiteful toward he who wrongs us and we do not forgive him. As our Lord, to Him is glory, has taught us in the prayer the forgiveness for those that wrong (us). And he said, "If you do not forgive those that wrong you, your wrongs will not be forgiven." And He says, "Love your enemies, bless those that curse you, and do good unto him that hates you, (and) pray upon he who expel you and sadden you, so that you would be sons of your Father." Be it known unto you O my gathered brothers that our life is like the dust that is seen briefly and then is dispersed. And the life of man in the world is the hour that he is in and no more. The proof for this is that the days that passes, he does not know about them as a result of the forgetfulness that cames upon him. As for the remaining days, he does not know about them if they would come upon him with joy or gloom (14r) for our life all is under the Judgment and the destiny. According to the saying of our Master, glory be unto Him, "If the master of the house knows at what hour, he would be vigilant and would not let his house be violated." Likewise, be you prepared for He also says, "Blessed is he that his master comes to him and finds him awake at midnight." For the night has watches according to the saying of our master, glory be unto Him, that He came to His disciples in the fourth watch of the night. And the awaking that will be is the continual repentance, out of fear of the departure from the world. And the failed hope is like the meaning mentioned in the Gospel that he that plants in a city and it brought fruit and he became happy in this and rejoiced at the increase of his fortune, (then) he said within himself that I rise and demolish my storerooms and build them better (14r) and enlarge the places for storing of my wheat

and say, 'O my soul, eat and drink and I have for myself rest, happiness, and many gifts.' So, it was said to him, "O ignorant one, in this night your soul shall be taken from your body and you will be in the worst of conditions, with the one that will have no mercy on you nor have pity on you for the sake of the multitude of your riches. To whom shall you leave (this) after your death? Know that whoever tarry in repentance and busy himself in living in excess than what suffices him day by day, he is one of the perished ones. According to the saying of our Master, glory be unto Him, "Do not be concerned with tomorrow, for tomorrow takes care of itself, and each day will suffice in its evil." And He said, gaze at the offspring of the ravens. It does not plant nor harvest and does not have storerooms, but God nourishes it and the saying complete it (?). See Coptic Newsletter V.1, No. 1 & 2 for this Section (17r) ... Like the fasting, prayer, easiness, long- suffering, love (or charity), compassion, feeding of the hungry, clothing of the naked, relieving the distressed, and visiting those in custody. This all accompanies man in departure from his life. Those who sin during their lifetimes and do not repent upon their abominable deeds, like adultery, murder, lying, false witness, gossip(?), hatred, envy; their deeds will precede them on Judgment Day. As Master Paul says, "Some people, their sins follow them constantly, and some people their sins precede them (on) Judgment Day." So why are we forgetful [in doing] the commandments, not performing; (17v) and the sin that keeps us away from God, doing. And the Apostle Paul says about the sinners who depart their life without repentance, "for they will not see God's kingdom." Woe to him and woe to him that depart his life without repentance accompanying him before God his Lord. He would become deserving of the horrible voice that says, "Go away from me O damned ones to the eternal fire that does not quench, the worms that do not sleep, the weeping, and the gnashing of the teeth. And he shall be like the five foolish virgins who

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

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