October 13, 2022
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matt.24:30).
The Cross will then be seen in heaven shining more brightly than the sun as a reproof to the Jews, for when the Lord comes He will display the Cross as the strongest evidence against the Jews, like one who shows the stone with which he was struck. He calls the Cross a sign, as a trophy and royal ensign. Then all the tribes of the land of Judea will mourn and bewail their own unbelief, and all those who care for earthly things will mourn, though they be Christians. For those who are attached to earthly things might also be called the tribes of the earth. Although the Lord comes accompanied by the Cross, He also comes with power and great glory.
Blessed Theophylactus of Ochrid. The Explanation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew
И тогда явится знамение Сына Человеческаго на небе; и тогда восплачутся вся колена земная и узрят Сына Человеческаго, грядуща на облацех небесных с силою и славою многою (Мф.24:30).
Знамение Сына Человеческого есть Крест,который,для обличения иудеев, явится на небе в сиянии,превосходящем солнечный свет. Ибо Господь придет на суд иудеев, имея Крест, как бы некое великое оправдание для Себя,подобно тому как пораженный камнем показывает камень. Знамением Господь называет Крест,как победное и царское знамя. Тогда восплачутся все колена земли иудейской,оплакивая своё непослушание; восплачутся и все,которые земная мудрствуют,хотя бы то были и христиане,ибо коленами земными можно назвать и тех,которые привязаны к земному. А Господь,хотя и придёт с Крестом,но вместе и с силой и славой многой.
Блаженный Феофилакт Архиепископ Болгарский. Толкование на Святое Евангелие
October 16, 2022
– Why has the world’s history not yet ended?Because God is waiting for people to come to Him: He is waiting for the pagan nations to come to their senses, to cease worshiping idols and come to Him.He is waiting for the apostates from God to repent and come to Him, because He does not desire the death of sinners,He does not want any of them to perish.
– With each passing year the situation in the world becomes worse and worse. It’s a frightening place to leave. Why does God permit all this?
– God has everything written. He knows everything about all that will happen to mankind and to each of us. And He knows that there are still people that may be converted, to inherit His Kingdom. And a person is more important, you see: one person saved is more important than multitudes who perish. One person justifies their destruction.
– So that’s how it will be to the last righteous man?
– Yes, so it will be to the last righteous man. For example, among authors there are many pulp fiction writers, but surely you will agree that even one talented writer can justify the existence of literature as a whole. Likewise, one righteous man justifies the existence of all mankind.
Priest Daniil Sysoyev