On The Fathers Who Have Completed Their Course

The powers of heaven stand ready in their ranks to advance with fear before the Bridegroom as he comes in glory on the clouds of heaven to judge the living and the dead; and we do not believe. What then will come upon us in that hour, brethren?

How may we there defend ourselves to God for our negligence of our salvation?

If we do not now hasten and weep unrestrainedly, repenting fully in humility of soul and great meekness, how each one of us is going to lament at the tribulation!, changing our ways, let each one of us say with bitter tears, ‘Woe is me, a sinner! What has happened of a sudden?

How has my life of slackness passed away? Thoughtless, I do not know how my time has been stolen from me. Where are those days of stillness, which I spent in distractions, that I may repent in sackcloth and ashes? And nothing has been gained from many words.’