SUNDAY'S MESSAGE (audio message)
BY HIS EMINENCE THE METROPOLITAN
KYTHIRA & ANTIKYTHIRA SERAPHIM
SUNDAY NOON
(23-11-2025)
WRITTEN DIVINE PROCLAMATION
Greed and folly
The double miracle that we heard, my Christians, in today's Gospel passage has to do with two tragic situations in the life of man. Situations which, because of man's exit from Paradise, entered into his life and have always been the same for all men in all ages. It is sickness and death. They torment man, make him suffer, grieve and sometimes lose his courage and strength.
Many times, my Christians, our Lord referred to His parables to the rich.
In today's Gospel reading, He described in all wisdom the rich man who in that year his immense fortune yielded more fruit, «his country was blessed».
Then, instead of thanking God and considering the favourable circumstances as an opportunity for charity, he was overcome by anxiety and worry: Where to put his goods?!.
The other people were absent during his waking hours. He was only interested in himself. And this is clearly shown by the fact that he used the possessive word for everything: «my goods», «my stores», even «my soul»! At the same time, he did not even let a suspicion pass through his mind that all of us - rich and poor - are mortal. Nor that the gift of our earthly life is a stage of trial.
Such an attitude is what Jesus calls foolishness. A foolishness that cares for the futile, that considers the temporary permanent. Where one thinks of oneself only on earth. The worst, where he thinks of himself as immortal: he has many years. The end from now on he will think?;
And God, the all-good, all-merciful, all-merciful, in order to give His Son «for the life of the world», asked Him: «To whom shall these things which Thou hast prepared belong after death?».
Really, who? Not even his relatives did the rich man of the parabola think of... Did he have any of his own?;
Christ, my friends, leaves the end of His parabola unanswered. Unanswered, but absolutely self-evident.
And at the same time it leads us to deeper thoughts.
Why do we live? Why do we ever cease to live biologically?Is our face saved when we leave the world? And what awaits us? Will we be judged by our own choices? And if we didn't go through life wisely, will we pay the price?;
The example of parabolism, my Christians, shows us the way of grace and joy. And if by mistakes we have walked so far, looking for «great stores», there is hope. The great hope that comes from repentance. If we have noticed the parable, if we have seen the glorious end of selfish prosperity, let us look to our brothers' works of understanding. To charity. Or rather, philanthropy. Where she has her stores open. Where we lie awake not for our own goods, but for the needs of our brothers, the brothers of Christ...
e.g. Mar.
