But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt-offering he accepted them.In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them for ever. Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and he watches over his elect.
But the ungodly will be punished as their reasoning deserves, those who disregarded the righteous and rebelled against the Lord; for those who despise wisdom and instruction are miserable. Their hope is vain, their labours are unprofitable, and their works are useless. Their wives are foolish, and their children evil; their offspring are accursed.
For blessed is the barren woman who is undefiled, who has not entered into a sinful union; she will have fruit when God examines souls. Blessed also is the eunuch whose hands have done no lawless deed, and who has not devised wicked things against the Lord; for special favour will be shown him for his faithfulness, and a place of great delight in the temple of the Lord. For the fruit of good labours is renowned, and the root of understanding does not fail.But children of adulterers will not come to maturity, and the offspring of an unlawful union will perish.Even if they live long they will be held of no account, and finally their old age will be without honour.If they die young, they will have no hope and no consolation on the day of judgement. For the end of an unrighteous generation is grievous.
Commentary
The saints must be honoured as friends of Christ and children and heirs of God, as John the Theologian and Evangelist says: But as many as received him, he gave them the power to be made the sons of God. Furthermore, if the Creator and Lord of all is called both King of kings and Lord of lords and God of gods, then most certainly the saints, too, are both gods and lords and kings. However, I say that they are gods, lords, and kings not by nature, but because they have ruled over and dominated sufferings, and because they have kept undebased the likeness of the divine image to which they were made – for the image of the king is also called a king, and, finally, because they have really been united to God and receiving him as a dweller within themselves have through association with him become by grace what he is by nature. How, then, should these not be honoured to have been accounted servants, friends, and sons of God? For the honour shown the more sensible of one’s fellow servants gives proof of one’s love for the common Master.
These are become repositories and pure dwelling places of God, for I will dwell in them and walk among them, says God, and I will be their God. So, indeed, sacred Scripture says that the souls of the just are in the hand of God: and death shall not touch them. For the death of the saints is rather sleep than death, since they have laboured unto eternity and shall live unto the end’, and ‘precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. What then is more precious than to be in the hand of God? For God is life and light, and they that are in the hand of God abide in life and light. Moreover, because through their mind God has also dwelt in their bodies, the Apostle says: Know you not that your members are the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you? Now the Lord is in the Spirit; and again: If any man violate the temple of God, him shall God destroy. How, then, should they not be honoured, who are the living temples of God, the living tabernacles of God. These in life openly took their stand with God.
In the relics of the saints the Lord Christ has provided us with saving fountains which in many ways pour out benefactions and gush with fragrant ointment. And let no one disbelieve. For, if by the will of God water poured out of the precipitous living rock in the desert, and for the thirsty Sampson from the jawbone of an ass, is it unbelievable that fragrant ointment should flow from the relics of the martyrs? Certainly not, at least for such as know the power of God and the honour which the saints have from him.(St. John of Damascus)
Musical Selection
The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
and there shall no torment touch them.
In the sight of the unwise they seem to die:
and their departure is taken for misery:
but they are in peace.
For though they be punished in the sight of men,
Yet is their hope full of immortality:
for God proved them and found them worthy of himself.
And in the day of visitation they shall shine,
they shall judge the nations,
and have dominion over the people,
and their Lord shall reign for ever. Amen.
Collect
Grant, O Lord, that as we celebrate with joy this season of Lent we may enter more deeply into the paschal mystery and come to enjoy the fullness of its riches. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.