“From now on all generations will call Me blessed” (Luke 1:48)
These words, spoken by the Most Holy Theotokos, express the joyous certainty of Her calling and proclaim Her beneficent influence upon the entire world. They reveal Her grateful expectation that She would live on, not just in the Heavens, but here on earth. And now, as Her earthly days draw to a close, She beholds the fruit of Her hope: faith in Her Son and God has spread and flourished; the Holy Apostles have won hearts across the world; Her own name is revered wherever people speak of Christ. “My earthly life,” She must have reflected, “was not spent in vain; My time here has surely left its mark.” For, as She declared, “God looked upon the lowliness of His maidservant, and lifted high the dignity of the Mother of God. Through Myself and My Son, God has set before the world the ultimate examples of goodness. All peoples shall look to Us, learn from Us, and grow better under Our unseen touch. They will hold My remembrance dear: ‘From now on all generations will call Me blessed’” (Luke 1:48). And so, you see, this longing to leave behind a good memory here on earth is a truly Christian aspiration, made holy by the very example set before us by the Mother of God herself.
Therefore, this day imparts a true lesson to every one of us: we must awaken to our unique purpose and, by thought and deed, become a living model for others, so that our lives continue to speak and serve even when we ourselves have departed from this world. How sobering to imagine — thousands, millions have walked this earth before us. They laughed and wept just as we do. Where are they now? What has become of their names? Is even the faintest echo of their existence left behind? Our own moment will arrive — that unyielding, inescapable visitor, death, draws ever nearer. And what if, when that day comes, nothing of worth remains of us? What if our names, our deeds, are utterly forgotten or, worse, our memory is tarnished by sin and wrongdoing? The question burns within us: how can we leave behind a good memory of ourselves?
Good remembrance remains for those who have fulfilled their duty and calling here below. It is for those souls who put to work every God-given talent. It belongs to those who truly live the full Christian life on earth. To every one of us, God grants abundant strengths and precious endowments; He reveals to each our particular path, entrusting specific duties and work to our care. His unseen hand graciously provides for our every need. Let us not, for one moment, mistakenly imagine the follower of Christ as some ethereal spirit, separate from the everyday worries and ties of this world. First and foremost, we are people of this earth. Its realities press upon us, its demands shape us, and the very terms of our life here confront us daily. We are children of our homeland, bound to its service. We are part of the great family of humankind. Yet, at the same time, we are beings blessed with intellect and feeling, with a deep-seated hunger for holy faith, true understanding, and goodness. We aim to ascend to greater heights on earth so that we may be made ready for heaven.
This calling brings with it countless responsibilities. To the world, we must labour and see to our practical needs. To our country, we must serve faithfully, fulfilling the duties of our station with integrity and contributing to the wellbeing of all. And soaring above these, we are called to tend to our own souls: to clothe ourselves in clean conscience and righteous deeds. No matter who we are, and whatever work fills our days — whether we run a home or serve in public life, whether we engage in earthly pursuits or strive for what is above, whether we plough the fields or labour in a workshop — every one of us is summoned to wed faithful service in our calling with the living out of our Christian faith. By all means, let us engage with the practicalities of this life — seeking comfort, managing our family affairs, or making progress in our work. But, oh, we must not let ourselves be trapped by these material things alone, forgetting what truly matters and ignoring our higher aims. Above all earthly things, the needs of our moral life cry out within us — the practice of God's word, prayerful contemplation of our sacred faith, and the debt we owe to God, our neighbour, and indeed, ourselves. Yet how many of us, I ask you, truly hold to this divine summons? Is it not a painful truth that so many of us fritter away the precious time given for our salvation on pointless worries and empty pursuits? How many of us barely lift our eyes to the things that last — the spiritual, the heavenly? Such lives leave no lasting mark.
And yet, even now, in the rhythm of our ordinary days, even in the simplest of lives, there are moments and actions that can draw heaven’s blessing earthward. Honest work, done as one’s duty, no matter how small or unnoticed it may seem to the world; wrestling with the disappointments and the obstacles that inevitably crop up as we try to do what is right; finding a measure of peace with our lot, even when it is meagre and the path is hard — these, my friends, are acts of high spiritual stature, deserving our deepest admiration.
And what shall we say of those truly upright deeds, those quiet acts of self-giving, of generous spirit, of kindness? They may pass unseen by the world, yet they demand tremendous inner fortitude. Think, for a moment, of someone who never seeks to parade their virtues, who perhaps even keeps them hidden from their own sense of self-importance. Having performed a good deed, they simply get on with the next thing, as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. Or another who knows not what it means to judge or condemn others, but who can face down any false accusation, any cruel taunt, any outburst of temper; who can take an affront without flinching, readily forgive those who wrong them, and never, ever look for payback. They are the true toilers of life. Amidst want and hardship, they wage a quiet battle with need, loss and pain — yet they do not lose heart, nor do they grumble, but shoulder their burdens with grace. Think of the craftsman, whose labour barely sustains his family, yet who refuses the easy path of dishonest gain. Consider the day labourer, who faithfully carries out his simple tasks and remains a sincere and devoted servant of God. These souls, I tell you, are esteemed by God and people alike.
And do you suppose, brothers and sisters, that these and similar acts of goodness simply fade away, leaving no helpful trace, lost to time and eternity? Never. Whoever they may be, if they carry out their life’s calling with devotion, their lives will not be in vain. Their way of living, their upright deeds, will surely inspire others to follow, and they will leave behind a worthy inheritance. Their own names might perhaps be forgotten, but the example of their upright lives, their useful and worthy contributions, will certainly endure. For, as the Scripture tells us, “The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance” (Psalm 112:6). And truly, no less sympathy is stirred, and perhaps even more enduring gratitude is felt, for those who have directly striven for the world's improvement and served the common good. “The merciful of the righteous are not forgotten” (Sirach 44:9). You understand, my beloved ones, how highly our sacred faith regards loving your neighbour. This is because we recognise the moral dignity of every soul and see society itself as a seed of God’s kingdom on earth. The Son of God Himself, when He came into the world, “came not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45), and His entire life powerfully proclaims this truth. And the Mother of God — what name do we most often and with such deep affection attribute to her, if not that of Intercessor and helper in all our needs and difficult circumstances? In our very lives, we are all placed in a way that we constantly shape one another, whether for good or for ill. We scarcely need to mention the potent influence of parents, of leaders, or of our elders — their examples inevitably sway a whole circle of people, moulding their thoughts, their moral compass, and their actions.
Why is it, I put it to you, that in some communities, households, or circles of friends, you find industry, wise stewardship, a spirit of piety, and wholesome customs passed down from one generation to the next? It is because among their forebears there was a person of honour and righteousness, who by their very life and character, passed on their spirit to their descendants. Though that person has departed, their worthy life continues to teach and inspire — their spirit, as it were, still walks among the living.
Such beautiful virtues, my friends, like good seeds, always yield a rich harvest of blessing. Appearing in the world, they draw others to follow, and so they spread ever more widely. No worthwhile deed is performed in vain but, like a single drop of rain falling to the earth, ultimately works for the benefit of all humanity. Perhaps you shine with the brilliance of your honours and accolades. It might be that you have gathered great riches and many belongings, or astounded the world with your feasts and lavish displays. You may even possess a keen mind and fine learning, gifts that, alas, have only fed a sense of self-importance. But I must ask you, what will endure of all this when you are gone? Little, I fear, will echo in the minds of those who follow, save for sharp rebukes and bitter sorrow that such abundant gifts were squandered, bringing true advantage to none. The true friend of humankind is one who sparks what is good, who strengthens what is good in people, who lessens hardship amongst the poor, and gives work to the idle, who comforts the weak, softens harsh fate, and dries the tears of the broken. Have you turned your back on a destructive habit that causes others to stumble? Have you chosen to spend your special days quietly within your own family? Do you gather your children for stories that teach them wisdom? Even these simple acts ripple outward, touching lives you may never see.
The spiritual pulse of our people often feels faint, yet there are questions and longings we cannot ignore. Think, I urge you, of the pressing matters before us: how to better the lives of our struggling brothers and sisters, how to bring learning even to the most overlooked in society, how to advance true justice and equity, how to ensure dignity for the frail and the unwell. What a truly heartening thing it is to embrace these hopes for the common welfare, and to throw our own energies into the collective task of building a better future for all! We must not, however, merely wait for those in authority to act for us. No, the charge is ours to take up our own betterment. The work begins with us — we must first conquer the injustice in our own hearts before we can fight it in the world.
Yet our age brings its own dangers, which, to some degree, tempt us all and do much harm to the common good. I speak now of those consuming urges for outward show and extravagant living that have seeped into every class, corrupting our morals. So many today — are they not driven by one consuming preoccupation: to win the approval of the crowd and keep up appearances? To impress onlookers, to feign qualities they lack, to set tongues wagging, and, in short, to bask in widespread acclaim? This, my friends, is the very essence of seeking empty glory — that corrosive urge to present a false front, to live and behave merely for the eyes of others. And from this craving to live for outward display, a fresh poison emerges: the compulsion to spend more than we possess, to deck ourselves out in habits and indulgences ill-suited to our actual station in life. This is the hunger for opulence, and from it springs yet another bitter fruit: a desperate scramble to get rich quickly, by any means necessary, casting aside the quiet dignity of honest work. Friends, let us not be swept along by the prevailing tide, and simply follow the crowd. Our task, our privilege, is to chart a different course. We are called to lead by living modest and measured lives, finding peace and satisfaction in the place and circumstances God has given us.
Through such dedication, we uplift the whole community and enrich the lives of our brethren. Our very conduct will inspire others to follow, and our memory will not fade away. These, then, are straightforward, Christ-centred ways to etch our mark not merely in words but in righteous deeds. Let us discharge our earthly calling with faithfulness and holiness, however humble it appears, serving society and humanity's welfare in every manner possible.
And so, when our final days arrive, fear will not grip us at that last moment; the shadow of death will not send us into a panic. Instead, looking back on the life behind us, we will approach our end — perhaps with that natural human uncertainty we all share, yes — but still with the enduring hope of God's boundless mercy. We will greet that passage, not as a dreaded foe, but as the very gateway to everlasting life and eternal blessedness. Amen.
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