The Only Sorrow in the Kingdom of God That No One Talks About | Fr. Athanasios Mytilinaios

In this recording, Archimandrite Athanasios Mytilinaios (1927-2006), answers the question: “What would be the only sorrow in the Kingdom of God?” “Why didn’t we work more in the present life in order to receive greater glory in the Kingdom of God? It’s the only sorrow that the holy people will have in the Kingdom of God. ‘Ah, if only I had worked more in the present life…'”

Audio source: “Talks on the Revelation”, no. 22 (in Greek), May 3, 1981 https://arnion.gr/index.php/kainh-diauhkh/iera-apokalycis Analysis of Revelation verses) 3, 9-13: “The sixth Epistle to the Bishop of Philadelphia. The reward of the Mission. The triple naming”

Archimandrite Athanasios:

As you well know, those who will enter the Kingdom of God will be very happy. There will be just one reason to make them sad, just one! Do you know what that is? “Why didn’t we work more in the present life in order to receive greater glory in the Kingdom of God?” Because, the word of God says, “For one star differs from another star in glory” [1 Corinthians 15:41]. On the one hand, the Parable of the Hired Workers [Matthew 20:1-16] shows that everyone will receive the Kingdom of God, and this is the reason why the parable says that everyone will receive the whole same salary. All will receive the same “salary,” which means that all will receive the Kingdom of God. On the other hand, there will be a hierarchy within the Kingdom of God.

What exactly is this hierarchy? Is it ever possible — in the case that I am saved and enter as the last in the Kingdom of God — to stand equally in glory with the Apostle Paul? Could this ever be possible? Besides, it’s a matter of justice. The same applies to hell. Is it ever possible that I, who lied sometimes, drank a little wine, got drunk once or twice, and didn’t bother anyone, end up in hell? Is it ever possible that I be damned equally to Annas and Caiaphas? Or be damned equally to Nero? Is it ever possible? Isn’t it a matter of justice, after all? My dear ones, the same goes for the Kingdom of God. “For one star differs from another star in glory” [1 Corinthians 15:41].

Still, what exactly is this difference in glory? One might say — although I am sorry to think that someone would even consider it — “Are there ‘classes’ inside the Kingdom of God?” Let me explain. We are all sitting in the seats of an ancient theatre. The stage is in front of us. The actors are playing. Thanks to the funnel-shaped design of the ancient theaters, everyone is able to watch equally well. Whether I be placed at the bottom, in the middle, or at the very top, I can both watch and listen really well. This is because the sound is transmitted equally to the inner sides of the funnel. Try this by placing a candle in the middle of a funnel, blow on it as much as you like, and the candle won’t extinguish because the air is channeled to the inner sides of the funnel. The same goes for the sound. I can watch and listen well wherever I may stand.

However, the spectators differ in something: each one’s education or capacity to comprehend the play. One has had elementary education, another has had secondary school education, and another has had university education. Now tell me, won’t each person comprehend the play differently depending on their education? Obviously, yes! That’s what will happen, my dear ones, in the Kingdom of God. What is this “difference in glory?” It’s that some will have more and deeper theoria and knowledge of the face of Christ. The Apostle Paul is able to deepen more in the face of Christ when he sees it and receives more bliss and knowledge than myself, who deepens less in the face of Christ that I see and receive less glory, that is, less bliss.

That’s it! Now tell me: if you really love the glory of God, wouldn’t you be jealous? It’s the only sorrow that the holy people will have in the Kingdom of God. “Ah, if only I had worked more in the present life…”