"And he said: 'This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods."

See here the great labors of a man without understanding! Instead of striving to kill the old man in himself and raise up the new man, he invests all his efforts in the pulling down of his old granaries, barns, and farms and building new ones. If his harvest is as abundant the following year, he will again have to labor to extend his old granaries or build yet more.

"Jesus spake a parable unto them saying, 'The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought within himself, saying: 'What shall I do because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?' And he said: 'This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years: Take thine ease: eat, drink and be merry!' But God said unto him: 'thou fool; this night shall thy soul be required of thee; then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?' So that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God."

Saints Cosmas and Damian (nos) were born in Asia and were brothers according to the flesh. Their father was a pagan, but their mother, whose name was Theodosia, was a Christian. Left a widow after the death of her husband, she regarded her bereavement as offering a fortunate opportunity to serve Christ more fervently and devoted her whole life to the purpose of pleasing God. She became a widow of the sort praised by the Holy Apostle, who said, "Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day" (1 Timothy, Ch. 5).

In the book of Genesis in the Old Testament, we are informed that Adam and Eve bore two sons, Cain and Abel. "Now Abel was a shepherd of sheep but Cain was a tiller of the ground. Now in the process of time, Cain brought a sacrifice to the Lord from the fruits of the ground. Abel also brought a sacrifice from the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. The Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his sacrifices" (Genesis 4:1-5).

If Christians do not begin to witness their faith, to resist evil, then the destroyers will become even more insolent. But today's Christians are no warriors. If the Church keeps silent, to avoid conflict with the government, if the metropolitans are silent, if the monks hold their peace, then who will speak up?

We are taught in our Holy Orthodox Church that sharing is caring. We have all received God-given talents to use for the benefit not only of ourselves but to help our fellow humans who may need our love and compassion.