In this homily, Fr. Deacon Maxime recounts a story told by Elder Cleopa of Romania about a monk who asked God to show him how the devil deceives people. In this vision, the devil instructs his demons on how to deceive people, with the most effective method being to postpone repentance and prayer by convincing people they have plenty of time to change. This leads people to become more deeply ingrained in sin. The church reminds us of our future judgment and encourages us to wake up and not be deceived by the devil's tactics. The homily highlights the sin of sloth, or spiritual laziness, which can lead to a disregard for spiritual practices and a rejection of the love of God. Lent is a time to remove our spiritual slothfulness and become awakened.

Opening hymn is chanted by Christian Farradj (used with permission)