Treasures Sunday of Lent

This sermon for the first Sunday of Lent, also known as Treasures Sunday, serves as a spiritual maintenance check to prepare believers for the journey of the Great Fast. Fr. Seraphim uses Christ’s warning against earthly treasures to outline three progressive stages of spiritual deterioration: the moth, which represents internal rot caused by hidden sins and bad influences; the rust, which symbolizes outward pride and behavioral decay; and the thief, representing demons who strip a person of any remaining virtues. To prevent this total bankruptcy, Fr. Seraphim urges followers to identify and block spiritual cracks, maintain constant vigilance through repentance, and embrace humility as a safeguard against destruction. By auditing one's heart at the start of the season, the faithful can ensure they are building their lives on a solid foundation rather than hollowed-out wood or corroded metal.