Monday (34th). [II Pet. 1:20–2:9; Mark 13:9–13]

The fear of God leads to the beginning of a holy and God-pleasing life and is its most faithful guardian, when one follows the inspiration of the fear of God and makes such a beginning. The present Epistle reading teaches us this, bringing to mind the threatening judgements of God and the punishment shown already here of those who do not submit to His will. He, it says, spared not the angels that sinned (II Pet. 2:4). They were pure, and dwelt in a most radiant habitation. But as soon as they sinned, they were cast down into the nethermost darkness. Will He spare you and me, if we go against His will?! Impiety overflowed in the days of Noah. God brought upon them a flood, and destroyed them all, except for eight souls of the family of Noah. He did not take into account that there were many people. Will He deliberate over you alone, whether to destroy you or not, when you do not to listen to His voice?! For a long time the Lord spared Sodom and Gomorrah. But instead of coming to their senses, they rushed to the height of impiety. Therefore, they were struck by fire when they did not expect it. This fire is an image of the eternal fire, which awaits the impious. Neither will you escape this fire, if you walk the same path as they. Bring all of this to mind when sitting by yourself, especially in the silence and darkness of night; and thus arousing a fear of God, fear sin, for in it the flame of eternal fire stealthily approaches you.