Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ. Hieromartyr Ignatius the Godbearer, bishop of Antioch (107). Repose of Righteous John of Kronstadt (1908). St. Anthony (Smirnitsky), archbishop of Voronezh (1846).
St. Philogonius, bishop of Antioch (323). St. Daniel II, archbishop of Serbia (1338). St. Ignatius, archimandrite, of the Kiev Caves (1435).
New Martyr John of the island of Thasos, at Constantinople (1652).
Tuesday. [Heb. 12:25-26, 13:22-25; Mark 10:2-12]
What God hath joined together, let not man put
asunder. With these words the Lord affirms the
integrity of marriage; only one lawful ground for divorce
is indicated—a spouse’s unfaithfulness. But
what should one do if one discovers something like this?
Be patient. We have a universal commandment—to bear
one another’s burdens; even more willingly should
close ones, such as spouses, mutually fulfill this with
respect to one another. Unwillingness to be patient blows
up some unpleasantness out of proportion, and trifles pile
up into a dividing wall. What is the mind given us for? To
smooth out the path of life. Wisdom will work out any
unpleasantness which is met. Because of lack of earthly
wisdom, it not worked out; even more because of an
unwillingness to think over well the state of things, and
even more from not having any goal in life other than
pleasure. Pleasures cease, satisfaction with one another
ceases; on it goes until divorce. The more goals in life
are debased, the more frequent divorces become on the one
hand, and on the other—unlawful temporary
cohabitation. The source of this evil lies in
materialistic views of the world and life.