Wednesday. [II Cor. 3:4-11; Matt. 23:29-39]

   How many mercies the Lord revealed to Jerusalem, (that is to the Jews). And, in the end, he was still forced to say, Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. It is well-known to all what the consequences of this were: the Jews to this day are homeless. Does not a similar thing occur with the soul? The Lord cares for it and gives it understanding in every way; an obedient soul walks the path indicated, but a disobedient soul remains in opposition to God’s calling. But the Lord does not abandon even this soul, and uses every means to bring it to reason. If stubbornness increases, God’s influence increases. But there is measure to everything. A soul becomes hardened, and the Lord, seeing that already there is nothing more that can be done with this soul, leaves it in the hands of its own fall, and it perishes, like pharaoh. Let anyone who is beset by passions learn the lesson from this that is he cannot continue indulging himself indefinitely without punishment. Is it not time to abandon those passions—not just to deny oneself occasionally, but to decisively turn away? Indeed, nobody can say when he will overstep the limit. Perhaps the end to God’s longsuffering is just around the corner.

Thursday. [II Cor. 4:1-6; Matt. 24:13-28]

   But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. However, not everyone who endures will be saved, but only he who endures on the Lord’s path. This life is given to us for that reason—to endure; everyone endures something, even through to the very end. But enduring does not lead to benefit if it is not for the sake of the Lord and His holy Gospels. Step onto the path of faith and the Gospel commandments; occasions to endure will multiply, but from that moment endurance will begin to bring forth crowns. That endurance, which before was empty, will be made fruitful. With what blindness does the enemy surround us, that only the endurance which is encountered on the path of good seems heavy and unbearable; but what he inflicts on those who serve the passions seems light and free, although it is actually heavier and more dismal than what people bear in struggling with the passions and opposing the enemy! But we are blind, and do not see this… We labour, endure, and strain ourselves to the breaking point for the sake of the enemy, and unto our own perdition.