Tuesday. [II Cor. 5:15-21; Mark 1:16-22]

   The Lord taught in the Capernaum synagogue, and everyone marvelled at His teaching: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the Scribes. This authority is not a commanding tone, but the power of influence on souls and hearts. His Word entered within, and bound itself to human consciences, showing that all was as He said. This is how a word which is imbued with Divine power, a word from the Spirit, or an anointed word always is. This is how it was with the holy apostles, and after them, with all influential teachers. They spoke not from learnedness, but as the spirit gave them the gift of prophesy. It is a gift of God which can only be acquired through labors to master it in one’s heart and life, and not just by learning. Wherever this occurs the word is imbued with cogency, because it moves from heart to heart; in this is the power of the word over souls. Scribes, speaking and writing from their learnedness, are not given such power, because they speak from their head and mix into their head their own philosophizing. Life is not found in the head, but only life’s surface. Life is in the heart, and only what comes forth from the heart can influence the currents of life.

Monday. [II Cor. 5:10-15; Mark 1:9-15]

   The Lord began His sermon thus: The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel. At the end of the ages it will also be said: the time is fulfilled, the kingdom is at hand; but this statement will not be followed by repent ye, and believe but “come out to the judgment.” The time for repentance and labours of self-improvement is ended; let everyone give an account of what good or evil things he did in his body. And so, while there is time, hurry to use this time unto your salvation. The Father’s embrace is open for the acceptance of all who come with a sincere feeling of contrition about the past, and with a desire to serve God henceforth by zealous fulfillment of His holy commandments. For each of us the end of this age is death: it is the door to the other life. Look into it more often and determine for yourself more truly: what then? And having determined this without pitying yourself, begin laboring to prepare what is not ready, to enter the place where joy is unending. Labor to push aside all that could give the servants of outer darkness the right to prevail over us and carry us away to their realm, from whence there will no longer be a way out.