Thursday. [I Cor. 7:24-35; Matt. 15:12-21]

   Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts. From whence in the heart? Their root lies in sin which lives within us, and their branching out, multiplying and particular appearance in each person come from that person’s own will. What should one do? First, cut off all that comes from your will. This will be like someone tearing off leaves from a tree, cutting off branches and twigs, and chopping the trunk almost to its roots. Then, do not allow new sprouts to come up, and the root itself will dry up; that is, do not allow evil thoughts to proceed from your heart, and repel and drive off those that do, and the sin which lives in us, not receiving sustenance, will slacken and completely grow weak. In this lies the essence of the commandment: be sober, be vigilant (1 Peter 5:8). Take heed unto thyself (1 Tim. 4:6). Gird up the loins of thy mind 1 Peter 1:13.” Together with attentiveness one must have discernment. From the heart not only bad things proceed, but also good things; yet, one should not fulfil every good thing suggested by the heart. What one should truly fulfil is determined by discernment. Discernment is a gardener’s knife; some branches it cuts off, while others it grafts in.

Wednesday. [I Cor 7:12-24; Matt. 14:35-15:11]

   Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. The Lord said this not because He did not favour fasting, or because He considered it not necessary for us—no, both He Himself fasted, and taught the apostles to do so, and He established fasts in his holy Church; but He said this so that we would not only fast by eating little or only uncooked food, but rather so that we would keep the fast in our soul, not indulging it with desires and passionate inclinations. And this is the important thing. Fasting serves as a powerful means for this. The foundation of the passions in the flesh; when the flesh is emaciated, then it is as if a hole is dug under the passions and their fortress is destroyed. Without fasting, overcoming the passions would be a miracle, similar to being in a fire and not being burned. How can he who profusely satisfies his flesh with food, sleep and rest, keep anything spiritual in mind and in his intentions? For him it is as easy to renounce the earth, to contemplate and strive for the invisible world, as would be for an old, decrepit bird to take flight and soar.