Saturday. [Rom. 12:1-3; Matt. 10:37-11:1]

   He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. With this all uncertainties concerning the giving of alms are resolved. Good intentions for the poor are almost always if not suppressed, then significantly diminished by the questions, “Who is begging,” and, “Where are the alms going?” The Lord says to those who ask these questions: Your reward is determined according to how you receive the beggar and help him. Do not look at the one who is asking, but at your thoughts. The value of your deed will be commensurate to your thoughts. The right thoughts to have about a poor person can be defined this way: He who has mercy on the poor is lending to God; or Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Mt. 25:40). Thus, receive everyone in need as you would the Lord, do what you can for Him with the thought that you are doing it for God, and you will receive the reward not only of a prophet and a righteous man, but of the Lord.

Friday. [I Cor. 7:35-8:7; Matt. 15:29-31]

   Without attentiveness in everyday affairs you cannot do anything properly; but in spiritual matters—it comes first. It notices what is bad and brings it before the inner judge; sets the guard of the inner chamber, where the best course of action is discussed, and then protects the one who carries out the decisions. This is not surprising, because the spiritual life in its fullness is called a sober life, and in patristic writings we meet mostly words about soberness or attentiveness, for they are one and the same. Therefore, how important it is to make a habit of attentiveness! The initial labor of those who have begun to be concerned about their souls is usually directed toward this. And their work only begins to resemble work from the point where attentiveness begins to be gathered within themselves; usually the attentiveness is all external, and not internal. From this moment the inner life is conceived and with this attentiveness it ripens and strengthens. What does this mean? It means standing with the mind in the heart before the Lord and consciously discussing all, and undertaking all before His face. This job, obviously, is complicated. It becomes successful with prayer, and is as much strengthened by it, as it strengthens prayer itself.