Friday. [Acts 8:40–9:19; John 6:48–54]

   Saint Paul defended the Old Testament routines so zealously at first, because he was sincerely certain that it was the unalterable will of God that these routines remain unchanged. He was not zealous because it was his fathers’ faith, but because he was zealous in bringing service to God. In this lay the spirit of his life—to devote himself to God and direct all his energy toward things pleasing to Him. Thus, in order to bring about his conversion, or to make him stand for the realm of New Testament things rather than the Old Testament, it was sufficient to tangibly show him that God no longer wants the Old Testament but rather the New, and that He has removed all of His good will from the former and given it to the latter. The Lord’s appearance on the road accomplished this in him. There it became clear to him that he was not directing his zeal where he ought, that he was not pleasing God by acting as he did, but was going contrary to His will. This vision of the state of affairs, with the help of God’s grace, immediately changed his strivings, and he cried out: Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? (Acts 9:6). And from that moment on he directed all of his zeal toward what was shown to him, and he did not forget this event for his whole life, but thankfully remembering it, stirred up his zeal with it—not sparing anything to work for his Lord and Saviour. This is how all people act who have sincerely turned to the Lord.

Wednesday. [Gal. 3:15-22; Mark 6:7-13]

   When the Lord sent the holy apostles to preach, He commanded that they not take anything with them but the clothes on their backs, sandals on their feet, and staff in hand. They were to have no cares about anything, entering in to this work as if everything were fully provided. Indeed, the apostles were completely provided for, without any external provisions. How was this arranged? Through their complete devotion to the will of God; that is why the Lord arranged for them not to have any need for anything. Their preaching moved the hearts of listeners, who fed and sheltered the preachers. But the apostles did not think of this and did not expect anything, committing all to the Lord. That is why they bore any unpleasantness they might have encountered patiently. Their only care was to preach, and their only sorrow was if people would not listen to their preaching. From this came the purity, independence and great fruitfulness of their preaching. The same is needed today as well, but our infirmity demands external provision, without which we will not take a step. This, however, is not a reproach against our apostles of today. In the beginning they definitely find comfort in being provided for, but then the thought of it disappears from their mind, and through their very labour they are raised up to the state of committing themselves to God. Very likely from that moment their preaching begins to be truly fruitful. Committing oneself to God is a very high degree of moral perfection, and people do not reach it immediately the moment they understand its value. It comes on its own after labors over oneself.