Friday. [II Pet. 1:1–10; Mark 13:1–8]

Having enumerated the virtues which we must seek with all diligence, having received grace-filled power, the Apostle says by way of encouragement, If these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Pet. 1:8). The virtues to which he refers here were mentioned in I Pet. 2:21–3:9. Now we shall add only that we are required to manifest these virtues not just once, but rather to make them always abide in us, to be part of our essence, to take root in us. Thus, they must not remain on one level, but ever multiply and grow in strength and fruitfulness. Only then, he says, will you not be barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Pet. 1:8). He who believes in Him and confesses Him enters into the knowledge of the Lord. “You believe?” says the Apostle! See then, that your faith be not barren and unfruitful. What should I do, so that my faith will not be that way? Prosper in every virtue. Where are those who repeat over and over that believing is enough: that nothing more is needed?! Whoever thinks this way is blind.

Saturday. [II Tim. 2:11–19; Luke 18:2–8]

To more strongly impress the truth that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1) and that if their prayer is not soon heard, that they should continue to pray, the Lord told a parable about the judge who did not fear God and neither regarded man. The judge complied at last with the widow’s petition, not because he feared God and regarded man, but only because that widow would not give him peace. So, if such a callous man could not withstand the persistence of this woman’s petition, will not God, who loves mankind and is filled with mercy, fulfil a petition raised up to Him persistently, with tears and contrition?! Here is the answer to why our prayers are often not heard: Because we do not send up our petitions to God zealously, but as though in passing; furthermore, we pray once today, then expect our prayer to be answered by tomorrow, not thinking to sweat and trouble ourselves any more in prayer. That is why our prayer is neither heard nor answered. We ourselves do not fulfil as we ought the law laid down for prayer—the law of hope-filled and zealous persistence.