Tuesday. [I John 3:11–20; Mark 14:10–42]

Saint Peter so enthusiastically insisted that he would not reject the Lord; but when it came down to it, he denied Him, and three times no less. Such is our weakness! Do not rely upon yourself, and when you enter into the midst of enemies, place all your hope to overcome them on the Lord. For this purpose such a fall was allowed to such a great person—so that afterwards nobody would dare on his own to do something good or to overcome some enemy, either inner or outer. You must hope in the Lord, but not stop trying. Help from the Lord joins our efforts, and thus makes them powerful. If these efforts are not there, God’s help has nowhere to descend, and it will not descend. But again, if you are filled with self-reliance, and consequently you have no need for help and seek no help—again, God’s help will not descend. How is it to descend when it is considered unnecessary?! Neither, in this case, is there anything with which to receive it. It is received by the heart. The heart opens up to receive through a feeling of need. So both the former and the latter are needed. Say, “Help, O God!” But don’t just lie around.