Tuesday. [Col. 1:1-2, 7-11; Luke 8:1-3]

   The Lord preaches, the women serve Him from their substance, and are thus as participants in his very preaching. It is not given to everyone to preach the Gospels, but everyone can help spread them, and be participants in this most important matter on the earth. There were many such participants, both men and women, at the time the holy apostles preached; and then at the time of their successors, and finally, throughout the entire history of the Church. Such participants exist to this day. Our apostles in the Caucasus and in various areas of Siberia labour zealously, suffering every need and deprivation. They continue the work of the Lord and the holy Apostles. Those men and women who send them help join the ranks of the women who served the Lord, and become worthy of equal recompense. The Lord said: He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth Me (John 13:20). This means that He equates Himself with the one who is sent to preach; it would follow that He equates the service rendered to his messengers with serving Him. According to the law of His goodness and truth, the way a person receives one determines the reward he will receive (Matt. 10:41). This would seem to be sufficient incentive to keep giving alms to help in the great work of preaching of the Gospels.