Friday. [Eph. 1:7-17; Mark 8:1-10]

   Having filled four thousand with seven loaves of bread, the Lord straightway entered into a ship, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha as if nothing particular was done. Such is the true doing of good—to do it continually, not paying attention to what has been done, and always forgetting what is past, to stretch towards what is ahead. This comes naturally for those who are filled with goodness. Just as a strong man lifts heavy weights without noticing while a weak man who has lifted up a small weight cannot seem to forget it, so one who is strong in goodness does every good without strain, whenever the occasion arises, while one who is poor in goodness cannot manage without straining. He remembers the good, and he keeps looking back and glancing at it. A good heart craves to do good, and is not satisfied until it has done good in abundance, as a man is not satisfied until he has eaten his fill. While hunger is felt, dinner is remembered, but when the hunger is satisfied, all is forgotten: so with a truly good person a good deed is remembered while it is not yet done; but once it is done, it is forgotten.