Diary-reflection of an Orthodox priest for every day of the year. Day after day. Diary-reflection of an Orthodox priest for each day of the year January A great example of patience

Day after day

Diary of an Orthodox Priest

The book "Day by Day", written by an unknown Orthodox priest and first published in 1908, is compiled in the form of a calendar, which corresponds to the old style, and is intended for daily reading. The author, using examples from the Holy Scriptures, finds the answer to many difficult questions that arise for every Christian on the difficult and sorrowful path of life. These questions remain relevant today. Surprisingly heartfelt words of consolation and encouragement will undoubtedly bring great benefit to every pious Christian and any person who decides to take the path of true faith.

Already in our time, this book has gone through many editions, becoming a favorite reading of the modern Orthodox reader.

Preface

Fill us early with Thy mercy, and we will rejoice all our days.

Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). These words of our Lord Jesus Christ, addressed to the suffering human race, sound even more inviting in our time, when the world already seems to be overflowing with evil, and the cup of suffering seems unbearable to many. But life was given to us by God as a sacred thing, and the cross of sorrows, inevitable for everyone, is sent by the Lord Himself, so that we become like Him both in the Crucifixion and in the Resurrection for eternal life.

The Word of God illuminates all the paths of salvation in life, and a soul that is exhausted, but decides to patiently follow Christ, daily resorting to this gracious source of truth, will certainly receive understanding and strength to overcome any grief and disaster.

This is evidenced by the diary of a priest, whose name remains unknown, with a simple and profound title: “Day after Day.” Every day the author humbly and reverently reflects on the lines of Holy Scripture with deep faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and a miracle happens: everyday hardships and sorrows are transformed into a source of fiery spiritual joy and praise to God, who loved and saves sinful humanity.

This book was published in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century in a small edition and, undoubtedly, by the Providence of God it fell into the hands of the holy royal passion-bearers. Holy Queen Alexandra Feodorovna read and re-read it while imprisoned in Tobolsk, about which she wrote to Anna Vyrubova (Taneeva) on November 24, 1917:

“Every morning I read the book that you gave me seven years ago, “Day by Day,” and I love it very much, I find many words of consolation.” In the letters of the Empress and the Grand Duchesses of those sorrowful days there are no complaints or despondency; on the contrary, they tried to console everyone, to encourage them even in their most bleak situation, and often these words of consolation were taken from the book “Day by Day”: “From the moment you put everything in His (God’s) hands, letting Him rule you apart from yourself and accepting His will unquestioningly, in your heart, believe me, an undisturbed peace will be established in your soul, this peace that is above all understanding.” The holy royal martyrs had such peace in their souls, being in prison, aware of the collapse of everything, on the eve of martyrdom!

Such is the divine power of the Word of God received with living faith in Jesus Christ.

This book can awaken in us the need to turn to the living Word of God every day. It will feed us with spiritual food, support us with a ray of Heavenly light, send us blessings, consolation, strengthening and strength to live this day, rejoicing, in the consciousness of the nearness of our Lord Jesus Christ, His mercy and help. People always need such support, and it is given to everyone, even the weakest, who, aware of their weakness and emptiness, goes to the Source and is filled with Him.

And for this year.

These words contain a hint of previous years. It is not the first time that the Owner of the vineyard has turned his attention to the fig tree, nor is it the first time that He has sought fruit from it in vain. Perhaps I also failed to improve enough in previous years? I, too, perhaps, failed to take advantage of the presenting opportunity for good and, like this fig tree, did not live up to the expectations of my Master? Will the same thing happen again this year? In the past years, a lot of time was lost, many cases were missed, there were few answers to the calls of my Master! Looking back at all these years, I must admit that they were completely fruitless! Will this year really be like the previous barren years?

No, the less time remains for me to fulfill the will of God, the closer I move towards the end, the more I am obliged to come to my senses, wake up and change a lot in my life! Looking over the past in my mind, I cannot help but remember the countless blessings that the Lord showered on me. How can I not hope that this year He will not abandon me with His love, His mercy? Whatever awaits me in the future, I have no doubt that the Lord Himself will direct my every step, and therefore, in full hope, I cross the threshold of the beginning of the year.

I’ll just ask myself: how did I spend the past year? I started it with zealous promises, with the best intentions, but they soon evaporated, and I spent it without benefit, gained nothing from it, did not move forward! Oh my God! Don't let me repeat the same thing "this year too"! Help me bring You fruit in the patience and humility of my heart!

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard.”

John the Baptist, the one about whom Christ Himself said that he was a “burning and shining lamp” (John 5:35), languished in prison for the sake of righteousness. The faithful, incorruptible witness of God angered the vicious king with his sincerity and bold denunciation of sin, and he deprived him of his freedom, after previously listening to him with pleasure, and imprisoned him. Yes, until John touched him personally, Herod was ready to praise him, but as soon as the fiery, accusatory word of God’s truth touched him and his sinful life, he became an enemy of God’s messenger.

And now the same thing happens: people praise the word of God until it becomes a witness against their sins. As soon as the soul feels conviction and does not want to repent and remove sin from itself, it pushes away the Gospel that confused it, and, not wanting to submit, becomes indignant.

John submitted to the unjust sentence, undoubtedly because behind the arbitrariness of man he saw the will of God, which allowed this test. But a cloud of doubt swept over his soul, and his sorrowful disciples came to tell Jesus about this.

Jesus trusts firmly in His Forerunner; knows that this temporary cloud will soon pass and that eternal glory will follow the bloody outcome of this life. He knows that John’s strong spirit is now much more occupied with the Kingdom of God than with his personal fate, and sends him an answer worthy of him: “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, The dead are raised, the poor are preached." These are the signs and manifestations of the Kingdom of God that you came to proclaim. And what word do you have, martyr? "Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

The Lord sees that you will not be tempted, that you will endure to the end, and calls you blessed. And after the departure of John’s disciples, He continues to speak about him, saying that he is “greater than a prophet,” that he is the one about whom it is written: “Behold, I send My angel before Thy face.” Blessed is he who is not tempted, even when he does not see his own deliverance; blessed is he who has been given the power to endure, suffer and even die for the truth! Blessed are those humble disciples whom the Lord sends to His prisoners and sufferers to support and comfort them with the word of His unfailing love!

Do not grieve like others who have no hope

(1 Thessalonians 4:13)

How does God's word comfort us? How does it heal our open wounds? Oh, not as human words console! It does not offer us entertainment, does not distract us from grief, does not cover our wounds with oblivion. No! The Savior does not command us to forget our grief, He allows our tears, He Himself wept over the grave of Lazarus. But He does not command us to grieve as “those who have no hope.” And this hope is the Comforter, sent down to us from above, to distract us from everything earthly, to direct our gaze to the Lord, there are our treasures, and there we must seek consolation and joy.

Our friends who have departed to a better world will no longer return to us, we will no longer see a dear face on earth, we will not hear our beloved voice, but everything does not end with earthly life. Death is only a transition to the fullness of perfect life - this is our consolation, all our hope. Although they will not return to us, we will go to them when the Lord calls us. Our path is longer, our work is not yet finished, we have not yet earned peace, there is still something left for us to complete for the Lord. Our task must be completed here on earth. Then an eternal, joyful holiday in heaven will begin for us.

Let us come to terms with this task, let us carry it out conscientiously to the end, no matter how much it costs us in tears and labor. Let us “run with patience the race set before us” and patiently wait for God’s call to the eternal homeland. What bliss it will be when, in the radiance of His love, we will always “be with the Lord!” (Heb. 12:1). Do you really, mourning brethren, find no consolation in this living hope? Are your tears really blinding you to this bright vision?

Oh, go to Him to seek consolation and peace! He, knowing your weakness, will calm you with His loving gaze; His arms are open to you, hurry to take refuge in them from all your embarrassment and anxieties. Trust in the Divine Comforter, Who calls you to Himself and is ready to pour out on you, the unworthy, the weak, that peace and joy, the source of which is He Himself.

Accept with humility and love the cross sent down to you and bear it patiently. A little more, and a blissful moment will come when the Savior will call us to rest - to a place where there will be no more tears, no illness, no sighs.

This illness does not lead to death, but to the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it

Illness, sorrow, grief are encountered at every step. There is not a single person who could avoid this. But, although grief is, in essence, such an ordinary thing, it is, at the same time, very mysterious. And in the midst of grief, most often, the most natural question is: why? We will probably get the full answer only after the grave; but in part it is given to us here to understand the purpose and purpose of the trials sent down to us.

In order to understand this purpose, we must remember that our grief does not affect only us personally, but its effect extends much further. In the history of the illness, death and resurrection of Lazarus, we see confirmation of the above. This miracle performed by the Savior in Bethany had four different effects and meanings. It was necessary for the Savior Himself: “may the Son of God be glorified through her.” It was necessary for the apostles: “And I rejoice for you, that I was not there, so that you might believe” (v. 15).

The Savior knew what a strong impression this miracle would make on the apostles, and said: “I rejoice.” This event most closely concerned, of course, the sisters of Lazarus, and when their beloved brother, mourned by them as dead, was returned to them, they also received confidence in the Divinity of Jesus Christ. They knew for the first time what He could be for all who truly believe in Him. Finally, this same sorrow, this miracle was also necessary for the Jews themselves. Let us remember the words of the Savior: “Father, I thank You that You heard Me! I knew that You would always hear Me; but I said this for the people standing here, so that they might believe that You sent Me.”

The great sorrow that befell the sisters of Lazarus was thus supposed to have a beneficial effect on the people gathered for this occasion in Bethany.

The purpose of the sent down test appears to us here in a completely new sense; it is illuminated by a new light, in which we are perhaps not accustomed to clothe grief. However, even in our days, all trials and tribulations have the same definite goal - the salvation of the human soul. Every test is for the Lord only a way to demonstrate before people the omnipotence of His saving grace. Take heart, brothers! Take courage, be strengthened in hope, learn to “boast even in tribulations,” for “let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be complete and complete, lacking nothing.”

May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ

We are all, of course, ready to turn to the Lord with such a prayer, because we all need patience. In Jesus Christ, patience, like all His other qualities, reached perfection. “...He came to his own, and his own did not receive him” (John 1:11). The Savior never lost patience, never ceased to love, bless, do good to one and all, was always ready to pour out the gifts of His love, although he knew and saw that people, in their hardness of heart, rejected and did not accept them.

He opened His arms, stretched out His hands to the people, and the same people nailed them to the Cross! But, nailed to the Cross, the holy hands carried redemption and life. How often the disciples themselves did not understand the Lord, how often they upset Him with their unbelief, their cowardice, their hesitation; however, He never became irritated - his teaching did not cease, his love for them did not weaken.

How much patience was needed to be daily in this suffering, unhappy, often violent crowd, which did not give Him peace, demanding healing and help from Him. However, He gave himself to this crowd with constant meekness, exhausting all His strength in serving fallen and suffering humanity.

When He found himself face to face with His enemies, what a wonderful example of humility we see in Him! Since the world has existed, such humility has never been shown in anyone! He responded to cruel speeches, threats, and rude accusations with love and prayer for His murderers. In response to human malice, He gave His life.

We are amazed by such amazing patience and constancy of the Savior in His hard work on earth, which so often seemed thankless and unproductive. He Himself almost did not see the beneficial effect of His teaching; in this crowd that followed Him, there were not many who believed. The Savior was the Sower: the harvest was ahead!

So, in all the circumstances of His earthly life, the Lord gave us an example of divine patience. Let us pray: “May the Lord direct our hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ!” Let us learn to patiently endure failure at work without becoming discouraged; wait for the time favorable for action, fearing haste to bring harm instead of benefit and remembering that an unripe fruit, picked prematurely, does not have the proper strength and taste.

When I'm weak then I'm strong

(2 Cor.12:10)

Surrender yourself completely to Christ! Give Him complete power over yourself: let Him alone reign in your soul. Even in the midst of your work in the name of Christ, give yourself time to rest, come to your senses and wait in silence for His visit, so that not you, but He Himself will act in you and through you. Beware of too much vanity in your work. We all need daily renewal, daily communication and enlightenment from above. We need humility and we must remember that “His power is made perfect in weakness.” We must recognize our weakness and become little children in the hands of God, so that the hand of the Lord constantly controls us.

Remember how “Jacob was left alone, and someone wrestled with him” (Gen. 32:14). The Lord does not appear to us in a crowded crowd, not in a whirlpool of seething activity - no, He descends to us and finds us in solitude and silence. Perhaps you are lonely and sick? Perhaps you feel alienated from your loved ones, abandoned by everyone? Or have you lost that dear, close person who was your support, your consolation in life?

But you are not alone! Christ will visit you with His Spirit, you will see Him with the eyes of faith, and He will fill you with His power! But in order to accept this gift from Him, one must be imbued with humility, one must turn and be like children, only then can one receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. First of all, we need to recognize our own powerlessness and the power of God, which Jacob saw in the struggle with God when he saw God “face to face.”

“And he damaged the joint of Jacob’s thigh” (Gen. 32:25). He had previously been a believer, but after meeting the Lord he turned into “Israel,” that is, one who overcomes. Our constant infidelities, our retreats, our falls come from the fact that our soul has not yet met the Lord, that we have not accepted the Holy Spirit of God into ourselves. Only in daily communication with God, receiving from His hands the power of eternal life, can we overcome our weaknesses so as not to weaken, fall and perish on the earthly path.

Make friends for yourself with unrighteous wealth, so that they

when you become poor, they accepted you into eternal abodes

The parable of the evil steward confuses many. And in particular, for many it is not clear why the Savior seems to set the evil steward as an example, why He praises him and says to the disciples: “make friends for yourself with unrighteous wealth.” But, having carefully examined this story, we will find an explanation.

Firstly, the Savior does not set this man as an example - He exposes his wrong and dishonorable act as a warning to those who are inclined to fall into the same sin. Further, He points out how “the sons of this age are more shrewd than the sons of light, in their own way,” i.e., making every effort to extract benefit from every opportunity that presents itself, they, in other words, prudently save for a rainy day and act shrewder than the sons of light .

Although many acknowledge in words that time is nothing in comparison with eternity, yet all their concern is focused on temporary, transitory good. In their pursuit of eternal benefits, they do not show the zeal with which the evil ruler is filled in achieving his worldly goals. This is what the Lord wanted to say, and there is no way to justify this man.

It is often said that the Savior praised the evil steward, but if we read verse 8 with attention, we will see that he is praised by his master because he acted shrewdly. The third point remains, which is contained in the words of the Savior: “Make for yourself friends with unrighteous wealth.” What does the Savior mean by this expression? He calls unrighteous wealth money, which so often, and even in most cases, serves as a temptation and a means for sin.

“How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23). Considering all earthly wealth unrighteous, the Savior points out the only way in which it can serve us for salvation: by caring for the poor and needy, we must acquire such friends who will greet us with joy in the afterlife and open the doors to eternal abodes for us. In this parable, the Lord teaches us to look at wealth as a talent entrusted to us for the benefit of our neighbors, the use of which will require strict accountability from us. So, in this light, the parable becomes clear to us, and not a single word spoken by the Savior should be a stumbling block. We can remove every confusion by praying that the Lord “opens our minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).

“My soul grieves unto death; abide here and watch with Me.” (Matt. 26, 38).

How amazing this word is!

It was a command, or rather a request, from the Savior to the disciples, and the poor, tired disciples did not satisfy it. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” [Mat. 26, 4]; even in the Apostles, human flesh stifled spiritual vigor. Isn’t this call of the Savior partly addressed to us: “stay here and watch with Me.” He does not leave us; although invisible, He is always with us. With this thought, our earthly life turns into something solemn and sacred, “Stay here,” says the Lord, and wait for My call, wait, sometimes in the midst of melancholy and suffering, but with your gaze always directed towards the rising dawn, in the firm confidence that He will apparently appear before us. We will hear His voice calling us: “Get up, let’s go,” no longer to Calvary, not to the cross, but to the resurrection, to the heavenly homeland, to eternal joy!

"Watch with Me." We are never alone in our grief; “You are near, Lord!” [Ps. 119, 151], so close that our every whisper is heard by Him, every breath is noticed by Him. Heavenly Father sympathizes with us and awaits the moment when He finds us ready to accept His help; then He will send us relief. The Savior Himself needed sympathy, but due to their physical weakness, the disciples were unable to support Him with this sympathy in difficult times. Who can understand our longing better than Him? He is always close to us, and He Himself will help us answer His call: “Watch with Me.” Yes, Lord! Help us, awaken us from the sleep of sin, let us be so in unity with You that it is impossible for us to slumber in soul when Your work calls or suffers, when You need even Your weak co-workers! “The harvest is plentiful, the laborers are few,” You Yourself said. [Matt. 9, 37]. You Yourself went to heaven, but Your work remained on earth; Grant that, due to our negligence, there will be no damage to this holy cause!

Thus says the Lord, who created you and formed you...

Fear not... for I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry land

(Isa. 44, 2. 3)

He understands all our needs, because He created us with His hand, formed us, just as a potter forms from clay whatever he pleases. The One who created, without a doubt, will support His creation. “Fear not, for I will pour out waters and streams everywhere,” is what He tells us; Where there is thirst, there will be springs of living water. We thirst every moment for His presence, His peace, His salvation, and He promises streams!

“He opened the stone, and the waters flowed out, and flowed like a river into the dry places” (Ps. 104:41). Only God alone can do this. The difficult path of life is often a dry, barren desert in which our strength is exhausted. Grief does not always soften, but more often hardens our soul; but when the Lord stretches out His hand over our grief, when He reaches out to our hardened heart, then, and only then, will healing streams of living water flow upon us, irrigating all dry, barren places.

And even if our moral strength is exhausted to the point that we ourselves are not aware of our thirst, we will believe Him that we are a parched land in need of heavenly moisture, and ask Him to send streams of water to irrigate and revive the desert. He will alleviate, satisfy our needs more abundantly than we can imagine, and quench every spiritual thirst.

In St. Scripture says: “And he showed me a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Rev. 22:1). While this river flows, all thirsty souls can approach it and drink this water as much as they want: for: “You will give them to drink from the stream of Your sweets.” (Ps. 35:9). The fullness of endless joys awaits us when all earthly sorrows pass and when the Lord finds us ready to taste the heavenly bliss that He has prepared for us.

You, Lord, do not move away from me, my Strength! hurry to help me!

Savior! I come to You not because I can bring You firm, unshakable faith, a heart full of hope and submission. No! I come because I have nothing, because I have become poor. I suffer hunger and thirst, and You alone can satisfy me with the bread of life and give me to drink from the source of living water.

God! I can bring You nothing but a contrite heart, which I lay at Your feet. In painful hours of loneliness, from the depths of my sorrow, I cry to You, knowing that You want to extract me from the abyss of doubt and sin in which I am mired, and You Himself call me to Your wedding feast. Yes, although I am poor and wretched, I know that the Lord wants to clothe me in bright clothes, turn my poverty into imperishable wealth and crown my poverty with eternal glory. He alone is powerful to destroy all the evil in my soul, to illuminate the darkness with His light, to fill all my emptiness with the fullness of His grace.

Hidden heart man

(1 Peter 3, 4)

Each of us lives a double life. There is a man of external life, as he appears to outsiders, and there is a man of hidden life, as he appears before God. Someone even said that in each personality there are four people: the one whom people know; one whom close friends know; the one he himself knows and the one God knows. For the most part, these four people bear little resemblance to each other.

A person is not what he seems to be, not only to other people, but even to himself. The one whom God knows and sees is the hidden man without pretense, without lies, without any embellishment.

I remember at my parents’ house there was one heavy board that was lying right on the ground in the backyard. We children sometimes ran up to it and lifted it with great effort to see what was under it. Oh, what horror! Some gray, disgusting reptiles were crawling in all directions, and how they hid from the light! We would rather lower the board, run away, and then come back to look.

Perhaps everyone has such a board in their soul and in life. Its outer side may be polished, elegant, we ourselves like it, and we willingly show it to others. But there is an inner side, hidden, dark, which sticks to the ground and covers everything unclean. You need to raise this board, let it be saturated through and through with the light of God, let the inside be cleansed, and let the “hidden man” appear before God, pleasing to Him, whose “sin is covered, and in whose spirit there is no guile” (Ps. 31:1).

Peter followed Him from afar

Peter followed, but this following led him to denial, because he followed “from afar.” He moved away from Christ, this was the beginning of evil; he fell behind Him, and too much distance was formed between him and the Teacher. He felt some attraction, he followed Him, but not very closely.

In exactly the same way, today many follow Christ: they do not completely abandon Him, they do not go over to the side of unbelievers, but they are not closely tied to Him, they do not follow Him step by step, they follow “from afar.” How many people give themselves over to worldly worries, worldly pleasures and through this lose fellowship with Christ; they are too absorbed in all sorts of affairs, they approach Christ only as usual on Sunday, but lose sight of Him during the week.

Orthodox dogmatic 6,150.00 rub. 695 Righteous... in the temple (Bl) 100 7.50 rub. 712 Orthodox psychotherapy. Patristic 20 85.00 rub...

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Every day is a gift from God
Diary of an Orthodox Priest

With the blessing of Archbishop Sergius of Ternopil and Kremenets

Published from the book: Day after day. St. Petersburg; 1908

You need to live according to Evlngelius

The author of the book “Day by Day” is unknown (The title has been changed by the editors.). But the name of one of its most diligent and attentive readers is known: Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. The book fell into the hands of the Empress several years before the terrible events that befell Russia. And Alexandra Feodorovna never parted with her until the end of her life. The diaries and letters of the holy Royal Martyr testify to this.

There are especially many entries related to the book “The Back Day”.

From Tobolsk exile in November 1917, the Empress wrote in a letter to Anna Vyrubova: “Every morning I read the book that you gave me seven years ago, “Day by Day,” and I love it very much, I find many words of consolation.” The Empress wholeheartedly accepted the thoughts of the unknown author about Christian life, about faith, about the ways of salvation. From that tragic time, two large notebooks with blue paper covers miraculously survived - the Empress’s daily notes, a chronicle of events, small details of the Family’s daily life, without comment or reflection. Alexandra Feodorovna briefly writes: “Everyone went to the garden - some dug up grass in order to plant vegetables later”; “Children help in the kitchen every day,” “...the 4th regiment came to guard... 20 people. I brought them a small Christmas tree and some food – and for each – a Gospel with bookmarks that I drew.”... Calm notes from a man in whose soul peace and silence were established. No grumbling, complaints, tears...

At night, shots will ring out in the basement of the Ipatiev House. And on that fateful evening, the Empress writes: “Tatiana stayed with me and read: the Holy Prophet Amos and the Prophet Obadiah.” Holy Scripture was the source of amazing spiritual strength for this woman, who suffered from a serious heart disease, burdened with worries about the health of her son, anxiety for her Spouse, for her Family, for Russia, about which she said: “I feel like the mother of this country”!

Alexandra Feodorovna could not help but feel the approaching tragic outcome. The lines appear in the notebook: “...it will strengthen our faith and help us to believe in times of suffering and trials if we understand that nothing is aimless, nothing accidental, nothing created to harm us, but everything is designed to help us become nobler and live a fuller, happier life.”

It is no coincidence that Alexandra Feodorovna received the book “Day by Day” as a gift. It is no coincidence that this book was among the many works of spiritual content that the Royal Family took with them into exile.

The Providence of God is visible in this.

1st of January
Do not be like the barren fig tree

A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and came looking for fruit on it, and found none; and he said to the vinedresser, “Behold, I have come for the third year looking for fruit on this fig tree, and have not found it; cut it down: why does it occupy the land? But he answered him: Master! leave it for this year too... (Luke 13:6-8).

These words contain a hint of previous years. It is not the first time that the Owner of the vineyard has turned his attention to the fig tree, and it is not the first time that He has sought fruit from it in vain. Perhaps, in previous years, I was not able to improve enough? I, too, perhaps, failed to take advantage of the presenting opportunity for good and, like this fig tree, did not live up to the expectations of my Master? Will the same thing happen again this year? In the past years, a lot of time was lost, many cases were missed, there were few answers to the calls of my Master! Looking back at all these years, I must admit that they were completely fruitless! Will this year really be like the previous barren years?

No, the less time remains for me to fulfill the will of God, the closer I move towards the end, the more I am obliged to come to my senses, wake up and change a lot in my life! Looking over the past in my mind, I cannot help but remember the countless blessings that the Lord showered on me. How can I not hope that this year He will not abandon me with His love, His mercy? Whatever awaits me in the future, I have no doubt that the Lord Himself will direct my every step, and therefore, in full hope, I cross the threshold of the beginning of the year.

I’ll just ask myself: how did I spend the past year? I started it with zealous promises, with the best intentions, but they soon evaporated, and I spent it without benefit, gained nothing from it, did not move forward! Oh my God! Don't let me repeat the same thing “this year too”! Help me bring You fruit in the patience and humility of my heart!

January 2
Blessed is he who endures to the end

And Jesus answered them: go tell John what you have seen and heard (Luke 7:22).

John the Baptist, the one about whom Christ Himself said that he was “a lamp, burning and shining” (John 5:35), languished in prison for the sake of righteousness. The faithful, incorruptible witness of God angered the vicious king with his sincerity and bold denunciation of sin, and he deprived him of his freedom, after previously listening to him with pleasure, and imprisoned him. Yes, until John touched him personally, Herod was ready to praise him, but as soon as the fiery, accusatory word of God’s truth touched him and his sinful life, he became an enemy of God’s messenger.

And now the same thing happens: people praise the word of God until it becomes a witness against their sins. As soon as the soul feels conviction and does not want to repent and remove sin from itself, it pushes away the Gospel that confused it and, not wanting to submit, becomes indignant.

John submitted to the unjust sentence, undoubtedly because behind the arbitrariness of man he saw the will of God, which allowed this test. But a cloud of doubts swept over his soul, and his sorrowful disciples came to tell Jesus about this.

Jesus trusts firmly in His Forerunner; knows that this temporary cloud will soon pass and that eternal glory will follow the bloody outcome of this life. He knows that John’s strong spirit is now much more occupied with the Kingdom of God than with his personal fate, and sends him an answer worthy of him: “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear.” ", the dead are raised, the poor are preached." These are the signs and manifestations of the Kingdom of God that you came to proclaim. And what word do you have, martyr? “Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

The Lord sees that you will not be tempted, that you will endure to the end, and calls you blessed. And after the departure of John’s disciples, He continues to speak about him, saying that he is “greater than a prophet,” that he is the one about whom it is written: “Behold, I send My angel before Thy face.” Blessed is he who is not tempted, even when he does not see his own deliverance; blessed is he who has been given the power to endure, suffer and even die for the truth! Blessed are those humble disciples whom the Lord sends to His prisoners and sufferers to support and comfort them with the word of His unfailing love!

January 3
Source of comfort and joy

So that you do not grieve like others who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13).

How does God's word comfort us? How does it heal our open wounds? Oh, not as human words console! It does not offer us entertainment, does not distract us from grief, does not cover our wounds with oblivion. No! The Savior does not command us to forget our grief, He allows our tears, He Himself wept over the grave of Lazarus. But He does not command us to grieve as “those who have no hope.” And this hope is the Comforter, sent down to us from above, to distract us from everything earthly, to direct our gaze to the Lord, there are our treasures, and there we must seek consolation and joy.

Our friends who have departed to a better world will no longer return to us, we will no longer see a dear face on earth, we will not hear our beloved voice, but everything does not end with earthly life. Death is only a transition to the fullness of perfect life - this is our consolation, all our hope. Although they will not return to us, we will go to them when the Lord calls us. Our path is longer, our work is not yet finished, we have not yet earned peace, there is still something left for us to complete for the Lord. Our task must be completed here on earth. Then an eternal, joyful holiday in heaven will begin for us.

Let us come to terms with this task, let us carry it out conscientiously to the end, no matter how much it costs us in tears and labor. Let us “run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1) and patiently wait for God’s call to the eternal homeland. What bliss it will be when, in the radiance of His love, we will always “be with the Lord”! Do you really, mourning brethren, find no consolation in this living hope? Are your tears really blinding you to this bright vision?

Oh, go to Him to seek consolation and peace! He, knowing your weakness, will calm you with His loving gaze; His arms are open to you, hurry to take refuge in them from all your embarrassment and anxieties. Trust in the Divine Comforter, Who calls you to Himself and is ready to pour out on you, the unworthy, the weak, that peace and joy, the source of which is He Himself.

Accept, with humility and love, the cross sent down to you and bear it patiently. A little more, and a blissful moment will come when the Savior will call us to rest - to a place where there will be no more tears, no illness, no sighs.

4 January
Saving grace tested

This illness does not lead to death, but to the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it (John 11:4).

Illness, sorrow, grief are encountered at every step. There is not a single person who could avoid this. But, although grief is, in essence, such an ordinary thing, it is, at the same time, very mysterious. And in the midst of grief, most often, the most natural question is: why? We will probably get the full answer only after the grave; but in part it is given to us here to understand the purpose and purpose of the trials sent down to us.

In order to understand this purpose, we must remember that our grief does not affect only us personally, but its effect extends much further. In the history of the illness, death and resurrection of Lazarus, we see confirmation of the above. This miracle performed by the Savior in Bethany had four different effects and meanings. It was necessary for the Savior Himself: “may he (illness) be glorified through it. Ed.) God's Son". It was necessary for the apostles: “And I rejoice for you that I was not there, so that you might believe...” (John 11:15).

The Savior knew what a strong impression this miracle would make on the apostles, and said: “I rejoice.” This event was closest to everything; of course, the sisters of Lazarus, and when their beloved brother, mourned by them as dead, was returned to them, they also received confidence in the Divinity of Jesus Christ. They knew for the first time what He could be for all who truly believe in Him. Finally, this same sorrow, this miracle was also necessary for the Jews themselves. Let us remember the words of the Savior: “Father, I thank You that You heard Me! I knew that You would always hear Me; But I said this for the sake of the people standing here, so that they might believe that You sent Me.”

The great sorrow that befell the sisters of Lazarus was thus supposed to have a beneficial effect on the people gathered for this occasion in Bethany.

The purpose of the sent down test appears to us here in a completely new sense; it is illuminated by a new light, in which we are perhaps not accustomed to clothe grief. However, even in our days, all trials and tribulations have the same definite goal - the salvation of the human soul. Every test is for the Lord only a way to demonstrate before people the omnipotence of His saving grace. Take heart, brothers! Take courage, be strengthened in hope, learn to “boast even in tribulations,” for “let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be complete and complete, lacking nothing.”

5 January
Great example of patience

May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ (2 Thess. 3:5).

We are all, of course, ready to turn to the Lord with such a prayer, because we all need patience. In Jesus Christ, patience, like all His other qualities, reached perfection. “...He came to his own, and his own did not receive him” (John 1:11). The Savior never lost patience, never ceased to love, bless, do good to one and all, was always ready to pour out the gifts of His love, although he knew and saw that people, in their hardness of heart, rejected and did not accept them.

He opened His arms, stretched out His hands to the people, and the same people nailed them to the Cross! But, nailed to the Cross, the holy hands carried redemption and life. How often the disciples themselves did not understand the Lord, how often they upset Him with their unbelief, their cowardice, their hesitation; however, He never became irritated - his teaching did not cease, his love for them did not weaken. How much patience was needed to be daily in this suffering, unhappy, often violent crowd, which did not give Him peace, demanding healing and help from Him. However, He gave himself to this crowd with constant meekness, exhausting all His strength in serving fallen and suffering humanity.

When He found himself face to face with His enemies, what a wonderful example of humility we see in Him! Since the world has existed, such humility has never been shown in anyone! He responded to cruel speeches, threats, and rude accusations with love and prayer for His murderers. In response to human malice, He gave His life.

We are amazed by such amazing patience and constancy of the Savior in His hard work on earth, which so often seemed thankless and unproductive. He Himself almost did not see the beneficial effect of His teaching; in this crowd that followed Him, there were not many who believed. The Savior was the Sower: the harvest was ahead!

So, in all the circumstances of His earthly life, the Lord gave us an example of divine patience. Let us pray: “May the Lord direct our hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ!” Let us learn to patiently endure failure at work without becoming discouraged; wait for the time favorable for action, fearing haste to bring harm instead of benefit and remembering that an unripe fruit, picked prematurely, does not have the proper strength and taste.

6th January
Strengthen your unity with God

When I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor. 12:10).

Surrender yourself completely to Christ! Give Him complete power over yourself: let Him alone reign in your soul. Even in the midst of your work in the name of Christ, give yourself time to rest, come to your senses and wait in silence for His visit, so that not you, but He Himself will act in you and through you. Beware of too much vanity in your work. We all need daily renewal, daily communication and enlightenment from above. We need humility, and we must remember that “His power is made perfect in weakness.” We must recognize our weakness and become little children in the hands of God, so that the hand of the Lord constantly controls us.

Remember how “Jacob was left alone, and someone wrestled with him” (Gen. 32:24). The Lord does not appear to us in a crowded crowd, not in a whirlpool of seething activity - no, He descends to us and finds us in solitude and silence. Perhaps you are lonely and sick? Perhaps you feel alienated from your loved ones, abandoned by everyone? Or have you lost that dear, close person who was your support, your consolation in life?

But you are not alone! Christ will visit you with His Spirit, you will see Him with the eyes of faith, and He will fill you with His power! But in order to accept this gift from Him, one must be imbued with humility, one must turn and be like children, only then can one receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. First of all, we need to realize our own powerlessness and the power of God, which Jacob saw in the struggle with God when he saw God “face to face.”

“And the compound damaged Jacob’s thigh” (Gen. 32:25). He had previously been a believer, but after meeting the Lord he turned into “Israel,” that is, one who overcomes. Our constant infidelities, our retreats, our falls come from the fact that our soul has not yet met the Lord, that we have not accepted the Holy Spirit of God into ourselves. Only in daily communication with God, receiving from His hands the power of eternal life, can we overcome our weaknesses so as not to weaken, fall and perish on the earthly path.

Jan. 7
Wealth for salvation

Make friends for yourself with unrighteous wealth, so that when you become poor, they will receive you into eternal abodes (Luke 16:9).

The parable of the evil steward confuses many. And, in particular, in it it is not clear to many why the Savior seems to set the evil steward as an example, why He praises him and says to the disciples: “Make for yourselves friends with unrighteous wealth.” But, having carefully examined this story, we will find an explanation.

First, the Savior does not set this man as an example: He exposes his wrong and dishonorable act as a warning to those who are inclined to fall into the same sin. Further, He points out how “the sons of this age are more shrewd than the sons of Light, in their own way,” that is, straining every effort to extract benefit from every opportunity that presents itself, they, in other words, prudently save for a rainy day and act shrewder than the sons of Light.

Although many acknowledge in words that time is nothing in comparison with eternity, yet all their concern is focused on temporary, transitory good. In their pursuit of eternal benefits, they do not show the zeal with which the evil ruler is filled in achieving his worldly goals. This is what the Lord wanted to say, and there is no way to justify this man.

It is often said that the Savior praised the evil steward, but if we read verse 8 with attention, we will see that he is praised by his master because he acted shrewdly. The third point remains, which is contained in the words of the Savior: “Make for yourself friends with unrighteous wealth.” What does the Savior mean by this expression? He calls unrighteous wealth money, which so often, and even in most cases, serves as a temptation and a means for sin.

“How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23). Considering all earthly wealth unrighteous, the Savior points out the only way in which it can serve us for salvation: by caring for the poor and needy, we must acquire such friends who will greet us with joy in the afterlife and open the doors to eternal abodes for us. In this parable, the Lord teaches us to look at wealth as a talent entrusted to us for the benefit of our neighbors, the use of which will require strict accountability from us. So, in this light, the parable becomes clear to us, and not a single word spoken by the Savior should be a stumbling block. We can eliminate every confusion by praying that the Lord “opens... the mind to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).

January 8
Don't sleep, my soul

This is a command or, rather, a request of the Savior to the disciples, but the poor tired disciples did not fulfill it. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41); even in the apostles, human flesh stifled spiritual vigor. Isn’t this call of the Savior partly addressed to us: “stay here and watch with Me”? He does not leave us; although invisible, He is always with us. With this thought, our earthly life turns into something solemn and sacred.

“Stay here,” says the Lord, and wait for My call. Wait, sometimes in the midst of melancholy and suffering, but with your gaze always directed towards the rising dawn, in the firm confidence that He will visibly appear before us. We will hear His voice calling us: “Get up, let’s go,” no longer to Calvary, not to the cross, but to the resurrection, to the heavenly homeland, to eternal joy!

"Watch with Me." We are never alone in our grief; “You are near, O Lord” (Ps. 119, 151). So close that our every whisper is heard by Him, every breath is noticed by Him. Heavenly Father sympathizes with us and awaits the moment when He finds us ready to accept His help; then He will send us relief. The Savior Himself needed sympathy, but due to their physical weakness, the disciples were unable to support Him with this sympathy in difficult times. Who better than Him can understand our longing? He is always close to us, and He Himself will help us answer His call: “Watch with Me.” Yes, Lord! Help us, awaken us from the sleep of sin, let us be so in unity with You that it is impossible for us to slumber in soul when Your work calls us, when You need even Your weak co-workers! “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37), You Yourself said. You Yourself went to heaven, but Your work remained on earth; Grant that, due to our negligence, there will be no damage to this holy cause!

With the blessing of Archbishop Sergius of Ternopil and Kremenets

Published from the book: Day after day. St. Petersburg; 1908

You need to live according to Evlngelius

The author of the book “Day by Day” is unknown (The title has been changed by the editors.). But the name of one of its most diligent and attentive readers is known: Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. The book fell into the hands of the Empress several years before the terrible events that befell Russia. And Alexandra Feodorovna never parted with her until the end of her life. The diaries and letters of the holy Royal Martyr testify to this.

There are especially many entries related to the book “The Back Day”.

From Tobolsk exile in November 1917, the Empress wrote in a letter to Anna Vyrubova: “Every morning I read the book that you gave me seven years ago, “Day by Day,” and I love it very much, I find many words of consolation.” The Empress wholeheartedly accepted the thoughts of the unknown author about Christian life, about faith, about the ways of salvation. From that tragic time, two large notebooks with blue paper covers miraculously survived - the Empress’s daily notes, a chronicle of events, small details of the Family’s daily life, without comment or reflection. Alexandra Feodorovna briefly writes: “Everyone went to the garden - some dug up grass in order to plant vegetables later”; “Children help in the kitchen every day,” “...the 4th regiment came to guard... 20 people. I brought them a small Christmas tree and some food – and for each – a Gospel with bookmarks that I drew.”... Calm notes from a man in whose soul peace and silence were established. No grumbling, complaints, tears...

At night, shots will ring out in the basement of the Ipatiev House. And on that fateful evening, the Empress writes: “Tatiana stayed with me and read: the Holy Prophet Amos and the Prophet Obadiah.” Holy Scripture was the source of amazing spiritual strength for this woman, who suffered from a serious heart disease, burdened with worries about the health of her son, anxiety for her Spouse, for her Family, for Russia, about which she said: “I feel like the mother of this country”!

Alexandra Feodorovna could not help but feel the approaching tragic outcome. The lines appear in the notebook: “...it will strengthen our faith and help us to believe in times of suffering and trials if we understand that nothing is aimless, nothing accidental, nothing created to harm us, but everything is designed to help us become nobler and live a fuller, happier life.”

It is no coincidence that Alexandra Feodorovna received the book “Day by Day” as a gift. It is no coincidence that this book was among the many works of spiritual content that the Royal Family took with them into exile.

The Providence of God is visible in this.

1st of January
Do not be like the barren fig tree

A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and came looking for fruit on it, and found none; and he said to the vinedresser, “Behold, I have come for the third year looking for fruit on this fig tree, and have not found it; cut it down: why does it occupy the land? But he answered him: Master! leave it for this year too...

(Luke 13:6-8).

These words contain a hint of previous years. It is not the first time that the Owner of the vineyard has turned his attention to the fig tree, and it is not the first time that He has sought fruit from it in vain. Perhaps, in previous years, I was not able to improve enough? I, too, perhaps, failed to take advantage of the presenting opportunity for good and, like this fig tree, did not live up to the expectations of my Master? Will the same thing happen again this year? In the past years, a lot of time was lost, many cases were missed, there were few answers to the calls of my Master! Looking back at all these years, I must admit that they were completely fruitless! Will this year really be like the previous barren years?

No, the less time remains for me to fulfill the will of God, the closer I move towards the end, the more I am obliged to come to my senses, wake up and change a lot in my life! Looking over the past in my mind, I cannot help but remember the countless blessings that the Lord showered on me. How can I not hope that this year He will not abandon me with His love, His mercy? Whatever awaits me in the future, I have no doubt that the Lord Himself will direct my every step, and therefore, in full hope, I cross the threshold of the beginning of the year.

I’ll just ask myself: how did I spend the past year? I started it with zealous promises, with the best intentions, but they soon evaporated, and I spent it without benefit, gained nothing from it, did not move forward! Oh my God! Don't let me repeat the same thing “this year too”! Help me bring You fruit in the patience and humility of my heart!

January 2
Blessed is he who endures to the end

And Jesus answered them: go tell John what you have seen and heard (Luke 7:22).

John the Baptist, the one about whom Christ Himself said that he was “a lamp, burning and shining” (John 5:35), languished in prison for the sake of righteousness. The faithful, incorruptible witness of God angered the vicious king with his sincerity and bold denunciation of sin, and he deprived him of his freedom, after previously listening to him with pleasure, and imprisoned him. Yes, until John touched him personally, Herod was ready to praise him, but as soon as the fiery, accusatory word of God’s truth touched him and his sinful life, he became an enemy of God’s messenger.

And now the same thing happens: people praise the word of God until it becomes a witness against their sins. As soon as the soul feels conviction and does not want to repent and remove sin from itself, it pushes away the Gospel that confused it and, not wanting to submit, becomes indignant.

John submitted to the unjust sentence, undoubtedly because behind the arbitrariness of man he saw the will of God, which allowed this test. But a cloud of doubts swept over his soul, and his sorrowful disciples came to tell Jesus about this.

Jesus trusts firmly in His Forerunner; knows that this temporary cloud will soon pass and that eternal glory will follow the bloody outcome of this life. He knows that John’s strong spirit is now much more occupied with the Kingdom of God than with his personal fate, and sends him an answer worthy of him: “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear.” ", the dead are raised, the poor are preached." These are the signs and manifestations of the Kingdom of God that you came to proclaim. And what word do you have, martyr? “Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

The Lord sees that you will not be tempted, that you will endure to the end, and calls you blessed. And after the departure of John’s disciples, He continues to speak about him, saying that he is “greater than a prophet,” that he is the one about whom it is written: “Behold, I send My angel before Thy face.” Blessed is he who is not tempted, even when he does not see his own deliverance; blessed is he who has been given the power to endure, suffer and even die for the truth! Blessed are those humble disciples whom the Lord sends to His prisoners and sufferers to support and comfort them with the word of His unfailing love!

January 3
Source of comfort and joy

So that you do not grieve like others who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13).

How does God's word comfort us? How does it heal our open wounds? Oh, not as human words console! It does not offer us entertainment, does not distract us from grief, does not cover our wounds with oblivion. No! The Savior does not command us to forget our grief, He allows our tears, He Himself wept over the grave of Lazarus. But He does not command us to grieve as “those who have no hope.” And this hope is the Comforter, sent down to us from above, to distract us from everything earthly, to direct our gaze to the Lord, there are our treasures, and there we must seek consolation and joy.

Our friends who have departed to a better world will no longer return to us, we will no longer see a dear face on earth, we will not hear our beloved voice, but everything does not end with earthly life. Death is only a transition to the fullness of perfect life - this is our consolation, all our hope. Although they will not return to us, we will go to them when the Lord calls us. Our path is longer, our work is not yet finished, we have not yet earned peace, there is still something left for us to complete for the Lord. Our task must be completed here on earth. Then an eternal, joyful holiday in heaven will begin for us.

Let us come to terms with this task, let us carry it out conscientiously to the end, no matter how much it costs us in tears and labor. Let us “run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1) and patiently wait for God’s call to the eternal homeland. What bliss it will be when, in the radiance of His love, we will always “be with the Lord”! Do you really, mourning brethren, find no consolation in this living hope? Are your tears really blinding you to this bright vision?

Oh, go to Him to seek consolation and peace! He, knowing your weakness, will calm you with His loving gaze; His arms are open to you, hurry to take refuge in them from all your embarrassment and anxieties. Trust in the Divine Comforter, Who calls you to Himself and is ready to pour out on you, the unworthy, the weak, that peace and joy, the source of which is He Himself.

Accept, with humility and love, the cross sent down to you and bear it patiently. A little more, and a blissful moment will come when the Savior will call us to rest - to a place where there will be no more tears, no illness, no sighs.

4 January
Saving grace tested

This illness does not lead to death, but to the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it (John 11:4).

Illness, sorrow, grief are encountered at every step. There is not a single person who could avoid this. But, although grief is, in essence, such an ordinary thing, it is, at the same time, very mysterious. And in the midst of grief, most often, the most natural question is: why? We will probably get the full answer only after the grave; but in part it is given to us here to understand the purpose and purpose of the trials sent down to us.

In order to understand this purpose, we must remember that our grief does not affect only us personally, but its effect extends much further. In the history of the illness, death and resurrection of Lazarus, we see confirmation of the above. This miracle performed by the Savior in Bethany had four different effects and meanings. It was necessary for the Savior Himself: “may he (illness) be glorified through it. Ed.) God's Son". It was necessary for the apostles: “And I rejoice for you that I was not there, so that you might believe...” (John 11:15).

The Savior knew what a strong impression this miracle would make on the apostles, and said: “I rejoice.” This event was closest to everything; of course, the sisters of Lazarus, and when their beloved brother, mourned by them as dead, was returned to them, they also received confidence in the Divinity of Jesus Christ. They knew for the first time what He could be for all who truly believe in Him. Finally, this same sorrow, this miracle was also necessary for the Jews themselves. Let us remember the words of the Savior: “Father, I thank You that You heard Me! I knew that You would always hear Me; But I said this for the sake of the people standing here, so that they might believe that You sent Me.”

The great sorrow that befell the sisters of Lazarus was thus supposed to have a beneficial effect on the people gathered for this occasion in Bethany.

The purpose of the sent down test appears to us here in a completely new sense; it is illuminated by a new light, in which we are perhaps not accustomed to clothe grief. However, even in our days, all trials and tribulations have the same definite goal - the salvation of the human soul. Every test is for the Lord only a way to demonstrate before people the omnipotence of His saving grace. Take heart, brothers! Take courage, be strengthened in hope, learn to “boast even in tribulations,” for “let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be complete and complete, lacking nothing.”

5 January
Great example of patience

May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ (2 Thess. 3:5).

We are all, of course, ready to turn to the Lord with such a prayer, because we all need patience. In Jesus Christ, patience, like all His other qualities, reached perfection. “...He came to his own, and his own did not receive him” (John 1:11). The Savior never lost patience, never ceased to love, bless, do good to one and all, was always ready to pour out the gifts of His love, although he knew and saw that people, in their hardness of heart, rejected and did not accept them.

He opened His arms, stretched out His hands to the people, and the same people nailed them to the Cross! But, nailed to the Cross, the holy hands carried redemption and life. How often the disciples themselves did not understand the Lord, how often they upset Him with their unbelief, their cowardice, their hesitation; however, He never became irritated - his teaching did not cease, his love for them did not weaken. How much patience was needed to be daily in this suffering, unhappy, often violent crowd, which did not give Him peace, demanding healing and help from Him. However, He gave himself to this crowd with constant meekness, exhausting all His strength in serving fallen and suffering humanity.

When He found himself face to face with His enemies, what a wonderful example of humility we see in Him! Since the world has existed, such humility has never been shown in anyone! He responded to cruel speeches, threats, and rude accusations with love and prayer for His murderers. In response to human malice, He gave His life.

We are amazed by such amazing patience and constancy of the Savior in His hard work on earth, which so often seemed thankless and unproductive. He Himself almost did not see the beneficial effect of His teaching; in this crowd that followed Him, there were not many who believed. The Savior was the Sower: the harvest was ahead!

So, in all the circumstances of His earthly life, the Lord gave us an example of divine patience. Let us pray: “May the Lord direct our hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ!” Let us learn to patiently endure failure at work without becoming discouraged; wait for the time favorable for action, fearing haste to bring harm instead of benefit and remembering that an unripe fruit, picked prematurely, does not have the proper strength and taste.

6th January
Strengthen your unity with God

When I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor. 12:10).

Surrender yourself completely to Christ! Give Him complete power over yourself: let Him alone reign in your soul. Even in the midst of your work in the name of Christ, give yourself time to rest, come to your senses and wait in silence for His visit, so that not you, but He Himself will act in you and through you. Beware of too much vanity in your work. We all need daily renewal, daily communication and enlightenment from above. We need humility, and we must remember that “His power is made perfect in weakness.” We must recognize our weakness and become little children in the hands of God, so that the hand of the Lord constantly controls us.

Remember how “Jacob was left alone, and someone wrestled with him” (Gen. 32:24). The Lord does not appear to us in a crowded crowd, not in a whirlpool of seething activity - no, He descends to us and finds us in solitude and silence. Perhaps you are lonely and sick? Perhaps you feel alienated from your loved ones, abandoned by everyone? Or have you lost that dear, close person who was your support, your consolation in life?

But you are not alone! Christ will visit you with His Spirit, you will see Him with the eyes of faith, and He will fill you with His power! But in order to accept this gift from Him, one must be imbued with humility, one must turn and be like children, only then can one receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. First of all, we need to realize our own powerlessness and the power of God, which Jacob saw in the struggle with God when he saw God “face to face.”

“And the compound damaged Jacob’s thigh” (Gen. 32:25). He had previously been a believer, but after meeting the Lord he turned into “Israel,” that is, one who overcomes. Our constant infidelities, our retreats, our falls come from the fact that our soul has not yet met the Lord, that we have not accepted the Holy Spirit of God into ourselves. Only in daily communication with God, receiving from His hands the power of eternal life, can we overcome our weaknesses so as not to weaken, fall and perish on the earthly path.

Jan. 7
Wealth for salvation

Make friends for yourself with unrighteous wealth, so that when you become poor, they will receive you into eternal abodes (Luke 16:9).

The parable of the evil steward confuses many. And, in particular, in it it is not clear to many why the Savior seems to set the evil steward as an example, why He praises him and says to the disciples: “Make for yourselves friends with unrighteous wealth.” But, having carefully examined this story, we will find an explanation.

First, the Savior does not set this man as an example: He exposes his wrong and dishonorable act as a warning to those who are inclined to fall into the same sin. Further, He points out how “the sons of this age are more shrewd than the sons of Light, in their own way,” that is, straining every effort to extract benefit from every opportunity that presents itself, they, in other words, prudently save for a rainy day and act shrewder than the sons of Light.

Although many acknowledge in words that time is nothing in comparison with eternity, yet all their concern is focused on temporary, transitory good. In their pursuit of eternal benefits, they do not show the zeal with which the evil ruler is filled in achieving his worldly goals. This is what the Lord wanted to say, and there is no way to justify this man.

It is often said that the Savior praised the evil steward, but if we read verse 8 with attention, we will see that he is praised by his master because he acted shrewdly. The third point remains, which is contained in the words of the Savior: “Make for yourself friends with unrighteous wealth.” What does the Savior mean by this expression? He calls unrighteous wealth money, which so often, and even in most cases, serves as a temptation and a means for sin.

“How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23). Considering all earthly wealth unrighteous, the Savior points out the only way in which it can serve us for salvation: by caring for the poor and needy, we must acquire such friends who will greet us with joy in the afterlife and open the doors to eternal abodes for us. In this parable, the Lord teaches us to look at wealth as a talent entrusted to us for the benefit of our neighbors, the use of which will require strict accountability from us. So, in this light, the parable becomes clear to us, and not a single word spoken by the Savior should be a stumbling block. We can eliminate every confusion by praying that the Lord “opens... the mind to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).

January 8
Don't sleep, my soul

This is a command or, rather, a request of the Savior to the disciples, but the poor tired disciples did not fulfill it. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41); even in the apostles, human flesh stifled spiritual vigor. Isn’t this call of the Savior partly addressed to us: “stay here and watch with Me”? He does not leave us; although invisible, He is always with us. With this thought, our earthly life turns into something solemn and sacred.

“Stay here,” says the Lord, and wait for My call. Wait, sometimes in the midst of melancholy and suffering, but with your gaze always directed towards the rising dawn, in the firm confidence that He will visibly appear before us. We will hear His voice calling us: “Get up, let’s go,” no longer to Calvary, not to the cross, but to the resurrection, to the heavenly homeland, to eternal joy!

"Watch with Me." We are never alone in our grief; “You are near, O Lord” (Ps. 119, 151). So close that our every whisper is heard by Him, every breath is noticed by Him. Heavenly Father sympathizes with us and awaits the moment when He finds us ready to accept His help; then He will send us relief. The Savior Himself needed sympathy, but due to their physical weakness, the disciples were unable to support Him with this sympathy in difficult times. Who better than Him can understand our longing? He is always close to us, and He Himself will help us answer His call: “Watch with Me.” Yes, Lord! Help us, awaken us from the sleep of sin, let us be so in unity with You that it is impossible for us to slumber in soul when Your work calls us, when You need even Your weak co-workers! “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37), You Yourself said. You Yourself went to heaven, but Your work remained on earth; Grant that, due to our negligence, there will be no damage to this holy cause!

Day after day. Diary of an Orthodox Priest

Preface

Fill us early with Thy mercy, and we will rejoice all our days.

Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). These words of our Lord Jesus Christ, addressed to the suffering human race, sound even more inviting in our time, when the world already seems to be overflowing with evil, and the cup of suffering seems unbearable to many. But life was given to us by God as a sacred thing, and the cross of sorrows, inevitable for everyone, is sent by the Lord Himself, so that we become like Him both in the Crucifixion and in the Resurrection for eternal life.

The Word of God illuminates all the paths of salvation in life, and a soul that is exhausted, but decides to patiently follow Christ, daily resorting to this gracious source of truth, will certainly receive understanding and strength to overcome any grief and disaster.

This is evidenced by the diary of a priest, whose name remains unknown, with a simple and profound title: “Day after Day.” Every day the author humbly and reverently reflects on the lines of Holy Scripture with deep faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and a miracle happens: everyday hardships and sorrows are transformed into a source of fiery spiritual joy and praise to God, who loved and saves sinful humanity.

This book was published in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century in a small edition and, undoubtedly, by the Providence of God it fell into the hands of the holy royal passion-bearers. Holy Queen Alexandra Feodorovna read and re-read it while imprisoned in Tobolsk, about which she wrote to Anna Vyrubova (Taneeva) on November 24, 1917:

“Every morning I read the book that you gave me seven years ago, “Day by Day,” and I love it very much, I find many words of consolation.” In the letters of the Empress and the Grand Duchesses of those sorrowful days there are no complaints or despondency; on the contrary, they tried to console everyone, to encourage them even in their most bleak situation, and often these words of consolation were taken from the book “Day by Day”: “From the moment you put everything in His (God’s) hands, letting Him rule you apart from yourself and accepting His will unquestioningly, in your heart, believe me, an undisturbed peace will be established in your soul, this peace that is above all understanding.” The holy royal martyrs had such peace in their souls, being in prison, aware of the collapse of everything, on the eve of martyrdom!

Such is the divine power of the Word of God received with living faith in Jesus Christ.

This book can awaken in us the need to turn to the living Word of God every day. It will feed us with spiritual food, support us with a ray of Heavenly light, send us blessings, consolation, strengthening and strength to live this day, rejoicing, in the consciousness of the nearness of our Lord Jesus Christ, His mercy and help. People always need such support, and it is given to everyone, even the weakest, who, aware of their weakness and emptiness, goes to the Source and is filled with Him.

And for this year.

These words contain a hint of previous years. It is not the first time that the Owner of the vineyard has turned his attention to the fig tree, nor is it the first time that He has sought fruit from it in vain. Perhaps I also failed to improve enough in previous years? I, too, perhaps, failed to take advantage of the presenting opportunity for good and, like this fig tree, did not live up to the expectations of my Master? Will the same thing happen again this year? In the past years, a lot of time was lost, many cases were missed, there were few answers to the calls of my Master! Looking back at all these years, I must admit that they were completely fruitless! Will this year really be like the previous barren years?

No, the less time remains for me to fulfill the will of God, the closer I move towards the end, the more I am obliged to come to my senses, wake up and change a lot in my life! Looking over the past in my mind, I cannot help but remember the countless blessings that the Lord showered on me. How can I not hope that this year He will not abandon me with His love, His mercy? Whatever awaits me in the future, I have no doubt that the Lord Himself will direct my every step, and therefore, in full hope, I cross the threshold of the beginning of the year.

Day after day. Diary of an Orthodox Priest

Preface

Fill us early with Thy mercy, and we will rejoice all our days.

Ps. 89, 14

Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

Matt. 28.20

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). These words of our Lord Jesus Christ, addressed to the suffering human race, sound even more inviting in our time, when the world already seems to be overflowing with evil, and the cup of suffering seems unbearable to many. But life was given to us by God as a sacred thing, and the cross of sorrows, inevitable for everyone, is sent by the Lord Himself, so that we become like Him both in the Crucifixion and in the Resurrection for eternal life.

The Word of God illuminates all the paths of salvation in life, and a soul that is exhausted, but decides to patiently follow Christ, daily resorting to this gracious source of truth, will certainly receive understanding and strength to overcome any grief and disaster.

This is evidenced by the diary of a priest, whose name remains unknown, with a simple and profound title: “Day after Day.” Every day the author humbly and reverently reflects on the lines of Holy Scripture with deep faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and a miracle happens: everyday hardships and sorrows are transformed into a source of fiery spiritual joy and praise to God, who loved and saves sinful humanity.

This book was published in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century in a small edition and, undoubtedly, by the Providence of God it fell into the hands of the holy royal passion-bearers. Holy Queen Alexandra Feodorovna read and re-read it while imprisoned in Tobolsk, about which she wrote to Anna Vyrubova (Taneeva) on November 24, 1917:

“Every morning I read the book that you gave me seven years ago, “Day by Day,” and I love it very much, I find many words of consolation.” In the letters of the Empress and the Grand Duchesses of those sorrowful days there are no complaints or despondency; on the contrary, they tried to console everyone, to encourage them even in their most bleak situation, and often these words of consolation were taken from the book “Day by Day”: “From the moment you put everything in His (God’s) hands, letting Him rule you apart from yourself and accepting His will unquestioningly, in your heart, believe me, an undisturbed peace will be established in your soul, this peace that is above all understanding.” The holy royal martyrs had such peace in their souls, being in prison, aware of the collapse of everything, on the eve of martyrdom!

Such is the divine power of the Word of God received with living faith in Jesus Christ.

This book can awaken in us the need to turn to the living Word of God every day. It will feed us with spiritual food, support us with a ray of Heavenly light, send us blessings, consolation, strengthening and strength to live this day, rejoicing, in the consciousness of the nearness of our Lord Jesus Christ, His mercy and help. People always need such support, and it is given to everyone, even the weakest, who, aware of their weakness and emptiness, goes to the Source and is filled with Him.

And for this year.

(Luke 13.8)

These words contain a hint of previous years. It is not the first time that the Owner of the vineyard has turned his attention to the fig tree, nor is it the first time that He has sought fruit from it in vain. Perhaps I also failed to improve enough in previous years? I, too, perhaps, failed to take advantage of the presenting opportunity for good and, like this fig tree, did not live up to the expectations of my Master? Will the same thing happen again this year? In the past years, a lot of time was lost, many cases were missed, there were few answers to the calls of my Master! Looking back at all these years, I must admit that they were completely fruitless! Will this year really be like the previous barren years?

No, the less time remains for me to fulfill the will of God, the closer I move towards the end, the more I am obliged to come to my senses, wake up and change a lot in my life! Looking over the past in my mind, I cannot help but remember the countless blessings that the Lord showered on me. How can I not hope that this year He will not abandon me with His love, His mercy? Whatever awaits me in the future, I have no doubt that the Lord Himself will direct my every step, and therefore, in full hope, I cross the threshold of the beginning of the year.

I’ll just ask myself: how did I spend the past year? I started it with zealous promises, with the best intentions, but they soon evaporated, and I spent it without benefit, gained nothing from it, did not move forward! Oh my God! Don't let me repeat the same thing "this year too"! Help me bring You fruit in the patience and humility of my heart!

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard.”

(Luke 7:22)

John the Baptist, the one about whom Christ Himself said that he was a “burning and shining lamp” (John 5:35), languished in prison for the sake of righteousness. The faithful, incorruptible witness of God angered the vicious king with his sincerity and bold denunciation of sin, and he deprived him of his freedom, after previously listening to him with pleasure, and imprisoned him. Yes, until John touched him personally, Herod was ready to praise him, but as soon as the fiery, accusatory word of God’s truth touched him and his sinful life, he became an enemy of God’s messenger.

And now the same thing happens: people praise the word of God until it becomes a witness against their sins. As soon as the soul feels conviction and does not want to repent and remove sin from itself, it pushes away the Gospel that confused it, and, not wanting to submit, becomes indignant.

John submitted to the unjust sentence, undoubtedly because behind the arbitrariness of man he saw the will of God, which allowed this test. But a cloud of doubt swept over his soul, and