Finally, brethren, let us neglect the temporary, and let us take care of the eternal blessings promised to us. Let us make an effort before it gets dark, before this market place is over: let us make friends for ourselves from the mammon of unrighteousness (Luke 16:9). Let us gain many poor people as witnesses, let us buy oil from them, and let us send before us: for these are those who sell oil for lamps: widows, orphans, the infirm, the maimed, the lame, the blind, the lepers, and all the poor who sit at the doors of the church. Let us bow them to our side; they will reconcile the Judge with us. Let us not turn away from those who come to us, but let us greet them cheerfully; and those who do not have the strength to come, we ourselves will send them: this is more important than the first. Let each one inquire into the churches if there is a poor person or a stranger, and, having found him, he will try to receive him into his house and give him rest. Let each one make an effort to anticipate the poor, before all those who wish to do this, because Christ enters the house together with the poor, Who became poor for our sake; for by such sacrifices God is pleased (Heb. 13:16). And if thou receivest the prophet... if I prophesy shall receive a reward (Matt. 10:41), then what reward will he receive who receives Christ Himself? Obviously, the one about whom it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor ascended into the heart of man... (1 Cor. 2:9). Whoever brings the poor into his house also brings in Christ, Who said: Blessed are the merciful... (Matt. 5:7). The poor have mercy on God in return (Proverbs 19:17), who said: "Inasmuch as you have created one of these my least brethren, you have created me together" (Matt. 25:40). Whoever receives a stranger under his roof receives Christ, Who said: "But the Son of God hath not where to lay his head" (Luke 9:58). All this and the like are the fruits of repentance, the crown, the praise and glory of Christians.

Let not the all-wise boast in his wisdom... and mighty in his strength (1 Sam. 2:10), but let everyone boast, let him glory in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:31). The praise of Christians is the commandment of the Lord. The praise of Christians is the teachings of the apostles and prophets. The praise of Christians is humility, spiritual poverty, and obedience. Praise to Christians is touching psalmody. The praise of Christians is repentance with tears. The praise of Christians is meekness and silence, so that everyone may submit and bow down. The praise of Christians is to wash the feet of the brethren. The praise of Christians is to say to one's friend: "Forgive me; I have sinned against you." The praise of Christians is hospitality and compassion. It is praise and salvation for Christians to always have beggars, orphans and strangers eating together at their meals, because Christ will never leave this house. The praise of Christians is not to allow the sun to go down in their anger, and not to fall asleep having something in their heart against anyone. The praise and crown of Christians is to endure sorrows and not to have resentment; such a person will be a friend of Him who said: ... your sorrow shall be turned into joy" (John 16:20). Praise to Christians is to visit those imprisoned in prison, that is, in caves, mountains, and abysses of the earth, to visit as a true disciple of Him Who said: ... in prison, and come unto Me (Matt. 25:36). The praise of Christians is to always remember God and the great day of judgment. And why not say the most important? The praise and honor and salvation of Christians is the confession of the right faith, so as not to enter into agreement and friendship with those who think the opposite, but to keep the commandment and covenant blameless, irreproachable, pure from all heresy, until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the Lord, seeing such a one, will say: "Behold, truly an Israelite, that is, a Christian: in him there is no flattery" (John 1:47). This is what we should boast of, brethren, and not in chariots, not in horses, not in power, not in riches.

About Fasting

Behold, now is the time of acceptance, behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). Now the time has come in which prayers and supplications are accepted.

The Kingdom of God is now close to everyone who serves God in righteousness, because the days of pure fasting have come for him who truly fasts in purity.

Therefore, beloved, let us keep this fast with zeal and with a pure heart, because it is sweet and pleasant for those who spend these days holy. Let us use this holy fast for the battle with the devil, because without fasting and prayer no one can defeat the evil one. Let us use this fast, beloved, to ask and pray for mercy from the All-Good and Merciful, Who does not reject the one who asks. This fast, beloved, opens the door of heaven, because it lifts us up from the earth and lifts us up on high.

This fast, beloved, rejoices our Angels and Guardians, because through fasting and prayer we become their kinsmen. Christ our Lord also rejoices in this fast, if only we fast with love, hope and faith.

To this fast, beloved, the holy prophets rejoice, and the apostles and martyrs rejoice over it, because they all labored with tireless zeal in fasting.

This fast, beloved, was kept by the meek Moses, and by it he worked miracles, for which he was vouchsafed to see God. This fast, beloved, was observed by Elijah also, and for this he was vouchsafed to ascend to heaven in a fiery chariot. This fast, beloved, was kept by the venerable youth Daniel, and for this he was glorified, he stopped the mouths of lions. In this fast, beloved, with holy zeal the three youths, cast into the furnace, asceticized, and extinguished the fiery power.

This fast, beloved, was observed by the holy prophets, spending forty days without bread and water.

And the apostles, disciples of our Lord and preachers of the faith, kept this holy fast, although they moved from place to place. Our Saviour Himself kept fasting and taught us how we should fast, wage war with the evil one, and overcome Satan.

Therefore, beloved, let us also keep this fast zealously, as we have been taught by our Lord, so that we may someday have a part in His Kingdom.